Here's the plan Gilmore and director of programming John Cooper gave to the New York Times in December:

The festival, for instance, will make certain that no film is screened only in the Holiday Village theater in Park City, operated by Cinemark, a chain whose chief executive, Alan Stock, donated to Proposition 8’s backers in the November election. The idea is to give anyone who has qualms about Cinemark the opportunity to see a movie somewhere else.

But, given the dearth of theaters, programmers don’t intend to abandon the Holiday Village.

“We don’t have an alternative,” Mr. Gilmore said. “If we had another theater we could walk down the street to, we might be thinking about that.”

On its face, such a plan seemed superfluous: most Sundance films screen publicly around four to six times in several different theaters—including ones in Salt Lake City—so there was never any chance that a film's public screenings would be held exclusively at the Holiday Village (especially when they tend to premiere at big venues like the Eccles or Egyptian Theatre before working their way down to smaller screening rooms).

Running parallel to those public screenings are ones for press and industry only, and it's here that the Cinemark situation not only wasn't rectified, but has actually gotten worse.

For film critics and buyers who want to see as many films as possible, the press/industry screenings are the only way to go: no tickets are needed beforehand, and the screening experience is quick and easy (unlike public screenings, which sell out beforehand, start late, are buttressed by introductions and Q&As, and occur in isolated areas). Until this year, the press screenings were typically held in three locations: two separate, makeshift screenings rooms in the Yarrow Hotel, and one screening room in Cinemark's Holiday Village multiplex (just across a parking lot from the Yarrow).

Ironically, programmers have eliminated one of the two Yarrow screening rooms this year and made up for the loss by adding another to the Holiday Village. Since each film gets only one official press/industry screening (a precious few popular films sometimes get an encore screening near the end of the festival), this ensures that at least two-thirds of the festival's programming will only screen for the industry at Cinemark-owned theaters—and that includes gay-themed films like Dare and One Day in a Life. Press and industry who don't want to patronize the Holiday Village could always request comped tickets to public screenings, but Sundance rules permit only one comped ticket per day.

As Gilmore has said, there's a dearth of screening rooms in Park City, so abandoning the Holiday Village entirely would have been a difficult proposition. Still, the official line that steps were taken to assuage activist concerns increasingly appears to be little more than a snow job.

It came when The View hosted the gay-married Melissa Etheridge, who used the talk show patter before her performance to criticize Elisabeth's frequent, erroneous statements about Proposition 8. Though well-intended, we wish Etheridge had reminded Elisabeth that the "activist judges" she so derides also enacted unpopular-yet-pivotal civil rights decisions like Brown v. Board of Education and Loving v. Virginia. Also, that Swedish priest she mentions? Didn't actually go to jail! Sherri Shepherd stepped in to break things up, but eventually Etheridge performed "Blue Christmas," which prompted Elizabeth to announce that she's glad Melissa is going to have a blue Christmas. We'll bet.

• The View [ABC]

Sykes has always been a reliable talk show staple, but this was her first stint on a couch since announcing her gay marriage last month. Demonstrating her commitment to education and outreach, she chose the often gay-stymied Leno for the honor, who promptly speculated that it must have been his long-ago clumsy flirtation that turned the comedienne gay. If that's the case, then forgive us for asking: Ryan Reynolds, it's almost 11am PST. Do you know who your wife is with? [The Tonight Show]

First, DeGeneres pleaded with Pitt to give her some sort of idea how to lure the long-absent George Clooney onto her set, prompting Pitt to detail an unorthodox trap involving speedos, greased pecs, and peroxided hair. Then, the talk show host thanked Pitt for contributing "to Proposition 8" (actually, he contributed against it, but y'know, whatevs!), a good deed that Pitt attributed to shoring up his base "an issue of equality." Clip above.

• Ellen

• Prop 8 The Musical [Funny Or Die]

“I feel honored to have worked with such a wonderful group of people at the Los Angeles Film Festival over the last nine years. I am proud of our accomplishments. And I am proud to have worked at Film Independent, an organization whose principles and values of diversity and artistic integrity I cherish. I have always held the belief that all people, no matter race, religion, or sexual orientation, are entitled to equal rights. As many know, I consider myself a devout and faithful Mormon. I prefer to keep the details around my contribution through my church a private matter. But I am profoundly sorry for the negative attention that my actions have drawn to Film Independent and for the hurt and pain that is being experienced in the GLBT community.” [The Advocate]

According to Poland, Raddon's now resigned for real — and it isn't simply a gesture that Film Independent can reject. The move comes after reporters at the LAT finally seemed to realize, "Oh hey, a big juicy Hollywood story in our backyard. Maybe we should cover it?" Their weekend piece explored not only Raddon's donation but the division that exists within gay Hollywood over how to proceed:

Gregg Araki, director of the critically acclaimed gay cult hit "Mysterious Skin" and an influential figure in "new queer cinema," has said he won't allow his films to be shown [in Cinemark theaters], while others, such as "Milk" producers and gay activists Dan Jinks and Bruce Cohen, say they're going to "study in depth all the facets of our specific situation before making a decision."

