It’s cold, it’s crowded, and it’s fantastic: welcome to the Sundance Film Festival. From catching shuttles to meeting celebs, I have had a very different and wonderful experience in Park City. The independent film industry has its own share of celebrities and it really surprised me to see some of the big stars attending their premieres to packed cinema houses. I got to see Kevin Bacon from literally two feet away and shook hands with Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor, aside from meeting some of the upcoming independent filmmakers. What I observed was that they were just normal people, like us, who were good – if not great – at their professions. During many Q and A sessions, I would see them joke around with one another just like we would with our classmates or friends. Getting over my initial hype of meeting stars, I met some people who worked behind the scenes for many hours, in order to bring this unique film festival to the world. I was able to meet volunteers at bus stations, staff members at theaters, and even strike up an occasional conversation with the person behind the snack stand at some theater. Not only were they excited about the film festival and had their experiences to share, they all really wanted to be here at Sundance. I have never seen such enthusiasm before and it definitely rubbed of on me, making me even more excited to be attending the festival.
My first experience with the Sundance Film Festival has allowed me to interact with many different people who have varied views on the festival and independent cinema. One such encounter happened when I was waiting in line, at the Racquet Club Theater, to get into the Shorts IV program. I was at the very front of the line and struck up a conversation with Aurora, a Sundance visitor and volunteer, and we spoke for a long time. Given the opportunity, I decided to record the ‘interview’ and asked Aurora a few questions about her Sundance experience and how it had been for her. I was surprised and amazed at some of the experiences that she had to share, which displayed her enthusiasm for independent cinema and her choice for volunteering at the festival. I hope to meet more individuals who are able to expand my understanding of independent cinema, and the festival, through their knowledge. I have uploaded the interview below and I hope you enjoy watching it!
Every once in a while you come across a movie that stays with you for a very long time because of the story. Taking Chance is just such a movie: it hits home and it hits hard. Based on the real life experience of Lieutenant Colonel Michael Strobl (Kevin Bacon), the story revolves around Strobl taking the remains of Chance Phelps, a young Marine killed in Iraq, back to his family. Given that this is Ross Katz’s first directorial feature, it is all the more unique that he manages to convey with such ease a simple story about coming home that provides the audience with an unforgettable experience. (more…)
Harmony Korine’s father (Sol Korine) may have been a documentary filmmaker but that did not deter Korine from establishing his unique filmmaking style. I had not heard of Korine before, nor seen any of his films, and yet I have come to admire the man who is able to convey human emotions and stories in way that I have never experienced before. Born in California on the fourth of January 1973, Korine was raised partly in Tennessee and partly in New York. He watched several movies by independent filmmakers such as Jean-Luc Godard and John Cassavetes. He aspired to become a screenwriter and joined the Tisch School of Arts (New York University) for a degree in Dramatic Writing but dropped out after a year. He was then discovered by Larry Clark, the director of Kids, who asked Korine to pen the script for the movie.
With the release of Kids in 1995 and the success that came with it, Korine was able to make his first feature titled Gummo. He would later pen the script for Clark’s controversial movie, Ken Park. Gummo was one of Korine’s movies that I was able to watch, Julien Donkey-Boy (1999) being the other one. Gummo dealt with the social issues in the town of Xenia (Ohio) that was ripped apart by a tornado, prior to the filming of the movie. Julien Donkey-Boy, on the other hand, dealt with the plight of a schizophrenic child (Julien) and the sadistic abuse of his father. Korine would later create his third full feature, titled Mr. Lonely, which dealt with the daily life of a Michael Jackson impersonator. Korine has also made a few short films, a television series, and directed some music videos as well. (more…)
Todd Haynes’Safe depicts the story of Carol (Julianne Moore), a housewife whose bourgeois lifestyle slowly begins to disintegrate around her. Beginning with typical ‘picket fence’ image, Haynes gradually begins to show the effects of Carol’s monotonous lifestyle on her health, attributing it to a medical condition known as the “twentieth century illness” or “chemical sensitivity.” Carol eventually seeks solace in the Wrenwood retreat but still feels out of place and isolated. Finding little peace at Wrenwood, Carol eventually moves into a secluded pod and is completely cut off from the world. The gradual meltdown of Carol’s lifestyle and the slow isolation of her existence is difficult to watch but Haynes captures this brilliantly.
An open letter to the Sundancing team this year from a former student (now in film school):
Author Ryan Conrath and Zhang Yuan, director of 13 films including Beijing Bastards
Sundance is for many just an idea. It’s something that looms over countless student productions. It’s a running joke in film school: “When we get into Sundance…” In another sense, it’s also taken very seriously. It was a big deal when a colleague’s film got into Slamdance. The same guy’s movies have even been shown at Harvard and Cannes. But to my knowledge, Sundance still remains for him the elusive beast that it is for thousands upon thousands of expectant students and professionals.
