Sundance film festival observations [EDIT: my friends won!!!]

[MaxDepth]

You might say that this is sour grapes on my part and maybe you are right. I don't feel that way. But let me say a few things about this film festival.

My history with Sundance
Two years ago I went to Sundance because I made the semi finals of the screenwriters' workshop and made some new acquaintances (before being cut, that is, not selected to particpate in the workshop) and too I would be staying for the Olympics later on anyway.

This year
I have two great friends that are showing their documentary, Monster Road, at Slamdance this year. Well right now in fact (just got a call from them.) I wish them the best of luck. Slamdance isn't Sundance but a response to the "Hollywoodization" of the supposedly indie refuge. It is held in Park City, at the same time too.


Someone once asked Robert Redford (the man who created this festival) if he thought Sundance was becomming too Hollywood. He replied, "the fact is that we have simply created the worst possible conditions to have a festival, and that's why I like it. Because it brings the good people in and creates a kind of bonding that you couldn't get at an ultra high-service resort." So maybe it doesn't bring out all the lawyer and sycophants to Park City, but this is no longer a breeding ground for independent and a voice for smaller works. This is business. (Much like saying the I-A college football is equal among all 116 teams.) And business will bring the ultra-high service to the resort.

I've notice a trend too. It used to be movies and documentaries made by and starring in people without ties to Hollywood. It was a rare actor or actress that would appear in a movie and mostly because they enjoyed making movies (and had no offers from the studios in awhile). And now we have actors becoming directors and movies filled with mainstream actors. I don't fault them for doing it, more power to them in trying out new things. But it seems that this festival is choosing these people over the real indie and small time people. It has become a feeding freenzy for studios to buy ready made films at a fraction of the cost of green lighting one from the system.

I truly think those in charge of Sundance have sold out and that Redford is too lost in his dream world to understand or believe it.


Link to a feeding frenzy article
Photo Gallery of this year


Btw, locals refer to this crowd as PIBs (people in black). It's not supposed to be a nice term.

EDIT: My friends won Best Documentary at Slamdance!

 

[fumbduck]

I would love to go to Sundance. I am a very big fan of independent and foreign films.

I really don't care about the goal of it, I know that more and more it is becoming a hollywood thing, with actors like Christopher Walken appearing in movies there very often, but he kicks ass, what can I say?

 

[MaxDepth]

UPDATE: my friends are in negotiations with distributors for their documentary. To them it isn't about the money (although recouping the money spent on production and having some return is always appreciated.) But it is more about having your work distributed and shown around the world that makes them stuppidly giddy right now.

 

[pulse8]

Originally posted by: MaxDepth
UPDATE: my friends are in negotiations with distributors for their documentary. To them it isn't about the money (although recouping the money spent on production and having some return is always appreciated.) But it is more about having your work distributed and shown around the world that makes them stuppidly giddy right now.

They'd get over that real quick if someone offered them $15 million for their film.

 

[bigalt]

just about every independent film that makes any noise at all has one hollywood star in it these days.

i thought south park's sundance episode was pretty much spot on.

 

[MaxDepth]

Grand Jury Sparky Award for Best Documentary Feature

Hooray! It wasn't Sundance and the discussions for buying the documentary have closed, but it is a great regoniytion for all their hard work.

Now if we could get the roads in better shape (from the ice and snow), we going to throw them a party!

 

[GreenGhost]

More important than being true indie is the ability of producing quality with meager (relatively speaking) resources. Hollywood actors will be attracted to good movies, which attracts public and distributors, and this starts a positive cycle. Successful people will always accept good offers from Hollywood (they are not crazy) and will "depart." At least the new people usually try something new and creative, as opposed to remaking old French films -- old in this case being 2-3years, as we've seen recently.

Although I don't care much about the festival (was it the circus showing on tv this week? couldn't watch for more than 5 mins), it's interesting to see the best movies on TV -- let's say in the yearly average of new-to-tv releases -- are always on IFC and Sundance channels.