Sundance Channel

Has Anyone Said This Sh*t? (Yes.)

Matthew Rodriguez — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:47:50 +0000

Not since Rebecca Black have I seen a meme go from hilarious to amusing to downright-shoot-me-annoying as quickly as the seemingly neverending "Shit [People] Say" videos. Jumpstarted seemingly centuries ago with a little celebrity juice thanks to the involvement of Juliette Lewis, the meme was birthed with this video titled "Shit Girls Say." By now you've seen this and all the countless copycats. If you've been pulling a Rip Van Winkle who just woke up and have no idea what we're talking about, what I'm referring to are series of viral videos which are basically a supercut of stereotypical expressions and phrase associated with different groups (not without some controversy). People quickly tired of them and vocally expressed their annoyance on Facebook or Twitter, but were quick to retweet and share any new variation that happened to fit their particular niche or interests: for example, as soon as the "Shit New Yorkers Say" video hit the web, it seemed as though every single one of my New Yorker friends posted it on Facebook (often right after having stated their irritation of these videos only the day before). For you Van Winkle's here's a sampling of others:

Keystone XL Tar Sands Pipeline: the facts deserve repeating

Robert Redford — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:01:56 +0000

Joe Nocera's op-ed in the New York Times yesterday deserves a response and a reiteration of the facts surrounding the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline. President Obama rejected the pipeline's permit last month when the GOP, in a political stunt, forced his hand to approve it without even the final route evident.

PUSH GIRLS premieres Tuesday April 17th

Sundance Channel — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:40:22 +0000

Sundance Channel rolls out its spring season with the groundbreaking docu-series PUSH GIRLS, premiering April 17^th at 10p E/P. PUSH GIRLS, a new series from producer Gay Rosenthal (Ruby, Little People, Big Word), traces the lives of four dynamic, outspoken and beautiful women who, by accident or illness, have been paralyzed from the neck or the waist down.

Agenda 21: First, they came for the light bulbs

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:07:12 +0000

Remember when threats of a global government were symbolized by black helicopters and implied by the phrase "New World Order." They're so 20th century, it turns out: these days, the phrase "Agenda 21" and compact fluorescent light bulbs are the new signs of "They're coming to get you." Agenda 21 - it does sound a little spooky. You might think of it as a plan for world domination cooked up by a cabal of wealthy evildoers in a dark backroom. In truth, it's much more innocuous: Agenda 21 is the title of a non-binding plan released at the 1992 Conference on Environment and Development in Rio. No secrets or backrooms here: Agenda 21 even has its own UN website.

The Review Revue: CHRONICLE

Matt Singer — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:00:12 +0000

In "The Review Revue," we turn dozens of movie reviews from all over the Internet into one handy blog post. It's like super-concentrated orange juice for film criticism (with less pulp and Vitamin D). This week: we chronicle the reaction to CHRONICLE.

Naked news: prosthetic testes that actually work are in the works

Em and Lo — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:00:58 +0000

In sci-fi news, scientists are working on a prosthetic testicle that creates and ejects human sperm for men missing one or both testicles who want to procreate. Yale Sex Week, once banned, is in full swing right now. Ron Paul says abortion is okay only when it’s an “honest rape,” you know, as opposed to all [...]

Farming Chicago’s rooftops: The Urban Canopy

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:46:18 +0000

Back in August when I wrote about The Plant, a former meatpacking warehouse turned urban farm in Chicago, I made only the briefest of mentions of the business incubation plans the founding organization envisioned for the space. The brewery planned for the space has received the most attention thus far, but if you head up to the rooftop of the building, you'll find another sustainable business at work: The Urban Canopy. As you might imagine, they're in the rooftop farming business, though they're taking a quite different approach from most with their rooftop hydroponics system.

A comedian that will melt your liberal bleeding heart

Em and Lo — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:00:49 +0000

We both enjoy playing Texas Hold 'Em, but of the two of us, I (Lo) enjoy it a little too much. So much so that when I just need a night away from it all, I go to Foxwoods to play the low limit table with a bunch of 65 year old men, half of whom have a drinking problem, the other half of whom have a gambling problem. It's not as sinful or sexy as Vegas, naturally, but it does the trick.

