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The Sundance Question: What Fear Did You Confront in the Making of Your Movie?
Each year Filmmaker asks all the incoming feature directors at Sundance one question. This year, our question revolves around fear. Specifically, what fear — whether it’s personal, or one related to the development, financing, production or distribution of your film — did you have to confront and conquer in the making of your movie? (To see past years’ questions and responses, click here.)
We’ll upload the responses individually over the course of the festival. So, as the festival progresses, click the links below. The Sundance Film Festival is being held in Park City, Utah from January 22nd to February 1st.
“The People Behind the Crimes”: Directors Frida Barkfors & Lasse Barkfors | Pervert Park
“I’ve Been in Shootouts”: Cartel Land | Director Matt Heineman.
“The Director is the Film’s Immune System”: How to Change the World | Director Jerry Rothwell
“Much of What We Do is Spycraft”: Racing Extinction | Director Louie Psihoyos
“Fear Will Keep Me Cool and Calm”: The Chinese Mayor | Producer Qi Zhao
“Dread, Trepidation, Anxiety and Misery”: Meru | Directors Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin
“Making a Film is All About Balancing your Fears”: Ivy | Director Tolga Karaçelik
“As Always, Love Conquers Fear”: Princess | Director Tali Shalom Ezir
“Would I Have Worked for Twelve Years On It All For Nothing?”: Strangerland | Director Kim Farrant
“We Didn’t Have the Skill or Experience”: Sembene! | Directors Jason Silverman and Samba Gadjigo
“Unrealistically High Hopes versus Soul Crushing Fears”: Operation Artic | Director Grethe Bøe-Waal
“I Never Expected It Would Go This Far”: The Amina Profile | Director Sophie Deraspe
“Motivation Has Been a Quiet Saving Grace”: Lila & Eve | Director Charles Stone III
“Would I Have Worked for Twelve Years On It All For Nothing?”: Strangerland | Director Kim Farrant
“There is Good Fear and Bad Fear”: The Hallow | Director Corin Hardy
“My First Feature Film Since My Children were Born”: How to Dance in Ohio | Director Alexandra Shiva
“You Can Make Films with No Money, No Support, No Talent”: Chorus | Director Francois Delisle
“Trying to Play, More or Less, ‘By the Book’”: Results | Director Andrew Bujalski
“You Will Come Through This”: Dreamcatcher | Director Kim Longinotto
“We Began Production with No Money in the Bank”: Knock Knock | Director Eli Roth
“You Might As Well Enjoy the Ride”: 3 1/2 Minutes | Director Marc Silver
“Being Brave Doesn’t Mean You Aren’t Scared”: Unexpected | Director Kris Swanberg
“Your Vision or Idea Must Have Stamina”: The Visit | Director Michael Madsen
“I Look Forward to Finding More Fears to Address”: Z For Zachariah | Director Craig Zobel
“Did I Waste Everyone’s Time?”: Songs My Brothers Taught Me | Director Chloé Zhao
“I Want to Direct Films, But Can I Actually Do It?”: Christmas, Again | Director Charles Poekel
“In Dreams I am Completely Helpless as a Director”: A Walk in the Woods | Director Ken Kwapis
“I Will Work Through Some Issues I’m Having While Dreaming”: Reversal | Director J.M. Cravioto
“My First Feature Film was Shot in Seven Days”: Glassland | Director Gerard Barrett
“I Have a Fear of Long Hours”: Hellions | Director Bruce McDonald
“The Film Just Won’t Be Good Enough”: Brooklyn | Director John Crowley
“I Worked Diligently and Kept At It”: Cronies | Producer/Editor/Writer/Director Michael J. Larnell
“My Confidence was in the Dumps”: Bob and the Trees | Writer/Director Diego Ongaro
“Pressure’s a Choice”: I’ll See You In My Dreams | Director Brett Haley
“Big Names Add Value. I Can Dig That”: Fresh Dressed | Director Sasha Jenkins
“Ideas Just Disappeared”: Cloro | Director Lamberto Sanfelice
