0:01

Canon is proud to sponsor No Film

0:03

School and its coverage of the 2024 Sundance

0:06

Film Festival, marking its

0:08

40th year as an event that showcases

0:10

both the cutting-edge equipment and the talented

0:13

filmmakers that bring visions to life. Canon

0:15

and No Film School partnered on

0:18

a party and a cinema camera

0:20

giveaway. Canon celebrated its 14th consecutive

0:22

year supporting the Sundance Film Festival.

0:25

The Canon Creative Studio at 528 Main

0:28

Street featured panel discussions and the latest

0:30

Canon products including the brand new RF24

0:32

105mm f2.8 LISUSMZ lens, a first of

0:34

its kind. Visit

0:43

usa.canon.com for all the

0:45

latest news. Welcome

0:57

to the No Film School podcast. We

0:59

are recording day four of the Sundance

1:01

Film Festival. This is Gigi Hawkins. I'm

1:03

Jo Light. And I'm Ryan Kuhl. And

1:06

we are here as the snow

1:08

gently falls outside of our lovely

1:10

No Film School house, where we

1:12

are continuing to bring people in

1:14

for the podcast, go out to

1:16

people to talk to them about their

1:18

films, and watch movies and meet people who

1:20

are just excited about filmmaking in general. One

1:23

thing that happened last night was we had

1:25

our first ever No Film

1:27

School alumni party at the Canon house.

1:30

And you can tell our voices are a

1:32

little hoarse from that. Yeah.

1:34

We called it the alumni party because we

1:37

wanted to throw a

1:39

party like the film schools throw a party to

1:41

celebrate. There are graduates

1:43

who have films at the festival, but

1:46

we wanted to throw that party for people who didn't go

1:48

to film school. And I mean,

1:50

I don't know how you guys felt, but I thought it was a

1:52

smashing success. There was a line

1:54

around the block and we gave away

1:56

a Canon R5C cinema camera to a

1:59

lucky reason. recipient who was, it was

2:01

like we planted her because she was so

2:03

enthusiastic and over the moon. And it really

2:05

felt like a great beginning

2:08

of us doing more

2:11

of these things because obviously we

2:13

have an online community,

2:15

but the whole benefit

2:17

of being at Sundance is that in-person

2:20

interactions and meeting people and

2:23

meeting other filmmakers and producers and people

2:25

in this world is entirely different than

2:27

meeting online. And I think

2:30

especially after the pandemic, that's an

2:32

even starker contrast and

2:34

even more necessary things. So yeah,

2:38

Canon, I felt like their space was amazing

2:40

and was the perfect sponsor. And

2:42

yeah, I don't know, what were your guys' impressions? I

2:46

came a little bit late because of traffic,

2:48

as there always is in Park City. But

2:50

when I showed up, I also took a

2:52

picture. The line was still very, very long,

2:54

about 20 minutes into the party. So I

2:56

think people were out there the whole

3:00

time. The party ended, there

3:02

was still a line. Yeah. So people were

3:04

obviously very enthusiastic about the party. And I even

3:06

had talked to people earlier in the day about

3:08

how excited they were to come just randomly on

3:10

the bus. So I thought the

3:13

vibes were amazing. It was very much a

3:15

community of people wanting to

3:17

connect and talk about what they're doing and

3:19

just a general enthusiasm. It didn't feel like

3:22

super schmoozy. It felt more like we're

3:25

all just here hanging out together, if

3:27

that makes sense. And I agree

3:29

that the winner of the camera, Catherine, she

3:31

was so sweet. I talked

3:33

to her and her friend for quite a while and they were just... She

3:36

was just so excited and just... I

3:39

think the opportunity and the possibility

3:41

that was now in her hands

3:43

with that camera is

3:46

essentially what No Film School is about.

3:48

It's just, here are

3:50

some tools, here are some how to's, go and do

3:52

it. Go and do it. It's

3:54

absolutely what it's about. And I Said

3:57

at the party that it was fitting for us

3:59

to. That camera because it's a

4:01

descendant of the Can Find The Mark to

4:03

which really sort of kicked off know film

4:05

school. I wrote a book about it but.

4:08

To. Your point? When. I was in

4:11

college and made him his video that won a competition.

4:13

And that the prize was a camera. And.

