Sometimes, the glam scene glows a bit dim

Here I sit in York, Pa., while my wife helps her sister take care of all the details involving the funeral of their mother, which took place Monday – a day that some media observers called the “gloomiest” of the year.

Meanwhile, former Spokane resident Marshall Peterson was partying in Park City, Utah, site of the 2006 Sundance Film Festival .

But not everything is gorgeous and glamorous at Sundance for a guy with basic press credentials who has no real connections. Peterson, who in his regular professional life helps run a hostel in Guadalajara, Mexico, is discovering that he has to struggle to get any access to the events that mean anything to the rest of us.

And he’s not always been successful. In any event, here is his story as he is living it:

Sundance 2: The adventure begins

“Bounce outta bed at the crack of dawn (read 10:30 a.m.) to hear a Mexican accent. I quickly introduce myself and am psyched: I’ve now got someone to buddy around with! I no longer need to small-talk every poor soul who happens to have the misfortune to sit next to me. Need to get some things done today, so we make plans to meet up in a few hours. Big day ahead, gotta work hard.

First thing on my plate today is the difficult task of seeing the special press screening of the Beasties Boys’ ‘Awesome: I F——n’ Shot That!’ Tough work, but someone’s gotta do it, right?

Tired of the tired look of concert videos, these wacky boys decided to give 50 video cameras to their fans and let them record the concert . An hour and a half well spent. Never a dull moment. As you can imagine, lots of cuts, different angles, different ways of filming, different locations, the film is, in a word … well, different.

Never having seen these BBoys live, I took advantage of the chance today. And, surprise! The boys were in town and we were going to meet them.

Jumped in a van and headed up to the mountain. The boys arrive and they are hilarious. Witty guys, very dry. I was bustin’ up half of the time. Excellent sense of humor. Or maybe it’s more honest to say that we share the same sense of humor (isn’t that really what you’re saying when you say someone has a great sense of humor or great taste in music?). Unlike many films that are here at Sundance, this one will be available see, and soon! Do it.

I then head to hear some live music at the Star Bar (BMI’s giving us great artists every afternoon). And they’re free!! If, of course, you can get in. I show my press pass (worked yesterday) and get to hear, ‘Everybody has credentials, buddy.’

Well, that’s true, but I’m not the neighbor of the nephew of the guy that builds the Web sites, I’m actually here to cover the festival. I don’t whine or shout, just quietly head to the back of a long line. It’s cold and there’s no way anybody’s actually going to exit the show early and give us their space, so I wait in line for a total of four seconds and get going. Because I can’t get in, I miss hooking up with my new buddy.

But it’s no big deal. I’ve got an invite to a private party tonight. It’s all good.

Well, it’s not ALL good. My first clue should have been the stretch Hummer that picked us up. But I was temporarily confused by the beckoning of a cute young woman (like many men, my brain seizes up and I’m easily led on when a woman smiles at me and says, ‘Come on in!’).

I wind up at the party and quickly find out that the people here are the ones who didn’t get invited to any other parties (like myself). Normally not a big deal. I can make friends easily. But not tonight. Nobody’s havin’ it. Nothing like being rejected by losers; it’s a special feeling and tonight I feel very special.

I meet several people, all of whom take off running after about two minutes of conversation. People looking for celebrities. I’m not a celebrity.

I did not take a picture of myself crying in my beer. That you’ll have to visualize on your own.

Below : Sundance is almost as famous for its parties as it is for movies.

Photo by Marshall Peterson