Araki says Raddon should step down. "I don't think he should be forcibly removed. The bottom line is if he contributed money to a hateful campaign against black people, or against Jewish people, or any other minority group, there would be much less excusing of him. The terrible irony is that he runs a film festival that is intended to promote tolerance and equality."

Others are leery of punishing free speech, even if they consider it hateful. "I can't quite stomach the notion that you fire somebody because of what they believe. It doesn't feel right to me," says Christine Vachon, a pillar of gay cinema who produced such films as "Boys Don't Cry" and "Far From Heaven." [...]

[Bill] Condon, the gay writer-director of "Dreamgirls" and a Film Independent board member, offered this retort to what he calls the "off-with-his-head" crowd: "If you're asking, 'Do we take discrimination against gays as seriously as bigotry against African Americans and Jews?' . . . the answer is, 'Of course we do.' But we also believe that some people, including Rich, saw Prop. 8 not as a civil rights issue but a religious one. That is their right. And it is not, in and of itself, proof of bigotry."

We're a little confused by what more proof Condon would need, but no matter! Now that Raddon is out, the festival planning can resume unabated, and the search for a new director can begin. Mickey Rourke, call your agent!

• Raddon Resigns [Hot Blog]

• Liberal Hollywood ponders next step in fight for same-sex marriage [LAT]

Bitter activists simply cannot accept the outcome as being truly reflective of the general public. So they have placed the brainwashing blame upon the crusading and misleading zealotry of those religious villains: the Catholics, evangelical Protestants, and especially Mormons, who allegedly are robbing the rights of American citizens by merely executing their right to vote and standing upon their moral convictions and traditional views. [...]

The truth is that the great majority of Prop. 8 advocates are not bigots or hatemongers. They are American citizens who are following 5,000 years of human history and the belief of every major people and religion: Marriage is a sacred union between a man and a woman. Their pro-Prop. 8 votes weren't intended to deprive any group of its rights; they were safeguarding their honest convictions regarding the boundaries of marriage.

Yes, and Norris respects those boundaries of marriage, which is why he has already been married, divorced, and remarried, and why he has a daughter he didn't meet until she turned 26 because she was the result of an extramarital affair. Chuck, Chuck, Chuck: gay people want to have that too! How can you be so unfair to deprive two people who love each other the privilege of runing marriage from the inside?

[Photo Credit: AP]

• If Democracy Doesn't Work, Try Anarchy [TownHall]

"It's hilarious - very acerbic and biting. It offends everybody but does what 'South Park' does best, which is by the end it comes around and has something great to say," Cheyenne told Pop Wrap.

"I play the main missionary, Elder something," he said, straining to recall the name of his character. But the biggest unknown still is who else will be joining the cast. When I asked Cheyenne which other actors would be co-starring, all he would say (through the world's largest grin) is, "a lot of people - all amazing." ...The show starts rehearsals in December, so expect to see it on the Great White Way sometime in 2009!

Finally, a way for gays to get inside Mormons that doesn't involve three Sprite Zeros and some balled-up long underwear! At Defamer HQ, we're especially excited for the original soundtrack; we've heard that even Sondheim can't top the Joseph Smith love theme, "I Do, I Do, I Do (to You, and You, and You)."

• 'South Park' Creators Take on Salt Lake in New Mormon Musical! [Popwrap]

• Wanda Sykes @ LV Gay Rally: "I’m Proud To Be Gay" [Vegas Happens Here]

And with that, Sundance (and the media, in particular) will face its first real and direct challenge... as Cinemark owns the Holiday Village Cinemas, where many of the press screenings are during Sundance. In fact, it is the only real theater - the rest are built in ballrooms for the purpose - used for press screenings during the festival.

So now we have something real on the table. Are those of us in the media who are supportive of the constitutional rights of gays in Americsa [sic] obliged to pass on any screening in the Holiday Village Cinemas (where, ironically, I once saw liberals enraged because the great neo-Nazi doc, Blood in the Face, was not clear enough about being anti-Nazi). What about the indie publicists, most of the male species of which are gay? Do they work that cinema? Do their cliients [sic] just say "no?"

Yes, those poor gay publicists — whatever will they do?! The idea of boycotting the Holiday Village gives protesters (and the festival itself) a tangible objective, even if the HV is typically seen as the "afterthought theatre" where movies not big enough to play at the Yarrow 1 and 2 typically end up. Still, think of the plush stadium seating that will be lost! Can the Sundance press corps afford that sacrifice?
[Photo Credit: AP]

• Cinemark CEO gave $9,999 to anti-gay Prop 8 bigots [Americablog]

• And Now, Prop 8's Direct Challenge To Sundance [HotBlog]

A floor manager stood in the middle of the back room where the community conference and stated that "El Coyote DOES NOT share the same views as Marjorie." He stated that 89 families were going to be affected by this boycott and one of the community members screamed out "18,000 families already HAVE been affected!"