4:15

Then I use that camera. To. Suit

4:18

your student. Oh would go to festivals and I

4:20

saw that camera or new camera. Made

4:22

a web series of that. Naturally was

4:24

kicked off my career. So. That

4:26

came about another one. And so without

4:28

that initial. You. Know ability to

4:31

say gotten some things. Are

4:33

no you know what what my career paths would

4:35

have been. So it was really impactful for me

4:37

and I hope as we do this or that

4:39

has the impact for her. But. If

4:42

you're not, If you were at the party. If

4:45

you're not a Park City or it's you were

4:47

in Park City but didn't get in. We apologize.

4:49

There is a fire codes second that and more

4:51

people. Are giving

4:53

away a tenant or five see online

4:56

too because you know our brand is

4:58

unlike. Some schools will be as inclusive

5:00

an open as possible and accessible. So

5:02

if you go to New Film school.com/sundance

5:05

Twenty Four, you can register to win

5:07

in our side see. Yeah.

5:09

Gg lose your party. It

5:12

was really exciting to see this

5:14

community come together. I appreciate all

5:16

the succeed came up and spoke

5:18

with as about what. No sense

5:20

for means to them but also

5:22

who shared their experience of what

5:24

they're doing as filmmakers creating community

5:26

there is a a Wisconsin. College.

5:29

Student named Jared. Who. Came

5:31

up to As and. Turns out through

5:34

listening to Know Some Sling also just wanting

5:36

to cultivate a more of a some community.

5:39

In Madison, Wisconsin, He

5:41

started a film festival and has

5:43

been working. We actually you know,

5:45

bonded over. Being. Graduates

5:47

of or students of the Big Ten

5:50

Network And I'm like where's like the

5:52

Big Ten? Forty eight hour film projects?

5:54

Like something that like we can tap

5:56

into these already vibrant communities. Set.

5:58

Exists but bring. So making angle

6:00

into it and I sort of got on

6:03

this like. Hanjin idea

6:05

of. Train with him of talking about

6:07

how you can. Tap into that and that is kind

6:09

of what. I see like this

6:11

is all about it was like seeing

6:13

the the east coast of know some

6:16

school which is accessibility and. Seeking.

6:18

Out to the ego of it all. And.

6:21

Not. Smoothing but connecting and I feel like

6:23

are the our work and how we approach

6:25

the podcast is like us. try to be

6:28

vulnerable in human and recognize that we are

6:30

here because we want to make things and

6:32

that was that. That was the energy in

6:35

the room and I really do hope that

6:37

we can continue to bring people together physically.

6:39

You. Know we talked on. The. Podcast

6:42

a couple weeks ago about. The.

6:44

Importance of being in the mix in person

6:46

and making those. Physical. Connections

6:48

and We are a website and

6:50

we bring information to people, but I

6:52

think that the community is extending

6:54

beyond that in this is like the

6:57

actual manifestation of that happening. Live

6:59

on the Ground at Sundance which is.

7:02

So. Cool And so cool that this was

7:04

just. Sort of seat have an idea

7:06

of Ryan's or years now and then it

7:08

team together really quickly which austin. Mimics,

7:11

How selloum and projects come together

7:13

like you have a spark and

7:15

then you make it happen. So

7:17

I saw very inspired and I

7:19

just I just love the energy

7:21

and zero point. So about civically

7:24

Catherine receiving this camera. The

7:26

the speech she made it was

7:28

immediately. She's like anyone can borrow this year

7:30

and as like that is again so in

7:33

the spirit. of what we're trying

7:35

to do here. and one

7:37

other highlight of the party

7:39

was we connected with a

7:41

filmmaker. Who. Was

7:43

on the podcast last year. Cj.

7:46

Fiery Obasi who's film. Mommy

7:49

Water premiered at Sundance and went on

7:51

to have an. Incredible.

7:53

Film Screening or festival run over the

7:55

last year including screening at the Moma

7:57

and New York. and I

8:00

met him and his producers and

8:02

they have, you know, sort of wrapped

8:04

things up with this beautiful film,

8:06

which I recommend going back listening

8:08

to that podcast episode where we

8:11

talk about how they achieved shooting

8:13

on the ocean at night. Like

8:15

how do you light the ocean at night? There's like the

8:17

hardest thing you can do as a DP. But

8:20

on top of that, CJ was talking about his

8:22

next film, which he and

8:24

his producers are planning to shoot

8:26

across three countries at the

8:28

end of this year. And he said, you know,

8:31

we're still getting our financing together, but

8:33

we're shooting at this date. The

8:36

flag is in the ground. And I was like, yes.

8:38

Like we hear so much about like kind of how

8:40

hard it is to keep going and keep the momentum

8:43

going. But I just love the

8:45

commitment to know we are doing it and this

8:47

is happening and this will be his third feature.

