The next day, January 16th, was a Friday.
It was the opening day of the 3rd Sundance Film Festival.
Simon had lunch with Peter Butler, the reporter from the Los Angeles Times who had specifically come for the film festival, around noon. Around 12:30 PM, everyone headed to the Park City Egyptian Theatre, where the Sundance opening ceremony was being held.
Many years later, the small town of Park City would often be bustling with crowds during the Sundance Film Festival, and moviegoers would need to go through a ticket-snatching process to watch a film.
But now, Simon had been in Park City for a day and had visited various places. Although the town was indeed a bit more crowded due to the ski season, he hardly felt any film festival atmosphere.
Moreover, from the film screening schedule, Simon noticed that there were only three cinemas showing the films participating in this festival.
As it was the opening ceremony, the area outside the Egyptian Theatre was still quite lively.
Of course, there was no red carpet.
As soon as Simon entered the cinema, he was stopped by Robert Redford, who was personally greeting guests.
After a brief introduction of Peter Butler, who was beside him, Simon felt that Robert Redford had something to say to him, so he gestured for Janette and Peter to go in first, while Robert pulled him aside.
"Simon, everyone and I watched your film yesterday afternoon, and it was truly surprising, even better than I imagined," Robert said, then added, "So, I just wanted to ask if you've found a distributor yet? If not, perhaps I can help".
"Thank you, Bob," Simon naturally understood Redford's good intentions, thanked him, and then explained, "Before coming to Park City, I had already contacted Fox, and they are very interested in the film, but we haven't finalized the terms yet".
"That's good, Fox is a very good choice, Simon. This is your first film, don't worry too much about gains and losses, building a reputation is the most important thing," Robert said, looking around, then lowered his voice, "Also, if there's nothing too important, stay in Park City these days, stay until the end".
This hint was quite obvious.
After several months of hard work, Simon had already planned to rest for a few days in Park City, so he nodded and said, "Sure Bob, I will".
Robert smiled and patted Simon on the shoulder, saying, "Well, you go in first, the opening ceremony is about to begin".
The Egyptian Theatre was an old-fashioned, large single-screen cinema with over four hundred seats.
Simon entered the screening room, scanned the surroundings, and although there were quite a few people in the entire cinema, it was still a long way from being full.
Finding Janette, Simon sat down by the aisle on the fifth row.
At 1 PM, the opening ceremony began on time.
Robert Redford walked onto the stage with a smile, adjusted the microphone, looked at the audience, and with a hint of emotion in his voice, said, "I remember two years ago, in this same cinema, there were fewer than a hundred people in the audience. For the next ten days, I stood at the entrance of this sole festival screening venue, inviting everyone to come in and watch films, just like a bar owner soliciting business.
The following year, Sundance successfully sold its first film, 'Stranger Than Paradise.' At that time, I personally called David Puttnam, the CEO of Columbia Pictures, many times, inviting him to Park City, and then personally pulled him into the screening room.
Now, in its third year, still in this screening room, I have over three hundred audience members before me. I am very pleased with this progress, and I hope this momentum can continue. One day, Sundance will be packed with guests."
Amidst warm applause, Robert Redford's gaze searched the audience for a moment, unable to pinpoint his target, but quickly said, "A few months ago, I encountered something very interesting. At the time, I was at Fox Studios doing post-production for a film I was responsible for, and I happened to run into some old friends who were about to watch a rough cut of a film. Out of curiosity, I stayed.
Then, I saw a stunning shot: perfect cinematography, perfect lighting, perfect composition, perfect set design, so perfect that the rough cut didn't even need much colour grading to be edited into a film. I was very excited at the time and loudly told the film's producer to introduce me to the cinematographer, lighting designer, and set designer; I absolutely had to have them participate in my next film. And then, what do you guess the result was?"
The audience was silent, most people looking curious.
Some more professional filmmakers even looked suspicious; they were well aware of how difficult it was to shoot a scene as Robert Redford described, and many felt that Robert was starting to exaggerate.
Simon also looked surprised; he hadn't expected Robert Redford to suddenly mention him. Janette, however, leaned over, feeling proud, and affectionately wrapped her arm around her boyfriend's, her fair face flushed.
Robert Redford paused briefly for dramatic effect, then said, "The outcome was that the cinematographer and set designer for those shots were the same person. Not only did he also serve as the director, but after the lighting designer quit because he couldn't tolerate his strict demands, he personally took on the job of lighting designer as well".
As Robert's words fell, a slight stir arose in the audience.
What the hell?
Robert, are you sure there's such a powerful person in Hollywood?
Can the films he makes even be watched?
As hundreds of question marks appeared in the minds of the audience, Robert Redford finally spotted Simon and directly pointed his hand over: "Hey, Simon, stand up and say hello to everyone".
Simon was caught off guard, but under the gaze of hundreds of eyes, he quickly stood up and somewhat reservedly bowed to the crowd.
After Simon sat down again, Robert Redford continued, "It was this young man; he has a very special surname, Westeros, Simon Westeros. I'm sure everyone will become very familiar with this name in the future. Of course, regarding his film, it will be shown on Sunday morning at 9 o'clock, in this same cinema.
