Hollywood Hunter

The next day is Friday, January 16.

The opening day of the third Sundance Film Festival.

At noon, Simon had lunch with Peter Butler, a reporter from the Los Angeles Times who came to the film festival. At about 12:30, everyone rushed to the Park City Egyptian Theater to hold the opening ceremony of Sundance.

After many years of the Sundance Film Festival, the small Park City is often crowded and very lively.Fans who want to watch a movie need a program such as ticket grabbing to get their wish.

But now, when Simon came to Park City for a day, he has already gone everywhere. Although there are indeed more people in the town due to the ski season, he basically does not feel the atmosphere of the film festival.

Moreover, from the screening schedule of the film distribution, Simon found that there were only three theaters playing the films participating in the festival.

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

Of course, there is no red carpet.

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

Briefly introducing Peter Butler beside him, Simon felt that Robert Redford had something to say to himself, and he signaled Janet and Peter to advance, and he was taken by Roberta.

"Simon, I watched your movie with you yesterday afternoon, which is really amazing, better than I thought," Robert said, and then said again: "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, and thanked him before saying: "Before I came to Park City, I had already contacted Fox. They were very interested in this film, but they have not yet Negotiate the conditions."

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

This suggestion is still very obvious.

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

Robert patted Simon on the shoulder with a smile, and said, "So, go ahead, the opening ceremony will begin soon."

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

Simon entered the screening room and glanced around. Although the whole theater seated a lot of people, it was still some distance away from being filled.

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

At 1 pm, the opening ceremony began on time.

Robert Redford walked onto the stage with a smile, held the microphone and looked at the audience, with a bit of sigh in his tone, said: "Remember that two years ago, this is also the same theater. A hundred people. In the next ten days, I stood in front of this only film festival screening venue and invited everyone to watch movies like a bar to solicit business. The following year, Sundance successfully sold its first A film, "Freedom". At that time, I personally made many phone calls to Columbia Film Company CEO David Punante, invited the other party to Park City, and pulled him into the screening room. Now, the third In this year, it is still this screening hall, but I have more than 300 audiences in front of me. I am very pleased with this progress, and I hope that this momentum will continue. One day, Sundance will be full of guests."

In the warm applause of everyone, Robert Redford looked down the stage for a moment, but he was unable to determine the target for a while, but quickly said: "A few months ago, I encountered a very interesting thing. At that time I was in Fox The film city did the post-production for a film he was in charge of, and happened to meet several old friends who were planning to watch a sample of a film.

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

Some more professional filmmakers are even suspicious. They are very clear about how difficult it is to shoot the lens described by Robert Redford. Many people think that Robert has begun to brag.

Simon was also surprised, and he didn't expect Robert Redford to mention himself suddenly.However, Janet leaned over with honor, embraced her boyfriend's arm intimately, and her fair face was a little ruddy.

Robert Redford sold a small pass, and after a short pause, he said: "The result is that the photographer and set designer of those lenses are completely alone. He not only serves as a director at the same time, but the lighting engineer can't stand his strictness. After he asked to quit, he took up the work of the lighting engineer himself."

Robert's voice fell, and there was a slight uproar from the audience.

Who?

Robert, are you sure Hollywood has such power?

Can I still watch the movie I made?

Hundreds of people in the audience had countless question marks in their minds. 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 eyes of hundreds of pairs looking at it at the same time, he got up quickly, and bowed to the crowd with some restraint.

After Simon sat down again, Robert Redford continued: "It is this young man who has a very special surname, Westeros. Simon Westeros. I think everyone will definitely be very familiar in the future This name. Of course, regarding his movie, it’s still the theater at 9 a.m. on Sunday, and I assure you that you will never be disappointed. And, you can also take a closer look at the list of members behind the scene. You will find that Simon has done more work than you have imagined."

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 scene are very concerned about the dynamics in the industry.So, after a whisper of buzz, some of Simon's deeds spread quickly.

On the stage, Robert Redford waited for a moment, and then continued: "Speaking of Simon, I just want to say that the independent filmmaker is really not easy. Many very talented young people like Simon are often Because of Hollywood’s conservative stereotypes, they have hit walls many times and lost their dreams in the past. Therefore, I very much hope that Sundance can become a platform for filmmakers to show their talents and become the starting point for some people’s dreams. Full strength."