8:50

So that was also something exciting to see somebody,

8:52

a filmmaker who has been following No Film School

8:54

for his career continuing to create

8:56

stories. That's

9:00

the other thing I like about meeting people

9:03

at the festival is you learn from their approaches

9:05

and you think about your own projects you're

9:07

trying to make and sort of thinking about

9:09

it differently or who you, you know, it's

9:11

not just specific outcomes like who you might

9:13

connect with. It's also different methods.

9:16

And that reminds me of, I'll

9:19

make a book recommendation. There's

9:21

a new book, The Path to Paradise, which

9:23

is about the career of Francis

9:25

Ford Coppola. And it's

9:27

not just his film career. It's also his

9:30

entrepreneurial career, running a studio, running a winery,

9:32

sort of all the things that he did

9:34

outside of filmmaking. So I, you know,

9:37

it resonated a lot with me, but that was his approach

9:39

too, is that he found that if

9:41

he just told the studios that the movie was happening, that

9:44

then they'd have to either get on board or not,

9:46

as opposed to just sort of sit around, put their

9:48

thumbs thinking about how it might not succeed. So that's

9:50

a nice lesson for all of you out there who

9:52

are not here with us. Don't

9:55

wait for permission. Yeah. It's so

9:57

easy to say, but it's... Among

10:00

the most vital advice is just like to Do

10:02

it, Stop. Stop Aging. Grab. Some friends.

10:05

Is. Do It. By your side. And.

10:08

One thing that is. Also exciting

10:10

to see at the festival are

10:12

these communities outside of New York

10:14

in L A for example, some

10:17

Kentucky and the you toss own

10:19

permission the and I think not

10:21

the Montana Film Commission. There's a

10:23

lot of presence here. in San

10:25

Francisco, there's a San Francisco Film

10:27

Society event happening. There are lot

10:29

of communities outside of these. Places

10:32

that we sort of saying our hats

10:34

on our this is where movies and

10:36

Tv are made Where people are here

10:38

to actually help build and help specifically

10:40

health so makers we went to and

10:42

events. It was a Texas Asian. Center.

10:45

Air put on in partnership with

10:47

filmmakers and in Houston and I'm

10:50

like oh she's and one of

10:52

the most diverse cities in the

10:54

world. I didn't know that and

10:56

they are. They. Have and it's

10:58

person in their travel office that is

11:00

it. Specifically. There to help

11:03

so makers navigate. So it was. It

11:05

was really exciting to see. As

11:07

well and see that presence but as tenure at

11:10

the festival. Since. I first started coming

11:12

I'm sure as than here and is a great

11:14

source for folks outside of New York. An ally.

11:20

Through Tyler movies. With

11:23

a be less than we thought we'd seen.

11:25

The couple of things now is seen as

11:27

humorous and what has to tell? two guys.

11:30

Has. Been some horror and the house there

11:32

has been. I did the press lion. Crazy.

11:35

House. Last. Night crazy with

11:37

the k. It's

11:39

it's. it's. the describes it is.

11:42

It's. Like and nine Days sick

11:45

com with a laugh tracks. Shot.

11:48

That way said the whole thing takes

11:50

place like a one one location or

11:52

soundstage. It's an Edge Chests. Evolves

11:55

into this. Wilds.

11:57

Home invasion. try

12:00

hunting. I don't

12:03

know. It's very hard to describe. And I

12:05

think what I told Ryan earlier is it's

12:07

going to be very divisive because it's the

12:09

last like 30 minutes are extremely,

12:12

extremely weird. It goes into like

12:15

religious commentary because the family in

12:18

the fake sitcom are their name

12:20

is Christian and they're all extremely religious.

12:23

And the cast is also

12:25

amazing. Nick Frost, Delicious Silverstone,

12:27

just going ham, honestly, like they they really

12:29

went for it. And it was it was

12:31

definitely fun to see both of them and

12:33

something that I've never seen them do before.

12:36

But just the level of weirdness I

12:39

think is going to either really turn

12:41

people off or get them

12:43

really excited. And I

12:45

thought at the premiere

12:47

and the audience for the most part, I think

12:49

was very into it. Yeah,

12:52

they said it's it's probably one of the

12:54

freakiest films at the festival this year, according

12:56

to the programmer. And I would agree

12:58

with that. So don't know where that's

13:00

going. I don't think it's been I don't I

13:02

don't want maybe I shouldn't say that. Cut that

13:04

out. I don't know if it's been picked up

13:06

off like that. But one of the

13:09

directors I talked to is Stefan Harz is

13:11

a no film school fan. He specifically called us

13:13

out as I was talking to him and just

13:15

loves the site. So it's always

13:18

cool to connect with filmmakers who who love

13:21

the site and read the site. And

13:23

it's just it's it's stunning to me

13:25

that, you know, we're known all over the

13:28

world. Especially

13:30

young filmmakers truly is get

13:33

an energy from meeting them, you know, at

13:35

Sundance, you're often on the shuttles going to

13:37

and from screenings and you'll meet people there.