This week’s top 5 trending viral videos

Matthew Rodriguez — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:03:03 +0000

If you're completely sick of all the coverage leading up to the Super Bowl, I'm here to provide you with some relief (9 out of 10 bloggers recommend it) with this week's YouTube videos that seem to be gaining steam on the viral Internet train. 5. From the hilarious minds of one of my favorite channels on YouTube is this catchy and easy-to-sing song "Hapi Berth Dey." It's "about an Egyptian river god who finds a place to sleep atop two sheep" that also possibly doubles as an expression of his outrage of the misappropriation of copyright laws which legally also applies to a popular song traditionally sung to celebrate birthdays. Feel free to sing this new song coincidentally at your next birthday party!

In praise of “watchability” and the movies we watch again and again

Matt Singer — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:37:34 +0000

A few years ago, a beer company started a campaign advertising the "drinkability" of its product. At first it struck me as silly -- and surprising that a competitor didn't respond that theirs was the more "potent potable" -- but then I began to understand. Technically all beers are drinkable. They were simply suggesting theirs went down smoother and easier than the rest. We might apply similar criteria to movies. Technically all movies are watchable (assuming they're in focus). But those that are more easily and more frequently watched, that go down smooth and easy, have what we could call "watchability."

5 better ways to express your intimacy

Em and Lo — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:00:36 +0000

A recent survey by Pew Internet and the American Life Project found that one in three teens had shared a password (email, Facebook, etc.) with a friend or boyfriend or girlfriend. Apparently sharing your password is the new way to express intimacy, to prove to your partner that you have nothing to hide. Um, hello Facebook hacking! (Aside: Did you know that if you work at Facebook HQ and accidentally leave your FB account logged in when you leave your desk, some jokester colleague will update your status to say that you are pooping? Apparently it's a company tradition.) Anyway. Maybe teens don't have any credit card digits to lose just yet, but identify theft (or even just unauthorized identity borrowing) can suck in junior high too. We hope we don't need to explain what a terrible idea this is.

Green tech finds: the power-free kitchen appliances edition

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:42:39 +0000

Refrigerate and cook food without electricity? We've got finds this week that get you pretty close, along with mushrooms that eat plastic, and plans to reuse dirty diapers (really!). The DIY, electricity-free refrigerator: Ever heard of a zeer pot? This very old concept for keeping food chilled only requires two clay flower pots, and some sand and water to build yourself. (via @dothegreenthing) And then cook that food without power: Well, not exactly, but with a lot less power. The Wonderbag keeps food cooking after the heat's turned off, and was originally designed for very poor people who couldn't afford much fuel. (via Inhabitat)

Coming soon…The Sundance Channel film newsletter

Michelle Byrnes-Carney — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:49:23 +0000

Enough of this passive internet browsing! We're bringing our latest, greatest, indie cinema stuff directly to your inbox. Starting right now Sundance Channel will commit to making sure you don't miss:

Now playing on Sundance Channel: From naughty films to brutal ends

Michelle Byrnes-Carney — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:00:11 +0000

Ah, lovely, fragile February. While the groundhogs can't seem to make up their minds on just how much winter we've got left, those of us on the East Coast are still waiting for that alleged season to start. But, regardless of what the mercury tells us, it's still hibernating season (and, well, fighting off the flu season), so we've got some killer indie movies lined up to get you through the next week:

It’s you, perfected!

Em and Lo — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:00:44 +0000

There are many reasons not to read women's magazines. One of the biggies? All the retouched photos. The genetic mutants we call models and celebrities can beat the shit out your average Jane's self image, but Photoshop can chop it up with chainsaw. This before and after cover of Red Book from a few years ago thanks to Jezebel.com says it all. In fact, Jezebel has made one of their crusades exposing the evils of Photoshop (here's their most recent "unveiling"). One of the funniest commentaries on how fucked up Photoshop is when it comes to setting impossible beauty standards is this recent parody of a beauty product commercial by Jesse Rosten on Vimeo: "Just one application of Fotoshop can give you results so dramatic, they're almost unreal...istic."

