All language subtitles for On.The.Corner.Of.Ego.And.Desire.2019.1080p.WEB-DL.H264.AC3-EVO

(tape deck whirring)

- [Alex] So guys, just
relax, it's gonna be fine.

Just act natural, act natural.
- Okay, cool.

- [Alex] Is this your
first interview, guys?

Kind of, you're been, as--
- I mean--

- [Alex] As a group?

- Yeah.
- Yeah.

- Okay.
- Yeah, as a group.

Absolutely, collectively.
- Okay.

All right, so I'ma do a
three, two, one countdown

and we'll get going, okay cool?

- [Julia] Okay, let's do this.

- Three, two, one.

I'd like to introduce...

- Julia Clare, director.

- Lorenzo Bautista, actor.

- Johnny Walker, producer.

- Awesome, guys.

Now you guys, your
first time here.

- Yeah.
- At Sundance?

- [Johnny] At Sundance, yeah.

- [Man] 'Cause I remember
mine was pretty hectic,

so what was your first--

- I think it's been a
really exciting experience

and that we've
really been, like,

welcomed into the fray
of like, the, you know,

Sundance community.

- What fray are we speaking of?

- Well, actually, I had
our film play at this

very cool festival in New York,

a very trendy festival.

While we were there
as filmmakers,

a really notable producer
said, "Come to Sundance,"

and that he'd take
a look at our film.

- Yeah.

- So at that point I
was like, we're invited.

We're invited to Sundance.

- Now you guys are here
trying to sell a movie?

- Yes.
- Yeah.

- Yes.
- Finished, just shot.

Okay, who came up with the idea?

- Well Lorenzo and I about,
well, it was Lorenzo's idea

and I kind of just
helped him with some

of the concepting and--
- Yeah.

- But since they weren't
actually storytellers,

I went and put my artistic
flesh and blood into the story

and physically wrote it.

I did pay homage to some
of the cute little notes

that they put in
their notebooks,

but it took more of a
seasoned storyteller

to get it down on paper.

- I mean, I did write it.

Like I wrote it out and--
- I mean, not in like

a literal sense.
- And I put the dialogue.

- Yeah.

Well no, I literally
wrote it in my notebook

and gave you the script.

- You were like a slight
script doctor, if that.

- Okay, I don't really wanna
insult my work that way, and--

- Okay this--
- I understand that we're

at a bit of an
impasse right now.

- Bit of an impasse?

The movie's done.

It's like way passed an impasse.

- Yeah of course,
my movie is done.

- No it's not your
movie, it's our movie.

We're here together.

- Okay, I mean,
I do understand--

- We actually have
a trailer for it.

- The fact of the matter
is that this is my work

and you are playing
it off as something--

I can't deal with this.

I can't deal with
this. (sobbing)

Ow.

Fuck!

(upbeat acoustic music)

¶ First you say you do
and then you don't ¶

¶ And then you say you will,
that's when you won't ¶

¶ You're undecided now,
so what are you gonna do ¶

¶ Now you want to play,
and then it's no ¶

¶ When you say you'll
stay, that's when you go ¶

¶ You're undecided now,
so what are you gonna do ¶

¶ Well I've been
sittin' on a fence ¶

¶ And it doesn't
make much sense ¶

¶ 'Cause you keep me in
suspense, and you know it ¶

¶ Then you promise to return,
when you don't I really burn ¶

¶ Well, I guess I'll never
learn and I show it ¶

¶ So If you got a heart,
and if you're kind ¶

¶ Don't keep us apart,
make up your mind ¶

¶ You're undecided now,
so what are you gonna do ¶

¶ Ooh ¶

- Oh my god.

(kissing)

Sundance 2018, ah!

- Whoa.

This is sick.

Crap, all right.

Where are these guys?

- Oh my god.

Oh my god.

I'm here, I can't
believe I'm here.

Oh my god.

Johnny!
- What's up?

You made it, finally.

- We're here.

- What's up?

- We're here.

- I know, this is
freakin' crazy.

- Can you believe it?
- Look at this.

- Isn't it the most
beautiful thing

you've ever seen in
your entire life?

- You never see something
like this in New York.

- Oh my god.

This is our break.

- I know, I know.
- This is our fucking break.

- Have you seen Lorenzo?

- No, where the fuck is he?

- I don't know,
he's always late.

- Oh my god.

(Lorenzo chuckles)

- [Lorenzo] Yo.

- Dude.
- Dude.

- [Lorenzo] Hey guys.

- [Johnny] Well you're
not as late as usual.

- Well, I mean.

(Julia squeals)
Hey.

- We're here.

Oh my god.

- What's up dude?
- Oh, my god.

We are here.

And it's real.

It's the most beautiful thing
I've ever seen in my life.

- Yeah, it's
definitely up there.

- Yeah.

It's exactly like
your vision board.

- It's just like vision board.

HBO, Netflix, The
Egyptian Theater.

And we're here, and we're
gonna make fucking history.

- You know what this is?

- Kismet?

- This is kismet, but
it's also a culmination of

two years of hard freakin' work.

- Talent meets hard
work meets preparation.

(Lorenzo sighs)

Okay, let's do it.
- Yeah.

What should we do first?

- Um--
- Atticus Bookshop is where

all the cool filmmakers
hang out, so,

that's where you're gonna
find the next Lars von Trier.

Let's go.

- But, let's check in
the AiR.B.nb first.

- Fine, whatever.
- I wanna drop my stuff off,

get ourself settled in.
- It's happening.

- [Johnny] And then we can
go to Atticus and network

and that stuff.
- Okay you guys just lead

the way, I'll be right here.

- This is amazing.

- Hey check it
out, DirecTV Lodge.

- Yes.
- Oh, nice.

- And there's an IMDB
Lodge over there,

and I wonder, since we're
all IMDB Pro members--

- Do you think
they'd let us go in?

- We could probably get in.
- You think?

- I don't know, maybe.
- Well I have IMDB Pro, too.

- Yeah, so, maybe
they'll let us in.

And then there's also,
I saw a Vimeo place

and a Dropbox place and since
we have all of those places,

I'm sure we're
probably VIPs in there.

- And, free swag.
- Okay, cool.

- Free swag, yes.

- Maybe they'll
have sweet t-shirts.

- You think there'd be like,
cool actors there or something?

- Yeah, probably.
- Yeah.

- We might be able to
get somebody to cameo

in our next thing.
- Oh that'd be amazing.

- Wait hold on, hold on.
- Whoa, whoa, whoa, whao.

- What?
- This is Sundance.

You gotta wait.
- You can't cross right now.

- Okay come on, let's just go.
- Go.

- Look at this.

Do you think people
actually go skiing?

Like why would they waste
their time on the slopes

when they could be actually
schmoozing, you know?

- [Johnny] Don't forget,
we're here to find R.B.

and sell this movie.

- [Julia] People keep
on looking at me.

- [Lorenzo] Oh, really?

- Yeah I feel like
maybe they recognize me.

- Oh.

- Do you think they
could have seen me

from my Q and A at the Uptown
Downtown Film Festival?

- Oh, yeah.
- Oh, of course.

- Totally.

- 'Cause I keep on getting
looks and it's like,

they might just think
that I'm somebody

who's already famous.

So I'm thinking when
we're here next year,

it's gonna be all about
our sophomore feature.

- Oh look at the dog.
- So at that point we're gonna

know a little more, and
I think we'll probably

premiere at Eccles--
- Okay.

- And they planned this whole
filmmaker retreat thing--

- Really?
- Only the director,

I'm sorry, not the
producers or anyone else,

but the director gets invited
to Bob Redford's house

and you get to have
lunch in his living room

and he's like really
chill because by then,

you're like one of
the anointed ones.

Oh, look, there's
the IMDB Lounge.

- Hey guys, sorry, we're
closed for a private event.

- Oh, I have an IMDB account.
- I have IMDB Pro.

- Yeah, this is invite only.
- Yeah.

They're doing talent
interviews in here.

- But we're talent.

- We're talented, too.
- We're all talented.

- Yeah.
- All right.

- Yeah, sorry.

You're all right,
get it next year.

- Stay warm.

- Okay.
- Take care.

- [Johnny] Thanks.