I guarantee you will not be disappointed. Moreover, when you watch it, you can also carefully examine the list of behind-the-scenes members of this film; you will find that Simon personally completed even more work than you imagine".
Simon was already not an unknown in Hollywood. Most of the filmmakers in the audience, who were struggling at the bottom and constantly hoping to enter mainstream production circles, generally paid close attention to industry news. Therefore, after a buzz of whispers, some of Simon's stories quickly spread.
On stage, Robert Redford waited for a moment before continuing, "When I bring up Simon's story, I simply want to say that independent filmmakers truly have it tough. Many talented young people like Simon often hit countless walls due to Hollywood's conservative rigidity, losing their dreams as years pass. Therefore, I sincerely hope that Sundance can become a platform for filmmakers to showcase their talents, and a starting point for some people's dreams. For this, I will give my all".
Amidst the renewed applause in the screening hall, Robert Redford announced loudly, "Finally, welcome everyone to Sundance".
After the simple opening ceremony, it was time for the opening film.
Film festivals usually choose a heavyweight work as their opening film, but Sundance was clearly not yet able to attract big Hollywood names to submit their works. This year's opening film was Jill Godmilow's new film, 'Waiting for the Moon'.
It had just snowed, and the temperature in Park City at night was close to minus 10 degrees Celsius. Janette was very sensitive to cold, so after the opening ceremony, she pulled Simon, wanting to rush back to their resort apartment. Simon had to give up the idea of attending the evening party anyway, as no celebrities he was interested in were attending.
The next day, almost as soon as it was light, Simon drove out of Park City to Salt Lake City Airport to pick someone up.
It was just a casual mention at the time, but Simon hadn't expected George Norman's niece, Jennifer Raybould, to actually come to Utah. The girl had somehow gotten the phone number for his and Janette's resort apartment last night and called to ask if Simon could pick her up today, as she had never been to Utah before.
Salt Lake City Airport.
Just as Simon arrived, Jennifer Raybould and another girl appeared in the waiting hall around the same time. Seeing Simon holding a sign, both girls jogged over. Although both were wearing winter clothes, they had clearly underestimated the coldness of Utah and weren't even wearing hats; at this moment, they looked like two small quails.
Without time for introductions, Simon pointed towards the outside of the waiting hall and said, "Let's get in the car first".
The two girls nodded in agreement; it was too cold, they didn't even have the courage to speak.
It wasn't until they were inside the heated car that Jennifer's companion said, "It's so cold! I wish I hadn't come. Jenny, you liar, you said we were coming to ski, why does it feel like something's wrong?" As she spoke, the girl suddenly reached out a small hand from the back seat and said with a giggle, "Hi, handsome, I'm Lisa Collins".
"Simon Westeros," Simon shook her hand and introduced himself, then looked at the two girls in the back seat, both wearing only women's short trench coats, and said, "I'll take you to buy clothes first".
"Okay, what a thoughtful guy. No wonder Jenny ran all the way here in this terrible weather to see you".
Jennifer, who had been a bit shy upon seeing Simon, immediately said, "Lisa, what nonsense are you talking about?"
"Hehe, you recently rejected Edward's confession, wasn't it because of him?"
"I, no, it wasn't".
Simon started the car, and hearing Lisa Collins, he looked up at the rearview mirror. Jennifer's fair, pretty face had turned bright red, and she was leaning sideways, trying to stop her friend from talking nonsense, her golden ponytail swaying.
Watching the two girls laugh and joke, Simon felt he should explain first, so he said, "Lisa, Jenny and I are just ordinary friends, and I have a girlfriend".
Lisa Collins immediately stopped giggling: "Ah?"
Jennifer also looked over.
Simon glanced at Jennifer through the rearview mirror and said, "It's Janette, Jenny, do you remember her?"
Jennifer remembered Janette staying with Simon in the hospital and nodded gently, even smiling, saying, "Of course, she's my uncle's client".
"One more thing," Simon glanced at the rearview mirror again and said, "Jenny and I rented an apartment in a resort in Park City, and it happens to have two bedrooms. If you don't mind, you two can stay there for the next couple of days. The weather is too cold, and the conditions at a hotel definitely won't be as good as in an apartment".
Jennifer hesitated: "Will it be too much trouble?"
Simon shook his head and smiled, "Of course not. Speaking of which, your uncle is now my private lawyer. If I don't take good care of you, I might lose a lawsuit sometime in the future".
Hearing Simon say that, Jennifer also smiled lightly and said, "Okay then. But Uncle wouldn't do that".
Lisa Collins, hearing the two make a decision, didn't object. She smiled, leaned over, and hugged Jennifer, saying, "Now we're really going skiing! But, Jenny, you don't know how to ski, do you?"
Jennifer shifted her body, trying to push away her hugging friend, and said, "Don't you? Teach me! Why else would I bring you here?"
"But I don't know how to teach people," Lisa Collins said, then turned to the front seat, "Simon, can you teach people how to ski?"
Simon thought for a moment and said, "I think so".
"Hehe, then Jenny is in your hands".