Film intelligence: Distributors keep on Sundancing

Matt Singer — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:03:44 +0000

Every week there are dozens of film news stories. Every week, we read them all and bring you the five most important ones in the single most important blog post you’ll ever read (today [at this moment]).

The Internet’s Super Bowl preview

Matthew Rodriguez — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:17:24 +0000

The country can be divided this week into those who care about the Super Bowl and those that don't. I unfortunately fall into the former category in a big way as my favorite team somehow did its part to find itself one of two teams standing at the end of the season. Unfortunate because I'm so freaking nervous for this game, especially since I'm in unfriendly territory as a Patriots fan (Go Pats!) in NYC . Thankfully the Internet, as it always does, has been providing some levity leading into this weekend to help calm my nerves.

Tom Brady (or as some readers might know him better as: Gisele Bündchen's husband) has a doppelgänger. No word yet on whether the doppelgänger has also has a Gisele lookalike wife.

Matthew Broderick explains a bit about his Ferris Bueller teaser that only just ended up being a Super Bowl ad and in the process broke our hearts about a possible sequel. Then again maybe a sequel isn't a good thing after all after seeing how the actual ad depicts a free-spirited Ferris growing up to just be yet another office worker serving the The Man. Yikes, depressing stuff.

How to park your lawn mower for good: the Meadow Project

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:40:37 +0000

Got a lawn? Ever stopped to consider the amount of time, money, and natural resources you put into keeping that grass green? The watering, fertilizing (whether through organic or conventional means), mowing, and weeding? No doubt that lawn grass is the most high-maintenance plant on the planet (as the expert in the video above observes)! Even if you're not a greenie, is that really how you want to spend your time, energy, and money?

Revitalizing the mentor

Sundance Channel — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:00:07 +0000

History is filled with stories of inspiring mentor-protégé relationships, from XX and the painters Camille Pissaro and Paul Cezanne to fictional accounts like Don Pedro and Claudio in Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing. Mentorships are a time-tested way to for an artist to develop their vision and their craft. They, traditionally, give someone time learn, grow and create under the watchful eye of someone who has already blazed a trail. Rolex is dedicating to reviving the tradition of mentorship by pairing young, promising artists with leaders in their fields. It’s easy to see what the protégés have to gain. They get a year of time to learn from their mentors. But, a truely successful mentor-protégé relationship benefits both parties. As we take a look back at the results of these exciting relationships, let’s take a look at what some of the Rolex Arts Initiative mentors have gotten out of their year collaboration:

Here’s what the Oscars can learn from NYC nightlife pageants!

Michael Musto — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 19:58:50 +0000

This year's Oscar telecast (set for February 26) has been on a hopeful track ever since they announced that an actual comic was going to be the host. But even Billy Crystal can only do so much. All the stuff around him needs to be spruced up pronto to ensure that the whole Oscar machine doesn’t become as obsolete as silent movies (except for THE ARTIST, of course). And I know the answer. For a lifeline, the producers need to venture into New York's wildest nightclubs and learn some valuable lessons about how to put on a show.

Crack gardening, or how to turn a pothole into a work of art

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 19:09:02 +0000

Potholes and sidewalk cracks are an ugly reality of urban living - but they don't necessarily have to be ugly! East London guerrilla gardener Steve Wheen sees such blemishes as opportunities "to put smiles on peoples faces and alert them to potholes" (as well as show authorities "how shit our roads are"). As the video above shows, Wheen goes beyond just sticking a plant into a hole in the pavement: he creates very small themed gardens in the crevices he finds in his part of the city.

Naked News: Cynthia Nixon says being gay is a choice… if you’re bisexual

Em and Lo — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:00:29 +0000

Cynthia Nixon clarifies her controversial quote, explaining that she is gay "by choice" only because she is bisexual by nature.
Heart patients get the go-ahead for sex... so long as it's with their spouse.