(upbeat music)
(cheering)

- [Julia] So we're
here to sell the movie.

- [Johnny] Yes.

- We're here to try
to get our work seen

and taken seriously at
a really high level.

So I think that if we just
think eye on the prize--

- Yep.

- Here to make this
movie, we're going to

get this work seen
on a huge level.

- Guys, guys, guys.

Guys, it's the bear.

- [Julia] Are you
shitting me right now?

- I'm not.

- Okay.
(Lorenzo laughs)

- I found the bear.
- Let's take a moment

from our all-important
Sundance trip to pose

with a fat bear.

Sundance 2018, ah!

- Hey, it's me,
your boy, friend.

Uh.

Anyway, sorry, just calling to
let you know that we're here.

I'm actually here with a bear.

Oh, um, you don't
know about the bear.

There's this statue
of a bear at Sundance

called Franz and
like it's just, um,

it's a statue of a bear.

Anyway, uh, yeah, give me
a call back when you can.

Okay, bye.

(people chattering)

(Johnny sighs)
- We made it, guys.

Ground zero of Sundance.

- I can't believe it.

- It's a lot smaller than
I thought it was gonna be.

- Shush.

It's beautiful.

- No it is really nice.

I just thought, you know.
- It's perfect.

We're gonna be on
that screen one day.

- And hopefully
sooner than later.

- Yes.

Oh.

- Cool.

- All right, let's
find this Airbnb.

So guys, it says in five
feet we make a right.

- Okay.

- Guys look, there it
is, there's the stairs.

- Ooh, let's do it.

- Dude, that's a
fuckton of stairs.

- Come on, slowpokes.

- I know.

- Sundance waits for no man.

Ah!

Come on.

- [Johnny] Dude.

Did you hear that "Sundance
waits for no man" jab?

- [Lorenzo] Yeah, I heard it.

- Dude the altitude's
really messing me up.

I thought I was in shape.

Apparently not.

You okay?

- Yeah, I'm good.

Oh my god, there's
so many more stairs.

- We're good, we're good.

Come on, come on, we got it.

We got this.

- [Lorenzo] Oh my god.

We're good, we're good.

- [Johnny] Dude, why
is she running so fast?

- [Lorenzo] Is she like,
training for like a marathon?

I just need to lose weight.

- It'll be all
right, you're good.

- Oh my god, son of a bitch.
- I can't go anymore.

- [Lorenzo] Dude I need
you to let go of my bag.

- [Johnny] My heart's really--

- [Lorenzo] I need you to let
go of my bag, it's too much.

- [Johnny] All right,
all right, all right.

- [Lorenzo] Oh my god.

Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god.

- Dude are you kidding me?

More stairs?

- There's more stairs.

How is she going so fast?

How is she going so fast?

Oh they're so steep,
why are they so steep?

- And why are there so many?
- Oh my god.

This is horrible.

- Come on guys, woo!
- I hate her.

- My legs are burning.

- My head's starting
to hurt, dude,

like it's really hurting.

Do you think it's like...

- Come on!

Woo!

- [Lorenzo] There's a light
at the end of the tunnel.

- [Johnny] I can't do
this, I can't do this.

- [Lorenzo] Somewhere.

Holy shit.

Oh my god, I can't.

- Okay.

Come on.

Come on, we gotta go.

We can't stop, 'cause if we
stop, we're not gonna make it.

- Woo!

Sundance 2018, woo woo woo.

Woo woo, woo woo.

Let's go!

(laughs)
Come on.

Ah!

Look at this place.
- Okay.

Guys, there it is.

- Where?
- There's the Airbnb.

- Oh my god.

- Hey, did I do good,
or did I do good?

- Done good.

- This is pretty nice.
- This is sweet.

- All right.

- I call the master bedroom.

- [Lorenzo] Fine.

- Look at this place.
- Yeah, it's super super.

(heavy breathing)

Hey.
- Everything's happening.

- I know.
(heavy breathing)

- This place is sweet.
- I know, it's so nice.

- [Julia] I can't
wait to get inside.

- Yeah, right?
- It's huge.

- Hey, dude, you good?

- Nah dude, we're good.

We're good.

Hey.

Yes, this is Johnny from
the three people renting.

No, no, we're outside
right now actually.

No, I didn't get your email
actually, what did it say?

Oh, I mean, a leak?

That's fine, I mean, we're just
like crashing for the night.

What do you mean we can't stay?

I know you sent the email,
I didn't get any email.

No, we can't find any
other reservation.

You guys didn't even
give us the refund yet.

That's our last $400.

- Mwah.

(laughs)

So, I was watching
Yojimbo on the

Criterion Collection laser
disc and I had this realization

that everything that I
was doing as an auteur

with my work in like the
downtown scene in Brooklyn

could be my calling card,
and that the way that I

was using black and white
and like the visual style

that I was getting
wasn't just like merely

like the French new wave thing.

Yes, I mean I do use that
thing where every single one

of my character's
dialogue has this like,

really shrewd philosophical
statement thing.

And then Johnny said to
me, "You know, Julia,

"like style over substance
could be a thing."

And I thought that intrinsically
if what I was doing,

if that's what
I'm trying to say,

and the suffering
that I'm using,

that it could actually
really inform the kind

of visual work that I'm doing.

So I thought to myself that
my film could be the very

thing that puts me on the map.

And I read somewhere that
if you reach out to like

Jessica Chastain or Gerard
Depardieu and you say

that you're writing a
character that transcends

the mere type that
they normally play

that that would be
a calling card--

- Hey guys, guys, sorry.

Can we have team meeting?

(sighs)

So, I just got off
the phone with Justin,

the guy who's renting
us the house--

- Sweet, so are
we getting in now.

- So that's the thing.

So as you may or may not have
noticed, I couldn't get in,

so I called him and that's
when he gave me some bad news

and some badder news.

- Okay.
- What?

- So the bad news
is there is a leak--

- That's fine, I mean,
you can have the room

closest to the bathroom.

You can sleep through
anything, we'll be fine.

- I said the same exact thing--

- [Julia] Right, right,
let's just move in right now.

- Exactly, we're only
here for the night.

- [Julia] Exactly,
it's all good.

- Totally.

But apparently he emailed
me, which I never got and--

- Why didn't you
check your email?

- I did.

- But what if we have
agents and managers

and distributors writing
to us during this trip?

- Yeah that's all
great and stuff.

What are we doing tonight?

- We need to focus on
making sure that when

people are trying to
get to us that we're

available to be gotten to.

- Guys, I got it.

Look.

Between the three of us,
we have to know someone

we can crash with--
- Wait.

You're really saying that
we can't stay here tonight?

In the place that
we booked out--

- It is so fucking cold.

Oh my god, dude,
are you serious?

- Guys, this--
- Look, he's gonna refund

our money back.
- But this Airbnb was

on my vision board.

It's not something that
we can just replace.

- Okay, look, no one cares
about the vision board.

- You're saying you don't
care about my vision board?

- [Johnny] That's
exactly what I'm saying.

- You're my producer,
you're here to support me

and to support my vision.
- Okay, guys.

What are we gonna do?

- Okay, um, Julia.

We're gonna take off our
filmmakers hats and we're gonna

talk as friends now.

- [Julia] I can't take
the hat off, I am the hat.

- Okay.

No one cares about
the vision board.

- What?
- Look, I'm stressin' out.

Listen, we will just sleep
in the airport, okay,

we'll figure it
out, I don't care.

- I can't fucking
work like this.

(sighs)

- Just fix it, dude.

- Yeah.

(people chattering)

- Oh god, I'm so tired.

- Me too.

- It feels so good to sit down.

- Look guys, I don't
want you to worry, okay?

I'm reaching out to
everybody I know who could

be at Sundance.

I'm sure somebody has a
floor we can crash on.

Just somebody.

- In what has become a
tradition of the festival,

this year's non-panel panel
called This Is Not A Panel

will be featuring filmmakers
sharing object stories

and sensory representation of
what influenced their work.

Is that not the most Sundance
shit you have ever heard

in your entire life?
- Yeah.

- Guys, is this how
it's gonna be all day?

You guys are just
gonna keep ignoring me?

- Ooh.

Madeline's Madeline.

Sounds so subversive.

