Photos:: Sundance Film Festival: Time out for studio silliness

There is a lot of pressure at the Sundance Film Festival for films to perform well as they hope to get picked up for broader distribution or just look to make a mark on the festival circuit.

So it’s good to have a release valve in the form of the L.A. Times’ photo and video studio.

Here are a few of the more fun photos that have been taken during the first week of the festival by photographer Jay L. Clendenin. Warning: Funny faces ahead.

Cast and crew from the film “The Skinny�

(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Star-producer Illeana Douglas, left, executive producer Jill Soloway, executive producer Rebecca Odes, star-director-producer Jessie Kahnweiler, and producer Andrea Sperling from the film “The Skinny� get a little wild.

Abigail Spencer from the series “Rectify.�

(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Maybe the snow got to Abigail Spencer, actress from the series “Rectify,� who pulled her sweater over her face.

Cast and crew from the film “Captain Fantastic.�

(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Annalise Basso, from the film “Captain Fantastic,� flings her hair, then joins the cast as she, left, Samantha Isler, Charlie Shotwell, Erin Moriarty, George MacKay, Nicholas Hamilton, Shree Crooks, director Matt Ross and Viggo Mortensen pose.

The cast, producers writers and director from the film “The Greasy Strangler.�

(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Josh Walker, left, Ant Timpson, Daniel Noah, Elijah Wood, Michael St. Michaels, Elizabeth De Razzo, Sky Elobar, Joe David Walters and Tim League do a bit of self-promotion.

Director Otto J. Bell of the film “The Eagle Huntress.�

(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Director Otto J. Bell of the film “The Eagle Huntress� poses for a portrait with Nuepi, a golden eagle.

Taika Waititi, writer-director from the film “Hunt for the Wilderpeople.�

(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Taika Waititi, writer-director of the film “Hunt for the Wilderpeople,� won’t find the Wilderpeople where’s he’s looking.

Cast and crew from “Hunt for the Wilderpeople.�

(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Waititi takes a break looking for the Wilderpeople as he, second from the left, Rhys Darby, Julian Dennison and Sam Neill pose.

Producers and director of “Suited.�

(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Producer Jenni Konner, left, director and former “Girls� boom mic operator Jason Benjamin, and producer Lena Dunham, from the film “Suited,� get touchy feely.

Cast and crew from the film “Spa Night.�

(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Haerry Kim, left, director Andrew Ahn and Joe Seo from the film “Spa Night� don’t make relaxing faces while posing for portraits.

A group from the film “Carnage Park.�

(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

“Carnage Park� castmates Ashley Bell, left, Pat Healy, Mickey Keating, Michael Villar and James Landry Hébert apparently see one of the funniest things ever.

A “Bad Kids� duo in the studio.

(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

“Bad Kids� duo Jennifer Coffield and A.J. Wright.