2013-05-23T03:46:45-04:00 Clark Seydel http://www.news.moviefone.com/author/index.php?author=clark-seydel Copyright 2008, HuffingtonPost.com, Inc. HuffingtonPost Blogger Feed for Clark Seydel Good old fashioned elbow grease. tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.2575809 2013-01-30T14:30:08-05:00 2013-04-01T05:12:01-04:00

Clark Seydel http://www.huffingtonpost.com/clark-seydel/
For the past five years, a group called the Collective has given entrepreneurs the chance to experience the magic Park City offers during the festival. The group comes together every year to celebrate films that influence social change. This year, the Collective in partnership with the PVBLIC Foundation, awarded $100,000 in media to the film Girl Rising. Girl Rising is a film that tells stories through the eyes of nime moving girls that increases awareness of global female empowerment and education.

The Collective hosted a series of panels around Entrepreneurship, film and finance that were well attended during the festival. Members of the Collective want to generate more action by hearing about the struggles of film makers and the stories they have to tell. The Entrepreneurial community at Sundance is sure to grow.]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.2179382 2012-11-27T11:12:00-05:00 2013-01-27T05:12:01-05:00

Clark Seydel http://www.huffingtonpost.com/clark-seydel/

1) She loves a good deal.

Collins lives in NYC, but hails from Wisconsin -- and she's held on to her Midwestern roots. "I'm still kind of horrified by the thought of paying $100 for a shirt, so my readers know that if I recommend something on the expensive side, it's because I really think it's worth it."

2) She's not a brand snob.

Check out her site, and you'll see tons of brands pop up -- everything from Gant Rugger and Saturdays NYC to Target and Kohl's. "I know that not all guys have access to the same stores I do here in New York, so I try to pull together my recommendations from brands you can find at the mall or online."

3) She's a guy's girl and a girly girl.

"A lot of my readers are guys, but there are plenty of women who visit Style Girlfriend too," says Collins. "They forward posts on to their boyfriends or husbands. I think for women it's helpful to have an impartial party giving style advice, then they don't feel like they're nagging, they're just... helping!"

4) She's got your gift list covered.

Stumped on a present to give your husband, father, brother and more this holiday season? Collins thinks about guys' style 24/7, so she's ready with suggestions. "My favorite gift idea for guys this year is a subscription to Birchbox. He'll get new grooming goodies in the mail every month -- things like Kiehl's lotion and Imperial hair product. It's a fun 'gift that keeps on giving,' and he comes away armed with new products that will help him look great. Double win!"

5) She doesn't have a "type."

"I'm not someone who thinks all guys should dress like Ryan Gosling, or should wear suits every day" says Collins. "I encourage my readers to develop their own personal style -- for some guys that's preppy, for others it's more sporty, and so on." She knows that true style is about being confident in what you're wearing, but, as she puts it to her readers, "dressing in a little-more-pulled-together kind of way."]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.1347158 2012-03-16T10:25:04-04:00 2012-05-16T05:12:01-04:00

Clark Seydel http://www.huffingtonpost.com/clark-seydel/
We thought you might have some of the same burning questions we had about that special day so we compiled all our research for you in a green-themed FAQ. Clark and Sarah will be celebrating this magical holiday in Ireland so be sure to check out our behind the scenes of the parade and the festival instagramming @revlmassive and tag us your own candids #getgreen.

How do I find a Leprechaun?

In addition to looking for the perfect parade viewing spot, you may be wondering "how do I find a leprechaun." I know we were. Given that we had no idea how to go about this, we spent at least ten minutes searching the Internet and compiled the best advice we found for you.

Step One: The Equipment -- Find a net or build a trap

According to some website for Moms, you should build a trap and then decorate it with green stickers and glitter. This lead Sarah to wonder if many of the girls who went out on St Paddy's were walking Leprechaun traps. Alternatively, you could just get a big butterfly net, like a REALLY BIG ONE, and put some Lucky Charms under it to lure the little man in. Although we were a little concerned about this approach considering that with the amount of beer consumed someone might get confused and trap a small child. It's easy to do seeing as how they also like lucky charms, are short, and enjoy wearing green.

Step Two: The Finding -- Look for tracks/ Check near lawn gnomes

Apparently Leprechauns leave small doll sized prints or other types of tracks. Think Chucky but with more money involved. What you want to do is follow the tracks and keep your eyes peeled. If you are anywhere that has nature or a bar crawl, they tend blend in on account of all that green. We read that one place to check is near lawn gnomes. This is because sometimes Leprechauns get confused and start talking to lawn gnomes thinking that they are real gnomes. Can you blame them? It's happened to the best of us.

How do I get Lucky?

