Utah – Park City
"What the hell!? Is this the hotel we're staying at!?" Eric exclaimed, his eyes wide.
It was just after eight in the morning when they arrived in Utah. After landing, they took taxis to Park City, about forty minutes from the airport. The cars pulled up in front of the hotel Owen had booked.
What Owen hadn't told them was which hotel it would be. He wanted to see their faces when they arrived.
"Yes," Owen nodded with a faint smile. "The St. Regis Deer Valley. Five stars."
"You're insane," Gaten said, staring at him as if trying to figure him out.
Sundance was packed with independent projects. Sure, there were million-dollar productions whose studios could afford luxury accommodations. But that wasn't the norm.
Even films with solid backing usually opted for good four-star hotels, maybe three and a half. And for truly small productions, short films or features under a million dollars, the standard was functional, comfortable, far more affordable hotels.
What Owen had done wasn't standard.
"How much did all of this cost?" Matt asked, calmer but still visibly surprised.
"A little over thirty thousand dollars," Owen replied with the same casual tone he had used earlier when saying first class.
He had booked four rooms: one for himself; one for his mother and sister; one for Matt and Gaten; and the last for Tyler and Eric.
On average, each room was around $7,700 for the four days.
There was a brief silence after the answer, then the reactions came.
"That cost more than your two short films and Paranormal Activity," Sarah commented.
Eric smile, looking up at the massive hotel in front of him. "Four days in a luxury hotel and pure cinema. Not bad."
"I never imagined that when I signed the contract for One-Minute Time Machine I'd end up at Sundance sleeping in a five-star hotel," Gaten added.
Tyler, still holding the camera for the vlog, let out a low whistle. He was just as surprised as everyone else, but he made sure to capture every expression.
"We can ski!" Eric suddenly exclaimed, remembering that the hotel had direct access to private slopes.
The St. Regis Deer Valley wasn't just one of the most luxurious hotels in Park City, it was located right in the mountains, with ski-in/ski-out access.
In January, Utah was completely covered in snow. Minimum temperatures hovered around 14°F, and the highs rarely went above 39°F.
The air was dry and freezing. The typical winter festival atmosphere: long coats, beanies, gloves, scarves, and snow boots.
"Of course we can," Owen nodded.
They wouldn't be spending twenty-four hours inside screening rooms. There would be downtime. And the hotel offered plenty of amenities and services.
Finally, they walked inside. Instantly, impeccably dressed staff approached to greet them.
Within seconds, hotel employees had taken charge of their luggage, carrying it up to each room.
Check-in was quick and efficient. One by one, they split off toward their rooms.
When Owen reached his individual room, the employee set the luggage inside, briefly explained the included services, and left with a professional farewell.
The room was spacious and elegant, with massive floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the snow-covered mountains. There was a pristine king-size bed, a modern fireplace built into the wall, a leather sofa, and a dark wood desk.
Owen placed his backpack on the couch and took off his coat. The heating kept the room perfectly warm, a stark contrast to the freezing air outside.
He walked over to the window for a few seconds, taking in the white landscape. Then he checked the time on his phone. They still had about an hour and a few minutes before heading to the first block of short film screenings.
He took advantage of the moment and filmed a quick room tour on his phone for the vlog, explaining that they had some time before getting ready and heading to The Ray Theatre, where the first screening block would take place, officially marking the premiere.
He also explained that Sundance wasn't a single centralized venue, like the Palm Springs Festival might be.
The Sundance Film Festival unfolded across multiple theaters and venues spread throughout Park City and its surroundings: the Eccles Theatre, the Egyptian Theatre, the Sundance Resort itself, and the previously mentioned The Ray Theatre, among others.
It was a festival you experienced on foot, walking through the snow from theater to theater.
At that moment, someone knocked twice on the door.
Owen opened it, and Matt was standing on the other side. He raised a hand in greeting and stepped in without much ceremony.
"Whoa," he murmured, looking around, evaluating every corner. "The rooms in this hotel are insane."
He dropped onto the bed.
"They better be, considering what they cost," Owen replied with a half-smile.
