Etiquette tips for the stargazers at Sundance

There's a good reason that people say a little piece of California comes to Utah during the Sundance Film Festival. Park City's Main Street often resembles a snowier version of Hollywood's glitzy Melrose Avenue while Sundance is in progress.

In particular, the downtown area often becomes crowded with stargazers hoping to get a glimpse at celebrities.

But, along with their entourages, celebrities — as well as television and film crews, journalists and just-plain moviegoers — are here to take in the independent films that make Sundance a unique film festival.

Stargazers also show up at events in Sundance's other host communities, Salt Lake City, Ogden and the Sundance resort. On a smaller scale, of course.

But believe it or not, there's a certain protocol for Sundance. Hollywood etiquette isn't quite like Utah etiquette. These are "personalities" we're talking about here, after all.

Expected festival attendees this year include Sundance Institute big-wig Robert Redford (for at least the first day), Samuel L. Jackson, Antonio Banderas, Queen Latifah, Anthony Hopkins, Penelope Cruz, Michael Douglas, John Cusack and Lindsay Lohan, among others.

So at the risk of sounding like Miss Manners, here's a list of festival dos and don'ts from a festival veteran:

• ASK FIRST, AND ASK NICELY. Celebrities are people, too. If you want to get an autograph or to take a photo, you'll have to ask permission. Many stars have bodyguards who are used to dealing with paparazzi, and they'll seize cameras and cell phones if provoked.

• DO TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER. Many celebrities are approachable. Jodie Foster won over several locals when she was at Sundance in 2001 and 2002, as she graciously agreed to several photo requests.

But sometimes the stars can be pretty nasty or rude. Take Val Kilmer, who ignored requests from autograph hounds, and simply pulled his New York Times over his face. (Trust me, he didn't do it in a nice way.)

• DO NOT ASK PERSONAL QUESTIONS. If you do see a celebrity at a Sundance event or even on the street, it's all right to compliment them or exchange pleasantries. Questions, however, are a completely different matter.

When then-couple Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez were peppered by queries about their relationship in 2003, they quickly hopped in their rented vehicle and sped down Main Street, heedless of pedestrians.