Not only is St. Paddy's a celebration of all things green, it's also a day of courtship. It's spring and in addition to the daffodils, libidos are emerging. It's that celebrated time of year when young men put on shamrock pants and women squeeze into green baby tees. We'd like to say that on St. Paddy's there is someone for everyone, but that would be a lie. Just like any other day, there can still be some stiff competition.

So how do you make yourself stand out? Don't worry, we got you. Nothing gets the ladies, or sometimes the men, going like a demonstration of athletic prowess. You will not have enough room in the public house for a good rugby tackle so go for second best. Yes! The Riverdance!

The problem with Riverdance is it's trickier than it looks. Try getting more ups than Michael Jordan while kicking yourself in the ass. Clark did and hasn't been walking the same since.

Before performing this maneuver you are going to want to check the following things:

- Is the ceiling high enough? Concussions sustained from doing the Riverdance pogo stick are only going to slow you down.

- Do your shoes have good traction? The floor is going to have some serious spillage at this point. Make sure whatever you have on your feet is up to the challenge.

What do I do if the barman goes down and I have to pour the perfect pint for hordes of screaming people wearing green?

So there you are, waiting for your pint when suddenly your bartender slips on a puddle of Jameson the size of the Atlantic and goes down like a sack of potatoes. What do you do? Your internal dialogue is screaming "MUST GET PEOPLE PINTS" so you grab the person next to you and use them to help you vault over the bar. However, upon arriving at the draft beer taps you are dismayed to realize you have no idea how to operate this thing.

How to Pour the Perfect Pint (appended from a great video tutorial courtesy of the Guinness Storehouse)

1 - Grab the Right Damn Glass
First of all make sure it's clean and not a shot glass. If you can find the one that makes your beer look like it's in a corset -- aka the tulip glass -- you are golden.

2 - It's All About Angles and Percentages
Remember your protractor? You are going to want to employ those geometry skills by holding your beer at a 45 degree angle to the tap. Fill the beer up about 3/4 of the way or until you get to about the harp thingy if you are using an actual Guinness Glass.

3 - Take a Time Out
We know, everyone looks like if they don't get their beer soon it might be the end of the world as they know it. Tell them to RELAX because this beer is going to need to settle for about two minutes. Explain that like their exes, the nitrogen bubbles will be trying to get back with the rest of the beer. Eventually, they will be DENIED and forced to chill at the top.

4 - Finishing Touches
Now that everything is settled, top that puppy off by adding some more beer until the top looks like a dome. Now hand it over to some happy person in green and high five yourself for a job well done.

Where do I go if I suddenly have some extra green prior to St. Paddy's Day?

Go to Switzerland. Just kidding. Go to Ireland, duh. Some people like to say that Americans invented the debauchery that surrounds St. Patrick's Day. That's probably true, but who cares. Whoever invented it, the Irish are now better at celebrating than we are. This is probably due to the fact that they have actual Irish people at their parties and access to places that make things like Guinness and Jameson. It's a no brainer. Should you find yourself with some spare green, head over there and join the festivus (and Clark and Sarah) to celebrate in high Irish style.

If you can make it, come find us and we can do things like this together:

Get on a parade float shaped like a shamrock
Throw green potatoes at each other
Get our Guinness Storehouse Festivus on
Trick each other into eating black pudding

See you in the green! And if you can't make it watch our behind the scenes on instagram @revlmassive and hashtag your instagram photos with #getgreen so we can see you.
]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.1304071 2012-02-27T20:48:06-05:00 2012-04-28T05:12:01-04:00

Clark Seydel http://www.huffingtonpost.com/clark-seydel/
multiple camera angles on an iOS app;
a hottie playing the electric violin; and
Emma Stone acting like a normal person even though she had a fabric parrot on her shoulder.

Yeah, we know it was pretty exciting when Sacha Baron Cohen threw the contents of his vacuum cleaner on Ryan Seacrest and pretended it was a dead dictator... but that's just not enough. Everything about the Oscars this year left us wanting more or at least the split screen function so we could simultaneously watch the all star game.

Making the Oscars better, or at least watchable, isn't that complicated. We think that with three adjustments, the Academy could make 2013 a better award show place for all of us.

1. Stop talking about their dresses already.

We are so over talking about what everyone is wearing. It takes everything the people (particularly the women) have worked for their entire careers and reduces it to something Mario Lopez could drink with a hot orange swirly straw. Next year let's even the playing field. Attention Hollywood, forget the designer outfit and wrap yourself in a bed sheet. That way no one can judge you on physicalities. Just think how fulfilling it would be to take the focus off your upper arms and put it back on your career.

