The next day was Friday, January 16th.

The opening day of the 3rd Sundance Film Festival.

Simon had lunch with Peter Butler, a reporter from the Los Angeles Times, who had come to the festival, and at about half past twelve, everyone rushed to the Egyptian Cinema in Park City, where the opening ceremony of Sundance was held.

Many years later, at the Sundance Film Festival, the small city of Park City is often crowded and very lively. If fans want to watch a movie, they need to grab tickets and other procedures to be able to do so.

But now, Simon has been to Park City for a day, and he has been everywhere, although it is true that there are more crowds in the town due to the ski season, but he basically does not feel the atmosphere of the festival.

Moreover, from the screening schedule of the film distribution, Simon found that the number of theaters showing the films participating in the film festival is only three.

After all, it was the opening ceremony, and it was still 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 greeted him personally.

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

"Simon, I and I saw your movie yesterday afternoon, and it's amazing, it's even better than I thought," Robert said, and then added, "So, I just wanted to ask, have you found a distributor? If not, maybe I can help." ”

"Thank you, Bob," Simon naturally understood Redford's kindness, thanked him, and explained, "I had already been in contact with Fox before coming to Park City, and they were very interested in the film, but they hadn't agreed on the terms yet. ”

"That's fine, Fox is a very good choice, Simon, this is your first movie, don't worry too much about the gains and losses, fame is the most important thing," Robert said, looked around, lowered his voice a little, and said, "Also, if there is nothing too important, stay in Park City these days, and save it for the end." ”

The hint is still very obvious.

After a busy few months, Simon had planned to rest in Park City for a few days, but 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 is about to start." ”

Egyptian cinemas are old-fashioned large single-hall cinemas 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 some distance from being filled.

Finding Janet, Simon sat down at 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 up to the stage with a smile on his face, held up the microphone, looked at the audience, and said with a little embarrassment in his tone: "I remember that two years ago, it was the same theater, and there were less than 100 people sitting in the audience. For the next 10 days, I stood in front of the only film festival venue and invited people into the cinema like a bar soliciting business. The following year, Sundance managed to sell his first film, Freedom. At that time, I personally called David Pnant, the CEO of Columbia Pictures, invited him to Park City, and pulled him into the screening room. Now, in its third year, it's still the same screening room, but I have more than 300 people in front of me. I'm glad about the progress and I hope that momentum will continue until one day Sundance will be full." ”

In the warm applause of everyone, Robert Redford looked for a moment in the audience, and for a while he couldn't determine the goal, but quickly said: "A few months ago, I encountered a very interesting thing. I was working on post-production for a film I was responsible for at Fox Studios, and I happened to meet some old friends who were about to watch a sample of a movie, so I stayed out of curiosity. Then I saw an amazing shot, perfect cinematography, perfect lighting, perfect composition, perfect set, so perfect that the dailies could be edited into a movie without even having to match colors. I was so excited that I said out loud to the producer of that film, "Introduce me to the cinematographer, the gaffer, the set designer, and I must have them involved in my next film." So, guess what's the outcome?"

There was silence in the audience, and most of the people showed curious eyes.

Some of the more professional filmmakers were even skeptical, knowing all too well how difficult it was to make the shots described by Robert Redford, and many felt that Robert was already bragging.

Simon also looked surprised, he didn't expect Robert Redford to suddenly mention himself. Janet leaned over with great honor and hugged her boyfriend's arm affectionately, with a little ruddy on her fair face.

Robert Redford sold a little trick, and after a short pause, he said: "In the end, the cinematographer and set designer for those shots were completely one person, and he was not only the director at the same time, but also took on the work of the gaffer himself after the gaffer couldn't stand his strict requirements and quit." ”

As soon as Robert's voice fell, there was a slight uproar in the audience.

Who?

Robert, are you sure Hollywood has such power?

Can you still watch the movies you make?

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 a little caught off guard, but in the midst of hundreds of pairs of eyes that looked at him at the same time, he quickly got up and bowed to everyone with some restraint.

When Simon sat down again, Robert Redford continued: "This is this young man, he has a very special surname, Westeros, Simon Westeros. I'm sure you'll be very familiar with the name in the future. Of course, about his films, it's still the same theater at 9 o'clock on Sunday morning, and I promise you that you won't be disappointed. Moreover, when the time comes, you can also take a closer look at the list of people behind this movie, and you will find that Simon has done more work than you think. ”

Simon is no longer an unknown person in Hollywood, and most of the filmmakers here who want to enter the mainstream production circle at the bottom of the pack are basically very concerned about the dynamics of the industry. Therefore, after a buzz of whispering, some of Simon's deeds also spread quickly.

