One thing I had a very strong feeling would happen when I went to Sundance, was that I would meet people; people who might want to be involved in working with me on films. I suppose I initially hoped that the kinds of people I would meet might include those who can help me with my filmmaking: financial backers, studio distribution executives, theater owners and operators. As a critical component of the Lord of the Rings film phenomenon, I’m loath to invoke a Star Wars "ism" but, what can I say, I just felt like “Using The Force.” So I got on a plane and I went, “knowing” that I would have something more than chance encounters.

And what was the very first thing that happened to me when I landed in Salt Lake City? There to meet me at the airport was a Sundance Festival “volunteer.” It struck me that in a week’s time, in Washington DC, I was due to be officially appointed to President Bush’s Council on Service and Civic Participation, whose mission is to promote a spirit and culture of volunteerism in America! Here I was, being greeted by a bright, smiling volunteer face.

This volunteer driver is Jennifer Candy, daughter of the late, great comic genius John Candy. Well, we had an extraordinary drive together up to Park City. During that drive I instantly felt that Jennifer and I were destined to work together, so I shared with her a project that had been percolating in my mind. Sure enough just two weeks later she was helping to associate produce my as-yet-untitled “Word Magic” short film. My wife Christine, as producer, worked closely with Jennifer and soon I’ll be able to share details of how Jennifer’s influence helped bring the project to fruition. All because of a chance meeting – or perhaps-not-so-chance meeting.

Jennifer was sorta “scooped up” on my adventure of taking Sundance by storm in the final hours of the festival and she accompanied me to all the publicity events and various other locomotions. I’m pretty sure I’ve made a lifelong friend.

Walking through the hallway of my hotel in Park City, I was invited into a room where there were some people doing promotional work for Hewlett Packard – I was instantly offered a digital camera in exchange for having my photograph taken while holding the camera. I decided to take the deal. I suddenly had the idea that I could use the camera to create a spontaneous “photo diary” of my adventures in Park City. The HP folks planned to take my picture right there in the room, but I suggested they go instead with me to an event down the road.

So we all jumped in cars and headed downtown, and it was fun. I signed autographs and posed for photos, and I decided turnabout is fair play, so I took a picture of the HP photographer -- with the camera I had just been given, no less.  The gal in the red is the one who made the original offer and the other people in the photo were working for HP and other promotional activities. I think the picture of me on the first page of this story was taken by this man being photographed by me, so “a book within a book within a book” or “a picture within a picture within a picture.” What are you gonna do?

This photo shows me in an anteroom for filmmakers at the festival, so here I am at Sundance, a filmmaker!

[Webmaster's note: Click on the photo to see another friendly face and the resources of the Sundance film festival laying themselves out before Sean.]

I was starting to get a bit bleary-eyed from lack of sleep and whirlwind touring but this room was exactly what I’d imagined I’d see – filmmaking motif aesthetic, folks milling about noshing on food, sharing some stories, networking.
 

In this room I ended up meeting Jeff Gilmore and some of the Sundance organizers and also meeting other filmmakers and hearing stories, sharing some stories and exchanging cards and all the kinds of stuff that happens in the bowels of any festival environment.
 

continued . . .