Opening ceremony

The next day was Friday, January 16.

The opening day of the third Sundance Film Festival.

Simon had lunch with Peter Butler, a reporter from the Los Angeles Times who came to this film festival at noon. Around 12:30, everyone rushed to the Egyptian Cinema in Park City where the Sundance opening ceremony was held.

Many years later, at the Sundance Film Festival, the little Park City is often crowded with people and very lively. Movie fans who want to watch a movie need some procedures such as ticket grabbing to be able to do so.

But now, Simon has rushed to Park City for one day and has been there. Although there are indeed more people in the small town due to the ski season, he basically does not feel the atmosphere of the film festival.

Moreover, from the screening schedule issued by the film, Simon found that there were only three theaters showing the films participating in the festival.

After all, it was the opening ceremony, and it was quite lively outside the Egyptian cinema.

Of course, there is no red carpet.

As soon as Simon entered the theater, he was stopped by Robert Redford, who personally greeted the guests.

A brief introduction to Peter Butler beside him, Simon felt that Robert Redford had something to say to himself, so he motioned to Janet and Peter to go in, and he was pulled aside by Robert.

"Simon, everyone and I saw your movie yesterday afternoon. It's amazing. It's better than I thought." Robert said so, and then added: "So, I just want to ask, you find the release Is it right? If not, maybe I can help."

"Thank you, Bob," Simon naturally understood Redford's kindness, thanked him, and explained: "Before coming to Park City, I had contacted Fox. They were very interested in this film, but Conditions have not been negotiated yet."

"That's fine, Fox is a very good choice, Simon, this is your first movie. Don't be too concerned about gains and losses. The most important thing is to be famous," Robert said, looking around and lowering his voice. : "Also, if nothing is too important, just stay in Park City these days, for the end."

This hint is still very obvious.

After a few months of busy work, Simon had planned to rest in Park City for a few days. He nodded and said, "Bob, I will."

Robert smiled and patted Simon on the shoulder, and said: "Then, you go in first, the opening ceremony will begin soon."

Egyptian cinema is an old-fashioned large single hall cinema with more than 400 seats.

Simon entered the auditorium and glanced around. Although there were a lot of people in the theater, there was still some distance from being filled.

Finding Janet, Simon sat down on the edge of the aisle in the fifth row.

At 1 o'clock in the afternoon, the opening ceremony began on time.

Robert Redford walked onto the stage with a smile on his face, helped the microphone, and looked at the crowd, with a bit of sorrow in his tone, saying: "I remember two years ago, it was the same theater, and the audience just sat down. There were a hundred people. In the following ten days, I stood in front of the only film festival screening venue, and invited everyone into the theater to watch the movie like a bar soliciting business. The next year, Sundance successfully sold his first film. A film, "Freedom." At that time, I personally made a lot of calls to Columbia Pictures CEO David Punant, invited him to Park City, and personally pulled him into the theater. Now, third In 2016, it was still this theater, but there were more than 300 spectators in front of me. I am very pleased with this progress, and I hope that this momentum can continue. One day, Sundance will be full of guests."

Amid the enthusiastic applause of everyone, Robert Redford looked for a moment in the audience, unable to determine the goal for a while, but quickly said: "A few months ago, I encountered a very interesting thing. I was at Fox. The studio was doing the post-production for a movie that I was responsible for, and happened to meet a few old friends who were going to watch a sample of a movie. Out of curiosity, I stayed. Then, I saw an amazing The lens, the perfect photography, the perfect lighting, the perfect composition, the perfect setting, so perfect that the samples can be edited into a movie without even having to match colors. I was very excited at the time and said loudly to the producer of that movie, The photographers, lighting engineers, and set designers all introduced to me. I must let them participate in my next film. Then, guess what the result will be?"

The audience was quiet, and most people showed curious eyes.

Some more professional filmmakers are even suspicious. They all know very well how difficult it is to shoot the shots described by Robert Redford. Many people think that Robert is already bragging.

Simon also looked surprised, he did not expect Robert Redford to mention himself suddenly. Janet leaned over with You Rongyan, lovingly hugged her boyfriend's arm, her white face was a bit rosy,

Robert Redford sold a small pass, and after a short pause, he said: "The end is that the photographer and set designer of those shots are completely the same person. He is not only the director at the same time, but the lighting engineer can't stand his strict After requesting and quitting, he took up the job of lighting engineer himself."

When Robert's voice fell, there was a slight uproar in the audience.

Who?

Robert, are you sure that Hollywood has such a power?

Can I still watch the movie I made?

When countless question marks appeared in the minds of hundreds of people in the audience, Robert Redford finally found Simon's figure and raised his finger directly: "Hey, Simon, stand up and say hello to everyone."

Simon was a little caught off guard, but in the sight of hundreds of pairs of eyes looking at him at the same time, he quickly got up and bowed to everyone in a restrained manner.

When Simon sat down again, Robert Redford continued: "This young man, he has a very special surname, Westeros, Simon Westeros. I'm sure everyone will be very Familiar with this name. Of course, regarding his movie, at 9 o'clock on Sunday morning, it is still this theater. I assure you that you will never be disappointed. Moreover, you can also take a closer look at the members behind the movie. List, you will find that Simon has done more work himself than you think."