The new frontier
section is almost

entirely female filmmakers.

- Yeah, I don't--
- This is the shit.

And since we don't have
anywhere to stay this afternoon,

we might as well go and you
know, sit in the theater.

- True.

- What do you think
is at Eccles at noon?

Do you think we
should just crash it?

I think we should just,
like, walk the fuck in

and act like we work there.

- Oh okay, cool.

I mean, I don't know
if that's gonna--

Ooh, they have breakfast pizza.

- Do they have any
unicorn lattes?

- What's a unicorn latte?

It has that, like, sugar
pink unicorn poop--

- Guys, guys, guys.

R.B. is talking at Slam Dance.

He goes on in 10
minutes, we gotta run.

We gotta go, we gotta go.
- Okay, let's go.

- I really wanted the pi--

(grunts)
God, why is it so difficult?

- R.B. is here, R.B. is here.

We gotta go, hurry.

- Oh my god, oh my god.

- Dude just rest.
- Yeah.

- I have a confession.

I always wanted to be
a director and actor,

but then 2002, Robert Evans,
The Kid Stays in the Picture.

That's the film that made
me realize that there is

an art to being a producer,
albeit a very painful one.

The thing about being a
producer is you're the person

that keeps everything together.

You're essentially the
heart and soul of a movie.

You're also the one that
when shit hits the fan,

everyone seems to crap on you.
- Guys, guys.

- What's up?

- We missed him.

- Oh, shi...

- You guys have to keep
up when I'm running.

We're not gonna get to do
anything if we're slow.

- It's the hills and stuff.

- I know, I know.

- Sorry.
- It's okay.

What do we do now?

- Well why don't we just
go to the ticketing center

and see if maybe
he's doing panels?

- I mean I checked the app
and there's nothing, but,

maybe we can convince
someone in person.

- Okay.
- All right.

- Okay.
- Cool.

- We can do this, let's go.

- Oh, we're going.

- [Julia] Woo.

When do you think the
next bus is coming?

- Oh, I'm not sure.

Uh, let's see if I
can find the schedule.

- Sit down.

- So, I was able to Google.

It's about three
minutes to the next bus.

- Awesome.
- Cool.

- Guys, can you believe
they're all free here?

- We're at Sundance.

A land of opportunity.

- Free opportunities are great.

- Oh my god.

I can't wait for today.

- Yeah.

I can't wait to get
inside somewhere warm.

- Yeah.
- Like a warm theater.

- Oh, wait.
- No.

- Oh, come on.

(people chattering)

Guys, I've got a
confession to make.

- Another one?

- I did not prepare
for this trip.

I didn't bring
thermal underwear,

I don't have any winter socks,

and I haven't felt my
feet in about 27 minutes.

Anybody have an extra
pair of socks that they

would be willing to lend me?

- It's fine, you're taking
all of this to seriously.

Your feet will thaw.

Your life will go on.

We're only here in Park City
for 24 hours to see art.

Forget the rest of it.

Let's just go see something
really cool and avant garde

and expand our artistic
palates and have the best--

- Guys, look, I get it.

We're at Sundance Film
Festival, but why are we

trying to see movies when
we're trying to sell a movie?

That's our purpose
for being here.

- Because we're not the kind
of self-indulgent artists

that don't take in the
work that's around us.

We're here to support art
and live art and breathe art.

We'll sell our film, we'll take
in some world class cinema.

- We just have time
to kill anyway, dude.

You lost our Airbnb, so like,

we have to be inside somewhere.

- Yeah, I mean, if
we had the Airbnb,

then we might be
able to, you know,

go and chill out there, but.

- So we're gonna keep bringing
that up again all day, huh?

- Well I'm just saying
that we don't have a home,

so the cinema is our home today.

- Guys, look.

One movie, okay?

- Or a block of shorts.

- Fine.

- If we just follow our
artistic hearts and go

and see the best
shit, we're probably,

through the laws of
attraction, going to draw him

towards us anyway.

- [Johnny] Trace
any celebrities yet?

- [Lorenzo] Oh yeah, I've seen
a bunch, have you seen any?

- No, who'd you see?

- Oh I saw Jon Hamm,
saw Kevin Smith.

- Wow.
- Saw Nic Cage.

Uh...

- Did you talk to any of them?

- No, no one talks to Nic Cage.

(laughs)
That's crazy.

- When you're at Sundance,
this is the perfect opportunity

to talk and meet other actors.

People that are trying to do
what you are trying to do,

you know what I'm saying?

- Yeah, I guess, but...

- Look, Lorenzo.

Sometimes, dude, you just
gotta put your balls out there,

you know what I'm saying?

- Yeah.
- Take a risk.

- Okay, no I got you, cool.

Nic Cage, pull your
balls out, got you.

I mean I'm not gonna
literally pull my balls out.

- No.
- 'Cause that'd be weird.

- I said put your
balls out there.

Put your balls out there.

Not pulls your balls out.
- Oh.

- It's a metaphor.
- Yeah.

- Got you.

Maybe next time,
don't use metaphors.

Just like, build your
confidence, you know,

somethin' like that.

Just so it's more clear.

You know what I mean?
- I think that's a good idea.

(people chattering)

Come on guys.

- [Julia] Ooh.

- [Lorenzo] Wow.

This is nice.

- All right guys, we're
here, so first thing's first.

Let's go upstairs and check
out the panel schedule

and try to find R.B.
- And movies.

- Okay.
- Movies.

All right, you hang tight.

Just like, mingle or something.

- Okay.

Cool.

(people chattering)

This is, this is intense.

There's a lot of tension
between those two,

which it's been ongoing for
I don't even know how long,

but it's fine.

We're here, we're
gonna make this happen,

we're gonna meet R.B.
and it's gonna be great.

Because I just want
it to be really great

'cause I'm really
nervous about this.

I'm just like, it's my first
feature and I want people

to like it. (chuckles)

And um, (clears throat)
yeah, there's a lot of prep

for this character.

You know, miser technique,
Alexander technique.

I just, like, really,
honestly, I just watched a lot

of movies to like see what the
actors did in those movies.

Like Dumb and Dumber,
Liar Liar, The Mask.

Just a lot of Jim Carrey movies.

Um, just to see, you
know, what he did

that's gonna help me
get into my character

as a minority from the
Bronx falling in love

with an alien who's just
like a smaller minority.

So that's gonna be

a fun thing to see how R.B.
reacts to it, you know,

and I'm just like really
excited to see how--

- Hey Lorenzo.
- Yeah.

- [Johnny] We're having
another team meeting.

- Oh, okay.

(Johnny sighs)
- All right guys,

so here's the situation.

All short blocks and
feature films are sold out,

R.B.'s not speaking
at any panels.

- And we have no place to stay.

- Thanks for that.

- Okay mister producer.

What now?

- You know what?

I actually think
I got somethin'.

- [Lorenzo] Oh good,
good, he's got something.

- [Julia] It's real reassuring.

- This is nice though.

- My feet hurt.

- Yeah, my face hurts.

- At least we're at Sundance.

- Yeah.

There's that.

- The fire's pretty.
- Yeah.

- Guys.
- Yeah?

- I am a freaking genius.

Do you remember that
guy I told you about

that I follow on Twitter,
Indie Film Hustle?

So I don't know why the
hell I didn't remember this,

he is doing an interview
with R.B. here at Sundance,

so I sent him a direct
message and I said,

"Listen, is there
any way me and my two

"filmmakers friends can
possibly swing by to

"meet R.B. after
your interview?"

And he said, "Dude you guys
are members of the tribe,

"no problem."

We're gonna meet him tonight.

(Julia squeals)
- Yes!

- [Johnny] Did I tell you guys
I would come through for you?

- Dude.
- Do I ever let you down?

- Oh.
- Thank you.

- Awesome.

So we're gonna meet R.B.?

We're gonna meet him?
- Yes.

We have four hours.

- It's happening.
- Oh, god.

- For once, like
we said, let's just

freakin' enjoy Sundance, okay?
- Yeah.

Let's relax.

Everything's good, all right.

Let's make it happen.
- Take a breath.

- Okay.

- Okay, let's explore.
- We'll make the best of it.

We're at Sundance, come on guys.

