Did you know that Robert Redford created the Sundance
Institute because as an actor wanting to be a director, he had no other way to
get his movies made? Weird right? Yes, that Robert Redford…the man who launched
other young movie makers through the Sundance Film Festival.
Apparently the story goes that he begged a studio to let him
direct. Then, as leverage to get him to be in their next movie, they gave him
money to direct his own movie. It was chump change to them, to get him to be in
their movie. After it was completed, the studio buried his film. Never released
it nationally, and it died on the vine. It was a bait and switch type set-up.
He vowed NEVER to let that happen again. Which is when he created Sundance
Institute. A classic case of when the world gives you lemons you piss on
everyone. Yes, I realize that Redford was the biggest star to date, and that it
seemed like some brat wanting to do his thing, but you have to appreciate his
moxie.
Bigger stars never really fully leveraged themselves like that without a
safety net. Brad Pitt & George Clooney have their own production company
going. It’s backed by major studios. You do one for us, we do this for you. In
the case of Redford though, the Sundance Film Festival is now a massive arena
for which movies are found and distributed. While also fine-tuning up and
coming filmmakers. It seems like their own cult. But not bad for a pretty boy
who only wanted a train set.
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