Simon is no longer an unknown person in Hollywood. Most of the filmmakers who want to enter the mainstream production circle at the bottom of the room are basically very concerned about industry trends. Therefore, after a buzzing and whispering, some of Simon's deeds quickly spread.

On the stage, Robert Redford waited for a moment before continuing: "Speaking of Simon's matter, I just want to say that it's really not easy for filmmakers to work alone. Many very talented young people like Simon often Because of Hollywood's conservative rigidity, I have run into a wall countless times and lost my dreams in the passing years. Therefore, I very much hope that Sundance can become a platform for filmmakers to showcase their talents and become the starting point for some people's dreams. For this, I will do my best. Do your best."

Amid the applause that sounded again in the projection hall, Robert Redford said: "Finally, welcome everyone to Sundance."

After the simple opening ceremony, there is the opening video.

The opening film of the film festival usually chooses the works of heavyweights. However, Sundance is obviously unable to attract Hollywood celebrities to send their own works. This time the opening film is the new film "Raising Arizona" by the Coen Brothers.

The Coen Brothers' "Blood Labyrinth" was the winner of the best feature film award at the first Sundance Film Festival, and it has also gained fame in recent years. The new work of the brothers became the opening film of the third Sundance Film Festival is also considered a gimmick.

"Raising Arizona" tells the story of a stupid thief who wants to rob someone else's baby because his wife is unable to give birth. The two protagonists of the film are also famous, Nicholas Cage and Holly Hunter.

However, the two protagonists did not come this time, and the Coen brothers only showed up.

It had just snowed and the night temperature in Park City was close to minus 10 degrees. Janet was a person who was afraid of the cold. After attending the opening ceremony, the woman pulled Simon to rush back to the resort apartment, and Simon had to give up attending the evening party. Thought, anyway, there were no celebrities interested in attending.

The next day, almost as soon as the sky turned up, Simon drove out of Park City and rushed to pick up people at the Salt Lake City Airport.

At first it was just a casual mention, Simon did not expect that George Norman's niece Jennifer Rebald would actually come to Utah. The girl didn't know where she got the phone call between him and the Janet Resort Apartment last night. She called and hoped that Simon could pick her up today. She had never been to Utah before.

Salt Lake City Airport.

Simon had just arrived, and Jennifer Rebald and another girl appeared in the terminal at about the same time. Seeing Simon holding a sign in his hand, both girls trot over. Moreover, although the two women were wearing winter clothes, they obviously underestimated the coldness of Utah. They didn't even wear hats. At this time, they looked like two little quails.

Before he could introduce him, Simon pointed to the outside of the waiting hall and said, "Let's get in the car first."

The two women nodded in agreement. The weather was so cold that they didn't even have the courage to speak.

It wasn't until I got into the heated car that Jennifer's female companion said: "It's so cold. I knew I wouldn't be here. Jenny, you liar. Why do I feel something wrong when I say skiing?" As she said, the girl suddenly reached out her small hand from the back row and said with a smile: "Hey, handsome guy, this is Lisa Collins."

"Simon Westeros," Simon and the other party shook hands, introduced himself, and looked at the two girls in the back row who only wore short trench coats, and said: "I will take you to buy clothes first."

"Okay, it's really an individual posting guy, no wonder Jenny has to come to see you in this ghostly weather."

Jennifer, who had originally seen Simon's shyness, heard the words and said, "Lisa, what are you talking about."

"Hehe, you recently rejected Edward's confession, isn't it because of him?"

"I'm not."

Simon started the car, heard Lisa Collins say this, looked up in the rearview mirror, Jennifer's fair face had turned into a red cloth, and she turned sideways to prevent her friend from continuing to talk nonsense, and the golden ponytail swayed.

Seeing the two women laughing, Simon felt that he had to explain first, so he said: "Lisa, Jenny and I are just ordinary friends, and I have a girlfriend."

Lisa Collinston stopped laughing: "Huh?"

Jennifer also looked over.

Simon glanced at Jennifer through the rearview mirror and said, "It's Janet, Jenny, do you remember?"

Jennifer remembered that Janet had accompanied Simon to bed in the hospital, nodded slightly, smiled, and said, "Of course, she is my uncle's client."

"One more thing," Simon looked at the rearview mirror again, and said, "Jenny and I rented an apartment in a Park City resort. It happened to have two bedrooms. If you don't mind, you two will have to Live there, the weather is too cold, and the conditions of the hotel are definitely not as good as those in the apartment."

Jennifer hesitated: "Will it be troublesome?"

Simon shook his head and said with a smile: "Of course not. Speaking of which, your uncle is now my personal lawyer. If he doesn't take care of you, he may lose the lawsuit."

Jennifer chuckles when he hears Simon's words, and says, "Well, okay. But uncle wouldn't do it."

Lisa Collins did not object to the decision made by the two of them. She smiled and leaned over to hug Jennifer, and said, "I'm really going to ski now. But, Jenny, you don't seem to know how to ski, right?"

Jennifer moved her body, trying to squeeze the girlfriend who was holding her arms away, and said: "Don't you know how to do it? Teach me. Why else would I bring you?"

"But I can't teach people," Lisa Collins said, turning to the front row: "Simon, can you teach people skiing?"

Simon thought for a while and said, "It should be possible."

"Hehe, then Jenny will leave it to you."