Alternatively we could turn the Oscars into a costume party. We think awards shows might be more entertaining if they were themed. Clark suggested everyone come dressed like a Dragon, but that doesn't make any sense and it's probably due to the bottle of wine he had to consume to stay awake. And by awake we mean surfing the consumer reports app for a new dishwasher.

2. What award is this? Tell me, then give me a reason to care.

There are only about four awards that people remember. Take some of that "movie industry" creative genius and find some way to make everything else relevant, or don't put it on prime time TV.

We're sorry, but let's be honest, half the time we weren't sure what award was being presented. It's like WTF could Transformers possibly have in common with Drive, definitely not chiseled cheek bones. Clark kept yelling out "it's Harry Potter," which was clearly some kind of apathy induced Oscars Tourettes. Of course most of the time the unrecognizable award went to Hugo. What was that movie anyway? After it won 318 times, we were left wondering if maybe we shouldn't just forget about this debacle on ABC and head straight to the Clearview cinema for a late night Hugo viewing.

3. A little less country club and little more dive bar.

What's with the orchestra and the bow ties? This thing might be more interesting and/or relatable if we bring it down a little. Things to consider for next year: work in some starched jeans and PBR on tap. Sound a little like the Country Music Awards? Whatever, at least we were able to sit through those without texting our exes out of a desperate attempt to entertain ourselves. The best part of this Oscars (the only thing they should expand on) were the montages where actors talked and dressed like normal, accessible people. They effectively broke down the importance of film, told us what inspired them, and why they made a commitment to a project that 99 times out of 100 wouldn't come to fruition.

Their inspiration and their passion is something we can all relate to. It's not the million dollar necklaces combo'd with the perfectly constructed side pony tails that represent why we love movies. The Oscars should be just as captivating and entertaining as the movies it celebrates. The people who are recognized should be just as accessible and diverse in thought and appearance as the characters from the stories we love. ]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.1284451 2012-02-17T12:32:06-05:00 2012-04-18T05:12:01-04:00

Clark Seydel http://www.huffingtonpost.com/clark-seydel/

Hi haters. That's right, we know fashion week has some serious haters. Sarah was one of them on Friday night. After an excess of poorly prepared vodka sodas and confrontational encounters with power tripping door folks, Sarah had THE Fashion Week meltdown. Luckily, she bounced back so that she and Clark could continue their NYFW treasure hunt for all wonderful, shiny things of substance (or utility). We bet you are scoffing right now and thinking we didn't find anything meaningful/useful in a land of weird outfits worn by underage girls. WRONG. We found AT LEAST five...

The State of Style Summit presented by Ford, Stylecaster and 92yTribeca

Attending this series of panels, held as a kickoff event for NYFW, felt like a mental massage before the big race. We loved pondering topics like the anatomy of fashion while listening to the moderator use lots of swear words. We also spent some serious QT with Anthony Prozzi, senior interior designer at Ford, learning about the design DNA of the new Ford Fusion. Yes, we realize this is an article about fashion week but forget clothes, your car (assuming you don't live in NYC) is one of the most expensive accessories you can buy. Plus, you wear it practically every day. After talking to him, we were hooked on the car and the fact that Ford is turning itself into an American lifestyle brand focused on sustainability, smart technology and uncompromising design. We wish the rest of our closet was doing that, too.

The Gen Art Show

Move over stuffy weird plated dinners with irrelevant celebrities, there is a new kid in philanthropy town. Gen Art is making a strong push to incorporate social causes into its events, thanks in large part to their CEO Marc Lotenberg. For NYFW, they partnered with Crest to create a showcase for new designers hosted by the luminous Emmanuelle Chriqui and benefiting Raise Hope for Congo. We loved that Gen Art didn't employ the traditional move of tacking the cause onto the show as an afterthought. At this event, Raise Hope for Congo was front and center. They also had what was, in Sarah's opinion, the best thing that happened on any catwalk all week. First out of the gate were five super models wearing t-shirts that will be sold to benefit the charity and beautiful smiles. They were the first women we saw who looked normal and happy, probably because they were promoting a better life for people, not an asymmetrical hemline.

Future Fortified Dinner

The other cause/FW pairing we loved was Future Fortified, which hosted a dinner to bring greater exposure to their very important mission of promoting better nutrition for women and children. The room was packed with fascinating people, and we got some delicious food thanks to Top Chef Texas contestant, Ty-Lör Boring. At the dinner, it wasn't just the vitamin/nutrient packets that everyone got a lesson on. Sarah also noticed several of the women around her learning something she'd already picked up at Sundance: if it's a tasting menu, take it easy on the wine. Two bits of monkfish cannot protect you from the relentless onslaught of alcohol. After dinner, we had a few minutes to talk with the head of the Future Fortified campaign, Adrianna Logalbo, who shared with us why we should care about this issue. "Good nutrition is the game changer... it puts children on the right path to be able to grow and learn and thrive".

