#sammyindyke

[jcmatsundance2020-blog]

The E-Waitlist

One of the most innovative and helpful ways that Sundance used technology is through their e-waitlist. The e-waitlist is a way for film goers to get tickets to screenings that they may not have been able to get tickets for in advance. It made it very easy and efficient to get tickets to screenings because it was on their mobile app and we could join the waitlist two hours prior to the screening. I was able to get into all of the screenings that I joined the waitlist for easily. When we waited in line they even had our names on a tablet in the order of what number we got for the waitlist making the entire process stress free.

[jcmatsundance2020-blog]

Things I Learned at Film Pass Events

Perhaps the biggest thing I learned from attending panels at Sundance were that no matter where you come from or go to school it is possible to make a career if you are passionate and hardworking. At each and every panel the panelists would talk about hardships they faced while trying to get a job in the industry and about their dry spells when they couldn’t find work however, they always made it through and encouraged us to work hard and do the same. The message they wanted us to leave with every time was always to be motivated and to only work on projects we would want to dedicate ourselves to.

[jcmatsundance2020-blog]

Sundance Culture – Sundance HQ

One of the best moments of my Sundance experience was when me and my 3 friends got invited and put on the VIP list for a Sundance HQ networking party. Earlier in the day we had met Pauline Cronin, the assistant coordinator at Sundance HQ. As high up in a position of power that she was, she took the time to sit down and talk to us about how to get internships and gave us an in to go talk to some A-List producers, directors, writers, and actors at the networking party and even introduced us to actor Jessica Gabor from the hit TV show shameless. No matter how important everyone at the party was once they saw our purple ignite passes they were eager to talk to us and introduce us to people that they thought could be helpful in furthering our careers. They never made us feel like outsiders and seemed even more intrigued when they found out we were students!

[jcmatsundance2020-blog]

Sundance Culture

Sundance film festival is an incredible festival to go to and not just for the films. In the short week I was there I had met more people in the film industry and aspiring filmmakers than I had in my entire life. Everyone from the A-list producers and festival runners to the standard film goer were some of the most helpful and kind people I have ever met. Everyone wanted to talk to us students and see why we were there and how they could help us further our career. No matter who I spoke to everyone had experience and a way they could help. By the time I left I had at least 13 business cards and new connections to email to help in my search for a summer internship.  Sundance festival goers are by far the most kind and outgoing people.

[jcmatsundance2020-blog]

The Hit or Miss – US Kids

One of the most incredible films I saw at Sundance was US kids. It was a film that I honestly had heard nothing about but was one of the most moving and impactful films I have ever watched. The film was a documentary on the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. However, instead of just focusing on the tragic event the film focused on a group of student’s recoveries, healing process, and journey to change gun laws. It showed the impact that kids, our age could have on the government and change the world. The screening I attended was also the first time the students in the documentary had seen the film as well. It was an incredible film that focused on the journey for change and everyone left the theatre not just talking about how great it was but how it inspired them to want to fight for change.

[jcmatsundance2020-blog]

The Streamer Effect – Miss Americana

Sundance is a place for movies to get distribution and by the second week, when our class traveled to the festival the movie Miss Americana, a film about Taylor swift, already had distribution and was on Netflix. Some of my classmates had tickets for the screening of this film however, a few of us had discussed earlier in the week how it was sort of pointless to go see a film that we and the rest of the world could easily view from our laptops at home. This seemed to be the general consensus at the festival as well when we would talk to strangers on the buses, theaters, and on main street as well. There was a lot less interest in this film and others that were already on Netflix or would be within the next few days.

[jcmatsundance2020-blog]

Private Sundance HQ party with with our friend Pauline, the amazing assistant coordinator! The DJ was great too!

[jcmatsundance2020-blog]

Thank you to the MARC Theater for the free ticket to Us Kids.