The first full day at Sundance has come and gone, and what a snowy one it has been. I think the snow has started coming down early in the morning and went on and on all day. Everywhere you went you were knee deep in snow, slush and the occasional puddles. Luckily most of us were sensible enough to wear good snow boots so wadding in the snow was not that much of a problem other than slowing everything down.
Standing at Headquarters Friday morning sipping hot tea before heading out I ran into Michael Moore who seemed completely unfazed by the weather as he got ready to go to a screening. I headed out shortly after and made it to my first movie of the day.
Get Low is a film about a an elderly hermit who has been nursing a secret too painful for words for over 40 years. The film is set in the 30's and is remarkably beautiful to look at. The hermit, Felix Bush, portrayed exquisitely by Robert Duval, finally gets ready to unveil his secret, assisted throughout by the local funeral home owner played by Bill Murray. The two give great performances.
Next I headed to Eccles to see Happythankyoumoreplease, a film with a local connection to the Hudson Valley as Woodstocker Jade Healy was the production designer on the film (and she did a great job!). Written, directed and starring by the talented Josh Radnor (How I Met Your Mother) the film was definitely a crowd pleaser, receiving a standing ovation at the end from the sold out audience. Funny, witty, alternately heart warming and heart breaking this was an overall feel good movie for the hip generation. Set in NYC East Village the film features a cast of "hipsters" as they all work on their respective relationship and on themselves. Talented cast, smart writing, plenty of witty humor and a good number of emotional situation that could tug at your heart should make this film an enjoyable experience for a wide audience.
Later it was time to get ready for our Woodstock Film Festival party at the Yarrow. I was happy to welcome directors, producers and other industry folks from throughout the country to our gathering and watch them as they networked and had a good time. Thanks to 120dBfilms for sponsoring the party!
And thanks to all who came - Cynthia Kane of the San Francisco based ITVS, Stephen Nemeth of the LA based Rhino Films (here in Sundance with the film Climate Refugees), Rachel Grady and Heidi Ewing who are world premiering the doc 12th & Delaware in Sundance, Jonathan Gray and his partners, Jason Kliot and Joana Vicnete, Peter Saraf (here with Jack Goes Boating and Lucky), Louiville KY based producer Gill Holland, producer Amy Hobby (here at Slamdance with the new Steven Soderbergh film), Variety film critic John Anderson, Woodstocker Leon Gast and his team (here with Leon's new doc Smash His Camera) and so many more...
Here is to all of you. See you again out in the snow.
1 comment:
1st- I'm glad to hear you were braving the cold and snow. I hope you were warm.
2nd - Did you get into a conversation with Michael Moore? Perhaps we canget him to come to our festival, or do a talk at UPAC?
3rd- Sounds like the party was a success! SSOOO GLAD TO HEAR IT!
(I hope the brochures came in time and were helpful).
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