Porsche Design Store

Most of the other men's fashions we saw were a strange attempt to make the male race sexually attractive to aliens -- not the case here. There wasn't a repurposed seat cover in sight. Instead, we saw a parade of great casual wear. New motto: if you can't cover yourself in a Porsche 911, you might as well wrap yourself up in one of their expertly-tailored leather coats. We also loved the DJ, Alexandra Richards, who was a welcome relief after too many nights of music that sounded like a rave and the top 40 were trying to make a baby.

Free Cabs

Finally, someone got it right, Glamour Magazine and L'Oreal. We don't need free dry shampoo that smells like a magical bouquet. We need things like free cab rides. There are very few times in life when people give you useful SWAG (Shit We All Get). Usually, they give you things that THEY want you to want. It's difficult to adequately express our delight at rounding the corner in front of the Standard to find very lovely Glamour Magazine women who offered us a free cab ride to anywhere in the city. All we had to do was take a picture (as seen above). Naturally,we insisted that we lie on the hood of the cab for maximum effect, much to the delight of the cab driver. Then we were whisked off to our new location while being serenaded with advertisements about some kind of lipstick thing that Clark was oddly not tempted to buy. Yeah, sure, it was shameless product promotion, but here's to a brand actually doing something nice for us while they blanket us in commercial messaging. ]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.1281617 2012-02-16T14:58:19-05:00 2012-04-17T05:12:01-04:00

Clark Seydel http://www.huffingtonpost.com/clark-seydel/ Imagine a world where...

Picasso checked his Klout score daily
The Rolling Stones were signed because of their YouTube views
Hemingway got a book deal because people "liked" his short stories.

We don't know if the increasing overlap between art and web analytics is making culture better or worse. Either way, we wish more people were talking about it. We first started thinking about this dilemma in the context of fashion week after being exposed to the MADE app, created by Milk. This new "must have" fashion app makes it possible for people to download the latest trends/looks while sitting courtside at the runway and then email/share/like them. Apparently this is a great utility for fashion editors, who previously had to partake in A to Z shenanigans involving all types of outdated methods (email, phone, picture sharing) to get a hold of their favorite designs.

An unanticipated output of the app is all the data it's capturing when fashionistas/editors/onlookers start interacting with the designs the minute they hit the runways. It's a whole new world where suddenly people see the outfit on the catwalk and BAM, designers get instant feedback. As Mazdack Rassi ,the creative director from Milk, noted at a panel, the response of designers to the data has been varied. While some have been anxious to see it, other have specifically asked him not to share. Mr Rassi didn't seem to have a particular position on the designers response or the use of the data. We were hoping he was going to hit us with some sweet words of cultural guidance. That didn't happen and we were left feeling a little like our Dad just told us to set our own curfew.

Never ones to not try something, Clark and Sarah decided to take that app for a test drive. After attempting to download it numerous times, finally succeeding, then being trapped in a closet turned runway, we still weren't convinced. The app is very neat and probably pretty useful, but we were still wondering where the responsibility lies with all this data it's collecting. Let's be clear, we aren't suggesting that the app creators are completely accountable for how it's used. We just hope that someone is driving this bus, not just putting a brick on the gas pedal and hoping we don't hit anything.

Here's our thinking. As we rapidly approach a point where we can collect data on pretty much anything, it's important that we are thoughtful about how it's going to be used and who it's going to be used by. It's not that it can't be freely available, but if it is, we should probably have a conversation about the affect it could or is having. Not that anyone asked us, but we'd like to throw that into the panel suggestion box for next year. What happens when you integrate consumer preferences and large scale feedback into the creation of art and culture? What do we gain and what do we lose? ]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.1273434 2012-02-14T10:13:26-05:00 2012-04-15T05:12:01-04:00

Clark Seydel http://www.huffingtonpost.com/clark-seydel/ Teen Mom, they found Fashion Week.  After countless shows, parties and events that we didn't understand, but went to anyway, we started to realize that we were stuck in an adolescent time warp.   

It matters where you sit.  Fashion shows have assigned seating.  High school cafeterias basically do as well.  Are you sitting with the cool kids or are you a solo sitter? Are you at the table nearest to the door or are you wedged next to the fry station? A big fashion show win is to get seated in the front row.  You can either allow them to place you there or you can employ Clark's move: go rogue and sit where you want.  If you sit in the front row you can make sure everyone is looking at you while you preen, plus it's easier to take pictures.  The drawback: when you start laughing hysterically because the models have spray painted halos on their heads, everyone can see you.  Sarah actually preferred standing, it felt more rebellious and little like skipping lunch all together to smoke cigarettes in the bathroom.  It also allowed for a quick exit and easy access to the bar.    
  