13:39

And I was inviting some

13:42

students to the party.

13:44

And when one of them found out that

13:46

I had started no film school, she just went legend.

13:50

Yeah, it always feels great to

13:52

be offline, you know, into.

13:56

And That's part of the I think the appeal of even

13:58

just being at a film festival is. Go.

14:00

Into a dark theater in turn you damn phone

14:02

off and you know, totally give yourself over the

14:04

something that. No. One else in the world has seen

14:06

before. And city that. I'm

14:09

sure crazy houses very different from your

14:11

expectations. Are absolutely yeah I may. I

14:13

knew that it was sort of. And.

14:16

I saw one person on letterbox describe it

14:18

is to make that. Just.

14:20

Extended by an hour and if you're into

14:22

that, go for it. But most are not

14:24

than you know in what what it's gonna

14:27

be like. Essentially So yeah, I feel like

14:29

you're still processing and sell processing and this

14:31

is there. Like say it was, it was

14:33

probably eleven to midnight I think when when

14:35

they got out. So yeah. I just I

14:38

wish I could say specifically some of the

14:40

imagery that. But.

14:42

It's just it's too hard to explain

14:44

and to sue wilde season like. Explained.

14:46

The backstory as. There are

14:49

communists. Involved there is up

14:51

for Sussex in that happens

14:54

there. Are weird. There's

14:57

some were commentary on like. Us.

15:00

Please this is. I don't think I mentioned. Cel.

15:03

Now is produced in the Netherlands so

15:05

is very interesting to see. From.

15:08

The directors prospective? What American.

15:10

Sitcom. They're like what what merits

15:12

and police or away and our

15:14

view of Communism in the nineties

15:16

and and things like that so

15:18

it's all. It's a very interesting.

15:21

Complicated soups, So.

15:24

He on the note of politics

15:26

I can speak to the phone

15:28

that I really connected with. It's

15:31

Cold War Games and it's a

15:33

documentary. Directed. By Jesse

15:35

Moss. And Tony Gerber Jesse

15:37

Marsch. Is. The director

15:39

behind Boy State which from your sheer

15:42

and twenty twenty was acquired by Apple,

15:44

is fantastic. Also. Premiering here is

15:46

the sort of. Sister. Movie

15:48

to It Girls state and and it's

15:50

interesting because I'm the through line in

15:53

his work is like sort of examining

15:55

politics and in the current. Age.

15:58

and war games and particular

16:00

is a simulation

16:02

with actual politicians

16:04

and government officials as

16:07

if there was an insurrection happening

16:10

in January 2025. And it is nonpartisan,

16:12

though it definitely is sort of like looking

16:21

at a what if scenario, like what if Biden

16:23

wins and Trump denounces the election

16:25

again. And it is fascinating.

16:27

It is so timely. And I think

16:29

it's such a interesting

16:32

and important examination of how delicate

16:34

democracy is. I love

16:36

that it's a dramatization

16:39

in a way versus because you

16:42

know, we're in this space and we're actually

16:44

having Tony Gerber on the podcast along with

16:46

a couple of other documentary directors,

16:49

but we're going to be seeing

16:51

so many different styles of doc

16:53

and we're in this sort of space

16:56

where documentary is turning

16:58

the mirror on itself and is becoming very self

17:00

aware. And I'm

17:02

very excited for this film. I'm very excited to

17:04

see the reaction of this film. And

17:07

I think it lets us sort of like tap

17:09

in as an audience to

17:13

seeing how things work and pulling back the curtain

17:15

in a way that's really important. So war

17:17

games. Yeah, I want

17:19

to talk to those DPs too. I'm hoping that

17:21

we have some coverage of their side too. Yeah.

17:25

The film I want to shout out

17:27

is titled D.D. And

17:30

it's about a young

17:32

Taiwanese American boy in

17:35

the Bay Area in Fremont in California growing

17:37

up. It's coming of age story. And

17:40

the writer director Sean Wong

17:43

was in the Sundance Labs. And you

17:45

know, his inspiration, I think was coming

17:48

of age movies like 8th grade

17:50

and Stand By Me. He said as much that

17:52

that was his inspiration. So I'm not actually coming

17:55

up with anything original here, but There

17:59

hadn't been... A movie like that?

