WIP Talk: Sundance Day 4: Celebrity Is a Funny Thing

• Eager fans, and camera crews, wait outside the Egyptian Theater. Photograph by Jessica Mosby. •

This morning I went to a fantastic panel featuring New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof and author Samantha Power. Orlando Bagwell moderated the discussion, which was held at the Sundance Filmmaker Lodge. Nicholas Kristof and Samantha Power are both involved with documentaries screening at the festival (Reporter and Sergio, respectively). The panels are one of my favorite parts of the festival, and I was particularly excited about this one! The crowd filled the medium-sized room, but they made up in enthusiasm what they lacked in the numbers.

After the screening, I walked across the street for a bagel, cider, and a copy of Variety at the New York Lounge. There was a new food table with bags of delicious popcorn (you might be sensing a theme at this point – I love free food!), and sitting by the table was none other than Michael Cera! I loved Arrested Development, so I was particularly excited to see him just hanging out not drawing much attention. I later went back for a second look (and for a bag of popcorn…I was too distracted the first time to actually take a bag); I thought about saying something, but I couldn’t think of anything clever enough – and I was suddenly very nervous. Maybe Michael Cera is this year’s Adrian Grenier! I’m even more excited to see Michael Cera’s new film, Paper Heart, later today!

• Crowds follow Denise Richards down Main Street. Photograph by Jessica Mosby. •

Later I was walking down Main Street deciding where to buy coffee, and suddenly a crowd of adoring fans and paparazzi blocked my way. I was hoping for someone very exciting…it was actually Denise Richards. Although she looked very well-groomed, her attendance, and the attention it received, was confusing. Does she have a film at the festival?

We live in crazy world when Michael Cera sits alone in the New York Lounge near the popcorn table completely unnoticed, and Denise Richards is followed down Main Street by a crowd. Or maybe, it’s all about how well you [willingly and scornfully] court publicity?