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Jane Clark Blog - Her Sundance Experience
A week has passed and the flurry (figuratively and literally speaking) is quickly fading from memory, moving to become blended into the 9 other Sundance Film Festivals I have attended...consecutively. This year was no different from any other, though people like to bitch and gripe about all the things that Sundance is not any more. I will admit that the lounges and spas that sprang up 5 or so years ago are abundant. But they have been that abundant for 3 or 4 years now and truthfully, you almost don't notice them these days. The parties are still too many to name and number. But since I'm on the list for a lot of them, (my husband is an entertainment reporter, which gets us invited places) I personally love that aspect. Little side note, there are a lot more private dinners, which are more fun and tend to offer more smooze opportunities as well. Jane Clark and how Sundance has changed And alright there are a lot of films that have big stars and decent-sized budgets, so maybe there's some truth to the fact that overall, the idea of independent at Sundance is a little different than the idea of independent at say...oh...The Bare Bones Film Festival in Muskogee, Oklahoma. But that doesn't make the films less valid, nor the method of making them less independent. It simply means that admittance, in general, to the holy grail of film festivals requires a bigger budget and name stars. Two things that can be difficult to come by. Jane Clark talks about Film Festivals as a whole As an added twist, the festival is great about supporting their past filmmakers, some of whom have shown three or four times at Sundance over a decade or so of their career. As their numbers grow that means there is less room for first timers to break in and make a name for themselves. But see, I think that's okay. I actually think its great that these days filmmakers are able to make a career pursuing their individualized, uniquely personal films and not having to sell out to Hollywood in order to feed their family. However, part of that choice requires having an outlet to screen and sell those films. It seems appropriate that the senior film festivals are the ones to offer that outlet. Now its just time for a more fledgingly film festival or two to step into the void and become what Sundance used to be. (okay, I
know you are going to say what about Slamdance, but honestly in the vortex of Sundance, Slamdance still gets ignored by a majority of filmgoers...she says, guiltily). Point being that I think Sundance has matured and grown into a elder statesman role and in many ways that is entirely appropriate. And even with that being noticable, they manage to introduce first time filmmakers along with their more seasoned veterans. So bitch and gripe. Complain that Sundance sucks and has become commercial. That it's all about the sponsors. That they didn't take your film because they only program films with stars, or films made by people they know, or films financed by the mini-studios like Focus and Fox Searchlight. Maybe all that's true! But if one day, you by-pass all the obstacles and your film is screening in the mountains of Park City, all will be forgotten and forgiven and Sundance will be the best place ever for your film to be seen. And you'll be right. Jane Clark
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