For
the past three years, Rochester filmmaker Matthew Ehlers’ short films have been
selected to be part of the Sundance Film Festival. At the 2004 Festival,
January 15 to 25, he was there promoting his most recent entry, a three-minute
comedy called Who’s Your Daddy? Ehlers kept a diary of his journey: 10 days filled with all the sleepless
nights, free food, and schmoozing a young filmmaker can take.
The
crash
I
arrived in Utah and checked my messages. Turned out the people I was going to
stay with did not rent a condo but decided to stay with friends, which means I
might have to stay at the Chateau Après for 10 days. It sounds swanky, but the
Après is a hole. For 30 bucks a night you get one half of a bunk bed in a room
with 20 other guys. Hooray for Hollywood.
           I met a British producer named
Michael Knowles, who was also stuck at the Après. We hit the main street of
Park City in search of food and beer.
Enter
the dragon
I
got no sleep. Mike offered to let me stay at a hotel with him and two
filmmakers from New York. Thank God.
           This morning I saw a feature called Primer, a low-budget science-fiction
film about time travel. Some people were turned off by the overlapping
scientific jargon, but I’m glad the filmmakers didn’t dumb down the dialogue
for the audience. It reminded me of Darren Aronofsky’s Pi. Primer wound up
winning the Dramatic
Grand Jury Prize.
           Later, Mike and I ended up at the
Appaloosa Saloon, a true country joint. A cover band played Alabama. A
double-jointed local showed everyone how he could point his toes 180 degrees
backwards. It felt like I walked onto a David Lynch set.
The
meltdown
Every
year Sundance hosts a brunch with our host, Robert Redford. For two years I
watched him give an inspiring speech and then get mobbed by overanxious
filmmakers. I felt like a crying teenager trying in vain to get a glimpse of
The Beatles.
           This year? Pay dirt. A wonderful
Sundance staffer named Virginia helped me out. I shook Mr. Redford’s hand and
Mike snapped a picture. Ah, I reached the pinnacle of Sundance schmoozing and
name-dropping.
           I then had this incredible dinner,
compliments of American Express. All I had to do was talk to platinum-card
members who were there to meet honest-to-God filmmakers.
           And
who did I see in the lobby, waiting for a table? Ben, of Bennifer, no less. Ben
Affleck waiting for a table? What’s wrong with this cruel world?
           Then things got downright silly.
While I stood with a friend waiting to get into a premiere party, I saw someone
I know who got me into the Sky Vodka Lounge next door. Lance from ‘N Sync was
across the bar from me. (I thought he was in space?) I hung out with a
bartender named Jessica. She was disappointed that it was the ‘N Sync party,
not the Marilyn Manson party. She hates the former but worships the later. It
was a sobering walk back to the hotel. I felt dirty.
The
love of cheese
Time
for a Sundance press reception. The filmmakers have orange laminates and the
press has green laminates. So all the orange laminates run around trying to
find green laminates. Short films get very little press, so I concentrated on
the buffet.
           I attended a party for my alumni,
USC Cinema. Film-school grads are so full of enthusiasm. “Did you hear about
the USC grad who got a three-picture deal?” “I’m going to the William Morris
party, sorry I can’t get you in.” Yuck. I caught up with my friend Amotz Zakai.
He went to RIT then USC and is now a respected producer in Los Angeles. We had
some Brie and got out of there. Oh, for the love of cheese.
New
Yawk in the house
I
visited Jerry Steoffhaas of the New York State Film Office. When he lived in
Rochester, Jerry formed the Rochester Film Office. At Park City, he took over a
storefront to promote shooting films in New York. They overnighted real NYC
bagels. I told Jerry I was directing a short film in NYC this February. “Hey,
I’m doing my part. Gimme a bagel!”
Here’s
my card
Mike
got me into a Variety party. Time for
some serious schmoozing. “Well, I’m filming this and I’m writing that. Yeah,
I’m super. Here’s my card. Anyway, back to me.” I know: It’s disgusting.
The
dreaded pitch
I
had a ton of meetings. Meetings for most professions usually accomplish
something, but not in the film world. I go to some restaurant and give industry
people my pitch. They seem to love it but then I never hear from them again. At
least they pick up the bill.
Oh
God, why?
My
hotel roommates left, so I (gulp) headed back to the Chateau Après. I bought
earplugs.
           I
saw a movie called Stander. It’s
about a South African bank robber who was once a police captain. The story was
great, the action was intense, and the cast was fantastic. Director Bronwen Hughes was able to bring out the
sensational (but true) stories of Andre Stander’s life without shying away from
the disturbing aspects of life under South African apartheid.
           The
Appaloosa Saloon was empty and sad, and I was too tired to go to another party
or take another meeting. I went to my bunk bed early.
Please
kill me
I
am a zombie. I had more meetings and fell asleep on a couch. The festival was
winding down. I decided to go home a day early.
           Before I left, I saw a documentary
called DIG! The film followed two
bands for seven years: The Dandy Warhols and The Brian Jonestown Massacre. The
former finds success while the latter always self-destructs. The film ponders
the debates of art versus commerce, selling out versus buying in, and genius
versus madness. DIG! became the
surprise (but deserving) winner of the Best Documentary Feature.
Escape
from schmooze mountain
I
went to the headquarters to say goodbye and thank the staff. I hoped they would
say, “Don’t go. Stay for the awards ceremony! You’ll be glad you did, wink,
wink.” But they didn’t. No worries: Just getting in is reward enough. Next
year, come hell or high water, I’ll be there with a feature.
Matt
is currently fundraising for his first feature, which he hopes to film in
Rochester this summer. See Matt’s work and join his mailing list at www.eggwork.com;
See Who’s Your Daddy? at Sundance’s
online festival, www.sundance.org.
This article appears in Feb 11-17, 2004.
