Friday, January 20, 2023
2:15 a.m.
In the completely dark room, the alarm began to ring.
Owen, lying on his back, reacted automatically: he grabbed the pillow and covered his face completely, determined to ignore it.
The alarm didn't seem to care in the slightest. It kept ringing, growing more insistent, or at least that's how it sounded to Owen's ears in that state.
"Turn it off…" he muttered, his voice muffled, barely audible, not quite forming the words properly.
Jenna, who was sleeping beside him, sat up abruptly, as if she had been awakened from a grave. She squinted, looked toward the alarm clock on Owen's side, and with a clumsy movement leaned over him, bracing herself against his body to reach it.
She finally managed to grab it and turned it off.
"It's time. Wake up or you're going to miss your flight," Jenna said, yawning.
Owen pulled the pillow off his face and looked at her. Or rather, he made out her silhouette above him, since the room was still completely dark.
"I don't want to," Owen refused. "I'd rather stay in bed with you."
Jenna smiled faintly. "That sounds really nice," she murmured, "but if you do that, you're going to miss the first screening of your short films at Sundance."
She paused briefly, as if to make sure the word sank in.
"Sundance, Owen," she repeated. "Having something of yours accepted there is statistically very unlikely. And you managed to get two projects in. Three, if we count The Spectacular Now, even if the rights belong to A24."
Owen didn't respond.
"Besides," Jenna added, now in a practical tone, "you paid for rooms at a five-star hotel and flights in the best class available. Are you really going to waste all that money?"
That was enough.
Owen opened his eyes wide and sat up instantly, ending up just inches from Jenna's face.
"You're right," Owen admitted. "Although, in part, you're the reason I went to bed so late."
Jenna raised an eyebrow, watching him closely.
The night before hadn't been exactly short. They had finished dinner around eight, a little later than planned. Then they watched a movie that ran over two hours, and by the time it ended it was already around eleven. What followed carried them well past midnight, shut away in Jenna's room, completely losing track of time.
With any luck, Owen had slept two hours. Maybe less, since no one ever falls asleep the exact second their head hits the pillow.
Owen's original plan had been different: go to bed early, around eight or nine at the latest, so he could get at least five or six hours of sleep before the flight.
But then Jenna showed up; they happened to coincide during one of those rare free windows in their schedules, and he didn't think twice. He had no intention of turning her down.
"Is that an accusation?" Jenna asked with a half-smile. "Because I seem to remember you enjoyed it quite a bit."
Owen smiled sideways. "I don't deny it," he said. "It was worth it."
"That's what I wanted to hear," Jenna replied, getting to her feet. "Now get dressed, wash your face, and I'll make you some coffee."
"Thanks," Owen said, standing up.
Ten minutes later, he was sitting on a kitchen stool with a hot mug between his hands. They talked a little, still half-asleep, and within minutes the coffee was gone.
"Have a proper breakfast at the airport or when you get to the hotel," Jenna added, in that tone that was both caring and commanding at the same time.
"Already worrying about what I eat?" Owen commented with a slight smile. "I didn't think we'd reach that stage so fast."
Jenna rolled her eyes but couldn't help smiling. "Someone has to," she replied. "Especially when that someone thinks black coffee counts as breakfast."
Owen and Jenna texted a lot. More than once, as soon as they woke up and said good morning, Jenna, just to keep the conversation going, would ask what he was having for breakfast. And almost always the answer was the same: a cup of coffee and, if he was lucky, one or two slices of toast.
Owen's quick explanation was that intermittent fasting was good for him, and besides, making something more elaborate took time.
Besides, sitting down and eating calmly would easily take him twenty or thirty minutes. With coffee, it was faster, and while he drank it, he could already start his day.
"Alright, I'll do it," Owen finally conceded.
"I want breakfast pictures," Jenna warned.
Owen raised his hands in surrender. "I'll send them," he promised.
Jenna smiled and, seeing Owen get up, asked, "Do you want help with your luggage or anything?"
Owen shook his head. "It's just one suitcase. Larry's coming to pick me up in a few minutes. Besides, I need to start the vlog for the YouTube channel," he replied. "And you should get some rest."
Jenna nodded, then added, "A vlog for every day you're at Sundance. It's definitely going to get huge reach. Even more if you win any awards, and with a feature premiere too."
