The next day is Friday, January 16th.

The opening day of the third annual Sundance Film Festival.

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

At the Sundance Film Festival many years later, the small Park City was often crowded with people and very lively. Movie fans who wanted to watch a movie needed to go through procedures such as grabbing tickets to do so.

But now, Simon arrived in Park City for a day and had already visited everywhere. Although there were indeed more crowds in the small town due to the ski season, he basically didn't feel much of the atmosphere of the film festival.

Moreover, from the screening schedule released by the film, Simon discovered that there were only three theaters playing the films participating in this film festival.

After all, it was the opening ceremony, so it was quite lively outside the Egyptian Cinema.

Of course, there's no red carpet.

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

After briefly introducing Peter Butler beside him, Simon felt that Robert Redford had something to say to him, so he motioned for Janet and Peter to go in first, and he was pulled aside by Robert.

"Simon, everyone and I watched your movie yesterday afternoon. It was really surprising. It was even better than I imagined," Robert said, and then added: "So, I just want to ask, did you find a distributor?"

Is it ready? 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 already contacted Fox. They were very interested in this film, but

The terms have not been negotiated yet.”

"That's good. Fox is a very good choice. Simon, this is your first movie. Don't care too much about gains and losses. Building a reputation is the most important thing," Robert said, looked around, and lowered his voice.

: "Also, if there is nothing too important, just stay in Park City these days until the end."

This hint is still very obvious.

After being busy for several months, Simon originally planned to take some rest in Park City. Hearing this, 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 start soon."

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

Simon entered the screening room and glanced around. Although there were many people sitting in the entire theater, it was still far 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 started on time.

Robert Redford walked onto the stage with a smile on his face, held up the microphone, looked at the people in the audience, and said with a bit of sadness in his tone: "I remember two years ago, in this same theater, there were only a few people in the audience.

There were 100 people. In the next ten days, I stood in front of the only film festival screening venue, inviting everyone into the theater to watch movies like a bar soliciting business. The next year, Sundance successfully sold its first film

A film, "Footloose." At that time, I personally made many phone calls to Columbia Pictures CEO David Putnant, invited him to Park City, and personally pulled him into the screening room. Now, the third

In 2016, it was still the same theater, but there were more than 300 audiences in front of me. I am very pleased with this progress, and I also hope that this momentum can be maintained. One day, Sundance will be full of guests and guests."

Amidst the warm applause of everyone, Robert Redford looked for a moment in the audience. He could not determine the target for a while, but quickly said: "A few months ago, I encountered a very interesting thing. I was at Fox at the time

I was doing post-production work on a movie I was responsible for at the studio, and I happened to meet a few old friends who were planning to watch the sample footage of a movie. Out of curiosity, I stayed. Then, I saw a stunning piece of footage.

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 color matching. I was very excited at the time and said loudly to the producer of the movie, "

The photographer, lighting engineer, and set designer were all introduced to me, and I must let them participate in my next film. Then, what do you think the result will be?"

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

Some of the more professional filmmakers even looked suspicious. They all knew very well how difficult it was to shoot the shots Robert Redford described. Many people felt that Robert was already bragging.

Simon also had an expression of surprise. He didn't expect that Robert Redford would suddenly mention him. Janet came over very proudly and hugged her boyfriend's arm affectionately, with a bit of rosiness on her fair face.

Robert Redford gave a small pass, and after a brief pause, he said: "The ending 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 strictness."

After quitting at the request, I took on the job of lighting engineer myself."

After Robert finished speaking, there was a slight uproar in the audience.

who?

Robert, are you sure Hollywood has such power?

Can the film still be watched?

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 caught off guard, but under the gaze of hundreds of pairs of eyes looking at him at the same time, he quickly stood up and bowed to everyone with some restraint.

After Simon sat down again, Robert Redford continued: "This is this young man. He has a very special last name, Westeros, Simon Westeros. I am sure that everyone will be very popular in the future.

Familiar with this name. Of course, regarding his movie, it will still be in this theater at 9 o'clock on Sunday morning. I guarantee you that you will never be disappointed. Moreover, you can also carefully observe the members behind the scenes of this movie.

List, you will find that Simon has done more work personally than you think."

Simon is no longer an unknown person in Hollywood. Most of the filmmakers here who have been working at the bottom and want to enter the mainstream production circle are basically very concerned about the trends in the industry. Therefore, after a while of buzzing whispers, Simon's

Some stories also spread quickly.

