Stewart says Sundance for ‘film nerds,’ Remembering Bowie

By The Associated Press

PARK CITY, Utah – The Associated Press is all over the Sundance Film Festival, which runs through Jan. 31, from its premieres to the Hollywood glitz. Here’s what they’ve seen and heard:

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KRISTEN STEWART: SUNDANCE IS FOR ‘ESOTERIC FILM NERDS’

Kristen Stewart says the Sundance Film Festival is for “esoteric film nerds” and that’s why it matters.

The actress premiered her film “Certain Women” on Sunday.

On the red carpet, she talked about why Sundance celebrates and encourages a variety of story-telling, more so than a mainstream Hollywood production company.

“That production company wants to make money and here, they just like to showcase film and highlight work that they admire,” explained Stewart. “It’s an institution for independent film, it’s like there aren’t too many places to celebrate little, tiny movies that most people don’t see and, you know, for two weeks out of the year we go like, ‘This is the most important thing’ because it’s a really close-knit, little family.”

Stewart described “Certain Women” as “a very quiet, tiny, thoughtful, little movie.”

“Certain Women” also stars Michelle Williams and Laura Dern but they weren’t at the Sundance premiere. Cast members Jared Harris, Lily Gladstone and Sara Rodier and director Kelly Reichardt attended with Stewart.

–By Alicia Rancilio

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RILEY KEOUGH SAYS ‘THE GIRLFRIEND EXPERIENCE’ SHOWS ANOTHER SIDE OF SEX WORK

Riley Keough believes her upcoming TV series “The Girlfriend Experience,” will introduce viewers to another side of sex work.

“Yeah I mean there’s lots of girls who are in college who are smart who end up doing sex work by choice and enjoy themselves, you know,” said Keough at the Sundance Film Festival premiere of the series on Saturday. We’re not here to say whether it’s the right choice or the wrong choice, we’re just telling the story of this specific girl who decides to do that, Christine.”

The 13-episode series is based on the 2009 film of the same name directed by Steven Soderbergh. The TV show is produced by Soderbergh, whom she worked with on the film “Magic Mike.” He approached Keough about playing the lead character.

“When Steven Soderbergh calls you like he did with (co-executive producers) Amy (Seimetz) and Lodge (Kerrigan) and asks you to be a part of something, you give it the time of day and read it,” Keough said.

Keough, 26, is the daughter of Lisa Marie Presley and granddaughter of Elvis Presley and Priscilla Presley.

“The Girlfriend Experience” premieres April 10 on the Starz network.

–By Alicia Rancilio

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MICHAEL C. HALL REFLECTS ON LEARNING OF DAVID BOWIE’S DEATH

Michael C. Hall, the star of David Bowie’s musical “Lazarus,” says he recorded the cast album the day he learned of the singer’s death.

“I woke up on a Monday morning and had many texts and found out and was really gratified and humbled by the fact that we had actually scheduled to record the album that day,” said Hall at Saturday’s Sundance Film Festival premiere of his movie “Christine,” co-starring Rebecca Hall.

“So we all went into the studio as we had planned and we’re really thankful that we were able to get together and honour him. … It’s really one of the most special and humbling experiences I’ve had as an actor to play that role and to take part in telling that story and helping to create something that was in the final chapter of Bowie’s artistic output. It was really incredible.”

Bowie wrote the musical with Irish playwright Enda Walsh as a sequel to the 1963 novel “The Man Who Fell to Earth” by Walter Tevis, which inspired the 1976 film of the same name that he starred in.

The 18 songs in the musical include some of Bowie’s biggest hits — such as “Changes,” ”Heroes,” ”Absolute Beginners” and “Life on Mars” — as well as new songs like “Lazarus,” taken from Bowie’s latest “Blackstar” album.

“Lazarus” closed on Jan. 20 after its two-month run at the New York Theatre Workshop.

Hall says he will return to New York after his Sundance promotional duties are over, when he can get a flight out because of the snowstorm that hit the East Coast.

“I’m gonna try. Not until Monday but we’ll see. We’ll see how the airport situation is.”

–By Kay Angrum

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