(Julia squeals)

(upbeat jazzy music)

- Hey babe. (chuckles)

Uh, I was just
calling to check in,

let you know that we're here.

Just waiting for the bus
now, trying to meet up

with a producer and hopefully
sell this movie. (chuckles)

But uh, yeah, just give me
a call back when you can.

I'll text you a little later,

and um, yeah, talk to you soon.

K, bye.

(upbeat jazzy music)

- Okay guys, so question.

Good idea, or amazing
idea, if I just cold write

to an assistant at
WME on Facebook?

Why not try it?

Like the worst that could
happen is they block me.

- Right, yeah.
- Well.

- Or they watch our
trailer and realize

that we're the next Kubricks.

And if I send your trailer,
like, the more hits on it,

if it goes viral, like,
the more likely we are

to probably get a deal.

- Anyway guys, I might've
met someone back home.

- Aww.

Like, a girl?

- I don't wanna, like,
say much about it.

It's just like--

- You mean like a
special someone?

- Or a boy?
- Yeah, maybe.

I don't know, we'll
see, I don't know.

- Oh.

- It's a girl, you knew that.

(Julia laughs)

- That's really sweet.

- Yeah.

I mean, I don't know.

It's just like, we
talked a couple times.

We'll see what happens.

- What's she like?

- Uh, I mean, she's really nice.

I mean, we're getting
to know each other.

Nothing, like, too crazy yet.

Only been on like two dates,
but, I feel somethin',

and I'm kind of
excited about it.

- Is she an actor?

- No, she's a dentist.

- Probably for the best.

You never wanna date within
the industry, trust me.

- I don't know about that.

- So says the one who hasn't
has a boyfriend in two years.

- I mean, it's not like I've
taken, like, an actual vow

of celibacy, but, I
just think my work

has to be number one
in my life right now.

- For sure.

I mean, I don't know, it'd be
nice to like, have someone.

- Yeah, no, for sure.

I'm just saying the
most successful people

are often married
to their careers

and I just don't think we
should get distracted before--

- Okay, you know, nevermind.

- Married to their careers?
- Yeah.

- We have to have more than
just a film business, though.

- Why?

- Because, at the end of our
lives, we're not gonna take

the movies we made with us.

It's gonna be the people--
- (laughs) I don't know.

I plan to sleep next to
my Oscars every night

and stay really warm.

- You're really delusional.

(scoffs)
- At least I'm focused.

- Anyway, yeah, she's
like super nice.

- Hey, maybe we'll get a
free cleaning out of it.

(scoffs)

- I don't think we're
at that stage yet.

- [Julia] Oh, um.

May I get a thin mint?

- Milk or dark chocolate?

- Yes, mom, of course
I'm eating healthy.

Yes, I got the kale chips.

And the granola.

No, no, of course I'll be
staying away from sweets.

K, love you, bye.

Perfect.

(laughing)
(Julia squeals)

- Insta time.

- This is fun guys, isn't it?

- Let's take a picture.
- Okay.

- Um, excuse me?

What are you guys doin'?

You can't hang here.

- Just one selfie?

- Nope, I gotta have you leave.

- No selfies?
- No selfies, sorry.

Why don't you get
up and head on out?

- Sorry.

- Come on.

- Sorry.

- Sorry.
- Come back later.

- Hello, is this WME?

Yes.

May I speak to someone in
the packaging department?

No, no, not the mail room,
the pack, like TV packaging.

(sighs)

I got the number off IMDB Pro.

No, it's cool, I can wait.

She's out to lunch again?

Okay, I'll call back.

I'll call back, okay, okay.

Good bye.

(sighs)

- You're gonna have a
whole damn photo album.

Good for you, good for you, kid.

Great job, all right.

- Holy shit guys,
that's Glickman.

That's Stephen Glickman.

- I have no idea who that is.

- Hey, you're Stephen
Glickman, right?

- Uh huh.
- Yo, big fan, man.

Can I get an autograph?
- Sure, yeah, no.

No autographs man, but I'll
take a picture with you.

- Oh yeah, cool.

- I just don't do autographs.
- That's fine, I get it.

- People try to sell it
on the Ebay and shit.

- Yeah.
- Before you know it,

it's worth $45.
- Right, right, right.

- Like, you know,
I'm not worth $45.

I'm worth $55.

- Oh, thanks, dude,
appreciate it.

- Yeah, no problem man.

You bet.
- Oh shit, it's blurry.

Can I just get,
can I get one more?

- Hurry, it's a
new filter queen.

- Okay, yeah, I mean
I got a picture.

- That's good.

I have no idea who he is, but,
let's go meet real auteurs.

- Okay.

(upbeat jazzy music)

- Mom, I got your
text, what's up?

Yeah, I borrowed the money.

Well what do you--

Look, you're the one
who told me that I need

to invest in myself, that
if I don't invest in me,

no one else is
gonna invest in me.

But I know, but I
didn't have the money.

No but mom, look, this
film is gonna be my chance.

It's my way in.

Look, I was trying
to do it for us.

I don't want us living in
this shitty apartment anymore.

You know I always wanted
to buy you a house,

you know I always said that.

What do you--

What do you mean
don't come home?

What the fuck am
I supposed to do?

(upbeat jazzy music)

- Ooh, look.
- Whoa.

- Look.

They're showing Read
the Animals, which is a

Sundance film this
year, and they're doing

a reading right now.

Come on guys, let's go.
- Okay, okay, okay.

- Let's go.
- We're going, we're going.

Geez.

(upbeat jazzy music)

- Hey, it's me calling
again, voicemail number five.

Sorry, I just thought
you had the day off, so,

I'm just not sure what's
going on. (laughs)

But yeah, give me a
call back when you can.

Uh, that's you calling, sorry.

Hey.

Hey, how's it going?

Yeah I got a s--

Sorry?

Well, no, I mean I was
just calling to see

how you were doing.

No, I just, I just
thought we had something.

Okay.

Yeah no, I get it.

Okay.

Okay, talk to you later.

Bye.

Hey guys.

- Hey.
- Ready?

How's she doin'?

- She's good.
- Huh, loverboy?

- [Lorenzo] Yeah, she's good.

- Oh my god, I love all of
this, these, the crowds.

The adrenaline just like
lights me up, you know?

- Yeah, totally.

- Don't you just live for
people to wait in line

to see you and your work?

- [Lorenzo] Yeah, I,
you know, making people

laugh is awesome.

- I just wanna move to Sundance.

(Lorenzo laughs)

- You wanna move to Sundance?

- Yeah.

- It only like lasts
for like 10 days.

- Shut up.
- Okay.

- Is that Leonardo DiCaprio?
- Oh Jesus.

Oh.

(gasps)

- Do you think if
I got out right now

and told him that I had
a script and that he

would come and be
in my next movie?

Oh.

Oh my god.

- Probably not, but.

- Shut up.
- Okay.

(upbeat jazzy music)

- Hello?

Hey, it's Julia Clare,
I'm just checking in.

I wanted to let you
know that I'm at the

Sundance Film Festival.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm one
of Samantha's clients.

(scoffs)

What do you mean I'm no
longer on her roster?

No, no, no, I told her
that I was booking out

to go to the Sundance
Film Festival

to show my feature.

Downsizing?

Oh, do you mean you're
not repping filmmakers

above a certain level, because,

I'll totally take referrals
if you think I should be

with like a bigger
management company like in

Zero Gravity or Nauthenic.

Dropping me?

(chuckles)

Yeah, I understand.

No, I...

(upbeat jazzy music)

Hey guys.

Let's...

(upbeat jazzy music)

- [Johnny] How are
you guys feelin'?

- I'm feeling ready.
- I'm okay.

- What about you?
- I'm okay.

I feel really good.

Is this is it?

- [Julia] This is it.

- [Johnny] How do you feel?

- [Julia] About to go up to Oz.

I was born ready.

- [Johnny] Remember
guys, the pitch,

just like we talked about.

- I'm ready.
- We got this.

Hey.

- [Lorenzo] Wow, cool.

This place is dope.

- Hey.

- Hi.

Uh, is the elevator this way?

- [Woman] Right down the hall.

- [Lorenzo] Great, thanks.

- It's right here.

(elevator dings)

You ready?

