The 2014 Sundance Film Festival has been a dream come true. So far, I have seen ten films in five days, and each one has been an incredible experience. Even the ones I have not loved as much have still been wonderful. However, as each movie ends and the actors and directors come out for a Q&A with the audience, I wonder how I will ever be able to see a film again at Regal Cinemas in Bowling Green, KY.

On January 18, I watched God’s Pocket, the feature film directorial debut of Emmy-nominated actor John Slattery (Mad Men) that starred Academy Award-winner Philip Seymour Hoffman. After the film, Slattery and Hoffman walked into Redstone Cinema to discuss their experiences and decisions with the film. We learned about Slattery’s changes from the novel to the film and that Hoffman did most of his stunts in the film.

On January 21, I saw Happy Christmas, starring Anna Kendrick, Melanie Lynskey, Lena Dunham, and Joe Swanberg (who also wrote and directed the film). Swanberg informed us that the film was all improvised by the actors. He wrote a twelve-page outline for the actors so they would know the general plot. However, they were allowed to create their characters completely. Swanberg said he partially does this because he does not believe he has the right to put words in women’s mouths. He also wants the actors to feel that the film was collaborative, and allowing them to improvise does that. It was an eye-opening Q&A that helped me further enjoy a film that I had already loved.

I’ve seen a lot of people get up from the theater before the Q&As even begin, but this has been such a special part of the Sundance experience to me. These moments have allowed us to interact with the filmmakers, cast members, editors, and producers. It’s given me a deeper appreciation for the process of filmmaking and the work that goes into getting a film to Sundance. The next time I see a movie in Kentucky, I’ll probably be sitting in the theater expecting someone to walk in and answer a bunch of questions. It’s been a strange but inspiring and eye-opening part of the Sundance Film Festival.

I was sitting in film class talking to two of my friends, when it happened… I heard the words “Sundance trip.” A sign up sheet began to circulate around Dr. Hovet’s class and I knew that as of January 2014 I would be in Park City, UT. Fast forward many months of working two jobs and saving “all” of my money, I finally arrived in the tiny city surrounded by beautiful mountains. This experience has been one of the best in my life, and that includes traveling the globe. Seeing like 3 movies a day, going to a couple of panels, and meeting some of the actors who’s work you truly respect has been a great way for me to get motivated; that gets harder as you get closer and closer to graduation. I can’t wait to come back to Sundance as a volunteer, as a film viewer, and as an artist with a film. 

Leah Railey has an internship blogging for the blog I Will Not Diet. She saw The Babadook directed by Jennifer Kent and here is what she had to say!

http://www.iwillnotdiet.com/?p=5775

By Ted Hovet, English/Film and Dawn Hall, Academic Support/English at Western Kentucky University

We [WKU film faculty in the School of Journalism and Broadcasting] have been running a film festival here at WKU for some time now, and in recent years have also encouraged our students to volunteer at the Louisville International Film Festival and the Nashville Film Festival.  These festival experiences have greatly contributed to our students’ understanding of film culture and the film business beyond the usual Hollywood theatrical releases.

When we realized that the Sundance Film Festival, arguably the most famous and influential festival in the United States, fell within WKU’s winter term this year, it seemed a perfect opportunity to expand the festival experience for WKU students.  We designed the course in the spring of 2013 with the help of the WKU Study Away Office, and ultimately had 23 students sign up and travel to Park City for the 30^th anniversary of Sundance.

In addition to their onsite experience at the festival, the students completed an online portion of the course where they read and wrote about the history of American independent film with a particular focus on the influence of Sundance.   As you will see from the photos in this blog, we even had an official Robert Redford sighting!