Owen had decided that during the four days he would be in Utah attending Sundance, he would film material each day and later compile everything into a single vlog to upload to his YouTube channel.
He wanted to document what it was like to experience the festival from the inside: an indie team made up of friends: himself, Matt, Gaten, Tyler, and Eric, plus his sister. Screenings, nerves, possible awards, and also the inevitable jokes, travel chaos, and absurd moments that always ended up happening.
It was the kind of experience almost no filmmaker showed on YouTube. Besides, his channel had been quiet for a while, no new short films or vlogs recently. This video would mark the comeback.
At that moment, his channel was hovering around 2.3 million subscribers. On his personal Instagram, he had just surpassed two million a few days earlier, and on Twitter he was close to 950,000 followers. Not bad.
This new content would generate momentum across all his platforms again.
"Yeah," Owen said, nodding. "And you're in day two as well."
Jenna would be traveling to Utah the next day for the premiere of The Spectacular Now. A24 was already preparing everything: full press push, red carpet, and more. It was the film's first screening, and it was obvious the leads would be there.
The studio was taking it very seriously. It had two leads going through a peak in popularity and had no intention of wasting it. For that premiere, A24 was organizing something bigger than usual for an indie drama.
The first reviews would come out, and from there the snowball would start: prestige, visibility, and the real beginning of the road toward its theatrical release.
Owen had asked her days earlier, when he was already thinking about the script and structure of the vlog, whether she was okay with appearing in it.
It made sense. They had worked together, it was known they had gotten along very well during filming, and they had shared anecdotes together on The Jimmy Fallon Show.
Besides, when two leads share an emotionally charged film and have strong on-screen chemistry, studios usually take advantage of that dynamic as part of the marketing.
It was almost an unwritten rule.
So Jenna agreed to appear in the vlog. And they had already decided to come across as friendly, but without gestures that could fuel unnecessary speculation, especially considering that Owen's breakup with his ex-girlfriend had happened earlier that same month.
They both understood the game.
"It'll be my first time in a vlog. I'm a little nervous," Jenna commented.
She had watched the video Owen uploaded with Matt about buying film equipment, and she had liked it a lot. It felt like a different, and more honest, way of presenting oneself to the audience, far removed from staged interviews, TV sets, and calculated questions.
"You'll do great," Owen assured her. "Besides, if you're in the thumbnail or the title, the vlog's going to get millions of views just for that. Thanks for contributing to the success of Second Take Films."
Jenna gave an exaggerated little bow. "It's an honor, cinema history."
Finally, Owen said goodbye to Jenna with a kiss and left for his apartment, where his suitcase was already waiting for him, packed earlier.
But before that, he grabbed a camera, not a film camera, but one for YouTube videos, set it up on a tripod, and turned it on. He sat down in front of a chair, inhaled deeply, and slowly exhaled. Then he looked straight into the lens.
"Hey everyone…" Owen said, adjusting himself slightly. "Yeah, I know. It's been a while since I uploaded a video."
He gave a small smile. "But this isn't just any video. As you saw in the title, I'm on my way to Sundance."
He paused briefly, searching for the right words. "For those who don't know: two short films from the channel were accepted into the festival, so I'll be in Utah these days for those screenings, and also for the premiere of my next film, The Spectacular Now."
He ran a hand over his face.
"Sorry about the face," he said with a soft laugh. "It's like two-thirty in the morning."
He picked up his phone, brought it closer to the camera, and showed the screen with the time.
"I slept, at best, two hours," he continued. "The flight from Los Angeles leaves at five, so I have to be at the airport at least two hours early."
He set the phone aside again and looked back into the lens.
Then, more methodically, he explained how the days would be structured.
Sundance had started on January 19, the day before, and would run until January 29. For the first time in two years, the festival was fully back in person.
But Owen would be there for four full days: the 20th, 21st, 22nd, and 24th.
On the first day, today, he would attend the first screening of the short films and document as much as possible.
The second day would be the premiere of The Spectacular Now, a big one.
The third day didn't have much scheduled: repeat screenings, other premieres, and various activities.
And the fourth day would be the awards announcements, which traditionally took place midway through the festival rather than at the end.
The festival wanted the awards to boost subsequent screenings. Besides, winners needed to capitalize on the momentum immediately, with press, meetings with distributors, and sales deals. If the festival ended right away, everyone would just be packing their bags.