- Yeah.
- Mhm.

- After you.

After you, sir.

- All right.

- [Johnny] All right.

So.

- Okay, so, what's
Indie Film Hustle again?

That's pretty cool.

- [Johnny] Um.

(humming)

All right, it's
gotta be this way.

- [Julia] We seriously
can't be late.

Do you know how
unprofessional it's gonna look

if we're late?

- [Lorenzo] Um,
that one says 203.

- I am never trusting
you guys again.

- [Lorenzo] Oh geez.

- God, now the numbers
are going back down.

This place is like
a freakin' maze.

(sighs)

- [Julia] We're
gonna miss him, guys.

- Well we're trying here.

- You gotta stay positive.

- Everyone just use
the law of attraction.

- Okay.

- Okay look guys,
202, three, four,

the numbers are going up.

This is good, this
is very, very good.

(Julia groans)

Six.

- [Lorenzo] What
is it, 247, was it?

- 247.
- 247.

- [Johnny] Where?

- [Julia] Oh.

- That's 207.

Crap.

Hey guys, look.

Before we go in, can we
just have like a quick

little pow wow?

- Yeah, yeah, yeah.

I wanna make sure
we're on the same page

with all of this.

- Oh yeah, for damn sure.

100%.

So, I am having a
really tough time with

the name of the film.

- But I think it's
because you don't get it.

The Tango of Neptune's Fury:
The Battle of Persephone

is a beautiful homage
to all the kind of

Europeans films that
everyone is like,

actively looking to get behind.

- I just think that, just the
name is just too damn long.

- I just don't think
this is the right time

to talk about this.

- I mean, The Battle
of Persephone is an

internal battle.

It is just filled
with estrogen, I mean,

it comes from down here.

It's the kind of thing
that when we talk about

as women, female
filmmakers, this is like the

Me Too movement all
encapsulated in one sci fi film

filled with feminist propaganda.

Right?

- Sure.
- Yeah.

- It's subjective.

I just thought--
- I mean, I don't think

it's subjective when it
was probably the title

that got me past the first
round of the Nickels Fellowship.

I mean, it's the kind of
thing that is so intrinsic

to my style of work.

I mean, my passion comes
through in that title.

That is like an homage
to the kind of work

that everyone wants
to work to be part of.

I mean, it's beautiful
cinematic story telling.

- Okay you barely got
through the first round,

but like, regardless--
- Okay but the coverage that

I got, people told me that it
was really saying something.

- Guys, guys, guys.

All I'm saying is, from
a marketing stand point,

what if we shorten the
title to this: Persephone.

- What, I mean,
this isn't Pixar.

- Look I know, but I just
thinking that, you know,

with a title that long, it's,

people are gonna think
we're pretentious and--

- Like, we don't need a
one name, like, thing.

It doesn't have to be catchy.

- Yeah, something--
- And people are going

to remember it because it's in--

- Very mature.
- The Criterion Collection,

not because it has a
slightly pretentious title

that actually is really
kind of brilliant.

- God, the numbers
are going down again.

It's like where the
heck is this room?

- I don't remember
this hallway at all.

- No, I don't either.

- [Man] Podcasting
from the back alley.

- Guys, 247.

- Yeah.

- Finally.

This place is super cool.

- Hey Alex, nice to
meet you, I'm Lorenzo.

Big fan of your Indie
Film Hustle podcast.

It's really awesome
stuff right there.

- Oh I'm not Alex, man.

- Sorry?

- I'm not Alex, man, I'm Paul.

- Paul?

- Yeah, Paul.

- Paul.

Oh, okay.

Uh--
- Hey guys, I'm Alex.

- Oh fuck.
- Hi, Alex.

Julia.

- Nice to meet you.

- Oh dude, good to
meet you, finally man,

after all this time.
- Thank you man.

- Thank you very much.
- Awesome to have you man.

Awesome to have you here man.

- Hey, Alex.

Lorenzo.

- Pleasure to meet you guys.
- Sorry about that.

- Pleasure to meet
you, thanks for comin'.

- I mean what you're
doing for the community,

it's really amazing.

- Oh, we're just trying
to help other filmmakers.

You know, we're all
in this together,

so why not help each other?

- Is, is your guest
R.B. still around?

- So I got a little
bit of bad news.

R.B.'s not gonna be
able to make it today

'cause he got stacked up
on some other interviews,

so he's not gonna be
here, I'm so sorry.

- Don't even worry about it.
- That's cool.

- Nah dude, it's
fine, it happens.

No worries.
- What's with the mics?

- Oh I'm just interviewing
filmmakers here at Sundance

trying to get the word
out on their project.

- Oh, sweet.

- I don't know if
you've told him, but,

we've been getting
a little bit of buzz

on the festival circuit.

- You got a feature
film you just finished?

- Yeah.
- Yeah.

- [Alex] Oh awesome.

- We just were shopping it
around at Sundance and maybe,

maybe you could interview us.

- Um, yeah, why not?

We're all set up, absolutely,
we'll help you guys out.

- Yeah?
- Oh nice.

- Pretty cool, let's do this.

- Oh sweet.
- Sorry, dude.

- No worries guys, just take
off your jackets and stuff

and we'll get going right away.

- Hey you guys look
really similar.

- So guys, just relax,
it's gonna be fine.

Just act natural.
- Absolutely.

- Is this your first
interview, guys?

Kind of, or you've
been doing this before?

- I mean--
- As a group?

- As a group, yeah.

- Okay.
- Yeah, as a group.

Absolutely, collectively.
- Yeah.

- So uh, all right, I'm gonna
do a three, two, one countdown

and we'll get going, all right?

- Awesome.
- Okay, let's do this.

- Three, two, one.

I'd like to welcome
to the show...

- Julia Clare, director.

- Oh, Lorenzo Bautista, actor.

- Johnny Walker, producer.

- Fantastic guys,
so, first of all,

what made you guys
wanna be filmmakers?

- Well--
- Well I--

- I mean I really would say
it's a bit of a calling.

- Okay.

- It's one of those things
that you just grow up

as a storyteller
with a diverse voice.

And as a disenfranchised
millennial,

it just really felt like
I had a story to tell

and I'm a spokesperson for
so many girls just like me.

So I just started
making shit and--

- Just going for it?
- Going for it.

- All right.

- Um, yeah, I mean I had a
filmmaking mentor in college

and he said, you know,
being a filmmaker is cool,

but one of the coolest
things about it is

being the voice of the
voiceless and that just

really resonated with me.

- [Alex] Cool.

Lorenzo?

- Oh, wow, I just
really love movies.

- All right, what's some
of your favorite directors?

- Uh, I think right
now, Tommy Wiseau.

- [Alex] The Room?

- Oh yeah, yeah, yeah,
have you seen it?

- I have.

- It's the only
movie he's directed.

- [Alex] Yeah, I know.

- Yeah, it's like, wow, he
just like left his mark and

hasn't worked on
anything else since.

- Okay.
- That actually also inspired

you to get into acting.
- Yeah.

His performance in that
movie was just like,

it really hit home.

- He has very unique vision.
- Oh yeah.

- Without question.
- 100%.

- Now, you guys, your first
time here at Sundance.

- At Sundance, yeah.

- [Alex] So what's been the
experience here at Sundance,

your first time?

'Cause I remember mine
was pretty hectic so

what was your fist
experience here?

- It's been hell.
- Super rocky.

- It's been bad.

- I think they're
exaggerating a little.

- Okay.
- I think it's been a really

exciting experience and
that we've really been like,

welcomed into the fray of the,
you know, Sundance community.

- What fray are we speaking of?

- Well actually, I had
a film play at this

very cool festival in New
York, a very trendy festival.

While we were there,
as filmmakers,

a really notable producer said,

"Come to Sundance," and
that he'd take a look

at our film.
- Yeah.

- So at that point, I
was like, we're invited.

We're invited to Sundance.

- You've got a positive
outlook on things,

I appreciate that,
I appreciate that.

- [Julia] Thank you.

- You guys, so your feeling
on your experience so far?

- Well, I mean, sure, yeah.

It was pretty intense but like,

we lost our Airbnb this morning.

- That was my fault.

- And you know, some
people would be concerned

about earthly things like that.

