In the summer of 1981, I found my true inspiration in Robert Redford, someone who shared my passion for supporting artists and ensuring their voices are heard—and who would, over the course of working together for four decades, become my collaborator and friend, Bob.
I will never forget that summer when I received a phone call which changed the entire trajectory of my life. I was invited to join the nonprofit Sundance Institute’s first June Filmmakers Lab taking place at the Sundance Mountain Resort in Utah. I had always been passionate about giving back to the arts, I never had interest in being the person on the stage or receiving the accolades.
[time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”]At that time, Bob was already a household name. He was an iconic actor and had recently finished the awards circuit for his directorial debut, Ordinary People. That film and his artistry spoke to me so profoundly, but as I got to know him throughout the 44 years that we worked together, his unwavering commitment to the power of storytelling is what continues to sustain me in everything I do.
At the beginning I was quite nervous, simply being in Bob’s orbit. It felt like the most important person in the world was sitting next to me. I would often wonder to myself, how could I just be me, authentically, around someone of that stature? But Bob was uniquely humble. I quickly discovered that he only wanted us to be ourselves, and be completely present.
From that grace and trust quickly came our shared collaboration. Bob’s vision to establish year-round artist programs where independent storytellers from around the world convene was built by offering a space to take risks, explore, and develop bold and groundbreaking independent films outside of the existing studio system. While the first lab primarily focused on a group of selected filmmakers, Bob decided to include a conference about the future of film distribution, which I was brought on to help organize. I knew very little about that side of the industry, but immediately understood Bob’s vision for the future of filmmaking.
Since that summer, the artist programs continued to evolve and grow while always remaining true to Bob’s resolute intention. Within the idyllic setting of the Sundance Mountain Resort, the quaking aspens and an exquisite place where the sun bounced off the mountains, that first month was a complete learning experience for everyone involved. Being enveloped in nature always brought Bob such a connection to his spirit and was one of the things he cherished and wanted to share with others.
I knew from the very beginning that I had also found my home. So I had to persuade Bob that he needed me to stay on full-time. I proposed opening a Sundance Institute office in Los Angeles, in the same building as his company, Wildwood Enterprises. I’ll never forget the moment I pitched the idea. Bob simply said, “Sure, call me when you get there.” I was stunned. I called his assistant the next day and asked if he meant it. After she confirmed that my new path was a reality, I immediately knew that I was going to dedicate my life to Bob’s mission. And then I had a purpose. He gave me purpose.
Robert Redford’s life and legacy
Most days, Bob would come down to the Resort on his motorcycle to begin the day’s work. Watching him as a creative advisor guiding the emerging filmmakers was truly mesmerizing. With an awareness of his own presence, he would intentionally start by listening and inspiring filmmakers to find their voice, their stories, and the confidence and skills they needed as directors and writers. During the 1999 Screenwriters Lab, I recall him spending time with Darren Aronofsky, guiding him on the third act of his script for Requiem for a Dream. I watched Bob get such joy out of the process, truly listening to artists and being completely present for them.
His warmth and compassion were always there. Dinners at Bob’s home in Utah were always a celebration. Sitting by a beautiful fire, drinking exceptional wines, all while surrounded by incredible Indigenous art, we’d listen to him tell fascinating and funny personal stories about his experiences. He loved bringing people together, hosting, and spending time with his family. Watching his wonderful kids, Amy, Jamie and Shauna, grow up and become deeply connected to the arts and making an impact in this world has been an immense privilege.
For decades, Bob expanded what we could offer emerging global artists. And, all along the way, we had the privilege of working with so many accomplished artists who shared Bob’s passion, generosity, and commitment to incubating new talent and giving back, coming to the lab as creative advisors, including Sydney Pollack, Sally Field, Morgan Freeman, Alan Pakula, Denzel Washington, Glenn Close, Edward James Olmos, and Waldo Salt, among many others.
His unwavering dedication to visionary artists and stories was the backbone of our selection process as we worked hard to find original work that brought a singular voice and story only they could tell. Bob’s early commitment to Indigenous storytelling from inception was especially inspiring to me and has gone on to shape culture in more ways than we could imagine.
Though Bob would never have liked me bragging about him, our collaborative work helped support and foster artists like Paul Thomas Anderson, Darren Aronofsky, John Cameron Mitchell, Damien Chazelle, Nia DaCosta, Ryan Coogler, The Daniels, Sterlin Harjo, Siân Heder, Miranda July, James Mangold, Kimberly Peirce, Gina Prince-Bythewood, Dee Rees, Boots Riley, Ira Sachs, Walter Salles, Quentin Tarantino, Erica Tremblay, Taika Waititi, Lulu Wang, Chloé Zhao, and so many countless others.
As the Sundance Institute continued to grow, Bob was always there to help us reimagine and build our work, challenging us to expand into an organization that championed artists working in a variety of mediums, coming from around the world. He was constantly looking to the future before anyone else, and we made a deep commitment to adapting our work as the landscape changed for independent films in the fiction and nonfiction spaces, and beyond.
In 1985, the Sundance Institute took over the United States Film Festival—later changing the name to the Sundance Film Festival—expanding on Bob’s innovative vision of the importance of films finding their audiences.
One of Bob’s favorite moments during the Festival was our annual Directors Brunch held at the Sundance Mountain Resort, where he got to welcome the filmmakers, their first moment together as a community. He would often tell stories about why he created the Institute, noting that even with success, we all experience loneliness and strive for community as artists. He knew others felt that way and wanted the Directors Brunch to be the beginning of a gathering of artists who could provide support to each other.
Bob taught me, and my colleagues at the Sundance Institute how to foster a sense of community. In fact, I believe this skill of his will define our work going forward.
Bob’s greatest legacy will be this: his generosity of time, the knowledge he shared, the space he made for others, resources he distributed, and the lives he changed. He didn’t need to give back, but he chose to. After working with Bob for 44 years, these are the strengths I will remember him by and which continue to give me purpose and joy.
Let us all remember that storytellers can open our minds, engage, provoke, inspire and can ultimately connect us on a deep level.
It is what I know Bob would have wanted.