"Alright, I'm heading to the airport now," Owen said, "but first I need to pick up my sister and my mom."
He reached toward the camera lens, covering it completely, already thinking about the cut he would make later in editing.
He could picture the video's opening even before it began: a black screen and a simple title.
Day 1.
The time.
And then he appears on screen with everything he had just explained.
Five minutes later, Owen received a message from Larry letting him know he was downstairs.
Owen slung his backpack over his shoulder, grabbed the suitcase with his left hand and the camera with his right. With some effort, he left the apartment, took the elevator, and finally stepped out of the building.
Larry was waiting outside. He had arrived in his new car, a 2023 Audi. He was no longer the debt-ridden agent from a year ago. The debts were gone, his bank account was much healthier, and the change was noticeable.
Owen greeted him casually while Larry offered to put the suitcase in the trunk.
With one hand free, Owen turned the camera back on.
At that exact moment, Tyler stepped out from the passenger seat.
Owen immediately pointed the camera at him. "And here he is," he said. "The lighting technician from Paranormal Activity and all the channel's short films. And the official cameraman for this vlog."
"Hey everyone," Tyler greeted, smiling at the camera. "I'll be the camera guy."
Of course, he had been informed about this beforehand.
"I hand you the honor," Owen joked, passing him the camera as if it were a scepter.
"I accept the honor," Tyler said, taking the camera, stepping out of frame, and turning it toward Owen.
"You've got a lot of energy for almost three in the morning," Owen commented, noticing how alert he looked for that hour.
"I haven't slept yet," Tyler replied. "So I'm fresh as a lettuce."
"That explains it," Owen nodded.
He, on the other hand, had slept. Very little. And waking up so early had taken its toll: the exhaustion was still there, his mind a bit slow, and dark circles visible under his eyes.
At that moment, Larry spoke up. "All set. Let's go."
Owen nodded and climbed into the back seat. Tyler settled into the passenger seat, and Larry started the car, setting them in motion.
"What's the next destination, boss?" Tyler asked, pointing the camera toward the back.
"We're picking up my sister," Owen replied. "Sarah Ashford. Rising actress and about to experience her first film festival as part of a project."
He wasn't exaggerating. For her, Sundance wasn't just a trip.
They arrived at their parents' house. Owen got out of the car, and Tyler followed with the camera in hand, just in case something was usable for the vlog. They rang the doorbell, and it didn't take long before two figures appeared at the door: Elizabeth and Sarah.
Mother and daughter.
Elizabeth, a film lover and deeply proud of both her children's careers, would be accompanying them for the four days of the trip. Edward and James, on the other hand, couldn't be away from work for that long.
Owen greeted them and then looked at Sarah with a smile. "Ready for Sundance?" he asked. "Although, judging by you, I'd say yes."
Sarah looked impeccable. Hair done, outfit on point, radiating an energy that felt straight out of a photoshoot. She could have walked straight onto a red carpet just by swapping into a more formal gown.
"Of course," Sarah replied without hesitation, then looked at the camera. "Are you recording?"
"Yeah," Owen answered. "For the channel."
Sarah smirked. "You finally remembered you have a YouTube channel with subscribers waiting for videos."
Owen looked at the camera as if silently asking whether this was how younger sisters generally treated their older brothers.
Tyler chuckled behind the lens.
"Ladies and gentlemen, my sister," Owen said. "By the way, don't you have classes the next four days? How does that work? I'm not letting you come if this affects your academic future."
Sarah opened her mouth, ready with a sharp comeback, clearly offended by the teasing tone.
But Elizabeth stepped in first. "I already spoke with the school," she explained calmly. "She'll have everything virtually these days. Classes, assignments, submissions, everything normal, just remote."
Owen nodded. "That's great. But just so you know, we'll be watching you," he said, looking at his sister. "To make sure you turn your work in on time. No sneaking off to watch movies."
"This channel does not encourage laziness," he added.
Sarah huffed, rolled her eyes, and got into the car without replying. She knew winning these kinds of "arguments" with her brother was pointless, he always found a way to improvise a comeback, flip the situation, and come out on top.
They loaded the extra suitcases and everyone got back into the car. The Ashfords settled into the back seats. Larry started the engine again, this time heading to the airport.
The clock read around 3:15 a.m. when they arrived at the airport. A little later than planned.