- [Alex] Okay.

- But the way I see it,
we're being invited into

a community of filmmakers and
it's just been this, like,

really surreal experience, so.

- Yeah.
- I don't wanna define

24 hours of our life by what
did we get or lose, you know?

It's material.
- 24 hours?

How long are you guys here for?

- Just through tomorrow.
- 24 hours.

- For a day.

- So you're doing
Sundance in one day?

- Yeah.
- Yeah, and some might say

it's a little ambitious that--

- Many people would say
something like that.

It's uh, it's--
- Well I mean it's just, like,

all we could afford right now.

- Is that the reason
why it's just like--

- Yeah, it's just,
so we like just--

- I mean--
- I feel ya, I feel ya.

- We're spent.
- Y'all gotta hustle.

Now you guys are here
trying to sell a movie?

- Yeah.

- Yeah, yeah.
- Yes.

- Finish and shot.

Okay, so what's the
name of the feature?

- It is called Persephone.

- [Alex] Okay, and, and
what is Persephone about?

- It's a romantic dramedy.

We like to think
of it as E.T. meets

The Shape of Water, with...

- A little Transformers
sprinkled on top.

- I'd actually say it's a
bit more of a really personal

coming of age story.

It has like an intergalactic
element but it's really

based on my own experience
as a legal alien

and I decided to transpose
that and make that something

that was an experience
based on a young boy

and how he was navigating
this relationship with

this really exceptional
alpha woman, you know?

- We have a trailer.
- I'd love to see it.

- We do, we do.
- Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.

- We shot it in black
and white and I think

it's just such a--

- Shot the movie
in black and white?

- Yeah.
- Yeah.

- That is a bold choice.
- It was, thank you.

- It's a bold,
it's a bold choice.

- Not my choice.

- No, you didn't make
many creative choices,

but it's something
I'm very proud of.

- All right, so it's, it's
shot in black and white.

- It's a bit Frances Ha
meets Criterion Collection.

- So, all right, so you shot
it all in black and white.

- I actually, um, edited that.

- You edited the
feature or the trailer?

- The trailer.

- No, you don't
have to be humble.

- Both.

- He edited the whole feature.

- You did the feature as well?
- Yeah.

- He did.
- And um, have you ever

edited a feature before?
- No, that was my first time.

- It made it really raw.

- Yeah.
- He killed it.

- Yeah.
- Thanks.

- And um, what did you edit on?

- iMovie.

- Yeah, 'cause I recognize
the star wipe, um,

which is also a bold
choice in a trailer.

- Well, it's an intergalactic--

- I understand, I
understand the connection

between the stars and--
- Thematically, I thought.

- Thematically, like, I get you.

- I'm glad, like, that
came across, 'cause--

- No, no it's there, it's there.

- It was something that I
was hoping wasn't too subtle.

- No, no, no, you're
there, you're there.

- Okay.
- That's why I didn't have

a lot of choices
in iMovie, so, um,

I just went with--
- You know, limitations are

sometimes the best
source of creativity.

- Yes, creatively, I
feel really inspired.

- Uh, as a marketability
situation, I mean,

black and white's
gonna be tough.

- I know, but I was thinking
Criterion Collection

the entire time that
I was shooting this.

- Okay.
- And I was thinking that,

you know, Lena Dunham was
exalted when they brought

Tiny Furniture into
the collection.

- Okay.
- And I feel like that what,

and now that Virgin Suicides
was recently introduced.

- Okay.
- I feel like this is really

the trifecta.
- Okay.

- And it really kind
of, I feel like this

is my time and my
voice and my moment.

- So um, this is, it's a
bold trailer and a bold idea.

Who came up with this idea?

- Well I mean, I was
the writer and auteur.

- Oh, well--
- And I directed it,

of course, obviously.

- Well Lorenzo and I,
well it was Lorenzo's idea

and I kind of just
helped him with some

of the concepting and he
took the first steps--

- But since they weren't
actually storytellers,

I went and put my artistic
flesh and blood into the story

and physically wrote it.

I did pay homage to some
of the cute little notes

that they put in
their notebooks.

But it took more of a
seasoned storyteller

to get it down on paper.
- I mean, I did write it.

Like I, you know, wrote it out--

- [Julia] I mean, not
in like a literal sense.

- I helped with the dialogue.
- Yeah.

Well no, I literally
wrote it in my notebook

and gave you the script.

- I mean, if I were to
base, if I were to credit

every person who said
conversationally little snippets

that made it into
my script, I mean,

as an artist I can't just
credit every bystander

on the train.
- I feel like that's like

severely downplaying
what I did, but whatever.

- Yeah.

- They didn't write it.

I mean I, you know,
I have the copyright

in the Library of Congress.

Like, I'm--
- Wait, wait.

What do you mean you
have the copyright?

- Well I mean it's under my name

because I actually wrote
it because as the only

actual person who's
qualified as a screenwriter,

you both had ideas that
inspired my creative muse.

- Wait, wait, we said we
weren't gonna copyright.

- Well obviously now that our
project is getting such buzz,

and it's going to
kind of take the

festival circuit by
storm, I had to do the

responsible thing of--
- Well of course, I mean.

- Right, of course.

- As long as we're
on the same page.

- And now, right.
- Wait, wait, wait, hold on.

Hold on, did you
put our names on it?

- I put my name, the writer,
director, of the project.

I mean, I wasn't gonna
go and put, like,

the names of PAs
and everyone else

who worked on the
film on the script.

- That's kind of taking
it, we're not PAs.

Like, I was the lead,
he's the producer.

- Yeah, but, darling,
just because--

- Yeah, and we came
up with the concept.

He wrote it first.

And then you took it
and zhushed it up.

- As an actor, you
mean he spoke my words.

The privilege of getting to
speak my words as an actor

in a project that I clearly, I
am the inception and the art.

- I mean, you were like a
slight script doctor, if that.

- Okay, I don't really wanna
insult my work that way.

I think that he
artistically means that it's

all based on my vision board.

- Would you stop with
the damn vision board.

Nobody cares about
your vision board.

- Okay, we're talking right
now about the law of attraction

and if it wasn't for
me and my vision,

we wouldn't be here.

We wouldn't be at Sundance,
we wouldn't be making art.

We would still be sitting
in your mom's basement.

- Well it's so funny that
you talk about, you know,

this vision board and the
law of attraction because

it's just like the way
you attracted $100,000

out of my mom's retirement
to make this movie.

That's how the movie got made.

- Just like you were
attracted to my entire

artistic process and are
now claiming ownership.

I'm sorry you've never
done anything artistic

in your life and you
want to piggyback on

your ex-girlfriend's success.

- Alex.
- Yes?

- This is why you
never work with someone

that you used to date.

- Oh.

I can't deal with this.

Ow.

Fuck!

- Way to have my
back, dude, like,

for the love of god, just
grow some balls for once.

- Oh come on, that's mean.

- Um.

So, uh, Lorenzo, you got
anything else going on?

- Um.

I mean, I'm gonna be in
next week's episode of CSI.

Have a featured walk
on, under five, so um,

look out for that. (chuckles)

(knocking)
Julia.

- [Julia] What?

- Come out.

- [Julia] No.

- Julia, come out.

Please.

- [Julia] I'm embarrassed.

- Yeah, well that
was embarrassing.

Can you guys just, okay,
I know Johnny can be

a bit of a dick sometimes.
- He's a bad producer.

- Yeah, and he's kind of a
piece of shit, you know, but.

- [Julia] And a shitty friend.

- Just, all right?

So.

Just come on out.
- Fine.

- Thank you.
(Julia sniffles)

Okay, look, I think
at this point,

we should just cut our
losses, grab our stuff

and get out of here, okay?

- Do you think this is
gonna hurt the movie?

- It's probably gonna hurt
the movie, but let's just go.

(sighs)

- Fine, let's go.

- Do I know you guys?

- You know, it doesn't
even matter, here.

I need you guys to
do me a huge favor.

I need you guys to go
to the liquor store

and get enough
vodka, whiskey, gin,

for about 30 producers for
the party tonight, okay?

Good.

Here's the list.

Bring me receipts.

Oh and uh, get some
hand sanitizer and
chap stick for Alex.

He's a little bit
of a bitch, I know,

but you guys get it.

Anyway, thanks
guys, appreciate it.

- Go, go, go, go.

(Julia squeals)

(upbeat jazzy music)

Guys.

30 producers.

Okay, go, go, come on.

- Do you know how many people
we're gonna pitch tonight?

(Julia laughs)
- 30?

(upbeat pop music)

(laughs)
- Woo!

- Oh shit.
- Let me know when to go.

Fuckin' shit balls.

(people exclaiming)
- Oh no!

- No!
- No!

(laughing)

- Fuck!

- Get it.

To the night.

- Cheers.

- Hey!

(clapping)
(cheering)

- Oh.

Oh, you are so fuckin' lucky.

(cheering)

- Bottoms up!

(cheering)

- [Johnny] Fuck!

(people exclaiming)

- [Group] Johnny,
Johnny, Johnny, Johnny.

(laughs)

- [Man] Number 52!

Woo!

(upbeat music)
(people chattering)

- Oh, no way.

Um hi, excuse me.

Do you play Michelle
in The Room?

- Yeah.

- Oh my god.

Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god.

- Have you seen it?

- Yeah, it's my favorite movie.

- Really?

- Oh my god, I'm Lorenzo.

Nice to meet you.

I've seen that
movie like 50 times.

I just saw The Disaster
Artist and it just like,

oh wow, you're freakin'.

What's he like, is he--
- Tommy?

- Who are you?
- Are you talking about Tommy?

- Sorry?
- Who are you?

- I'm Lorenzo.
- Do I know you?

- Uh.
- Do you know him?

- I mean, no, I just met him.

- Yeah, that's okay.

Lorenzo, you're a great guy,
I'm really glad to meet you.

- Yeah.

- Thank you so much.
- You're welcome.

- But we have to go.

- I mean, can I just
get a quick picture?

- No.
- I don't mind, it's fine.

- No.
- Okay.

- Okay.

- Thank you, it's
nice to meet you.

- Okay.
- It was nice to meet you.

- All right.
(people chattering)

Oh my god.

(upbeat music)
(people chattering)

- So tell me about
this thing you're in.

- Look, uh, I'm gonna
be honest with you man.

I don't know--
- Oh my god.

That is R.B., the producer.
- A rhinoceros that goes

to the beach.

That seems like a
fuckin' weird movie.

- Hi, I'm so sorry to do this.

I came, I'm here.

- Hold on one second.

I want you, I wanna
keep talking about this.

- You wanna talk about this?

- Yeah, I do wanna
talk about it.

- All right, we'll talk
about it tomorrow, all right?

- All right, all right.
- I'm gonna go get drunk.

- Let's make sure we catch up.

Oh you're gonna get drunk.

I'm sorry.

- Hi.

I, I came to Sundance.

- Well you did, here we are.
- Yeah.

- So how do we know each other?

- You don't remember?
- No.

- We met at the Uptown
Downtown Film Festival.

- Oh.
- You were on the panel.

- Uptown Downtown.
- And I was doing the Q and A

and I asked you a
question and I said,

"How would a first time
filmmaker be able to get

"their work in front of
a producer like you?"

And you said, "Well,
you come to Sundance."

- Yeah, that's what I said.

- So I came.

- And now who's this?
- Yeah.

This is my producer, Johnny.

- Very nice to
meet you, an honor.

- Have we met?
- We did.

- All right.

- [Julia] And my
star actor, Lorenzo.

- I'm Lorenzo Bautista.
- Hi Lorenzo.

Okay.
- Yeah, so you told us to come

and we wanted to pitch for you.

- So you guys have done it?

- We did it, we made it.
- I wanna see it.

- Yeah.
- Yes.

- Okay.
- So how do we see it?

- We have a trailer, yeah.

- Let's go outside,
let me see it.

There's a lot in here,
let's go see your trailer.

- After you.

(people chattering)

- All right, so I
promise you, one time.

- Thank you so much.
- I come to this festival,

I invite somebody to come
show me something one time.

You guys told me you had
something, show me it.

- Okay, as you can see, it's
Shape of Water meets E.T.

with a little bit of
Transformers thrown in there,

and it is an homage to the
early Noah Baumbach film,

Frances Ha.

And we shot it
entirely in slo-mo

with this black and
white thing an homage

to the great French cinema.

You'll see little
bits of Truffaut here,

and I think like
the French new wave,

I deliberately used all
the characters speaking

in philosophical
statements, but, it's also

kind of a Brechtian allegory.

So I wanna disenfranchise
the audience while

using these, like,
angry, filthy images.

And as a disenfranchised
millennial,

I feel like my voice is
really coming through

and I'm really infusing
it with this certain

je ne sais quoi that I like
to think is my own essence.

- Why do you think anybody
cares about Truffaut right now?

Does anybody even
know who Truffaut is?

- Look, I--
- So how much did this cost?

- Only 100K.

It's a micro budget franchised--

- $100,000?
- Yeah.

I know it looks like more.

- You're wasting your money.

I appreciate what you're going
for, but this is not for me.

This?

Amateur hour, I'm sorry.

- But you don't think that,

I mean, art is subjective.

Like maybe there is the
right buyer out there,

someone who will see that--
- Nah.

You're stealing
from everybody else.

You're not getting
your own voice.

- But I thought that--
- This,

this,

here,

doesn't play.

It doesn't play at all.

And nobody knows who
Truffaut is anymore.

- But as a first time
filmmaker, I thought that if

I played homage to
the great films--

- So you got Greta Gerwig.

- No.
- And you got Aronofsky.

- No, I--
- And you got all these.

It's a fuckin', it's like
a mixed jam of the best

of what's doing it right now.

What separates you from that?

Look, I asked you, I said
if you'd come up here,

I would look at, and
I have looked at it,

but it's not for me.

It's not gonna play here.

I'm sorry, it's not.

- But it's a micro budget--
- It's not gonna play.

- You know what?

We have gone through
so much shit today.

We came all the way
here from fuckin'

New York fuckin' City.

We came here to sell
this fuckin' movie,

and we're gonna sell
it, with or without you.

- I hope you do.

But I gotta pass.

- Fuck!

- Guys.

(people chattering)
(upbeat music)

I need to be alone.

- Wait, Julia, hold
on, hold on, hold on.

- Oh my fuckin', fuck!

Fuck!

¶ Isolated ¶

¶ Into the dark ¶

¶ Now's my time ¶

¶ To disembark ¶

¶ The truth brings out ¶

¶ Hurtful remarks ¶

¶ You can't take back ¶

¶ You can't take back ¶

¶ You ran away ¶

¶ From winter's bite ¶

¶ Guard your head ¶

¶ Stay out of sight ¶

- Crazy day, huh?

(people chattering)

Dude.

Ballsy-est move I've
ever seen, seriously.

- Fuck that guy, man.

- Yeah.

- He's not cool.

To say the things that
he said, man, like,

you worked too fuckin'
hard to hear that.

- Dude, I'm a real
shitty producer.

- Nah, man, stop that.

- No I mean, like, look.

I dropped the ball on the house.

I didn't help us to prepare
enough for this meeting,

and I tried to change the
name of the freakin' movie

right before our interview.

It's like, I just don't know
what I'm doing, you know?

- My girlfriend
dumped me today, dude.

- What, why'd she do that?

- I don't know, she
wasn't answering my calls,

and then she finally
called me back.

And then she said this
isn't gonna go anywhere.

- Dude, why didn't you tell me?

- 'Cause you were just in the
middle of the whole thing,

like, you were
having a good time.

I just didn't wanna, like,

ruin the mood, you
know what I'm sayin'?

- Well you know what?

Screw her.

'Cause you know what?

You're a catch.

And you're a great
friend and you would've

been a better boyfriend,
so, it's her loss.

You wanna hear what
happened to me?

So my mom found out
about the 100,000.

She told me not to come home.

- What do you mean she
found out about the 100,000?

- I borrowed the money
hoping that we would

sell the movie
before she found out.

Dude, I know what you're
gonna say, all right?

So I'll probably have
to be crashing with

you for a couple weeks
just until I find

a place or something.

I'm gonna have to
find a way to get her

that money back, though.

You know?

(sighs)
- Yeah.