18:01

that? Was. About someone

18:03

to be looks like him or looked

18:05

like me. I'm hundred diddy, my own

18:07

family dealing insight little brother. My

18:10

younger brother so he uses it was

18:12

the kind of Sundance greeting that you

18:14

love to see to be at the

18:16

premier Because there were so many cast

18:18

and crew there, People were so enthusiastic

18:20

and it is. You really captures a

18:22

lot of. Universal.

18:25

Truths and hardships about growing

18:27

up. And. I hope that

18:29

be a resonates the naughty and beyond

18:31

mere the sort of Asian American community

18:34

here. Is some parts of it

18:36

as since they get it took me back you

18:38

know ends at that oh so sexy about the

18:40

movie you see him. Trying. To

18:42

talk to girls and fumbling it for years

18:45

as like groaning in the audience. It was

18:47

like a horror movie. But the I have

18:49

you know things things go. So. Wrong

18:51

for him but that was it's that's words you

18:53

know makes to me at the other side. Deal.

18:55

So rewarding so it's still really. Assured

18:58

pieces. Writing. And directing

19:00

really promising boys son worn out will

19:03

get him on the podcast eventually. And.

19:06

Yes, he did. I

19:08

love that there's so many of Bay. Area sounds. The

19:10

other barriers here is that really well

19:12

represented by an outlay of freaky tales

19:14

A A D B. We.

19:16

Owe seeking may thus began. Yeah,

19:19

they is like very much based

19:21

in West Oakland. And. Love to

19:23

see it and learn about his as

19:25

soon as I makes. That gives me

19:27

hope the sometimes I. Might my ever

19:29

been with some moves back there? Raise.

19:32

A family there. And. Sylvia

19:34

So maker and I did once.

19:36

Meta showrunners was like. Oh

19:41

I feeling alone among the pandemic

19:43

realize that they can be somewhere

19:45

else and they move to. Hawaii

19:48

or Portland, or you know them in the

19:50

lot of the movie Meetings became zooms anyway,

19:52

which defeats the purpose of me personally moving

19:55

to L L right? I said damaged by

19:57

it? Are you take control. glad

19:59

you're there though Yeah. Another

20:01

reason that being here at Sundance, and

20:03

we've talked a lot about this smashing

20:05

into people, running into people left and

20:07

right and the power of that in

20:10

this world where people are

20:12

relegated to Zoom and also. Yeah.

20:17

I think to that point, I

20:20

wasn't sure coming to Sundance what my

20:22

agenda was as a filmmaker. Sometimes I

20:25

come in and last year,

20:27

I was like, I want to meet reps. Some

20:30

years I come and I know that I just

20:32

want to see as many movies as possible and

20:34

be creatively inspired. I think

20:37

what has been fun for me about this one

20:39

is just letting it more organically come

20:41

to me as opposed to grasping for it.

20:44

If you meet someone who might be right for your project

20:47

or meet someone who can connect you to something, that

20:49

is always great. But to

20:52

not feel like you're pushing for

20:54

it has made a

20:57

more fun festival for me to

20:59

not be, what

21:02

my friend called, shooting all over yourself.

21:05

I should have done this. I should have done that. Yeah. I

21:07

should have talked to that person. I should have got the intro.

21:09

I should have done this. Just let

21:11

the masses of people who love film here that are

21:16

colliding help

21:18

you in a way that maybe you weren't even planning on.

21:20

It's been a really great networking

21:23

event without really me even planning

21:25

on it. I have

21:27

a lot of new ideas coming out of it in terms

21:29

of, oh, who do I want to talk to and who

21:31

might be right for this project? It felt

21:34

great to just come here without a specific

21:37

expectation and then be pleasantly surprised. I'd

21:39

love to hear about the

21:42

festival magic moments, like something

21:44

that happened. Again, we're

21:47

not done with the festival. We're here for

21:49

at least another day and some change. But

21:52

anything that made

21:54

you feel very

21:56

happy to be here and happy to make

21:59

that connection. whatever it may be. Hmm.

22:01

That's a really good question. When

22:04

I was in line for I Saw the TV glow, the guy

22:06

in front of me wanted

22:08

to go to the concession stand and

22:11

he asked me to save a spot and he bought

22:13

me some popcorn. Aww. And then

22:15

he didn't, he like didn't talk to me at all. Like he

22:17

just was like, here's your popcorn and they put butter on it.

