A Slamdance 2024 Festival Diary
Actor Annie Conolly details their first trip to Park City.
Hello! Welcome to Nothing Bogus, an Indie Film Listings+ newsletter. The + is commentary, interviews, dispatches, tutorials, and other groovy stuff. This week, actor Annie Conolly will be running through their week at Slamdance Film Festival. You’ll find the listings at the bottom of this email.
Thursday, January 18th
On the Plane: Oh shit. I need a car. The jet engine white noise calms my attention deficit. Thank God for Sean Glass. I open the massive Sundance Group Chat and find the “Arrival Document,” a list of filmmakers arriving and seeking travel arrangements for the festival. Searching down the list for arrival times within the hour of my landing… aha! There are eight choices. I open my notes app and draft a text message, “Hi, my name is Annie Conolly and this is my first Slamdance. I’m looking to carpool with a group of filmmakers to Park City from the Salt Lake City airport today.”
On the Road: An hour later I’m in a car with four strangers. We ascend the mountains, leaving Salt Lake City below us. It’s a mix of Sundance producers, writers, and directors. I’m the only Slamdancer. One of the passengers, Tory, asks, “Do you have a film in the festival?” “Yeah, Sam’s World,” I reply. “It’s a coming-of-age narrative feature about a non-binary Gen Z sex worker living in Brooklyn. I play their partner, Rex.” I learn several things from this car ride: First, nobody worked this year. Projects were scarce and funding was even more so. Last bad year like this was probably 2010 or 2011. I hear mention of several films: Skywalkers, Freaky Tales, and I Saw the TV Glow. “Most of these films already have distribution! How strange,” comments Tory. “This is the best way to do it,” says Jesse, another passenger. “If you can get a group and meet people like this, you’re doing it right.”
In Park City: Fifty minutes later, I’m dropped at the Sundance Headquarters, and I make my way to the townhouse I’m staying in, about a 20 minute walk west. I don’t have any plans tonight. I just need to find a way to get $1,100 cash (for housing accommodations) and settle into my new home for the week. The group chat buzzes, “SELLING MY TIX TO SKYWALKERS TONIGHT.” I privately reply, and purchase the ticket.
After Skywalkers: A Love Story: The more documentaries I see, the more blurred the lines between fiction and passion become. What if that’s the key to better acting? To live as a human who is not in a story… but to live as a human who is within their own world? I spend two hours lurching forward in my Ray Theatre seat and gasping at the point-of-view shots panning down to the city streets 100 stories below. These “skywalkers,” more commonly known as “rooftoppers,” are athletes who simply love to be on the roof. Usually discovered as a childhood activity, rooftopping has become their main source of income as they traverse beyond the limits of safety and take some of the most radical photos I have ever seen. My biggest takeaways concern how powerful the many forms of fear are, when fear chooses to strike, and how divisive it can be when those seeds are planted between two people. As Angela Nikolau and Vanya Kuzetsov climb the floors of megatall skyscraper Merdeka 118, this film transforms into a heist for glory and a restoration of self-identity. It’s a reminder that though our dreams may seem impossible from far away, each moment of our journey brings us one second closer to reaching our highest potential. Needless to say, I cried. Whoever is distributing this film will make a lot of money.
Friday, January 19th
Waking Up: Oh shit. I need to get $1,100 in cash. I am renting a room in a townhouse in Park City and have a remaining balance to square with my host family. Where is the nearest Capital One?… I search Google Maps and learn… I’m screwed. Over text, my mom suggests that they may accept a money order. I find a Post Office.. Sealing my envelope, I place my money order on the kitchen table of my rental and feel the weight of stress lifting. This location was out of my budget, but I was able to make it work. I am not an accountant and I can’t understand how I locked down a $2,300 rental when I only had $1,500 to spend but alas, here we are.
