I am Hollywood

[Chapter 1090: A Lucky Find]

After dinner, Jodie, who had promised to accompany Eric back to Liberty City Manor, suddenly had a change of heart. With a sigh about how unpredictable women's hearts could be, Eric had no choice but to take her back to her place.

On January 21, Thursday, it was the opening day of the 15th Sundance Film Festival.

Eric flew with Julia to Salt Lake City, Utah, that afternoon. The flight from Los Angeles to Salt Lake City only took an hour. The festival was located in Park City, about twenty miles east of Salt Lake City, nestled in the mountains. After the brief transfer, they arrived at their booked resort just before 4 PM, with the opening ceremony set for 7 PM.

Upon entering the resort's apartment, Julia couldn't wait to take off her heavy white down jacket. She immediately complained, "It's freezing! I wouldn't have come if I'd known it would be this cold."

Compared to the spring-like warmth of Los Angeles, Park City, having just experienced snowfall, had daytime temperatures below freezing.

The heating had already been turned on in the apartment. Eric sent off the acquisitions manager from New Line Cinema, who had handed him a stack of film schedules and party information for the festival, placing them on the coffee table. He walked over to help Julia remove her jacket, chuckling, "Haven't you been here before?"

"Nope," Julia shook her head. "If Robert hadn't invited me personally, and if Cookie's Fortune wasn't the opening film, I wouldn't have come."

Cookie's Fortune was a new film from renowned Hollywood director Robert Altman. This veteran filmmaker had a knack for creating various satirical films, commanding the star power on par with Woody Allen. Additionally, Altman was known for his ensemble cast, often showcasing multiple Hollywood stars in cameo roles. To enhance her profile and credentials while filming mainstream commercial movies, Julia had also made appearances in several of Altman's films, which explained her attendance.

"If you don't like it, we can head back tomorrow," Eric suggested as he hung Julia's jacket on a hanger, removing his own trench coat before settling onto the sofa by the fireplace. He began flipping through the stack of materials.

Julia came over, leaning against him. "No way! Eric, let's spend the weekend here together, okay?"

With their usually busy schedules, this rare opportunity for the two of them to spend time together was not something Eric was willing to pass up. "Alright, I'll see what good movies are showing."

As Julia leaned closer to look at the film schedule, she quickly lost interest after only glancing at a few listings. She pulled out another set of information, stating, "None of these movies seem interesting. Let's just hit the party instead."

Despite gaining more recognition over the years, the Sundance Film Festival hadn't yet reached its peak.

The most apparent difference was that none of the films in the stack were directed by well-known filmmakers, nor did they feature any prominent Hollywood actors. However, this essence highlighted Sundance's dedication to showcasing independent films and new talent. Years later, even as it attracted more Oscar-caliber filmmakers, the festival would become increasingly commercialized.

Flipping through the film list, Eric was surprised to spot a German film called Run Lola Run, directed by Tom Tykwer. It had been nominated in the World Cinema section.

He had never seen the film but had heard about it. He knew that historically, it had a significant impact on Doug Liman's shooting of The Bourne Identity, which led Liman to invite the film's star, Franka Potente, to play the lead role of Marie.

Noting the screening time for Run Lola Run was set for the following morning, he folded the page to mark it.

The parties in Park City were completely incomparable to those in Los Angeles. Julia assessed the list of little-known films' associated events and completely lost her enthusiasm. Yet, as long as she could spend a few quiet days alone with Eric, she was content without needing any activities. She tossed aside the party materials and reached to wrap her arm around Eric's.

"Hey, let's go see this movie tomorrow morning," Eric indicated the information for Run Lola Run, glancing at the clock. "What are you planning to wear?"

"It doesn't matter; there's no red carpet," Julia replied, shaking her head. "I'll just wear what I have on."

...

Though the winter days were short, the blanket of snow covering Park City kept the evenings bright, even as the temperatures continued to drop.

Outside the theater hosting the opening ceremony, a few photographers and fans had gathered, some with cameras, eagerly hoping to catch a glimpse of the event. Their expressions held curiosity and excitement, but it lacked the electrifying vibe of large award ceremonies.

This was to be expected. Besides Robert Redford, the founder of the Sundance Film Festival, the only recognizable group so far was that of the Cookie's Fortune cast, who had entered the theater recently. However, these stars were merely familiar faces in Hollywood, along with some seasoned actors in supporting roles -- nothing to get the younger fans overly excited.

Tony Gellson, a photographer for The Hollywood Reporter, snapped a couple of shots of the crew from the newly released The Adventures of Sebastian Cole and glanced around, his spirits low. He began discussing strategies with a colleague from another LA media outlet about how to secure tickets for the weekend's ASC party in Park City.

Although it wasn't strictly a film event, many top singers would attend the party, promising a lot of useful scoops.

A black Range Rover pulled up to the theater entrance. Tony was initially indifferent, thinking there would be many filming opportunities on the route from the street to the theater. However, his colleague suddenly gasped, elbowing him excitedly, "Look, oh my God!"

Wondering why his colleague was acting so shocked, Tony turned his head, first noticing Julia in her white down jacket. Just as he raised his camera to take a shot, he promptly realized that the young man casually linking arms with her was none other than Eric Williams!