Memorable quotes from Sundance 2012

Marlow Stern — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:11:44 +0000

This year’s edition of the Sundance Film Festival, like most years, featured an abundance of witty, memorable lines. Here are some of the best quotes heard in films that screened during this year’s fest….

The Best of Sundance 2012

Marlow Stern — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:01:35 +0000

Now that the 2012 Sundance Film Festival is just a snowy, hectic memory, it’s time to bestow our own awards on the films we can't get out of our heads....

The Review Revue: THE GREY

Matt Singer — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:00:11 +0000

This week’s top 5 trending viral videos

Matthew Rodriguez — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 21:07:45 +0000

The talk and focus this week is (rightfully so) on all films that made their rounds at the Sundance Film Festival. But the Internet meme machine never sleeps (its theme song: Can't Stop, Won't Stop), festival or no festival, so without further ado here are the top five videos starting to trend, and as the kids say "get its swoll on" this week. 5. If you're a violinist and you are interrupted by an audience member's cell phone loudly ringing during your solo performance, this is how you respond in a classy manner and in other words pwn this rude cell phone owner.

A (fairly) complete Sundance 2012 acquisitions list

Matt Singer — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:25:15 +0000

In our last distribution round-up, we compared the acquisition market at Sundance '12 to a domino rally. Now, on the last day of the festival, it looks like that scene in every apocalypse movie where a terrified mob raids a grocery store, with people in a desperate scramble to get whatever they can before the shop closes forever. In three days, at least eleven distribution deals closed, with several more reportedly almost finalized.

High heels are the devil

Em and Lo — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:00:50 +0000

High heels are an essential part of our fashion-glam culture. Finding a pair of flats at last night's SAG Awards was like trying to find a vegan quinoa recipe in a Paula Deen cookbook. More common was the doughnut burger of the shoe world: the 29-inch stiletto like Emma Stone wore. What women will suffer for fashion! Personally, the two of us fall into the more utilitarian camp: while Em has been known to rock a sparkly pump at a party, you'll find her more often than not in the day-to-day dressing up a flow-y, flowery dress with a pair of Converse. And Lo? Nothing comes between her and her Danskos. It may not be pretty, but nothing's more ugly than her mood after 20 minutes in a pair of uncomfortable pumps (are they even called that anymore?). Which is why we always feel high and mighty in our low flats when a new study about the horrors of high heels comes out.

The classy way to give a dirty gift on Valentine’s Day

Em and Lo — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:00:48 +0000

What's a recession-friendly Valentine's Day gift that will always be received gladly? Unilateral oral sex is a pretty good bet. Or perhaps a half-hour massage with no pressure to reciprocate. Or maybe dressing up as a cowboy and doing your best BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN impression. But how do you make such generous sexual offers feel like an actual gift that you planned in advance -- as opposed to a last-minute, oh-shit-I-didn't-make-it-to-the-mall-in-time present? A hand-written promise to talk dirty, unabated, for 20 minutes is kind of sweet (at least, it is if that's your partner's bag), but it can come across as a little half-hearted. A little unofficial, if you will. No witnesses, no signatures in blood, etc.

Transplants: Rolex mentor and protégé Tracy K. Smith & Hans Magnus Enzensberger

Sundance Channel — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:00:29 +0000

In many ways, they couldn’t be more different, a young California transplant writing poetry in Brooklyn and a titan of German thought. She is a professor at Princeton and he has made a public point of eschewing institutional life. But the year Tracy K. Smith spent with her Rolex Arts Initiative mentor Hans Magnus Enzensberger has transformed her literary life. The award-winning poet (author of collections including Life On Mars & The Body’s Question) has, under Enzensberger’s watchful eye, turned to prose and is writing a memoir.

BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD: Director and star dish on the making of the best movie at Sundance

Marlow Stern — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 05:41:59 +0000

Benh Zeitlin, the 29-year-old director of the most talked-about movie—and now, winner of the coveted Grand Jury Prize—at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival, BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD, is running late. So Quvenzhané “Nazie” Wallis, star of Zeitlin’s film, does what any other 8-year-old girl would do to pass the time—eats a couple oranges, guzzles a can of Sprite, extols the virtues of ‘Wizards of Waverly Place,’ and parks herself in front of my laptop computer for a rousing game of ‘Ninja Painter.’ It’s a far cry from the crawfish, vodka, and cardboard box-cave painting of her character, Hushpuppy.

The Sundance ’12 Awards (according to Twitter)

Matt Singer — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 05:16:16 +0000

It's indie film, man: when things go wrong, you roll with the punches and improvise. So when Parker Posey, the scheduled host for the Sundance '12 Awards Show fell ill, the fest found a replacement -- BLACK ROCK director and star Katie Aselton -- who teamed up with Festival Director John Cooper to emcee the evening. Things chugged along without missing a beat. "I've always wanted to be Parker Posey," quipped Aselton.

2012 Sundance Film Festival Award Winners

Sundance Channel — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 04:07:33 +0000

Sundance Institute this evening announced the Jury, Audience, NEXT <=> and other special awards of the 2012 Sundance Film Festival at the Festival’s Awards Ceremony, hosted by Parker Posey in Park City, Utah. An archived video of the ceremony in its entirety is available at www.sundance.org/live. “Every year the Sundance Film Festival brings to light exciting new directions and fresh voices in independent film, and this year is no different,” said John Cooper, Director of the Sundance Film Festival. “While these awards further distinguish those that have had the most impact on audiences and our jury, the level of talent showcased across the board at the Festival was really impressive, and all are to be congratulated and thanked for sharing their work with us.” Keri Putnam, Executive Director of Sundance Institute, said, “As we close what was a remarkable 10 days of the 2012 Sundance Film Festival, we look to the year ahead with incredible optimism for the independent film community. As filmmakers continue to push each other to achieve new heights in storytelling we are excited to see what’s next.”

The Sundance Review Revue: 2 DAYS IN NEW YORK

Matt Singer — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 22:16:31 +0000

You see a lot of different genres at Sundance, but there's one kind of movie -- the most popular kind of movie, as far as the filmmaking establishment is concerned -- that you almost never see in Park City: sequels. Julie Delpy's 2 DAYS IN NEW YORK is a rare exception, and a follow-up to the actress' critically acclaimed 2007 film 2 DAYS IN PARIS. In that film Delpy's Marion and her boyfriend Jack (Adam Goldberg) travel to Paris for a vacation intended to rekindle their sputtering romance. In NEW YORK, the romance has officially sputtered out, and Marion now lives with a new boyfriend, a journalist and radio host named Mingus, played by Chris Rock. Marion's crazy French family travels to Manhattan for a visit and sends the couple's relatively carefree lives into chaos.

Oscar-winning MAN ON WIRE director James Marsh rips Best Doc Oscar noms, talks brilliant new film SHADOW DANCER

Marlow Stern — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 18:37:20 +0000

The opening salvo was fired on Nov. 18. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences released their short list of 15 films for the Best Documentary Oscar, and many in the industry were up in arms. Where was THE INTERRUPTERS? No SENNA? Then, the actual nominees for the Academy Award for Best Documentary were announced on Jan. 24, and people were appropriately outraged. One of the biggest snubs was PROJECT NIM, the poignant doc by Oscar-winning MAN ON WIRE filmmaker James Marsh about Nim, a chimpanzee who in the became the focus of a groundbreaking experiment in the 1970s attempting to teach apes to communicate. For a time, Nim was even raised in an apartment on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Following MAN ON WIRE and PROJECT NIM, James Marsh is back at the Sundance Film Festival with SHADOW DANCER—a brilliant IRA drama set in 1990s Belfast about a young mother, played by Andrea Riseborough (in a spellbinding performance), who is forced to collaborate with an MI5 officer (Clive Owen) and act as an informant spying on her own brothers. The slow-burning thriller is already garnering comparisons to TINKER, TAILOR, SOLDIER, SPY, and is one of the best films to screen at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival.