Everyone is staring at you. Remember how you thought everyone in high school was looking at you, even when you weren't stoned?  It's that paranoia that always seems to accompany adolescence.  Everything you think, do, and say is the center of the universe.   Fashion week is just like that.  Every time you walk into the room half the people in it give you the hairy eyeball.  That dreaded covert eye flick accompanied by a completely neutral facial expression that 16-year-olds all over the world seem to have perfected.  The kind of glance that send chills down your spine and has you wondering if your left shoe is waving a white tepee flag across the floor.   

It's all about the buzz. The cafeteria food line and the runway have more than a little overlap. Remember how it was the first place to hear what "everyone is talking about"? Gossip, buzz and hype are just as prevalent along the runways at fashion week. We can't tell you how many times we heard things like the following. "Is she serious with that outfit?" "I can't believe Lindsay Lohan did that at the AMFAR dinner." Nothing's changed.

It matters who you know.  Remember this scene?  It's lunch period on Friday.  You heard Dougie is having an amazing party at his house while his parents are in Myrtle Beach.  You thought Sue might invite you because you were besties in 7th grade.  You thought wrong.  If you want to go to Dougie's party you better show your credentials or somehow prove to Sue that you are going to up her cool factor.  As if that was even possible, she already shops at Contempo Casual instead of the Limited Too.  Fashion week = Friday lunch period.  There are places you are going to want to go if you want to remain socially "relevant" but unless the cool kids invite you can forget it.   The saving grace, unlike high school there is some rational adult part of yourself that remembers that you really didn't want to go there anyway. 

It's full of social castes.   NYC Fashion week is full of complex, daunting social intricacies that in many ways are just like high school.  Missing the head cheerleader? Look no further than Anna Wintour.  Everyone love/hates her and she's the coolest girl in the room.  You want to sit near her, but you would never actually talk to her because she'd probably make fun of your jeans.  Plus there is no way in hell she is inviting you to her party on Friday night.   What about the varsity football players? Oh don't worry, they are there too.  Except now they all work the door at New York's most exclusive night clubs.  You know the ones where you perform all manner of demeaning acts to enter, only to get in and realize it's the worst place on earth.   Art nerds.  Check.  Now creative directors and designers, they have moved from sticking things in the hall display cases to pinning them on people.  

Sure, the cafeteria factor is just one aspect of fashion week.  There are plenty of hidden gems that come in the form of great outfits, funny PR girls and people who seemed to have accidentally wandered into the wrong event.  Hell, we even saw a few of our fan favorites from Sundance.  This was obviously our least favorite part and while "we joke, we joke" let's get real about something.  Fashion week is interesting and does add some value in respect to art, design and self expression.  The problem with all the unpleasant social politics that get layered over the top is it takes away from what the experience should be about.  No one really wants to go back to high school, unless as Sarah's sister likes to say you "peaked too early."  It was an awkward time when many people were tormented just so a few other people could feel better about themselves.  Forcing people to relive that social trauma shouldn't be linked to what we will all be wearing in six months.  So we hope that next year, smiling, accessibility and substance become the new top trends in fashion.]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.1239131 2012-01-28T15:08:31-05:00 2012-03-29T05:12:01-04:00

Clark Seydel http://www.huffingtonpost.com/clark-seydel/


Clark and Sarah thought they would find their Sundance inspiration in the movie seats, and sometimes we did. We also found a couple naps and some stale popcorn. What we didn't expect was to have a microcosm of the Sundance experience, night after night, at dinner tables around town. People think Sundance is about the films, and they are sort of right, but mostly wrong. Sundance is about the experience of being with people who are recognized for telling their own stories and who are celebrated for the things they are most passionate about. That's the gift of Sundance, and we saw it play out every night over shared meals.

Luckily there was plenty of dining to go around, thanks to a new(ish) trend at the festival, the Supper Club. Clark and Sarah attended at least four of these spreads prepared by famous chefs for the independent film glitterati. Our hands down "I would eat here every night" favorite was the Ford/SHFT/W Hotel event that focused on sustainability. Ironically, this was probably the one Sarah wanted to attend least. It was her last night of the Sundance marathon and the two block walk from the car mostly consisted of her using her butt as a sled. But that all changed about five minutes after walking through the doors.

