Over j-term I went to the first few days of the Sundance Film Festival out in Park City, Utah. I had the special opportunity to go as the niece of one of the presenting filmmakers. My uncle, Rob Epstein, was at Sundance to premier his film “Howl.” I got to experience the festival in a different way than most, as I had a press pass. Keeping my tag around my neck, I was official press for Telling Pictures, (my uncles’ independent film company). I got to carry around my camera and tripod everywhere I went and shoot almost anything I wanted, accumulating great footage for my final Sight & Sound I project. What I’m getting at here is that it was an awesome experience being there – an experience you can’t get by watching the festivities online or on TV, even if they are streamed in live time. Other people, however, are questioning my opinion on this idea. Today I found an article in The New York Times, “Sundance: Snow and Stars vs. Twitter and Google Alerts.” It responds to the question, “in the digital age, do you really have to trek to Sundance?” The article talks about the fact that with all our new technology and ways of being constantly updated, people may no longer need to actually GO to events like Sundance. They can simply watch the premiers streamed on their computer or on the Sundance channel, from the comfort of their own homes. No need to worry about snow and travel plans! J.C. Sprink said, “The spirit of Sundance is still there, but film festivals over all are becoming less crucial. You can have a festival every night in your house online. You can now attend Sundance from afar.” I strongly disagree. While I agree with Redford that the downgrade in ambush marketers due to the recession is good for clearing up the streets, I think it’s crap to say that you can “have a film festival every night in your house.” Films are an art form. Each one is created to be viewed in a certain way. Every word in the script is written down for a reason. Every shadow and every piece of furniture were angled just so, in each shot. Every level of audio was put at the perfect level to mix well. Watching my uncle’s film in a huge theater full of appreciative, respectful viewers, was the only way I can imagine seeing his film for the first time. Even with my little experience and just beginners film classes, I can no longer watch any movie in my living room with my family, because I get mad at my mom for getting up to make tea or for my brother being online on his laptop. I can’t imagine someone watching the premier of my uncle’s film, or any other Sundance film, in this manner. I don’t want to miss anything that’s shown on screen, or any word that is said. The environment was like this at Sundance. People were interested in what was on the screen, they turned off their phones, and did not leave their seats or say a word through the film’s entirety. At the end of the film the theater burst into clapping – no one left during the credit sequence. As the lights came up, my uncle and his co-director walked back on stage as the audience clapped for them and their successful work. I had never been in an environment like this where it felt like people really appreciated a movie as a work of art, rather than just a rainy day activity during which you can eat fatty foods covered in butter.

I obviously had special circumstances being with my uncle at the red carpet, press conference, and cast parties, but I still feel that the act of actually going to the festival is an experience that no one can replicate by watching it on TV at home, or by following the events in 140-character statements on Twitter. I don’t care how good technology gets. Its great for so many things, but at this point I believe that technology is technology, and your computer screen can never replace real life.