Follow the Sundance Film Festival Awards LIVE!

Michelle Byrnes-Carney — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 18:06:27 +0000

Still bummed you couldn't make it out to Park City? Well, Sundance Channel will be at the awards ceremony tonight and we promise to bring you up-to-the-minute reports on the winners, the losers and who is passing out from "altitude sickness". Make sure you are following @SundanceChannel so you don't miss a thing. And, if you're really committed, you can watch a live stream of the whole shebang. The festivities begin tonight at 9 ET/7 MT.

A year of discovery: Rolex mentor and protégé Peter Sellars & Maya Zbib

Sundance Channel — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 16:00:56 +0000

Peter Sellars and Maya Zbib shared a year and circumnavigated the globe. The enfant terrible of the American stage is best known for his contemporary treatments of classical plays, including an industrial take on King Lear, and his groundbreaking direction of new operas. Both Sellars and his Rolex Arts Initiative protégé, Lebanese actor, writer and director Maya Zbib, believe that theater can do much more than entertain. They agree that it is an agent for social change. To emphasize this point, Sellars brought Zbib to the Congo. She brought him to Beirut.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt opens up about hitRECord and DARK KNIGHT RISES’ Occupy Wall Street vibe

Marlow Stern — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 06:35:50 +0000

It’s more than an hour ‘til show time and the ticketholder tent outside the 1,270-seat Eccles Theatre, the Grand Théâtre Lumière of Sundance, is bursting at the seams for Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s hitRECord: A Night at the Movies. Thus, the less punctual attendees are forced to brave the heavy snow and form a long line wrapping around the theatre. Judging by the high volume of beanies, as well as girls dragging their boyfriends around like disgruntled parents, the crowd is skewing very young—save a handful of older men who look like Julian Schnabel.

The Sundance Review Revue: FILLY BROWN

Matt Singer — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 21:46:59 +0000

Critics are divided on FILLY BROWN, but they agree on Gina Rodriguez, the actress who plays Filly and is being hailed as one of the breakout stars of this year's Sundance Film Festival. Response to FILLY -- a drama about a young woman trying to navigate the morally murky waters of the hip-hop game -- has been decidedly mixed, but response to Rodriguez has been decidedly positive, suggesting she is one to watch, even if the film itself might not be.

KID-THING premiere photos: A total charm offensive

Sundance Channel — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 19:30:52 +0000

Actor-director (and parent sharing) duo David and Nathan Zellner returned to Park City with KID-THING. And despite the fact that they were often upstaged by their adorable, and incredibly talented, star Sydney Aguirre, the brothers Zellner charmed their way through Park City. Find out more about the film and check out our entire gallery of the day:

Top Ten: Bad girls, good films at Sundance 2012

Paul Ohan — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 18:50:16 +0000

Everybody loves a bad girl, and the indie crowd at Sundance is no exception. This year we had ladies heating up the phone lines, facing off with nature and, well...doing drugs in the powder room. But, mirror, mirror on the wall? Who is the best bad girl of them all? You'll have to read on to find out:

My Premiere: Watch SAVE THE DATE director Michael Mohan premiere his film

Michelle Byrnes-Carney — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 18:24:52 +0000

Director Michael Mohan says his film SAVE THE DATE was a huge team effort, but the night (or afternoon, really) belonged to him. Follow Michael from writing his opening remarks to catching up with his cast and letting the applause from his premiere fill in. Check out all of the photos...and watch the My Premiere video.

Want to go to Palm Springs?