Every detail of the event was thought provoking and considered, from the little recycled denim envelope her menu came in to the food. These details are important because they created a seamless experience that provoked conversation around sustainability at every turn. It also showcased the passions and commitments of the organizers. This wasn't just a case of a brand slapping its name on an event. There was a clear commitment on behalf of Ford towards creating sustainable products and changing consumer behaviors. We also saw this passion for a cause at the Elle/Lanmark/Moroccan Oil event, which used their dinner as an opportunity to put the spotlight on women in film. As Pat Mitchell, President and CEO of the Paley Center for Media, recently perfectly articulated, this is something we should all get behind.

Like the Ford/SHFT/W Hotel event, Sundance is a larger experience that is more than just the sum of its parts. Seen from the outside, Sundance is just a bunch of movies, some brands and the people who flock to this snowy Utah town. But when you put everything together, just as when you combine ordinary ingredients into your favorite dish, some alchemy takes place. People are better just for being here. Sundance creates a space that provokes conversations around important issues ranging from sustainability to how we reconcile the imperfections of the people we love.

We know we already gifted you some fantastic snow pants, but we'd like to give you one more thing before we go... a little piece of Sundance. In this often difficult, reality TV saturated, shitty economic time there are still places where thousands of people can come together to be inspired. If you peel back the glitz, over the top branding and weird A-list movie stars in leggings, one of those places is here. ]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.1234230 2012-01-26T16:02:48-05:00 2012-03-27T05:12:01-04:00

Clark Seydel http://www.huffingtonpost.com/clark-seydel/ Look what we got you at Sundance! OK, not really.  We intended to bring you home one of everything we came across, but we couldn't afford the extra baggage fee when we tried to get on the airplane.  Instead, we are linking you to our favorite products/people/organizations from Sundance through a new social shopping site that benefits great causes. That way if you want to get your purchase on, you will be doing some good while you do your credit card some bad.   

Sarah's Swag Bag

Sorel Boots -- Sarah literally doesn't ever want to take these off.  Everyone should own a pair.  They are warm and they are comfortable.  They work with leggings, jeans and dresses.  But most importantly, they saved her from busting her ass about 837 times a day.

A snowboarding lesson with Danny Kass -- He was adorable with little kids, only laughed at us a little bit and was endlessly patient.  At one point, probably out of pity, Danny also showed Sarah how you snowboard in tandem.  It involved riding directly behind her so he could carry her entire body weight while going a million mph down the slope.  Snowplay beats foreplay! 

Sean Jean Jacket -- Who even knew he made jackets for women?  Sarah usually hates these coats because she looks like a stay puff marshmallow of an indeterminate gender.  Not the case in this one.  It belts, so she actually has a waist.  It's also light and form fitting.  

Oakley Snow Pants -- Sarah's obsessed with these.  They are black and lie low on your hips.  She got hit on because of them at least three times, so they must be flattering.  Who gets hit on in snow pants? They also went the distance when she was rolling around on the ground every two seconds as she fell down the bunny slope.

Illegal Mezcal -- Clark and Sarah had this at one of the parties they attended. It was so smooth, Sarah put a couple bottles in her purse. She probably shouldn't admit that.  The aged one was perfect for the martini they had that night, and the bloody marys they made their house mates the next morning.   

Veuve Clicquot's Fresh Beauty Bag -- Sarah loves Fresh. The stuff smells amazing and they always have good product ideas.  Sarah particularly liked the roll on perfume that came in the beauty bag and was based on the scent of champagne.  It made her feel saucy and let's be honest, who doesn't want to smell like a bottle of bubbly.  

Clark's Swag Bag

Issey Miyake Sport -- Clark scored this manfume on the way out of some dinner party.  He immediately sprayed it on himself and got great reviews for the rest of the night.  We tried to spread the love by re-gifting the body wash at the Bing Bar, but oddly no one was in the mood for a shower.     

Tout.com -- This is a new social video network that had a video booth at the festival.  They are totally integrated into FB and Twitter, which makes everyones' life easier and potentially more embarrassing.  We made a great one of Clark whipping his hair back and forth while doing full leg extensions on the dance floor.   Get some. 

Chopin Vodka -- This vodka was featured at the Fender Lodge and it was oh so smooth going down.  Most vodkas these days think that branching out means creating flavors like pink dingleberry and raspberry dazzleberry.  We like the fact that Chopin was keeping it classy and simple with it's single ingredient rye, wheat and potato vodkas.  

Hail Merry -- We think we had three meals in the first four days of Sundance.  Part of Clark's technique for survival was stuffing packets of these delicious treats into his pockets and pulling them out at completely inappropriate moments to snack on.  We don't know about the whole vegan thing, but these snacks may be the first step in a long road to winning us over. 