22:20

And I was like, can I Venmo you? And he's like, no. And

22:22

he just turned around and then he was just like here to see

22:24

the movie. There was no like alter your motive at all. So it

22:26

was just really, just a really kind

22:28

moment that has never happened at any other

22:31

festival that I've been to. I

22:35

think for me, I was leaving

22:37

the Texas barbecue Asian, it's a

22:39

weird title of a party. Basically

22:42

a Asian Houston film producer loves

22:44

barbecue and wanted to bring it

22:46

to Sundance. So when I got there,

22:48

I asked him why barbecue? And you know,

22:50

it was as simple as he loves barbecue. And

22:52

that's, that's what's great about it. When I left, there

22:54

was a producer that I'd been meeting to catch up with

22:56

for a long time. And we both just happened to be

22:59

leaving the party at the same time and going to the

23:01

same screening and then we went to the same after party.

23:04

And I was thinking about the difference

23:06

between, I already had his

23:08

contact info. I could have

23:10

emailed or texted him without coming to Sundance,

23:12

but it's completely different now that we

23:15

talked about the project I'm working on. We talked about what he's

23:17

looking to do. I found out where he is now. And

23:20

we have a relationship as a result

23:22

of the sort of kismet of

23:25

leaving a party at the same time. And those are the

23:27

kinds of things that always make

23:29

me feel like, oh yeah, Sundance, like

23:31

I'm never not coming to this. As

23:34

long as I can come, I

23:37

want to be here every year. And

23:39

that's the kind of thing that, again, it came

23:41

to me. You know, I didn't, I wasn't like trying

23:43

to stalk somebody like when you leave the party, like

23:45

it just happened in a really organic way. My

23:49

festival magic moment, I have two. One

23:53

is I, so my manager just started

23:55

working with a documentary

23:58

filmmaker we grabbed called yesterday

24:01

morning, he heard

24:03

that I was shooting a film in Panama and he

24:05

said, oh my gosh, my friend also

24:07

finished shooting a film in Panama and

24:09

we're on sort of like the same timeline

24:11

trajectory in post. And so he

24:14

connected me with this other guy

24:16

and then at the no film school

24:18

party, Stephen, my partner was there and he

24:21

ran into somebody that he had met earlier and introduced

24:24

me. It turns out that this guy

24:26

Ari produced the Panama film and we

24:28

were like, wow, we got

24:30

to talk Panama film production. How was your

24:32

experience? We look up on Instagram

24:35

and we had the same sound guy face art. So

24:37

it was amazing in such a small world

24:39

and so exciting to see how, you

24:41

know, there is that sort of crossover

24:43

within that community. The second

24:45

thing, and this is sort of a, a,

24:48

I'd say more of like a lesson

24:50

than a festival magic moment, but on

24:53

Friday night, you know, I

24:56

was going to a friend's premiere

24:58

party and the vibe was just

25:00

weird. It was, it was

25:04

off and I think it started when people

25:06

were cutting in line who didn't know what

25:08

the film was. They were

25:11

like, I don't know what this is. Like my

25:13

friend Stan is in there. I'm like, why are

25:15

you here? Especially because I was with somebody who

25:17

worked on the film and I was like, come

25:20

on, this is about the filmmakers, not

25:22

the partying. Anyway, got in, saw a

25:24

creepy guy from last year. Ryan

25:27

knows who it is. And I was

25:29

like, Oh, I hate everything about tonight. Tonight's

25:31

vibe is off. And I, in the past

25:33

as a younger person would have had sort of

25:35

this like guilt FOMO of like, I'm here. I

25:37

need to be here. I need to be on.

25:40

I need to be schmoozing. I stayed.

25:43

I, you know, said hello, congratulated the

25:45

filmmakers. And then I was like, and

25:47

now I'm going to take myself to

25:49

bed and and I

25:51

prioritize rest. And I think again, you know, here I

25:53

am in my thirties and I think I Need

25:56

that a little bit more. I Know we have,

25:58

it's a marathon, not a sprint. Even just

26:00

to get through this festival such as really proud

26:02

of myself. To. That I

26:04

gave myself permission to say okay, it's okay.

26:07

If. I'm not gonna be my best else and

26:09

I'm not. Can be on tonight. if something's off,

26:11

I'm gonna listen to that mean ago and sell

26:14

and it was fine. And then of course last

26:16

night as night ever. Yeah, That.

26:18

It is interesting to be at a cesspool

26:20

annually because it's kind of like a birthday

26:22

in a way where it's a mile marker

26:24

and you can see how you've changed. This.