Em and Lo — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 18:00:35 +0000

One of our favorite toy creators, Jimmyjane, has just teamed up with Ace Hotels (in their NYC and Palm Springs locations) to offer guests a room upgrade that includes a Jimmyjane-curated selection of sexy goods, which can be purchased online, at check-in or from Ace’s late-night room service menu. No travel plans to NYC or Palm Springs? Jimmyjane.com is offering several packages that allow you to bring the Ace experience home with you (for example, the $89 "Voyeur" package includes TCHO Drinking Chocolate, a blindfold and cuffs, the French softcore Emmanuelle Collection, a bullet vibe, a feather tickler, Sir Richards condoms, and Good Clean Love lubricant -- kind of an awesome Valentine's Gift, hotel stay or not).

Green tech finds: from solar power to the Super Bowl

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:51:54 +0000

Super Bowl Sunday is coming up, and while I don't pay enough attention to say whether it'll be a good game, it will definitely be a green(er) game. That, plus cooler roofs for more efficient solar power, and a very quick look at over a century of global warming: your green tech finds for the week. Buy renewable energy for your Volt: While the arguments about the energy sources for electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids are generally really overblown and oversimplified, many EV drivers do want the cleanest power they can get for their vehicles. So, GM is developing a system for its OnStar platform that would notify Volt drivers when there's renewable energy available on the grid so they could plug in at the right time. (via Earth 911) What does global warming look like? If you're thinking big picture in response to that question, the folks at NASA have released a video that shows 131 years of global temperature fluctuations in 26 seconds. (via Climate Central and @NRDC)

THE HOUSE I LIVE IN: A fascinating expose on the (racist) war on drugs

Marlow Stern — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:44:49 +0000

Since 1970, it has cost America $2.5 trillion and led to 44 million arrests. Of the 2.3 million Americans behind bars, 500,000 have been arrested for it Due in large part to its excessively draconian laws, with only five percent of the world’s population, the United States accounts for 25 percent of its prisoners.

The Sundance Review Revue: LIBERAL ARTS

Matt Singer — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:29:49 +0000

The cast of LIBERAL ARTS is like the independent film version of a rock and roll supergroup. You've got your road-tested veterans, Richard Jenkins and Allison Janney, and two of the hottest talents to come out of Sundance in recent years: Elizabeth Olsen from MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE and writer/director/star Josh Radnor, whose HAPPYTHANKYOUMOREPLEASE won the Sundance audience award back in 2010. And, yeah, Zac Efron's in there too. Admittedly, he sabotages the theory just wee bit.

Watch: FILLY BROWN stars Edward J. Olmos, Lou Diamond Philips, Jenni Rivera & Gina Rodriguez

Sundance Channel — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 23:53:18 +0000

FILLY BROWN is a hip-hop, coming of age story set against the backdrop of a broken family and the less glamorous side of Los Angeles. Edward J. Olmos Lou Diamond Philips and Jenni Rivera support a brilliant performance by festival "it girl" Gina Rodriguez. It's a gritty performance, but Rodriguez has scored legions of new fans in the criticsphere. Find out what the cast had to say about working with such an amazing ensemble.

Watch Buzz on the Bus and get the skinny on Sundance 2012

Michelle Byrnes-Carney — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 22:23:26 +0000

Pop quiz: Where is the best place to get honest opinions on Sundance Film Festival flicks? Well, SUNfiltered, but the Park City buses are a close second. This mountain town has a free, killer public transportation system and it ramps up during the festival. It's the best way to get around and the best place to find out if that weird, Mongolian documentary is really worth braving the waitlist for. Don't believe me? Watch and learn, grasshopper:

Sundance 2012 trends: Women behaving badly, star-studded bombs, and physical handicaps

Marlow Stern — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 21:30:39 +0000

Now that we’ve reached the home stretch of this year’s Sundance Film Festival, it’s time to take a long, hard look at some of the major trends of this year’s fest…

Video: Emily Blunt and Mark Duplass talk love and loss in YOUR SISTER’S SISTER

Sundance Channel — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 20:58:21 +0000

YOUR SISTER'S SISTER tells the story of a different kind of love triangle. Emily Blunt, Mark Duplass, Rosemarie DeWitt and director Lynn Shelton (HUMPDAY) stopped by to talk about how the process of collaborative filmmaking differs from your average studio fare. Watch more to learn more: