As Robert Redford's festival gets underway, the early sightings include Judd Apatow, Molly Shannon, Craig Robinson, and private helicopter shuttles. (Getty Images, Mikey Glazer)
From Judd Apatow graciously posing for selfies the morning after attending daughter Maude’s opening night turn in “Other People,” Nick Jonas making the suite rounds with his castmates, and autograph hounds staked out at the Salt Lake City airport, Sundance is already well under way.
Also Read: Sundance Deals: What Sold So Far, From 'Tallulah' to 'Under The Shadow'
The WME | IMG Lounge, Jan. 22 (Mikey Glazer)
Nick Jonas – The Early “Goats”
“Goat” cast: Austin Lyon, Nick Jonas, Ben Schnetzer and Gus Halper at the Eddie Bauer Adventure House on Jan. 22 (Randy Shropshire/Getty Images for Eddie Bauer)
Nick Jonas has been in the business long enough to know the ropes: Day 1 of Sundance means a parade of interview and photo suites, with sponsor brands aiming to lasso a gift or picture too while the talent passes through. Jonas and the crew from the much-discussed festival film “Goat” hit up the now media-centered Village at the Lift Friday morning.
Also Read: 'Goat' Sundance Review: Nick Jonas Explores Hazing in Intense Frat Drama
Kiss the Festival Hello
Robin Buss-Kaplan, Paul Stanley and Ranjan Goswami pre-flight. (Alex Berliner/AB Images)
The first casual talent encounter occurred before 160 industry insiders jetted off to Utah together on the Delta Festival Shuttle. KISS rocker Paul Stanley joined the pre-flight brunch at the restaurant he co-owns inside LAX, Rock & Brews. Talent like Paul Scheer and Mary Elizabeth Winstead ate under murals of the painted-face rocker while the clean-faced real thing strolled the floor.
Industry Winners at 30,000 Feet
Craig Robinson, Rena Ronson and Jay Gasner at altitude (Alex Berliner)
Enroute to Utah, hot title “Morris from America” director Chad Hartigan won a drawing for a One Year Delta Sky Club membership. The previous Sundance Audience Award winning-director’s actor Craig Robinson was up in first class sipping on a red drink. Matthew Mazzo (Lowercase Capital) was a big winner of two “Delta One” tickets to Shanghia, while “Funny or Die” production president Mike Farrah strolled back a few rows to congratulate colleague Joe Farrell on his win of pair of first class tickets to Mexico with a Westin Resort stay thrown in. From my aural perspective, people cheered more heartedly for their colleagues random-draw wins than they do at awards shows.
Also Read: Sundance 2016: 13 Hot Directors to Watch
![PARK CITY, UT - JANUARY 21: (L-R) Sundance Institute President Robert Redford, Sundance Institute Executive Director Keri Putnam and Sundance Film Festival Director John Cooper attend the 2016 Sundance Film Festival Day One Press Conference at Egyptian Theatre on January 21, 2016 in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Jason Merritt/[Getty Images for Sundance Film Festival])](https://www.thewrap.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Robert-Redford-Keri-Putnam-Sundance-Day-1-Press-Conference-copy.jpg)
Robert Redford, Sundance Institute Executive Director Keri Putnam and Sundance Film Festival Director John Cooper (Jason Merritt/[Getty Images for Sundance Film Festival])
Parlor Game Master Chris Meloni
Christopher Meloni at the Operation Smile dinner party at Ken and Mimi Griswold’s estate (Mikey Glazer)
At an Operation Smile dinner party at Ken and Mimi Griswold’s estate (below), Chris Meloni only had eyes
Also Read: Sundance 2016: VIP Flight Club One-Ups the Swag Suite
The “Uber of Helicopters”
Blade helicopters are “bouncing” festival goers right in to Park City (Mikey Glazer)
Blade, the so-called “Uber of Helicopters,” is bouncing VIPs from Salt Lake City airport to a lovely local woman’s 5-acre backyard in Park City in 15 minutes.
Those catching rides, Katie Couric and Brody Jenner are scheduled, can thank the industry-heavy team behind the sleek service which includes Eric Schmidt, Barry Diller and iHeartMedia CEO Bob Pittman. They will deliver Questlove to his gig DJ’ing the Michael Jackson documentary party at the Kia Supper Suite on Sunday night, which is also offering free on-the-ground transportation for celebrities. (PR reps, contact sabrina@a-listcommunications for a Kia Sorento car service in Park City.)
More to come…
Send invitations, bookings, and tips to Mikey@thechimp.net.
TheWrap’s Party Report at Sundance is presented by the vehicles that will be shuttling filmmakers and to casts to special events, the 2016 Kia Sorento CUV. Among those special events are The Party Report’s party pal and HQ, the Kia Supper Suite by The Church Key. Keep up with real time images of the scene in Park City on @SundanceParties (Twitter and Instagram) .