26:27

Is this is ten years since I was

26:29

in the Screenwriters Lab. And.

26:32

I mean to zip codes? Completely different person

26:34

and to your point? Yeah, I think I

26:36

would have. Cared so much

26:38

more about. That. Type of

26:41

environment or the perception of me or

26:43

whether I was being respected are not

26:45

And said the nice thing about coming back

26:47

every years as you know you get

26:49

better at it. You you understand yourself more,

26:51

you understand the industry more. and yeah

26:53

that's it's fun to hear and I'm glad

26:55

you didn't encounter the creepier Now yes

26:57

I have. A lesson and she'll just thinking

27:00

about. say yesterday I had a as that says

27:02

shudder like I see people for for little bit

27:04

so I plan on or my how insurance how

27:06

in the franchise I was not planning on wearing

27:08

at the whole day I thought that I was

27:11

have it's like send in common shower and change

27:13

and it up wearing a all day and. I

27:16

think what I learned from that is just

27:18

it's okay to to be a nerd here.

27:20

Like so many people came up to me

27:22

producers came up to me asking about like

27:25

what do you what do you like what's

27:27

sad about for in the press last offseason

27:29

some other it like media people about horror

27:31

and so assists. I.

27:33

Just think that there is very much stand by him as

27:36

I think you've talked about by and where it's like. Or.

27:38

Their corporate a little bit executives but

27:40

there's also just like people that love

27:43

film here and. They. Will

27:45

find you if you're you're open about it. Try.

27:48

To set out the shirt you're wearing right

27:50

now? Yes, it's again. it is easy. I

27:52

just. I didn't even notice the eyes

27:54

itchy. It's an easy as it has

27:56

stills from the throughout the film as

27:58

just iconic. I the I love that

28:00

is Leo that such a great insight

28:02

to. And. Shoutout to

28:05

Jason and his stillborn lads. A

28:07

similar man? Yeah my gosh, I

28:10

have a question for you

28:12

Ryan. Which. Is what would

28:14

you tell. You. Ten.

28:16

Years ago, Ryan to. Like.

28:20

What advice would you give to your

28:22

younger self? Especially in the context of.

28:25

Sundance. Career at this

28:27

milestone marker. Is.

28:29

A interesting question, especially at

28:32

stake in light of. Be

28:34

having just talked about. D d

28:36

a movie about be a little brother. And

28:38

I saved. As. Filmmakers as

28:40

storytellers as people who are. Creating.

28:43

Worlds and have a a perspective on the world.

28:46

It's often hard to

28:49

know when you're. When.

28:51

You're getting the opinions of others about

28:53

your work. It is hard to

28:55

know when to listen and when to stick to your

28:57

guns. And. When you look

29:00

around you know most people are probably either. Over

29:03

confidence in themselves and their work. Or.

29:06

Not. Confident and us and it's

29:08

hard to find. That. Balance.

29:12

I. Think in ten years, you know, Reflect

29:14

the on it. The things that I've been

29:16

successful at have been. Where. I

29:18

just followed my instinct and I was able

29:20

to do that. The things that haven't been

29:23

successful was. Where. Where I needed

29:25

somebody elses approval. And. So when

29:27

I look back on it, it's like. I

29:30

needed to be more confident. I needed

29:32

to be more serve myself and I made

29:34

a lot of compromises on my feature it

29:36

and other things that. It. Would have

29:38

been better. To. To not be

29:40

the sort of. Like. Middle brother

29:43

says yes, okay, you know, okay

29:45

will do that way and that's

29:47

a really valuable lesson to learn

29:49

because. You. Don't learn that

29:52

unless you write several scripts and make

29:54

of featuring. Go from soup to nuts

29:56

and go to the editing process and

29:58

like everything has happened. That

30:00

first three letters that selection

30:02

has. Taught. Me so much

30:04

prepared me so well for my next movie

30:07

see I think. That's.

30:09

As. He gets pretty universal. You know you get as

30:11

you get older, you get know yourself better and that

30:13

makes you better. For me, A.

30:17

Lot that. Like. Being.

30:19

True to yourself, being true to your style,

30:22

And. And the restless com the rest of

30:24

fall into place was able to be true to

30:27

Jos de. Sus

30:29

said age and as the this

30:31

or yesterday was iconic. Since I

30:33

bias they are a lot. Eleven

30:36

years was to you. had that like

30:38

share black black fellas like. This

30:40

dilation you that's and pods to. I know I

30:43

do like that about Sundance that it's like. Yeah.