Again, as an idea, Sundance is probably the most powerful force in American film today. It is almost more of a bragging point to say that your movie got into Sundance than it is to say it was optioned by Hollywood. (more…)
Although Martin Scorsese is better known for his versatility as a mainstream cinema filmmaker, he began his career creating several independent films. Mean Streets, one of his earlier films, provides the viewer with an insight into the creativity of this brilliant Italian-American filmmaker and sets the benchmark for his future crime/gang related films such as Goodfellas, Gangs of New York, and The Departed. Even though Mean Streets carries many concepts and emotions that are displayed in these future films of Scorsese, the film has its own unique look and feel. I had heard of Mean Streets before but wasn’t prepared for the experience that Kevin Thomas labels as “an unqualified triumph.”
The story is set in Little Italy - New York - where Charlie (Harvey Keitel) is a young Italian-American who is getting ready to go legit and take over a restaurant, thanks to his mob boss uncle Giovanni (Cesare Danova), and has everything one could ask for. His closest friend is Johnny Boy (Robert De Niro) who owes money all over town and eventually brings about Charlie’s downfall. Charlie stands up for Johnny and vouches for him because of something that Johnny did for him in the past. Charlie often goes to church and believes that “you don’t make up for your sins in church, you do it on the streets.” Unknown to Johnny and the others, Charlie is secretly dating Johnny’s epileptic cousin Teresa (Amy Robinson), who wants him to take their relationship public and move in with her. Johnny eventually runs into trouble with a local loan shark Michael (Richard Romanus) and it is then when things slowly begin to get out of hand, making Charlie choose between his future and his friendship/love, leading to a fitting climax.
Never having heard of John Cassavetes, or any of his movies, before receiving him as my Indie Icon, I was dubious about about his work. I went to Blockbuster, with an open mind, looking for any two of his movies. Prepared with a list of five or six titles, I journeyed to blockbuster only to find that they did not carry a single one. This did not enhance my confidence in Cassavetes. I was able to find A Women Under the Influence (only in VHS) and Shadows at Eckerd’s Library. I have not used a tape in eight years, it was a stroll down memory lane.
Not knowing who Cassavetes is did not matter; I was blown away with A Women Under the Influence. Mabel, played by Gena Rowlands, is constantly trying to fit her role as a mother and a wife. A bit on edge and not quite understood, things escalate. When Mabel is placed in a mental institute and months later brought back, the film shows the effects on the family.
I became exceedingly involved with the story. There I was sitting in the Library (only place I know that has a VHS player,) jaw down, eyes wide, starring at the TV only inches away from me. It is no wonder Rowlands won a Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture Actress and Cassavetes was nominated for Best Director and Best Screenplay.
Cassavetes attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts during his high school years. After graduation he continued acting and met future wife Gena Rowlands, who stared in many of his later films. Cassavetes began teaching acting workshops in New York City. It was during an improvisation exercise that Cassavetes was inspired to begin writing his first film Shadows. (more…)
The film festival is just a few days away and we’re all getting ready. We’ve been reading about and watching some of the independent classics, posting our takes on some of the indie icons and legends, and putting together wishlists of the films we will be sure to catch when we get to Park City, Utah.
Meanwhile, here’s a quick introduction to most of us - shot on my little Flip video camera - that may help those who read these pages to see more than a snapshot of who we are. Below that, I’ve posted some short films that some of the students in this class made during the Fall semester as part of my “Film and Philosophy” class. They’re not quite to the level of getting into Sundance - though in all honesty I find some of them more entertaining and thoughtful than some things I’ve seen at major festivals - but at least some of them can honestly say they are “independent filmmakers” too.
Here’s a very recent spoof on Steven Soderbergh’s independent classic sex, lies and videotape, made by several of our Sundancers: (more…)
Yet another sleepless night. Is it just the usual insomnia? It could be, but different kinds of thoughts fill my mind. I am tired. I could sleep at any time, but when I lay down countless thoughts race through my mind and keep me up. Each thought is a sheep, but not a peaceful sheep that helps me relax, they are annoying, loud sheep that keep me up. My mind continuously drifts to the upcoming trip that is in only three days. It is not the excitement for the trip that keeps me up. Though I am certainly excited for it, it is the anxiety that is keeping me up. I am going to Sundance for a second time, but this time it is to make a film, not to just watch them. I want to pursue film after I get out of school. It is funny that I word it “pursue” as if I am trying to catch it, yet it is running away from me.
To make film a career I need to try to “get into the business” once I’m done with my education. The most important thing that allows you to do this is making connections; networking. Now this program that I am in, Real Ideas Studio in which I make a documentary, is a great place to learn a lot about the actual art, but an added bonus is that I will meet people who provide networking opportunities. Those opportunities are what scares me so much. When will another opportunity like this come along in my life? (more…)
Never having heard of 
I became exceedingly involved with the story. There I was sitting in the Library (only place I know that has a VHS player,) jaw down, eyes wide, starring at the TV only inches away from me. It is no wonder Rowlands won a Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture Actress and Cassavetes was nominated for Best Director and Best Screenplay. 