Sundance 2020: Exploring The Visual Language Of “The 40-Year-Old Version”

Video of Director Radha Blank and DP Eric Branco explaining their lighting, technical and creative choices

By Simon Wakelin

In “The 40-Year-Old Version,” Director Radha Blank writes, directs and delivers a powerful onscreen performance in her debut feature film. She discusses it this year at Sundance. This presentation also features DP Eric Branco. Both Blank and Branco discuss a number of production issues, including why the film was shot on black-and-white film, Here’s... Read more

Sundance 2020: “On The Record” Documents Rape & Abuse In The Record Industry

The powerful film focuses on Drew Dixon, a music executive from Def Jam Records and Arista, who was allegedly raped by music-mogul Russell Simmons

By Simon Wakelin

From the powerful and emotional Q&A with the filmmakers and the women featured in the documentary film, “On The Record,” including Drew Dixon (center with microphone). The #MeToo movement continues to light up Sundance with “On The Record,” a searing documentary that centers on Drew Dixon, a young music executive from Def Jam Records and... Read more

Sundance 2020: Video Of The Cast of “The Night House”

The new horror film that is perhaps the best since “Hereditary”

By Simon Wakelin

A still of Rebecca Hall, in “The Night House,” by David Bruckner, an official selection of the Midnight program at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Elisha Christian. “The Night House,” a superb horror flick by Director David Bruckner, delivers a nerve-racking experience, a spine-tingler that’s attracting... Read more

Sundance 2020: “Ironbark” Premieres At The Film Festival

This new spy thriller combines compelling performances, elegant cinematography and deft direction

By Simon Wakelin

Dominic Cooke, director of “Ironbark,” a selection of the Premieres program at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival. Dominic Cooke’s Cold War drama, “Ironbark,” which had its world premiere screening this weekend at Sundance, injects life into a seemingly routine spy thriller via a mix of compelling performances, elegant cinematography and... Read more

Sundance 2020: Video of Filmmakers Bill & Turner Ross At The Premiere Of “Bloody Nose, Empty Pockets”

After the screening of the new film, the directors discuss how and why they made the film

By Simon Wakelin

Here’s a quick synopsis for the film, “Bloody Nose, Empty Pockets,” from a press release for the film: “In the shadows of the bright lights of Las Vegas, it’s last call for a beloved dive bar known as the ‘Roaring 20s.’ That’s the premise, at least. The reality is as unreal as the world the regulars are escaping from. ‘Bloody... Read more

Sundance 2020: A Director Returns With “Bad Hair”

Director Justin Simien mixes classic horror, wry comedy and black cultural insight.

By Simon Wakelin

Actors Yaani King Mondschein, Elle Lorraine and Lena Waithe star in “Bad Hair,” a new film by Director Justin Simien, an official selection of the Midnight program at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival. It’s director Justin Simien’s first time back at Sundance since his first film, “White People,” screened six years ago. For the new film,... Read more

Sundance 2020: Adobe Announces Productions, A New Feature Set For Premiere Pro

The new organizing and project management tools let users better collaborate on film projects

By Terry Sullivan

Making a movie is always a group project, whether the credits at the end of the film include just a handful of names or a cast of thousands…or tens of thousands. In this digital age, it means you’ll have a team, or more likely, many teams that need access to footage, music, still images as well as all the many other documents and files. But access... Read more

Sundance 2020: Insightful Portrait Of A Music Icon In “Taylor Swift: Miss Americana”

The documentary is a revealing portrait of a musical megastar who begins to discover her inner voice

By Simon Wakelin

A still from “Taylor Swift: Miss Americana” by Lana Wilson, an official selection of the Documentary Premieres program at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute. There’s a moment in the documentary “Taylor Swift: Miss Americana” where you see the pop music star sitting on her couch, draped in comfy, baggy clothes.... Read more

Sundance 2020: Video Of Taylor Swift Arriving At The “Miss Americana” Premiere

We caught the music pop star greeting her devoted fans at this year's Sundance Film Festival

By Simon Wakelin

We were able to catch mega pop-music star, Taylor Swift, as she arrived at this year’s Sundance Film Festival to see the premiere of the film “Miss Americana,” a documentary about the pop star. Check out our video of her meeting and greeting her devoted fans at the festival: Read More → Read more

Sundance 2020: Editing A Horror Movie Like “Scare Me” Can Cut Both Ways

We speak with Patrick Lawrence about editing a horror film—where only your workstation can hear you scream

By Simon Wakelin

Aya Cash and Josh Ruben appear in “Scare Me,” by Josh Ruben, an official selection of the Midnight program at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Brendan Banks The movie “Scare Me” is a clever hybrid: It’s a metafictional horror-comedy that rides the line between being a classic ‘80s slasher movie... Read more

Sundance 2020: The Importance Of Editing In “Boys State”

Film Editor Jeff Gilbert, ACE, discusses how to define what makes a good edit

By Simon Wakelin

Editor Jeff Gilbert, ACE working at the edit bay in Adobe Premiere Pro on the documentary, “Boys State” With the Sundance Film Festival 2020 opening today, we decided to take a closer look at the “Boys State” screening in the U.S. Documentary Competition, a work that promises to be a political, coming-of-age film examining the well being... Read more

Sundance 2020: What To Expect At This Year’s Film Festival

Here’s a taste of some of the 188 notable feature films premiering

By Simon Wakelin

María Mercedes Coroy and Mara Teln appear in “La Llorona,” a film by Jayro Bustamante, which is also an official selection of the Spotlight program at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival. Filmmakers, from returning directors to up-and-coming artists, submitted a record of 5,100 submissions this year to Sundance 2020 across its program, with... Read more