As soon as they walked in, they quickly spotted a familiar group: Matt, Eric, and Gaten. The three of them, who had been sitting, stood up as soon as they saw them and hurried over.
"You finally made it!" Matt exclaimed.
"Yeah, I was starting to get nervous," Eric added. "You guys have the tickets."
They needed to check in, and Owen had been the one in charge of buying all the flights.
"I told you they'd show up," Gaten said, calmer.
Knowing Owen, it was only a matter of time. He knew how meticulous he was about anything related to film, and logistics. Sooner or later, he would appear.
"It was Tyler's fault," Owen said, pointing at him without hesitation. "He wanted to arrive a little later just to make you nervous."
"Yeah, take it out on him," Sarah added, amused.
"Hey!" Tyler protested, betrayed that easily.
"This idiot…" Eric grumbled, looking at his best friend. "Joking at a time like this."
Owen looked at the group, far too loud for that hour, and had the clear impression that everyone else had slept more than he had.
"Alright, alright," he interrupted. "Let's check in."
They started walking toward the counters, preparing documents and luggage.
"What tickets did you buy?" Eric asked, looking at him curiously.
He knew his friend had money. A lot of it. So he doubted he'd bought regular seats.
"First class for everyone," Owen replied casually.
Eric's eyes widened. "Seriously?!"
It wasn't a minor difference. First Class wasn't just comfort, it was the most exclusive option. Seats that turned into beds, private suites with doors, full bathrooms, and high-quality meals.
Tyler filmed every reaction without missing a thing, taking his role as cameraman very seriously.
But the most surprised were clearly two people: Eric, who had asked the question, and Gaten.
Matt looked at them, amused. "Why so shocked?" he said, pointing at Owen with his thumb. "This guy could buy himself a private jet if he wanted to."
"Right…" Eric muttered, looking at Owen with a strange expression.
After checking in, Larry said goodbye to everyone. Owen thanked him for driving them, and the man left.
Owen went to grab breakfast with the rest of the group. The flight was scheduled to leave at five, so they still had an hour and a half to wait.
Tyler was full of energy, and noticing that Owen didn't seem quite as upbeat, clearly worn out from barely sleeping, he decided to take the initiative.
"Hey, Matt, you're the one who knows the most," he said, pointing the camera at him. "Explain to everyone how Sundance works."
Matt was holding a coffee while endlessly adding sugar.
Gaten raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you putting too much in?"
"It's never too much," Matt replied without stopping. Then he looked straight at Tyler and the camera.
"Let's focus on what matters to us today: the short films. At Sundance, shorts aren't screened one by one, they're grouped into blocks. Each block is a full screening, like a feature-length slot, that includes between six and ten short films and lasts roughly ninety to one hundred ten minutes," Matt explained, gesturing lightly with his hand.
"Today, at ten in the morning in Utah, that's in just a few hours, is the first block. That's where our two short films are. Then throughout the day, there are different blocks and screenings until around seven in the evening."
"Mm, I see," Tyler nodded. "And do those blocks repeat?"
Matt nodded. "Yes, but not on the same day. They repeat over the following days. Anything else?" he asked with a grin.
"Yeah," Tyler said. "What are the most important awards Paperman and One Minute Time Machine can aim for?"
Matt, as usual, and with several sugar-loaded coffees already running through his bloodstream, launched into a rapid explanation:
"The top prize for all short films is the Short Film Grand Jury Prize. Then the second most important is the Short Film Jury Award: U.S. Fiction. And in third place on the podium is the Short Film Audience Award, which, as the name suggests, is chosen by the audience."
He paused briefly to take a sip of his coffee.
"Then there are more awards, but those don't apply to us: the Short Film Jury Award: International Fiction, which is only for international shorts; the Short Film Jury Award: Nonfiction, for documentaries; and the Short Film Jury Award: Animation, exclusively for animated films."
"Well… that was educational," Gaten said.
The others laughed, even Matt, who raised his coffee cup.
Time passed quickly after that, and it was finally time to board the plane.
Once on board, Owen was among the last to settle in. The first-class cabin was dimly lit and quiet, understandably, given the hour.
As soon as he sat down, he reclined the seat until it turned into a comfortable bed and closed his eyes almost immediately.
Two hours wasn't much, but it was enough to recharge and face his first day in Utah.
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Link: https://[email protected]/Nathe07