At Atticus Coffee & Teahouse: I walk from the Yarrow to the edge of Main Street, taking photos on my Nikon N6006. The closer I get to Main, the deeper my anxiety sets in. I can’t carry my film camera down Main Street. I feel like it would attract too much attention. I hide my film festival badge in my coat pocket because I am intimidated by pretty much everyone I see. I enter a coffee shop packed with dozens of filmmakers. The line to order snakes around the bookshelves, weaving among greeting card stands and local merchandise shelves made of solid slabs of wood. I meet a sweet woman named Nancy who reassures me that the anxiety I’m feeling is normal. We exchange Instagrams and I learn that she is an LA based producer. I’m learning that many people come to the festival without films. “I’m here for meetings,” is a common response. After getting my coffee, Lily Lady, the director of Sam’s World, texts me about watching a feature together in 40 minutes, so I call an Uber and depart for the Yarrow.
Before the Lady with Lipstick and Demon Mineral: I’m happy to see Lily again. This is the first time we’ve hung out in months. We meet in the bathroom just before the screening, and I give them a friendship bracelet. We find seats in the Lumix Theatre for Lady with Lipstick. That’s followed by a feature documentary, Demon Mineral, about the Navajo Nation and the uranium mining that's been happening on their reservations. The Navajo activists have accused the U.S. federal government of nuclear colonialism and genetic genocide against their people due to the effects of leftover radiation poisoning from unsealed mines or abandoned clean-up sites. It is obvious that the destruction of Navajo land has caused pain for their community. The contamination of their resources needs to be stopped and the voices of these people uplifted. I was privileged to learn about their call for better treatment and aid from federal sources, and hope to do what I can to spread their message in my communities. Overall, I’m taken with the power of documentary. Watching nonfiction helps me be a better actor.
At Home After the Filmmaker Introduction Ceremony: Today I had a lot of anxiety speaking in front of all these people. It must be pretty normal. I want to find my voice here. The rooms of the Yarrow are filled with people overcome with joy and uplifting adoration. I am very humbled to be here. Rumbles of giants in the industry echo through the introductions made tonight. How exciting that people like Christopher Nolan and the Russo brothers began their careers at Slamdance.
Saturday, January 20
Overheard at Slamdance Headquarters: “People walked out of the Steven Soderbergh movie. It was so scary.” And: “I wore all black today so when I spill my lunch all over myself no one in the meeting will know.”
After All I’ve Got and Then Some: This story is a retaliation against the age-old fear of being forgotten. What initially stands out is the Seinfeld-like structure. It’s a narrative feature based on true events of a struggling comedian, Rasheed Stephens, in Los Angeles. I have never seen a film break the narrative form with several documentary style inserts interviewing the lead actor smoking a cigar, discussing his journey as it relates to the main character he plays during the narrative sections. It splits viewers from an intact perception of the whole story and reiterates the importance of this lead actor while he recites the universal themes of faith and endurance needed within a career that is faced with societal and economic challenges. Ultimately, this film speaks directly to those who can see themselves in the lead actor, and be inspired by what he asks for. The team behind All I’ve Got and Then Some was certainly the best dressed and most widely present at the festival.
After the Sundance Documentary Shorts: The first film in this block, Myah Overstreet’s To Be Invisible, highlighted North Carolina’s underachieving foster care system and the harm that it inflicts upon families. It was the first of two New Yorker-backed productions. It was startling to see my hometown on screen, especially because the film was about such a prevalent issue that’s often ignored by mainstream media. The film shows the great difficulty a young woman of color faces to unite her family despite her compliance with the judicial system.
Sunday, January 21th
Waking Up: Oh shit. It’s my last day in a private room. And our premiere is tonight. I quickly clean the room and move my belongings over to one side.
After Saving Art and Daruma: As I approach my seat in the Lumix Theatre, a bag filled with merchandise is waiting for me. What an iconic swag bag! As the lights dim and the films begin, I think, My nose is already a little congested today and this is just going to make it worse. I cried more tears in this screening than any other. But what do you expect from a short film about children with cancer or children dealing with massive grief? R.M. Moses’ short film Saving Art was a beautiful and touching film shot in London. The tears didn’t stop for Drauma, an uplifting and inspiring story about two disabled US veterans who must overcome their differences to do what is right for a young girl. Daruma also has a lot to teach about getting sponsors to fund your projects by partnering with brands that are wanting to support the same causes that are highlighted in the film. This film certainly had the most pull and excitement among the audience of filmmakers who were curious about the $200 of merchandise in each bag.