...Marjorie walked out with (her two daughters?) on arm and spoke visibly shaken and full of remorse from a prepared statement.

...A gentleman by the same of Sam, who said he was an ex-member of the Mormon Church, asked if she was willing to donate to NO on 8.

She started crying.

A representative of the restaurant stepped in and stated that El Coyote was going to donate to Lambda Legal and the Gay and Lesbian Center and Sam said, I asked HER what SHE was going to do.

Marjorie said: "I will not."

At which point the place went insane.

One of the (daughters?) started yelling at everyone telling them (and I quote) "The church just tells you when to donate, it doesn't tell you how to vote. It very, very rarely tells you how to vote." (SHUT UP! I KNOW! X2) "Marjorie is your friend-" at which point someone prominently yelled: "SHE IS NOT MY FRIEND. FRIENDS DON'T HELP TAKE THE RIGHTS AWAY OF OTHER FRIENDS AND THEN BLAME IT ON THEIR CHURCH!"

Once the room calmed down, Marjorie was asked again if SHE would do anything to counteract what she had done and she said: "No." at which point someone yelled "This is bullshit" and another yelled "BOYCOTT EL COYOTE" and Marjorie was swiftly escorted out the back entrance as people dispersed saying "She just made this even worse" and a man started walking through the restaurant telling customers that "MARJORIE VOTED YES ON PROP 8 AND YOUR MONEY IS DOING THE SAME THING BY HER GIVING HER EARNINGS TO THE MORMON CHURCH!"

Box Turtle Bulletin backs up the account and adds anecdotal evidence that business at El Coyote already seems to have taken a hit: namely, you can find parking there now! Suddenly, we're boycott happy... could someone please launch a protest of Koreatown? Last time, we had to drive around for fifteen minutes to find a space!

• A EL Coyote Prop 8 "Press" Conference w/ MARJORIE CHRISTOFFERSEN. [Shut Up! I Know!]

The boycott talk is coming from outside the industry, not inside. So far, calls for a boycott are mainly coming from bloggers, not influential directors, producers, and actors. We don't see that changing, unless the cash-poor Harvey Weinstein decides to make a dramatic nonattendance statement as a way to save face (and plane airfare).

A boycott big enough to matter is unlikely. The young filmmakers accepted into the festival would crawl over their own mothers to be there, and the Sundance hangers-on like Paris Hilton have never been bastions of activism. Without enough straight allies who could bear to part with their tickets to Park City, there's no chance to make a big dent, because...

The gay presence at Sundance has waned. Back before your associate editor took up blogging and adopted the royal "we" at Defamer, I held a regular gig as The Advocate's film critic and attended several Sundances working the gay beat (not as hustler-ish as it sounds!). Though the film festival has a deservedly gay-friendly rep, it's gone through some pretty sparse queer years as of late. At the 2007 festival, the gay slate had so little on it that the centerpiece was a Chad Allen movie. If Sundance was boycotted by gay filmmakers and queer-themed films, the lineup wouldn't change that much.

We're all about new and novel ways to protest (what's this we keep hearing about "A Day Without a Gay"?), but the Sundance idea seems DOA to us, especially when everybody's already got their plane tickets set for January. Next year might be a different story — there'll be a lot more lead time — but let's hope there won't be reason to protest then, OK?

[Photo Credit: AP]

• Gay Activists vs. Utah and Sundance [Variety]

prop 8
Current mood: apoplectic

oh you pretty things!

i voted NO against prop 8 !!!! the kids outside were there to clarify that the language was indeed confusing, and so by the way it was, i think its possible alot of people voting YES on prop 8 thought they were voting AGAINST it
I AM NOT ONE OF THEM

and oer the Huffington Post
ARianna knows me, she knows i am an intelligent and refined woman as anyone who knows me knows,
stop leaning on 1 my shitty grammatical errors and spelling when i blog

clarity
Current mood: anal plug

i voted AGAINST proposition 8. i want there to be gay marriage rights passionately.
clear?

shall i dress up a giant butt plug and march ? cos if i have time i dammed well will.

Uh, no need, Court! All is forgiven! Truly, who could ever have believed that a woman with such an obvious, enviable grasp of the English language could be fooled by some vague wording into voting incorrectly? We were wrong to doubt you, Courtney; just save your inappropriate dress-up for Frances Bean's psyche-scarring sweet seventeen, OK?

[Photo Credit: X17]

• prop 8 [Courtney Love]

• clarity [Courtney Love]

We already found two donations from David Geffen amounting to $200,000, and, confirming reports, another $100k each from a "self-employed" Brad Pitt and Ellen DeGeneres. And what of donations in support of the measure? We managed to ferret out an "unemployed" Mel Gibson living in Cameron Park who gave $250 to the Yes side. Alas, this was probably not the star but a gay-hater of lesser means bearing the same name, as Cameron Park is a community about 25 miles outside Sacramento. Then again, you never know where the Malibu land baron might have a little pied-a-terre. We'll just assume it is the Apocalypto director until we hear otherwise.

• Follow the money: Track contributors [LAT]