Here's my pitch for a new location for the Sundance Film Festival: anywhere that's not a ritzy vacation destination for rich people. Force industry types to get outside their bubble. Maybe then independent film can mean something other than "niche art by & for the affluent."
Here's my pitch for a new location for the Sundance Film Festival: anywhere that's not a ritzy vacation destination for rich people. Force industry types to get outside their bubble. Maybe then independent film can mean something other than "niche art by & for the affluent."
"Sundance movie" meant stuff like BLOOD SIMPLE, GAS FOOD LODGING, EL MARIACHI, STRANGERS IN PARADISE, what have you. Sort of outsider weirdos making punk rock movies. Who knows. Maybe I'm just getting old & grumpy. But "indie film" generally feels a bit safe & solemn right now.
I agree w/ you—Sundance’s new home city needs to change the dynamic of Big Film. Get indie film back out of the bubble. Allow many more regular people to attend screenings. Not an elite or chocolate box town (possibly ruling out Santa Fe). Not a metropolis (not Denver, Chicago, LA). Leaving the West seems out of character, but I’ll keep an open mind. Some candidates: 1. Albuquerque 2. San Antonio 3. Houston (at #3 US city, maybe too big, but has $, space, civic will for culture) 4. Kansas City 5. St. Louis 6. Salt Lake City 7. Dark horse: Vegas What do you think?
reminds me of when Amazon said it was looking for some new headquarter sites and all the cities provided all these portfolios with demographic information income information, racial distribution, etc. They’re gonna get all this free information about the cities -like a CIA trove of stuff for free.
@tonytost It's gonna be Napa, isn't it? Maybe Palm Springs.
@tonytost Sun Valley, Idaho. Far away to justify private jets and the locals are used to seeing Celebrities parading in G-Wagons.
@tonytost Basically said as much to Franklin Leonard. What does Sundance represent? I vote Houston, which I'd argue is probably the most American city right now.