Before our premiere of Sam’s World: My back is throbbing in pain. I do some yoga and take a hot bath. Afterwards, my body feels much better and more relaxed. I get ready in the bathroom and pack up my Nikon N6006 to memorialize the big night. I am excited for this screening because it is the first time I will see the film with an audience.
During Sam’s World: I am way less judgemental of this film seeing it now. I only caught one real continuity error in the kelp noodle scene. I am enjoying this way more! The film still feels unfinished to me, but the audience is accepting of that aspect.
After Sam’s World: My first Sundance house party. It was like rolling up to a college theater party all over again. Vape in hand, tipsy and ready, our team of five stumbles out of an UberXL in a residential sector of Park City. The ice was most dangerous here. We pass slick domes of snow that sparkle under the streetlights as we approach the front door. Throwing our jackets in a big pile, we descend into a shoulder-to-shoulder foyer that leads us down into the basement. A makeshift bar is tended by young, cool looking kids, who hand out vodka sodas to everyone who approaches. We obtain a round and find chairs. Famous people putter around as we laugh and joke about how our lives are changing as we speak.
Tuesday, January 23rd
After the Final Showings of Sam’s World: I’ve been asked again and again about my goals for my first festival. “To be at ease with my sense of self and with my choices,” has been my response.
At the Slamdance Party: My best friend from high school has come to Park City to watch my film. She is a Salt Lake native now. Our only plan was to find a party and meet new people. We got an invite to a party hosted by the Narrative Shorts Programmer, Brian Ratigan. We drive through construction zones until we find an isolated ski house in the back of a new development. It’s a smaller gathering, but I befriend several young filmmakers working for the festival and learn about their aspirations living in Salt Lake and Los Angeles. “You should move out there,” they advise. “You would have a lot more to do.”
Wednesday, January 24th
The First Review of Sam’s World: Several reviews have been published about our film! I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. My guess was that people would not see Rex, the character I play, as likable or someone to root for. To my surprise, Rex has been viewed quite favorably among critics. I’m most curious about the opinions of queer film critics and alums of Slamdance. So far, our best reviews have come in from the online publication FilmThreat and SlugMag of Salt Lake City.
Thursday, January 25th
Filmmaker Breakfast: Of course it was on the last day that I was able to pull myself out of bed early enough to make the Filmmaker Breakfast at the Yarrow. Dan, my friend and producer, joins me for breakfast and we spend it with Paul Rachman, one of the festival directors. I ask him about moving to LA. “You wanna be an actress, right?” He asks. I nod my head enthusiastically. “Well, you have to do your time out there. Two years is usually the minimum.” On the way out, I meet someone interested in my newly penned short script—a lesbian horror story. We exchange information and I feel hopeful about directing and producing.
The Awards Ceremony: As the days have gone by, the number of people in attendance at the Yarrow has dwindled. I was surprised to see every seat in the Lumix Theatre filled by filmmaking teams. My favorite film of the week, Demon Mineral, won the Audience Award. I had hoped to be recognized for the Outstanding Acting Award, but the winner was John Lawson of Daruma. Losing is never a fun feeling, but it certainly was an honor to be considered alongside these great storytellers. For the first time, I’ve been witness to the caliber of filmmaking I hope to build a life and career around In my short time here, I feel I’ve answered a calling from deep within me and am becoming what I aspire to.
Listings
Need a composer? Matt aka Fog Chaser is a musician and songwriter who’s been writing instrumental music and studying film scoring at Berklee College of Music. He’s provided custom music and scores for a few media projects, including scoring a couple of short documentaries last summer and is eager to do more. Check out his page and reach out at fogchaser@gmail.com.
From Emily Korteweg: Watch This Ready, the production company I help run, has built a new space in NY called Mulberry Studios as our HQ. It includes brand new post-production capabilities, two edit bays, a podcast/ADR studio, a screening room with a very large sofa, private offices, and common areas. After spending many hours in the edit, we wanted a different design and overall experience for ourselves, our friends, and our partners. All the spaces (which you can view here) except for our personal offices are open to rent. Email emily@watchthisready.com.
If you would like to list in a future issue, either A) post in the Nothing Bogus chat thread, or B) email nothingbogus1@gmail.com with the subject “Listing.” (It’s FREE!) Include your email and all relevant details (price, dates, etc.).
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