Matt laughed, but then his expression shifted slightly. "Sophie didn't come in the end…"
Of course, Matt had known about the breakup from the beginning.
Owen's expression grew more serious as well. He sat down in the chair in front of the dark wooden desk.
"Yeah. I talked to her," he said. "I told her everything would be covered if she wanted to come. But she said no."
Sophie, even though she was no longer his girlfriend, had been part of Paperman, the short film that would be screening during the festival and that even had award potential.
That's why Owen hadn't let the recent awkwardness influence his decision to invite her. It hadn't even been a month since the breakup, but it was the right thing to do.
She chose not to go.
"You did the right thing inviting her. Professional producer move," Matt said. "She'll miss out. You don't get to come to Sundance every day."
Anyone could attend Sundance. You didn't have to be a director, actor, or producer. You just had to buy a ticket, or several.
But attending didn't mean it was easy.
In January, Park City turned into a small town overwhelmed by thousands of people. Hotels doubled their prices, that's why Owen had paid such an inflated amount per room, even at a five-star property.
Tickets for major premieres sold out within minutes when they went live online. Lines formed hours in advance, even with tickets already in hand.
It wasn't an invitation-only festival.
It was exclusive because of demand, and because of the money you had to spend to get there.
Traveling to Utah in January wasn't cheap. Even securing a seat at a regular screening could be difficult.
And Owen wasn't there as just another spectator.
Having projects inside the festival changed the rules. He and his team had credentials, priority access, and the ability to secure tickets without fighting through public sales. They didn't have to line up at six in the morning to try to get into a premiere. They didn't rely on luck.
They could attend the most anticipated screenings, move between venues with greater freedom, and access industry-restricted areas.
That's why Matt said Sophie was missing out.
"By the way," Matt added, changing the subject, "we're officially without a lead for Lights Out."
Pre-production for that film was already underway. Once Owen finished shooting Good Will Hunting in February, they could move fully into the executive phase: bring on an additional producer, begin formal casting, assemble the technical crew, especially the director of photography and the rest of the team.
Sophie had starred in the short film Owen uploaded to his channel, which now had over thirty-five million views. She had been the obvious choice to lead the feature-length adaptation.
But with the breakup, that possibility had vanished.
Working together would be unfeasible. Owen would be the main financier and producer; he would be present in every major decision. This wasn't a small shoot where they could simply avoid each other.
"Yeah," Owen nodded. "We'll have to cast again. It'll delay us a bit to find a lead, but not that much. I've got contacts now."
Owen could leverage his current agency, CAA, to quickly get a package of actresses interested in the role.
"I was thinking of something different," Matt added. "An open audition. Backstage-style."
Owen raised an eyebrow. "A lead actress for a six-million-dollar movie found through Backstage? Hundreds of actresses are going to apply."
"I know," Matt replied, standing up and starting to pace. "But think about it: horror has always been the genre where new faces emerge. It's where a lot of actresses make the jump from unknown to something big. It'll take longer, sure, but we'll find real talent. And it'll be cheaper."
Matt knew that even though Owen loved cinema, he was still a producer. He didn't want to pay millions for a star if someone else could do the job just as well.
Owen remained thoughtful for a few seconds. It wasn't a bad idea. He had already seen that in this reality, actors and actresses who had been famous in his past life were still unknown.
So there were surely hidden talents out there. This could be a way to find them and give them that opportunity.
Or simply give it to whoever performed best in the audition, just like Matt said.
"Yeah, I like it. We'll have to work a bit more, but not that much if we've got someone in casting and another producer," Owen finally said.
"Great," Matt nodded. "We'll figure it out calmly later. For now, let's enjoy Sundance."
"By the way, Tyler wants us to show our outfits for the first screening in the vlog. Say how much everything costs and all that. It's become pretty trendy," he added.
Owen looked at him, half amused. "We're not exactly the kind of filmmakers who prioritize outfits."
At least not him, Matt, Gaten, Eric, and Tyler.
Matt shrugged. "It could be funny. Besides, you have a Rolex. We've got to show something."
