| Page 3 of 3 < |
Now Playing
A Grand Entrance
Mark Ein, left, Christopher Tavlarides and Raul Fernandez try the Park City, Utah, slopes at Sundance Film Festival.
(Courtesy Of Mark Ein)
TOOLBOX
   Resize
COMMENT
 Discussion Policy
 CLOSE
Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.
Who's Blogging  |
The Gulfstream lands in Salt Lake City about 11 p.m., and the passengers slide into a white GM Denali. After a quick stop at their hotel, the Canyons resort in Park City, the group heads out for a little fun. As is their habit, they go straight to the front of the VIP line and are whisked in. Hundred-dollar bills slipped to various drivers, hosts and hostesses mean that these guys never wait in line.
Similarly, service people are summoned to the room for ski and boot fittings, and the skis are waiting a few minutes later in the lobby, even though it's not hotel policy. "Time is a commodity to us," Tavlarides says.
All weekend, the three continue to check their communication devices, running their businesses as they play. Ein is on the computer or his BlackBerry in the car, at the breakfast table, even on the ski slopes. Riding the chairlift, he uses his cell to set up a lunchtime speaker for an upcoming technology conference. Fernandez peels off between ski runs to get on a conference call.
"Those two are on, always," Tavlarides says of Ein and Fernandez. "Raul hits the power button. He can turn it on and work like crazy, then turns it off to rest. . . . Raul has ratcheted it down since he had children."
Ein and Tavlarides enjoy a friendly rivalry, racing on the ski slopes and needling each other everywhere. At one point, as the group waits in front of the hotel for a car, Ein notes that Fernandez provided the Gulfstream and Ein arranged for the hotel rooms and Mercedes-Benz vehicles. "What contributions are you making to this trip, Tavs?" he says.
With a straight face, Tavlarides offers a few sticks of gum and cans of Red Bull.
At the resort, Fernandez, Ein and Tavlarides share a two-story apartment with cathedral ceilings and a flagstone fireplace. Fernandez's bedroom is a sprawling suite with a fireplace and view of the Wasatch Mountains. "Room selection was based on net worth, so Raul got the best one," Tavlarides says.
For the premiere of "Nanking," Fernandez and Ein have planned a dramatic entrance, featuring a chauffeured, $325,000 Maybach limousine. As the car pulls up to the theater, Leonsis, his family and an entourage of cameras and newspeople chatting on the snowy sidewalk turn to see who has arrived.
The Maybach rolls to a stop, and out step Ein and Fernandez. Leonsis opens his arms to embrace his posse, and he laughs.
"Raul, nice ride," he says.
Leonsis considers the luxury car, possibly a bit out of place to celebrate a movie documenting the murder of 300,000 Chinese. "But what were you thinking?" he laughs. "We made a holocaust film."
