This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Park City • Most people probably wouldn't recognize the Hollywood actors dressed down like commoners as they walk the streets of Park City.
However, like a shiny lure for a massive trout, a flashing camera suddenly attracts the attention of bystanders. The moving lights and cameras traipse up the snowy sidewalk capturing actor James Franco's every move around Sundance. The actor's mouth moves from stoic to smirky as his fans admire him walking toward the Playboy Lounge on Main Street a week ago on Friday during the Sundance Film Festival.
Franco, the lead actor in the Oscar-nominated "127 Hours," trails his entourage of security. Fans flock toward him and suddenly, a night club entrance that was previously seeing casual traffic is inundated with loiterers waiting for a glimpse of Franco. Once-separate lines entering clubs Tatou, Playboy Lounge and Harry O's have now merged into one crowded mess overflowing into the street and disrupting traffic.
Cue the Park City police.
When the small tourist town of Park City — normal population 7,500 — peaks at nearly 40,000 people during the parties, premieres and events of the Sundance Film Festival, a more intense police presence is required to keep things from getting out of hand.
"Everyone needs to be uphill from me, otherwise you are not getting in; let's go!" shouts a security guard for Harry O's after Park City police Sgt. Barry Robinson tells him to get the lines in control and out of traffic.
Officers don't have to say much more; club owners and security officers know the drill. If they are the cause of too much commotion or overcrowding that violates fire code, their businesses could get a citation, which could shut them down for a day or for the duration of Sundance. Club owners promptly comply.
"Let's clear this out; let's go, everyone!" the security officer anxiously shouts again.
After just a few minutes the lines clear up, and bystanders realize Franco isn't coming out of the club right away and return to walking Main Street.
Robinson said the first weekend of Sundance is usually the most rowdy, but this year has been relatively low-key. On opening night, Jan. 20, Robinson said the only major incident involved an intoxicated woman who wanted to fight officers. She ended up going to jail.
Park City puts two extra officers on duty during the festival. Additional resources are called in from Summit County and other surrounding agencies. Park City police said the majority of DUIs issued during Sundance are enforced by the Summit County Sheriff's Office and Utah Highway Patrol as people leave or enter the city.
Summit County Jail Sgt. Bob Kunze said just like retail stores have Black Friday, the jail has its own sort of Black Friday.
"Sundance brings out our 'Black Week,' " Kunze said, noting that four years ago the county jail set a record with 23 people booked in one day.
Most of the bookings are related to DUIs or other alcohol-related offenses, typically class B misdemeanors.
There are a few rules for policing the Sundance Film Festival. The biggest: No vacation is allowed for Park City officers during Sundance, and officers can expect to rack up a lot of overtime. About 40 hours of overtime for 10 days is the average, Robinson said, adding that overtime is paid by the festival.
Throughout the evening, Robinson and other officers respond to reports of intoxicated men and women, and people throwing snowballs at officers and others from balconies above the street.
During Sundance, The Star Bar is turned into the House of Blues Foundation Room, where big acts including Third Eye Blind, The Pussycat Dolls, Nelly and the Wailers performed.
Danny Hill, manager of The Star Bar, said local police help keep things running smooth.
"We have a great relationship with the city police. We love to help them because it does help out," Hill said.
Robinson said the department has learned over the years of Sundance festivals that being out and visible is the best form of enforcement. Police quickly remove anyone making a scene to stop the situation from getting out of control.
"If there is a problem, we hit it fast and remove them," he said. —
Sundance crime incidents
Jan. 23, a man kicked another man dancing in front of him for "unknown reasons," according to a police report.
On Monday, 16 gift bags worth about $14,000 were stolen from a hotel ballroom that "was accidentally left un-secure."
On Monday, a fight broke out between a night club staff member and the club's own hired private security.
On Monday, a drunk person lost his balance and fell in the road in front of a slow-moving taxi. The person, who was unharmed, became angry and assaulted and "threatened the taxi driver and blamed the driver" for what happened. The person was cited by police for intoxication and assault.
On Wednesday night, witnesses saw a man push a woman against a wall and choke her. The man was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence assault and intoxication. The woman was arrested because she had warrants out and gave false information to police.