Owen smiled. "I'll wear it tomorrow, at the premiere of The Spectacular Now. That's the more elegant outfit. Not today. But it could still work for the video."
"So today it's humble indie-filmmaker outfits. Ignoring the fact that you sold a multi-million-dollar IP," Matt concluded.
The moment to show their outfits came about twenty minutes before leaving the hotel for the theater where the first block of short films would be screened.
For some reason, Owen's room had become the operations base. Everyone was ready and gathered there.
Tyler raised the camera and pointed it straight at Matt. "Alright, Matt Rogers, the director. Explain your outfit and how much each piece costs."
Matt looked directly into the camera with absolute seriousness. "Even though you can't see it, under this black hoodie there's a slightly worn white T-shirt I bought in a three-pack for fifteen dollars."
He lifted the hoodie slightly to show it.
"So that's five dollars to the total. Starting strong," Tyler commented.
"Five dollars," Eric repeated, crossing his arms as he stepped into frame. "International film festival level."
Laughter broke out, and Matt continued.
His outfit was completed with the black hoodie, a padded winter jacket, the most expensive piece, dark jeans, and sneakers with noticeable wear.
"Total estimate: two hundred and five dollars," Matt said solemnly.
"Whoa, a star director outfit," Gaten said with obvious sarcasm and a playful tone.
Eric looked at Owen. "Don't you pay your main director enough to dress better?"
More laughter. Owen raised his hands. "I gave him a bonus. He could dress in designer brands if he wanted. He's just extremely cheap with his money."
"I am not cheap!" Matt protested. "I'd rather spend on film equipment than clothes."
"Excuses," Tyler said, and it was Eric's turn.
Eric did a small spin, as if he were on a very unglamorous runway.
"Gray hoodie: fifty. Winter jacket: one twenty. Jeans: sixty. Boots: forty-five… I think. I don't remember exactly."
"Two seventy-five," Owen calculated quickly.
"Okay, the level is rising," Tyler added, amused.
"Yeah, but not by much," Gaten replied. "The bar is low. Very low."
Now it was Gaten's turn.
His outfit was slightly more put together: navy sweater, simple but well-cut gray coat, dark pants, and decent boots.
Not extravagant, but better than the previous ones.
With the salary he would earn for Good Will Hunting, his situation was already far more stable than before. He no longer needed open auditions every week. Even though filming hadn't started yet and the money wasn't in his account, the change was evident.
His total outfit came to 520 dollars.
"Yes!" Matt celebrated. "We've reached half a thousand dollars. We're moving up a category."
"We're entering upper middle-class territory," Eric added solemnly.
"For now, we have a winner," Tyler said, slowly turning the camera toward Owen. "And now… the producer, actor, and writer. The indie genius. Surprise us."
Immediately, the guys started making exaggerated noise.
"He's definitely hiding some super expensive piece of jewelry," Matt said.
"A Swiss watch under the sleeve," Eric added.
Owen snorted, amused.
Elizabeth was watching from the side, slightly out of frame, clearly entertained by the scene. Sarah was leaning against the wall, waiting for her turn. Unlike them, she knew perfectly well that her outfit was in a different category.
The guys didn't care much about clothes.
She did, and she was fully confident that when her turn came, the contrast would be obvious.
"I don't have anything expensive hidden," Owen sighed, as he began listing each piece and its price.
Unlike the others, he remembered exactly how much he had paid for everything. He was getting good with numbers, and besides, most of the clothes were relatively new.
Even though he was a millionaire, his style was minimalist. Good quality, yes. But nothing overpriced just for the brand name. No Gucci or anything like that. The only luxury item he had deliberately bought was a Rolex, simply because he liked it. When it came to clothing, he didn't care much.
He was wearing a black wool coat, a dark sweater, black pants, and leather boots. No jewelry, no accessories.
"Total: six hundred and thirty dollars," Owen concluded.
He looked at the others, who were staring at him in silence.
"What? Disappointed?"
"A little," Matt replied. "Considering you spent over thirty thousand dollars on hotel and flights."
"Well," Eric chimed in, "the level is still rising. We have a new leader."
