PARK CITY — Ever crave having someone pamper you like a star, spoil you like a celebrity and shower you with expensive, top-of-the-line products and glitzy and glamorous gifts of the latest styles and trends?
Interested in being treated to a luxurious vacation at a Caribbean resort or having your personal concierge hook you up with otherwise unobtainable VIP seats to the hottest Broadway shows, sporting events or concerts?
Or maybe you'd like wearing high-end Elie Tahari leather gloves with cashmere lining, sporting pricey, personally fitted Austrian-handcrafted Silhouette TMA sunglasses, donning a Nautica puff jacket with fur hood lining or adorning yourself with elegant Flying Lizard jewelry?
Sounds good, but you don't want to be a politician or an Olympic bidder?
If so, quick, pull out your video camera, start making a movie and submit it for next year's Sundance Film Festival. If Robert Redford signs you on, you too could feel like Robin Leach should be featuring you in "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous."
At least, that is, after you pick up your gift bag.
All of the above — and so much more loot: lotions, cosmetics, DVDs, gift certificates, clothing, etc.— is included in the swag bag filmmakers are receiving compliments of the Sundance Channel this year.
The gratuitous goodies, also being given to industry VIPs and attending celebrities, are worth more than $5,000. It's the channel's way of spoiling participants and showing their appreciation (and, quite frankly, it sure beats getting a thank-you card). Also in the bag: Biotherm Bronze Magic Luminescent Aqua Gel, Crunch Fitness membership, Frederic Fekkai shampoo and conditioner, Hadley Pollet designer belt, Invicta high-tech watch, Junkfood Heather vintage T-shirts, Mario Badescu Walnut body lotion, a wireless Microsoft mouse, Sundance DVD collection, gift certificates to Shopbop.com and Skinklinic, a limited Rock & Republic men's zip-up jacket, Tarte cosmetics, Umbra Capri photo frame, Zirh skin nutrition bar, Kiss My Face suntan lotion and even a Lotta Jandsdotter fabric greeting card.
Don't let anyone tell you making a low-budget movie doesn't have its perks.
"It's like Christmas," said Samantha Haft, co-founder of On 3 Productions, the New York-based company that produced the event's customized gifting experience.
"Filmmakers are just gasping at what they're getting. Their expressions have been priceless."
Just imagine the look on the face of the man who made the full-length feature "Tarnation" for $218.32 when he received his bag. He could sell his graft on eBay and make back 25 times his investment.
As for the givers, they're also desiring to increase on their slightly loftier investment — a combined $2.5 million when considering retail value of donated items for 500 bags. By giving away stuff at high-visibility events — such as Sundance, the Academy Awards and the Emmys — companies hope that word-of-mouth advertising will result from people seeing their products on the famous.
Gift bags have become such a popular merchandise marketing tool, Haft said, "you'd be amazed" at how much was submitted. Of the hundreds of wannabes, only 22 products made the final cut to get in the bag — which, by the way, is a stylish Kenneth Cole black leather and suede travel tote.
"It's basically a way to generate buzz, excitement and brand awareness," Haft said. "You can't really have a show — a movie premiere, an awards show or a fashion show — without a gift bag these days. It's just another element of the event. And it's a fun component"
And that isn't even the only grab bag. The festival is presenting a separate bag, reportedly worth up to $3,000, to filmmakers, media and others deemed important. The Park City Marriott, festival headquarters, removed both beds out of the hotel room/gift-giving central to fit boxes loaded with snowboarding jackets, turtleneck sweaters, watches, scarves, collector Coke bottles, blankets, etc.
"People keep telling me I must pick this up," said Jennifer Abbott, director of "The Corporation." "It's pretty heavy."
Karmen Hendrix, a volunteer from Midland, Texas, couldn't help but be a bit jealous while handing out supplies. In this case, it's better to receive than give.
"I'm wishing," she said, "I was a filmmaker actually."
It's easy to see why.
E-MAIL: jody@desnews.com