In the applause that sounded again in the screening hall, Robert Redford said, "Finally, welcome everyone to Sundance."

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

The usual opening movies of the festival will choose heavyweight works, but Sundance obviously can't attract Hollywood front-line guides to send their works. This opening movie is the new film "Bringing Arizona" of the Cohen Brothers.

The Cohen Brothers' "Blood Labyrinth" is the winner of the first Sundance Film Festival award for best feature film. It has also gained a reputation in recent years.It is also a gimmick for the brothers’ new work to become the opening film of the third Sundance Film Festival.

"Raising Arizona" tells the story of a stupid thief who wants to rob other people's babies to bring them up for their wives' infertility.The two protagonists of the film are also famous, Nicholas Cage and Holly Hunt.

However, the two protagonists did not come this time, and the Cohen brothers only appeared one person.

Just after it snowed, the night temperature in Park City was close to minus 10 degrees Celsius. Janet was a person who was afraid of the cold. After attending the opening ceremony, the woman pulled Simon and wanted to rush back to the resort's apartment. Simon had to give up the evening party. Thoughts, anyway, there is no star of interest to attend.

The next day, when the sky was almost lit, Simon drove away from Park City and rushed to the Salt Lake City Airport to pick him up.

It was just casual mention at the beginning, Simon did not expect that George Norman's niece Jennifer Rebold would really come to Utah.The girl didn’t know where she got the phone call from Janet Resort Apartment last night. She called and hoped Simon could pick her up today. She had never been to Utah before.

Salt Lake City Airport.

Simon had just arrived, and Jennifer Rebold and another girl appeared in the waiting hall at about the same time. When they saw Simon holding a sign in his hand, both girls trot over.Moreover, although both women wore winter coats, they obviously underestimated the coldness of Utah and did not even wear a hat. At this time, they looked like two little quails.

Too late to introduce, Simon pointed out of the waiting hall and said, "Let's get in the car first."

The two women nodded in agreement, the weather was too cold, and did not 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 anymore. Jennifer, you liar, said skiing, why do I feel a little wrong?" With that said, the girl suddenly reached out a small hand from the back row and smiled: "Hi, handsome guy, I'm Lisa Collins."

"Simon Westeros," Simon shook hands with each other and introduced himself, looking at the two girls in the back row who were only wearing women's short trench coats and said, "I'll take you to buy clothes first."

"Okay, it's a very personal guy. No wonder Jenny will come to see you in this ghost weather."

Originally seeing that Simon was still shy, Jennifer heard the words and immediately said: "Lisa, what nonsense you are."

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

"I'm not."

Simon started the car, listening to Lisa Collins's words, and looked up in the rearview mirror. Jennifer's fair face had turned into a red cloth, preventing her friend from continuing to talk nonsense, and the golden pony tail wobbled.

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

Lisa Collins stopped laughing and opened her mouth in surprise: "Ah?"

Jennifer looked over.

Simon glanced at Jennifer through the rearview mirror and said, "Jane, Jenny, do you remember?"

Jennifer remembered that Janet was staying with Simon in the hospital. He nodded gently and smiled. "Of course, she is my uncle's client."

"One more thing," Simon looked at the rearview mirror again. "Jenny and I rented an apartment in a Park City resort with exactly two bedrooms. If you don't mind, the two of you will Stay there. The weather is too cold. The condition of the hotel is definitely not as good as in the apartment."

Jennifer hesitated: "Is it troublesome?"

Simon shook his head and said with a smile: "Of course not. Speaking of it, your uncle is also my personal lawyer. If you can't take care of you well, you will probably lose the lawsuit when you don't know."

Jennifer listened to Simon's words and smiled lightly on his face, saying, "Then, okay. But uncle wouldn't do that."

Lisa Collins listened to the decision made by the two and did not object. She smiled and hugged Jennifer, saying, "It's really time to ski now. But, Jenny, don't you seem to ski?"

Jennifer moved around, trying to squeeze the embraced girlfriends away, and said, "Aren't you going to teach me? Teach me. Or else will I bring you here?"

"But I won'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 fine."

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