30:45

People aren't in tuxedos here. name is it

30:48

stressed out it's funky ass mountain beanies So

30:50

long as I say I lost mine bus

30:52

as where they give that to where they

30:54

give free ones away. Did I get your

30:56

and I owe us on the shuttle yesterday?

30:58

Don't know I am a free and were

31:00

you when you can have it's purple with

31:02

us Who have I ask why? Iran or

31:04

A or a just so wrong So wrong

31:06

or pay back so you know If we've

31:08

talked about all the the good things about

31:11

be at the festival I don't think at

31:13

this point in time we can really. Draw

31:15

conclusions we haven't, you know, as

31:18

we record this still basically the

31:20

opening weekend. Haven't seen it a

31:22

big acquisitions yeah, that's always sort of of

31:24

these people's opinions of Dell's of the market.

31:26

as I can I enter just trying to

31:29

we have surgery. I just bought a real

31:31

pain for ten million. Yeah, Love

31:34

that! I love that movie! Or

31:37

haven't seen and so good as by

31:39

I've heard Amazing thing says the Eisenberg

31:41

direct directorial debut. He may or may

31:43

not having him on the podcast Certain

31:46

Caught then. What a

31:48

hooded. American. Gem. Of

31:50

a Mirza I'm an actor. Certain

31:53

Poland's. Which. I think it's

31:55

interesting Speaking about like other film

31:57

communities splits very American Us. story.

32:01

That's great to hear. The thing

32:04

that worried me the most about Sundance is

32:06

there are no water bottles this year. For

32:08

however many years Sundance has been on, at

32:10

least as long as I can remember, every

32:12

year you come here and it's high altitude

32:14

and it's dry and everyone needs to hydrate

32:17

or they're going to get bloody noses. They

32:20

give you a free water bottle and then you take that with

32:22

you the rest of the year. It says Sundance 2018. Things

32:28

are tough. There's no water bottle. No water.

32:30

Well, we didn't talk about the gift bags. The

32:33

gift bags. As press, we get gift

32:35

bags and we often get the water

32:37

bottle in the gift bag. Sometimes it'll

32:40

have little bars and things that are

32:42

tied to the sponsorships. This year's gift

32:44

bag had just a pamphlet. The

32:47

gift bag is the gift. There's nothing,

32:49

the swag bag has no swag. Yeah.

32:53

It is what it reports.

32:55

Very nice bag. Yeah, it is. You can

32:57

use this bag. Got a zipper.

32:59

That's good. Oh, a zipper.

33:01

Yeah. Okay. There are things that are

33:03

improving in independent film. Yes. The

33:06

vessels for carrying. We're moving up. But

33:08

I think that is a

33:10

good thing to note that

33:13

sponsorships are tight. I've

33:15

heard and overheard conversations

33:18

that we're in a

33:20

constricting time. But what

33:22

that means for us is we have

33:24

to take it into our own hands as independent filmmakers,

33:26

find ways to make things. Molly

33:30

Manning Walker, who episode is coming out

33:32

around this one, I think it may be

33:34

dropping tomorrow. When

33:36

she was working as

33:38

a DP and there was a stint where she

33:40

was not employable, she could not get a job. Of

33:44

course, now she has a film that she directed called

33:46

How to Have Sex that is acquired by a movie

33:48

and is coming out in theaters on February 2nd. But

33:51

she said that she went out with

33:53

her phone and made a film every day. And

33:56

that is in our control. So as

33:59

we watch and hold. Hopefully we have better news,

34:01

more news. Hopefully we get that big

34:03

Apple acquisition. I mean, the people are

34:05

here. They're here and they're watching and

34:07

they're looking for that thing. But,

34:09

you know, I'd say, of course,

34:12

take it with a grain of salt as we continue

34:14

to make things. Chop

34:17

wood, carry water. What's the filmmaking

34:19

version of that? It's like,

34:22

write script, hit record. Yes,

34:24

I like that. I feel it. Is

34:26

that the title of the podcast? It's

34:28

good. It's good. Let's do it. Well, thank you guys

34:31

so much for joining us on this morning.

34:33

And I can't wait to hear about

34:35

the rest of your festival experience. Thank

34:37

you to our listeners for tuning in.

34:40

You can get more No Film School

34:42

at nofilmschool.com along with our extensive Sundance

34:44

coverage. You can also like, rate

34:46

and subscribe to the podcast anywhere you get

34:48

your podcasts. And you can follow us on

34:51

social media at No Film School. Thanks for

34:53

listening. And thank you to Canon. Oh,

34:55

yes. Let's party again. Yes.