Fuck Cancer -- We love philanthropy and we were really excited to see this cause at Sundance.  They do amazing work around cancer education and early detection. You can never have too much of a good thing like that.  Plus we just like to say the word fuck. ]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.1230019 2012-01-25T14:30:10-05:00 2012-03-26T05:12:01-04:00

Clark Seydel http://www.huffingtonpost.com/clark-seydel/ Search engines vs. directors
Sundance vs. beverage companies  

It's not just the movies that square off at The Sundance Film Festival, the big brands and the festival itself are in the ring facing off too.

Walking down Main Street in Park City during the dance can feel a little like taking a stroll down a freezing cold, snowy mall.  Brands throw up all over you.  You have the Bing Lounge, the VEVO PowerStation and T-Mobile's Village at the Lift just to name a few.  Behind each of these doors is an oasis from the cold where you will be given free stuff and plied with alcohol.  If you're lucky, you might even be able to sit on a couch next to a quasi-celebrity and complain about the crowds together.  This is, of course, assuming you can get in.  If you aren't a celebrity, press or someone with an amazing talent for bullshit, chances are you won't be going past Door #1.   

Clark and I have visited the majority of these places, and it's been quite the experience.  We tried on boots with Common in a lounge.  We ate weird meatballs with Ron Livingston at some bar.  Clark got really excited about that because he loves Office Space.  Sarah got really excited about it because she loves Sex and the City.  Neither one of us knew what the other was talking about.  We got force fed chocolate Cream of Wheat with a celebrity whose name we didn't recognize and can't remember.  Apparently, she won an Oscar.  We wanted to talk to her, but got distracted by some sheets with naked scuba diving women wearing pearls on them. They were simply amazing. 

We also saw some films. Good movies and not so good movies.  Luckily, Sarah had practiced the face she talked about.  She was confronted with a director of a movie that made her eyeballs ache.  Somehow, she managed to make her face look un-offended and tell him he did a great job.  Regardless of whether we liked the movie, all of the filmmakers and actors we have met have been one of a kind.  They are like five-year-olds at Christmas, and just being near them feels like standing in the sun.  

After seeing both sides of Sundance, we think that the dynamic of Festival vs. Brands produces less than desirable results. There are a few brands that officially sponsor Sundance, but most don't.  The lack of affiliation is not ideal for many reasons.  Sundance is a nonprofit with an amazing mission, and it needs financial support.  When brands aren't officially integrated, they don't have to cough up any cash to the festival.  They should.  If they don't, it's kind of like spending the weekend at your buddy's house, using all his stuff and not buying the dude a drink at the bar.  Not cool.  Sundance is also year-round.  The brands just breeze into town for the weekend to get you drunk, but Sundance is here 365 days a year providing support to filmmakers. Brands should be helping them help us have better movies.  

Sundance also benefits from the brands. They host the after parties for the films, the dinners for the directors and provide everyone with lots of fun.  There is nothing wrong with that.  We are also, for better or worse, a product-driven society and some of them had some great stuff.  Sarah might have gotten 43 concussions without her new boots.  She never found those high heel crampons.  

We hope that next year the brands and Sundance will be holding hands in the ring instead of facing off.  Greater integration would only strengthen the festival experience for attendees and add value to both parties.  If we were driving this bus, we would ask that all brands make a financial contribution to Sundance and promote the festival while they promote their presence here.  It's a simple thing for a large brand to do and it would produce big results.  It would also get them lots of warm fuzzys from their consumers for being a supporter of film and the arts.    

The Sundance vs. the Brands battle is also an interesting discord in the context of what many anticipate will be a drastic change in how T.V. and movie content is financed and distributed in the coming year or two.  If the cable model breaks, it may just be that brands play a greater role in directly sponsoring television and movie content.  Festivals like Sundance are some of the places where the entertainment industry and the brands are already in bed together.  If Sundance can find a way to make the brands work for the Institute and the Festival, it could be an interesting lesson for all of us.  ]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.1220793 2012-01-21T12:59:23-05:00 2012-03-22T05:12:02-04:00

Clark Seydel http://www.huffingtonpost.com/clark-seydel/


Figuring out how to snowboard isn't easy. Unless you are at the Oakley Learn to Ride Powered by AT&T and the League of Super Fast Things event at Sundance.  It's a magical place where they dress you in cool clothes and give you a professional to help you fall your way down the mountain. We were lucky enough to get Danny Kass, one of the top snowboarders in the world.  Since it was our first time, we asked him for his top tips to avoid looking like an asshole on the slopes. He kindly obliged. Due entirely to our complete lack of skill, we aren't sure his pointers helped. 
 
TIP #1: Go to the little girls/boys room before a big ride
 
You are going to be hitting the ground really hard. You are also going to be laughing at your companion eating a ski slope snow cone. There is nothing cute about having an accident in your snow pants.  We can't confirm the science on this, but we think it also might put you at risk for hypothermia on your naughty parts.  
 