How could Eric Williams be here?

Clearly, Julia Roberts wouldn't be so close with another man.

Dazed, Tony watched as the modest gathering erupted into chaos. The previously scattered media reporters rushed toward the couple, wildly clicking their cameras as fans swarmed, screaming and attempting to extend their autograph books past the bouncers to Eric.

The scene became chaotic, forcing Eric to hold Julia tightly against him as he hurried into the theater, surrounded by several bodyguards.

Upon seeing Eric vanish into the building, frustrated reporters and fans nearly stormed inside. Luckily, Eric's security and the theater's guards acted swiftly, managing to contain the surging crowd.

...

Robert Redford, hearing the commotion outside, quickly stepped out to greet Eric, exchanging friendly banter before introducing a sprightly elderly man beside him. "Eric, this is Robert Altman."

"Mr. Altman, it's a pleasure," Eric said, shaking the director's hand politely and sharing a few pleasantries. Redford then introduced several young directors to Eric, and they all proceeded into the screening room.

Inside the screening room for the opening ceremony, a buzz of excitement rippled through the attendees. When word spread that Eric Williams would be in attendance, many initially thought it was a joke. It wasn't until Eric entered with Redford and others that people started to believe it.

Feeling overwhelmed by the many eyes on him, Eric shifted uncomfortably as Redford personally led him to a seat. With a few minutes to spare before the ceremony began, he sat down, jokingly saying, "Eric, I'm starting to regret inviting you. It looks like Sundance is going to be quite the spectacle for the next few days."

Eric shrugged and chuckled, "Sorry, Bob! I'm definitely not here to steal your thunder."

"Haha," Redford laughed. "Honestly, if you could come every year, I'd be willing to hand over the festival director duties to you. Everyone really needs opportunities, and you're perfectly positioned to offer many people chances they might never get again."

Hearing Redford say that made Eric smile politely. He didn't see himself as a savior and had never considered such a role. If he came across any hidden gems among the films being showcased, he wouldn't mind making a move. Otherwise, he preferred to be a spectator.

It might be worth trying to snag that Run Lola Run film, viewing it as a fortunate find.

But on second thought, there was no need to mention that. Since it was nominated in the World Cinema section and had a strong shot at winning, it would naturally be on the radar of several major Hollywood film companies.

After all, even though not many big Hollywood names had shown interest in Sundance yet, the acquisition departments of the seven major studios had teams at Sundance, including Firefly Group, MGM, Fox, and Columbia. If none of them managed to pick up Run Lola Run, Eric would certainly question their judgment afterward.

...

As the commotion surrounding Eric gradually calmed, the opening ceremony commenced.

Like the ceremony itself, which featured no red carpet events, the proceedings appeared simply laid-back. Robert Altman and several other directors from Sundance took the stage to deliver short speeches, followed by the screening of the opening film, Cookie's Fortune.

Similar to many film festivals, it was common for guests to leave before the screening following speeches. However, at this event, no one stood up between the end of the speeches and the film's preparation, as if everyone had suddenly become devoted fans of Robert Altman.

Eric had seen several of Altman's films, but the one that left the most lasting impression on him was the astonishing eight-minute long take from The Player.

The two long takes in his current project, Gravity, would run a total of eighteen minutes. Yet when compared, Gravity's long takes are a test for the director's creativity. Additionally, due to special effects technology's assistance, the technical challenges of those long takes weren't particularly daunting, as the filming process wouldn't be a continuous shot but rather compiled in post-production.

On the other hand, the eight-minute long take from The Player was a genuine uninterrupted shot, showcasing Altman's masterful coordination of dozens of characters, which was remarkable.

In contrast, the opening film for Sundance, Cookie's Fortune, felt much more mediocre.

This suspense film unfolded in a quaint Mississippi town across generations of women, tangled in their emotional dramas.

Altman had a penchant for using death as a narrative driving force, and Cookie's Fortune was no different. The sudden suicide of an elderly woman in town triggered decades of resentments between two women, creating a plot that, while somewhat absurd and satirical, wound together intricately. In the end, when the mystery unraveled, it left the audience sighing in contemplation.

In many ways, Robert Altman and Woody Allen were quite similar; both were prolific directors, though varying in the quality of their works.

However, the distinction between the two was clear: Altman excelled in storytelling, while Allen had a knack for character development. This is why Allen not only garnered Oscar nominations but his films also racked up a multitude of acting nominations, while Altman's films were more about screenplay and directing technical accolades, giving actors less space to shine.

...

As the opening film concluded, the time had already crept past 9 PM.

The night in Park City grew increasingly cold. After the ceremony, Robert Altman returned early to his quarters to rest, while Eric and Julia accepted an invitation from Robert Redford to join the after-party festivities.

However, despite their shared background in film, the independent film crowd at Sundance and Hollywood felt like two distinct worlds. Hollywood might extend "entrance tickets" to filmmakers who gained attention at Sundance, but for most ambitious or dream-filled filmmakers, they often made fleeting appearances at Sundance before fading back into obscurity.

Eric didn't linger at the party for too long. After simply grabbing a few bites to eat with Julia, he politely excused himself and left early.

*****

https://www.patreon.com/Sayonara816.