Sundance Cinemas 608 reflux

We had planned a full-blown post [beyond eavesdropping on the concessionaires] WRT to the wall-to-wall coverage building up to Sundance Cinemas 608's public opening this past weekend.

David Bordwell beat us to it:

The company played the local press like a violin, slowly building the news and letting local bigwigs get the VIP tour before opening.

Also, Dane101, Isthmus subsidiary:

In the Isthmus blog, The Daily Page, Sean provides a vivid and detailed account of going to Sundance 608, including the “convenience fee,” which I’ve never encountered but which makes great sense. One more reason to get homesick for Mad City.

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BONUS: @ Free Republic, "Diana in Wisconsin" took advantage of TCT's recent embrace of Creative Commons licensing to syndicate Rob Thomas' interview with Robert Redford, retitling it "Star-Struck Gush Fest." (Diana may not subscribe to The Progressive.)

Sundance Cinemas 608 proletariat rises up in face of finals' week stress (overheard #1)

UW Student 1: Yeah--I have to work for all these people this week. And I'M THE ONLY ONE WHO's a student.

UW Student 2: I stood up to my manager--I feel really good about that...

He's like this big guy and totally tries to bully people--especially the assistant managers.

[He said] "So what you're saying is that you can't work at all this weekend?"
[I said] "Yup"

[Nodding smugly]

UWS1: Where is it?

UWS2: It's at Hilldale. It's probably gonna fail--who's going to pay twelve dollars to see a movie?

It's like an art-house. They're trying to make like this whole new experience. With like a café. They're gonna have Peet's

UWS1: There's going to be Peet's in Madison?!!

UWS2: They're trying to make this real upscale, hip thing. I feel like they're kind of misjudging the Madison market: sure, it's more cultured than wisconsin as a whole [something about appreciating film, food] but that doesn't mean you're bourgeois.

UWS1: What's going to be playing?

UWS2: Black Book--directed by Paul Verhoeven. [Actually,] the first one is Paris, j'taime, this movie by 18 different directors... They've got Waitress.

[more movie talk]

UWS2: ...Robert Redford isn't going to be at the opening.

• ...but at least he wished WSJ's Conklin joyeux anniversaire!
• Laskin, in the Isthmus: Sundance 608 swell(-s within West Side's cultural vacuum).
• Russell has opined on Peet's Pennyroyal Tea @ Dane101.
• Tonya ran down next weekend's full opening lineup @ Screen Siren.
  

Shakily hand-recorded @ Memorial Library 5/6/07. Do share your own eavesdropping, voyeurism.