Sundance days 2-3: A lame conversation with Paris Hilton

At the end of our second full day, we got to sample the Sundance party scene, and found it just about as overrated as you might think it is. We did have some noteworthy celeb encounters, but in the end it amounted to too many people being jammed into too small a space and everyone convincing themselves they were having fun.

Somehow I got on the media list for a private party at a house away from the main Sundance area - actually close to the Canyons ski resort, where we are staying due to a good deal on a condo (a deal that is perhaps a testament to the economy's effects on the fest). We had to clear a gauntlet of handlers to convince them we were on "the list," and we finally made our way to the house - spectacular, with 20-foot ceilings at least, and festooned with the logos of its sponsor, Vitaminwater. (Yes, everything here has a sponsor). The occasion was a private concert by rapper 50 Cent. Despite flashing my media badge and trying to sweettalk several bouncers, we stayed on the outside of the velvet ropes of the VIP area, but we saw plenty of comings and goings. One of the first was Paris Hilton, who comes to Sundance every year despite never having had a film at the festival. I stepped up to her with my tape recorder and said: "Just one media question, please?" Her friend said no, rather rudely, and Paris turned and said to my traveling companion: "My friend left her phone in the bathroom." I went ahead and tried with "How's Sundance going for you so far?" Her response: "Very relaxing."

I also tried talking to Tom Arnold, who looked ill and either has a speech impediment now or is high on something. Then, 50 Cent came out and sang "In da Club" to Jim Carrey, because it was Carrey's birthday (and I guess he was drinking Bacardi). Carrey and his squeeze Jenna McCarthy were up on the second-floor balcony where Fiddy was performing, as was Chris Rock. It was a pretty good performance - he played all his hits - but our lack of personal space led us to leave before it was over.

Despite the late return, we got up bright & early to attend an 8:30 a.m. documentary, "The Queen and I," about the exiled former queen of Iran, deposed when the Shah was expelled during the Iranian revolution. It was a really interesting bit of background that helps explain why things with Iran are the way they've become today. And, that's our last movie for the day, as we plan to spend the afternoon skiing, and then we hope to attend another party for more celeb sightings tonight.