Then it was Tyler's turn.
Owen took the camera and pointed it at him.
Tyler began counting. "Total: approximately one hundred and twenty dollars."
There was silence until Gaten broke it.
"We've regressed," he declared.
"Hopefully Owen pays you well as a cameraman so you can buy something decent," Eric teased.
"Hey! It's decent and functional," Tyler protested.
The others laughed, and it was time for the final turn.
The only person in the room who seemed truly prepared for this segment.
Sarah stepped forward confidently.
"Alright…" she said calmly, and began listing her pieces and their prices.
Her coat alone cost more than Tyler's, Eric's, and Matt's outfits combined. By the second item, she had already surpassed Owen.
Expressions began to change.
"Seriously?" Eric added.
"I feel poor…" Gaten muttered.
"And finally…" Sarah continued, slightly lifting her small bag, "a Louis Vuitton Speedy bag: eighteen hundred dollars."
There was a brief silence. Then Owen, automatically doing the math in his head, spoke.
"Total: three thousand nine hundred and fifty."
After that, absolute silence.
"What? Say something," Sarah asked, crossing her arms. She was mostly expecting compliments about the combination. In her social circle, the price didn't seem extraordinary.
"You humiliated us," Gaten said.
"Yeah, you win," Eric added.
Sarah crossed her arms elegantly and smiled.
"How did you buy all that? I don't remember the check I gave you for One-Minute Time Machine being that big," Owen commented with a teasing smile. "Oh right… gift from our parents."
Matt and the others reacted with exaggerated shouts, amplifying the tension for drama.
Sarah looked at him unfazed. "You're not the best person to talk, Mr. 'I financed my first movie with the car my mommy and daddy gifted me.'"
There was a second of silence, and then they exploded.
"Ooooh!"
"That hurt!"
"She hit back with no mercy!"
Matt, Eric, Gaten, and Tyler started yelling and celebrating the comeback like it was a verbal knockout.
Owen tried to respond, but the uproar drowned him out. Technically, it was true. He had used that initial capital. Though he had earned it back many times over and was now living entirely off his own success. In fact, he had even given millions to his father and brother for helping him with other matters.
In the end, Owen simply raised his hands in surrender and smiled. "You win this time."
Minutes later, they all left the hotel and headed to the first short film screening.
And just like that, the official ranking of indie filmmaker outfits was completely destroyed by a seventeen-year-old girl.
The group made their way toward the first screening of the day.
The St. Regis Deer Valley was closer to the mountains than to downtown Park City, so they had to request taxis provided by the hotel.
The ride to the heart of the festival, where most of the theaters were located, took barely ten minutes.
They arrived at The Ray Theatre with about fifteen minutes to spare.
Tyler filmed the entire arrival for the vlog: the theater's façade, the constant flow of people going in and out, the curious mix between general film lovers and industry professionals. It wasn't a red carpet, but it wasn't an ordinary screening either.
They entered the theater, then the screening room where the block would premiere, and at exactly 10:00 a.m., the first block began.
The 300-seat auditorium was completely sold out, 100% full, which signaled success, since screenings usually filled between 70% and 85%.
The block featured ten short films and ran for 110 minutes. The shorts ranged from 3 to 20 minutes, with different styles and tones.
Paperman and One Minute Time Machine appeared back-to-back in the program, in the second half of the block.
Without exaggeration, they were among the best received. When they ended, the applause was noticeably longer than for the previous films.
Owen he felt it.
When the lights came on, several people approached to congratulate them.
Even fans came up to Owen asking for autographs and photos, something that still felt strange to him.
They didn't return to the hotel.
Instead, they moved between theaters for the rest of the day, attending other screenings, running into familiar industry faces, which wasn't unusual. After all, it was Sundance.
The first day ended in the late afternoon.
Owen returned to the hotel tired but satisfied. It had been a strong start. The short films had been well received, the room had been full for the first block, which increased their chances of winning an award. After all, he was the only name in the lineup with two short films.
The next day, he woke up early, feeling refreshed after getting a full, healthy night's sleep.
It was the premiere of The Spectacular Now.
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