TIP #2: Take it from behind
 
Faces are not good for cushioning falls.  It's much better to take it on the behind.  Falling forward will result in the beginners snowboarding "stop, drop and roll."  A move where you pitch forward head over heels, limbs flailing wildly and become a hazard to anyone within five feet. 
 
TIP #3: Dress for success 
 
Snowboarding is one of the few times you can get away with wearing neon. Work it. Also find the right protective eye wear. There's going to be a lot of wet snow flying in your face.  We tried on a pair of Danny 's new Oakleys and Sarah's still wearing them five hours later. It's a test to see if they make people more attractive after a couple hours at the bar.
 
TIP #4: Don't take it out on the kids.
 
At some point, you will be lying on your back looking up at the sky after fall 213. A two year old will go whizzing by in perfect form. You irrationally want to throw a snow ball at their head for being better than you.  Pull it together. It's not their fault you snowboard worse than a toddler. 
 
TIP #5: It's not torture 
 
The following things are true.  It's hard.  You look like an idiot and you will turn your butt every color from yellow to eggplant.  It's also incredibly fun and you are surrounded by beautiful mountains.  We saw a couple people going to their "why am I so bad at this, I hate myself" angry place.   You have to keep it in perspective and stay loose.  ]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.1217285 2012-01-19T17:28:53-05:00 2012-03-20T05:12:01-04:00

Clark Seydel http://www.huffingtonpost.com/clark-seydel/
After extensive Internet research and input from Clark's years of experience, here's what we've decided to pack as our Sundance essentials:

HERS

Crampons for high heels. It's all about looking good and getting a grip. High heels plus snow and ice equals a personal safety hazard. I could always wear snow boots, but finding the right party dress to match has been a challenge. If only I could have found that perfect '80s snow bunny onesie.

A Script, regardless of whether or not I wrote it. Everyone you meet will be connected to the industry. You will bump into them in the bathroom, fight them for the last popcorn and be jammed up against them in lines. Don't miss these opportunities to pitch your script. What's that? You don't have a script. Find one. Showing up to Sundance without a script is like showing up for an important meeting without your pants on.

My Innocence. At lot of people like to hate on Sundance because of all the "other people" at the festival trying to sell you things. They complain about the lines, the swag house and the lack of focus on the movies. There is nothing I love more than making a judgment with little to no information. It's the American way. However, in this instance, I'm trying to remain uncorrupted and enjoy the experience without being jaded by all this naysayer talk. I love the concept of Sundance and I love Robert Redford so bring on the entertainment and the low fat, no butter popcorn.

An invitation for Parker Posey to go steady with me. Yes she will be there and yes I will find her. I've been obsessed with her ever since she combined stripped camel toe with screams to fry like bacon in the mid '90s. I love you Dazed and Confused. In a world of actresses who blend together and turn themselves inside out for big studio roles, Parker Posey does what she wants. And what she wants I like.

The right facial expression for a bad movie. I'm assuming that at some point I will see a movie that is not very good and I will have to then talk to someone who was in that movie. I know exactly what to do with my face when I enjoyed something. It's a little harder to find the right positioning for your mouth and eyebrows when something sucks.

HIS

1. My best "get me on the list" one liners. In addition to being THE place to see amazing movies, Sundance is a door gauntlet. You need to be on a list to go anywhere. This includes getting in to see the movie, the show or the after party. This is going to take some savvy negotiating so I've been perfecting my reasons for entry all week. I'm almost at the point where I can say things like the following with a straight face. "My old college buddy used to date the sister of the PR girl whose friend on Facebook is throwing this party. Let me in fool!"

2. A vintage cell phone for when my regular phone decides to go swimming. Everyone's been there. One minute you are holding your phone and the next it's submerged in your drink. Or maybe it just decided to take a dip in another body of water, like a hot tub. This year I'm taking a back up, a 1997 Nokia flip phone. Hello old friend, don't you look pretty.

4. Verbal self-control. This might take the shape of seven rolls of duct tape or a designer gag. A filter is one item my brain is typically lacking. Slapping duct tape straight across the mouth this year is going to avert some potentially awkward situations. Things not to be repeated from last year: telling an aging rapper what I really thought of his last album.

4. My manstyle. Looking good at Sundance isn't just for the ladies. I've packed all the important gear. Sunless tanning lotion, so I can compete with the fake baked celebers. Check. Man Uggs to keep the feet looking trendy and feeling toasty. Check. A puffy jacket that's so shiny you can check your hair in the reflection. Check.

That's it. Bags packed. See you on the slopes.]]>