On the stage, Robert Redford waited for a moment, and then continued: "When it comes to Simon, I just want to say that it is really not easy for independent filmmakers. Many very talented young people like Simon often fail.

They have all hit the wall countless times because of the conservative stereotypes of Hollywood, and have lost their dreams in the wasted years. Therefore, I very much hope that Sundance can become a platform for filmmakers to display their talents and become the starting point for some people’s dreams. To this end, I will give my all

Full strength."

Amidst the applause that rang out again in the screening room, Robert Redford raised his voice: "Finally, welcome everyone to Sundance."

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

The film festival usually selects works by heavyweights for its opening films. However, Sundance has obviously not been able to attract Hollywood celebrities to send their works. The opening film this time 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 has also become famous in recent years. The brothers' new work became the opening film of the third Sundance Film Festival, which can be regarded as a success.

Gimmick.

"Raising Arizona" tells the story of a stupid thief who wants to rob someone else's baby and take him back to raise because his wife is infertile. The two protagonists of the film are also famous, Nicolas Cage and Holly Hunter.

However, neither of the two protagonists came this time, and only one of the Coen brothers showed up.

It had just snowed, and the temperature in Park City at night was close to minus 10 degrees. Janet was a person who was very afraid of the cold. After attending the opening ceremony, the woman dragged Simon to rush back to the apartment in the resort, and Simon had to give up attending the evening party.

Thoughts, anyway, there are no celebrities that I am interested in attending.

The next day, when it was almost dawn, Simon drove out of Park City and rushed to the Salt Lake City Airport to pick him up.

It was just a casual mention at first, but Simon didn't expect that George Norman's niece Jennifer Raybould would actually come to Utah. The girl got the phone numbers of him and Janet's resort apartment from nowhere last night, and called

I hope Simon can pick her up today. She has never been to Utah before.

Salt Lake City Airport.

Simon had just arrived, and Jennifer Raybould and another girl appeared in the departure hall at about the same time. Seeing Simon holding a sign in his hand, the two girls trotted over. Moreover, although both girls were wearing winter coats, they

He obviously underestimated how cold it was in Utah. He didn't even wear a hat and looked like two little quails.

Without any time to introduce, Simon pointed towards the outside of the departure hall and said, "Let's get on the bus first."

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

It wasn't until they got into the car with the heater on that Jennifer's female companion said: "It's so cold. If I had known I wouldn't have come. Jenny, you're a liar. You even said you came to ski. Why do I feel something is wrong?"

As he said that, the girl suddenly stretched out her little hand from the back row and said with a smile: "Hi, handsome guy, I'm Lisa Collins."

"Simon Westeros," Simon shook hands with the other person, introduced himself, looked at the two girls in the back row who were only wearing women's short windbreakers, and said: "I will take you to buy clothes first."

"Okay, you are such a considerate guy. No wonder Jenny came to see you in this horrible weather."

Jennifer, who originally saw that Simon was still a little shy, heard this and said immediately: "Lisa, what are you talking about?"

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

"I'm not."

Simon started the car and listened to what Lisa Collins said. He looked up in the rearview mirror and saw that Jennifer's pretty fair face had turned into a red cloth. She turned sideways to stop her friend from continuing to talk nonsense, and her golden ponytail swayed.

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

Lisa Collins stopped laughing immediately: "Huh?"

Jennifer also looked over.

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

Jennifer recalled the time when Janet stayed with Simon in the hospital. She 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 resort in Park City, which happens to have two bedrooms. If you don't mind, you two can stay together for the next two days.

Stay there, the weather is too cold and the conditions in the hotel are definitely not as good as in the apartment."

Jennifer hesitated: "Would it be troublesome?"

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

When Jennifer heard what Simon said, she also chuckled on her face and said, "Well, okay. But my uncle won't do that."

Lisa Collins listened to the two people's decision and did not object. She smiled and leaned over to hug Jennifer, saying: "It's really time to ski now. But, Jenny, it seems you don't know how to ski, right?"

Jennifer moved her body, trying to push away her best friend who was hugging her, and said, "Don't you know how? Teach me. Otherwise, why would I bring you here?"

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

Simon thought for a while and said: "It should be okay."
Chapter completed!