On stage, Robert Redford waited for a moment before continuing: "Speaking of Simon's matter, I just want to say that it is really not easy to be a solo filmmaker, and many very talented young people like Simon often hit a wall countless times because of Hollywood's conservative stereotypes, and lose their dreams in the passage of time. Therefore, I very much hope that Sundance can become a platform for filmmakers to showcase their talents, and to be the starting point for some people's dreams. I will do my best to do this. ”

Amid another round of applause in the screening room, Robert Redford raised his voice: "Finally, welcome to Sundance. ”

After a simple opening ceremony, it was the opening film.

Festival festivals usually choose heavyweights for their opening films, but Sundance is clearly not able to entice Hollywood celebrities to send their own works, and this time the opening film is the Coen brothers' new film "Raising Arizona".

The Coen brothers' "Blood Labyrinth" was the winner of the Best Feature Film award at the first Sundance Film Festival and has also made a name for itself in recent years. It is also a gimmick that the brothers' new film became the opening film of the third Sundance Film Festival.

"Raising Arizona" tells the story of a stupid thief who wants to rob someone else's baby and bring it back to raise because his wife can't have children. The two protagonists of the film are also famous, Nicolas Cage and Holly Hunt.

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

It had just snowed, and the temperature in Park City at night was close to minus 10 degrees, Janet was a very cold person, and after attending the opening ceremony, the woman pulled Simon to rush back to the resort apartment, and Simon had to give up the idea of attending the evening party, and there was no star she was interested in attending anyway.

The next day, almost as soon as it was dark, Simon drove out of Park City to pick up people at the Salt Lake City airport.

At first, Simon didn't expect that George Norman's niece, Jennifer Raybould, would actually come to Utah. The girl got the phone number from him and Janet's Resort Apartment last night, and called in the hope that Simon would pick her up today, she had 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, and when they saw Simon holding a sign in their hands, both girls trotted over. Moreover, although both girls were wearing winter clothes, they clearly underestimated the cold in Utah, and did not even wear hats, which at this time looked like two little quails.

Before he could introduce himself, Simon pointed to the outside of the waiting hall and said, "Let's get on the bus first." ”

The two women nodded in agreement, the weather was too cold to even have the courage to speak.

It wasn't until she got into the heated car that Jennifer's female companion said, "It's so cold, I didn't come if I knew I wouldn't come, Jenny, you liar, and you said you came to ski, why do I feel something wrong?" ”

"Simon Westeros," Simon shook his hand and introduced himself, looking at the two girls in the back row, who were only wearing short trench coats, and said, "I'll take you to buy clothes first." ”

"Well, what a thoughtful fellow, no wonder Jenny came to see you in such a weather. ”

Jennifer, who originally saw Simon who was still a little shy, heard this, and suddenly said, "Lisa, what nonsense are you talking about." ”

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

"I, not really. ”

Simon started the car, heard Lisa Collins say this, looked up at the rearview mirror, Jennifer's fair face had turned into a red cloth, and turned sideways to prevent her friend from continuing to talk nonsense, and the golden ponytail dangled.

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

Lisa Colinston stopped laughing, "Huh?"

Jennifer also looked over.

Simon looked at Jennifer in the rearview mirror and said, "It's Janet, Jenny, do you remember?"

Jennifer remembered that Janet had been with Simon in the hospital, nodded slightly, smiled, and said, "Of course, she is my uncle's client." ”

"One more thing," Simon looked in 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 will stay there for the next two days, the weather is too cold, and the condition of the hotel is definitely not as good as in the apartment." ”

Jennifer hesitated: "Will 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, and if he doesn't take care of you, he may lose the lawsuit in the future." ”

Jennifer heard Simon say this, and a chuckle appeared on her face, and said, "Well, okay." However, my uncle would not do that. ”

Lisa Collins listened to the decision made by the two, and did not object, smiled and hugged Jennifer, and said, "It's really going to ski now." But, Jenny, you don't know how to ski, do you?"

Jennifer moved, trying to squeeze her best friend away, and said, "Don't you know? Why don't I bring you here?"

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

Simon thought for a moment and said, "It should be possible." ”

"Hehe, then Jenny will be handed over to you. ”