- Look, I just want
you to know that

no matter how bad things went,

I'm just really glad that
we just did this together,

you know what I mean?

Like ever since we were kids,

all we ever said was we wanted
to make movies, you know?

We finally made one.

A really bad one.

- Dude, it wasn't even,
we were just different.

Like, one guy?

One guy?

- You're right.

- We just gotta
keep doing it, man.

I don't, I can't,
I can't not do it.

- I know, I know.

I can't not either.

I just want us to keep
doing it together,

do you know what I mean?

- For sure.

- Like, just keep sticking
together and maybe

eventually something
will just stick.

- Yeah.

(sighs)

(soft rock music)

- Whoa, whoa.

You okay?

Hey, what's wrong?

- Oh my god.

It's you.

(laughs)

I'm a, I'm a big fan.

- Oh.

I appreciate it.

I'm worried about you.

- Oh.

- Who put the cloud
over your Sundance?

Tell me.

- I came to Sundance to
show a producer my movie

and he thinks it sucks
and I can't believe

I actually bothered to
come here and thought,

I can't believe I
thought I was any good.

- Welcome to
independent filmmaking.

Let me tell you, everybody
goes through that, everybody.

Sweetheart, your story
is everybody's story.

I've dealt with it on
every film I've ever made.

I've made 43 films.

Every single one of them
somebody said was shit.

Somebody out there
said it was shit.

One of my films won an Oscar.

Someone said it was shit.

That's what they do.

They like to break artists down.

- But how do you know
that you have a voice

or you're any good?

- You don't know.

But you keep going.

You keep going no matter what.

- But what if I'm not like you?

What if I don't have any talent?

(sighs)

- Let me tell you
something about talent.

A lot of people don't recognize
it until it's too late.

It doesn't mean you
don't have talent.

Look at Van Gogh.

Van Gogh didn't sell a painting.

Cut off his ear.

I'm not telling you you
have to cut off your ear,

I'm just saying, hang in there,

believe in yourself, all right?

You know, look at the movie
It's A Wonderful Life.

You know, nobody recognized
how great that film was

until way after it
was released, right?

- I love that movie.
- I love that movie, too.

- Would you look at my movie?

- You know, you don't
need my approval either.

Believe in yourself.

- Thank you.

- But who's in it?

- There's this cool
up-and-coming actor who had

a one-liner on a CSI episode
and he's getting some buzz.

- Yeah.

Just believe in yourself.
(Julia laughs)

I wish you the best with it.

- Thank you.
- Yeah.

- [Clarence] Just remember,
it's a wonderful life.

It's a wonderful life.

(sighs)

- I have no I--

Oh, there she is.

(people chattering)

Okay.

Well we're outside now, so.

- [Johnny] What,
another team meeting?

- Guys.

I've had an epiphany.

- Does it have something to
do with your vision board,

'cause I just can't right now.

- Look, I'm sorry
I was an asshole.

We have to keep doing this.

We can't just give up on this
after everything we've done.

But most importantly, we
have to do this together.

You're the reason
that I do this,

and you're the reason
why I wanna be an artist.

I've been an egomaniac
and I've been a dick

and I've been running around,
pushing you guys too hard,

but we're here because we
wanted to make something

and we wanted to do
something together,

and I kind of dropped
the ball on that.

But, let's just continue.

We can't let some
stupid festival, or
some stupid producer

come and take our dreams away.

What do you guys say?
- I mean you did some,

you did some fucked
up shit, dude, like--

- You really hurt us, you know?

- Look, I'm sorry, I was
just trying to do what

was right with the movie.

- I felt like you
were trying to do what

was right for you and that's
the part that really sucked.

- You know what, I probably was.

Will you forgive me?

- I mean, look.

I just think the problem
is from both of you guys.

You're gonna stop being
dicks to each other.

- I know.

- 'Cause like, enough's enough.

You guys are constantly
bickering and going at it,

like look, you're right.

It's a team sport.

We couldn't be here
without your vision.

You put this all together.

- And we can only
do this together.

- You're totally right.

So like, enough.

- It's true.

- And I'm sorry that
I wanted to change

the film's title at
the witching hour,

that was irresponsible.

- We can call the
film Persephone.

It's your idea, and
it's a good one.

So I've decided to
make it up to you.

I'll call the WGA in the morning

and I'll put both of
your names on the script.

I couldn't have done
it without both of you

and it's all of our work.

I'm sorry.

I can get carried away
sometimes and I know

I can be a little extra.

But I'm not kidding, we
have to keep doing this.

Look at all of this.

We imagined this.

It was on the vision board.

- You know what?
- And now we're here.

- Yeah, it's really cold.

I'm good, I'm good.
- Okay well I love you guys.

- I love you too.
- Okay.

- Let's go make more movies.

- Okay, cool.
- All right, fine.

- Group hug.
(groaning)

Let's get the fuck in there.
- Okay.

- [Johnny] Seriously.

(snoring)

- Johnny, you're snoring.

Dude, you're snoring.

- Mom, it's Saturday,
I don't have school.

- Shh.

(snoring)

- Guys, guys, it's light out.

Get up, get up.

I don't know what time it is,

but I don't wanna be
late for the flight.

Get up, please.
- Mm, I'm sleeping.

- [Johnny] Guys come on, get up.

- Okay.
- Oh shit, what time is it?

- I don't know.
- Oh, my head.

Ugh, why did I drink so much

pumpkin ale?
- Oh, god.

(Julia groans)

- Yeah, no, this trip did
not go how I imagined.

I lost my representation.

I had the worst
pitch of my life.

I realized that some
people might not think

that I'm as talented
as I know that I am.

And most traumatically,
I lost my friends.

I think I've learned a lot.

I learned that
making an indie film

is a group effort,
and it takes a village

and all of that.

But, I was thinking
that indie film has just

gone way too commercial, and
you know what isn't commercial?

Commercials.

Next stop, YouTube.

(chuckles)

(brushing)

- So, what did I learn
from this whole experience?

It aint easy working
with your friends,

even harder working
with an ex-girlfriend.

It's like I said about
being a producer:

when shit hits the fan,
everyone kind of craps on you.

That Julia, she's a real pill.

Sort of an asshole,
but she's my asshole.

I don't know, maybe
next time I'll direct

and she'll be my producer.
(brushing)

- You know, the past 24 hours
was definitely an experience.

I don't know if I'm ever gonna
do anything like that again.

We didn't get what
we wanted, but,

we found what we
needed, you know?

(spits)

(upbeat acoustic music)

(Johnny sighs)
- All right, guys.

The Uber'll be here
in six minutes.

- Cool, cool, cool, cool.

(sighs)
So guys, what's next?

- Toronto's right
around the corner.

(chuckles)

¶ I'll see you in my dreams ¶

¶ Hold you in my dreams ¶

¶ Someone took you
out of my arms ¶

¶ Still, I feel the
thrill of your charms ¶

¶ Lips that once were mine ¶

¶ Tender eyes that shine ¶

¶ They will light
my way tonight ¶

¶ I'll see you in my dreams ¶
(upbeat jazzy music)

- [Alex] Why don't you
get comfortable guys,

and we'll get on the
couch and we'll do it.

- Yeah, you guys look similar.

I don't know if you--

(laughing)

(upbeat jazzy music)

You guys do look really similar.

(laughing)

Sorry.

(upbeat jazzy music))

- [Julia] But it's
representative of my own journey

as a Canadian filmmaker
who's a legal alien

and that is why I'm linking
the alien sub genre to this.

- Holy shit, I need a drink.
(laughing)

(upbeat jazzy music)

- Um, I'm gonna be on
next week's episode of CSI

in a featured walk on role.

It's pretty exciting.
(laughing)

(upbeat jazzy music)

(laughing)
- I hope we use that.

(upbeat jazzy music)

- What's your, I'm just
curious, what's your cut on?

- Oh, iMovie.

- 'Cause I saw a
couple star wipes, so,

it seemed like it was iMovie.

- Yeah.

(laughing)
(upbeat jazzy music)

Oh my god.
(laughing)

- What is a star wipe again?

Which one is, what is that?

- It's like the fuckin'
Star Wars, like vroof.

(laughing)

¶ I'll see you in my dreams ¶