BLUE COLLAR ART: An interview with F4 film festival founder/director J.C. Bouvier. By: Warren Curry 2/24/02   Part Three (of three)

How did you get John Landis to speak at opening night?

I met John out at Sundance, and he's always been very supportive. We have a handshake deal; there's no contract or rider. He's giving me his word that he'll be there. He happens to be on a book tour currently, but he'll be returning from Paris and visiting friends in Massachusetts on March 6th. He was able to put some time aside and come be with us on the 7th. He's just a down-to-earth, funny, workaholic. We were lucky and it was certainly a case of right place, right time.

Who is going to comprise the festival's panel of judges?

It's the Fitchburg St. communications department and our staff. We don't really have a judging staff, but there will certainly be decisions made and it will come from our core group.

Another purpose of F4 appears to be to cultivate a filmmaking community in Massachusetts. Does one exist right now?

There are different little enclaves. There's Northampton where you have some interesting documentary filmmakers and the Northampton Film Festival in October. You have David Kleiler who is doing the Boston Underground Film Festival, which is happening next week. There's also the Wood's Hole and Nantucket Film Festivals, and as far as the festivals go, they certainly do draw different aspects of the film industry from New York and even the west coast. As for a community, there's the Boston Film/Video Foundation, who are a great resource and 15,000 communication students running around Boston. There's certainly a collegiate community, semi-professionals and professionals, who are mainly advertising or technical based. There's not a big feature element or a big money making, film-as-big-dollar industry, although there's a somewhat big-dollar corporate industry. I definitely think people are interested in making films, but I don't know if they are into it for the same reasons people sometimes perceive someone might be into it -- such as the fame and rock star status. I think people just want to make films for film's sake.

What's been the most difficult part of getting the festival off the ground?

Just getting the people behind it. I was amazed at how difficult it was to remove the apathy from Fitchburg St. College, and it's still incredibly difficult. It's been a challenge to keep people interested, to keep the momentum moving forward, etc. The amount of energy it takes is unbelievable. My partner Keith has been great; he has completely been the legs I need at the office.

I was hoping you could speak a little more about your impressions of Sundance. Obviously the festival has evolved immensely from Robert Redford's original concept. It has grown into a hugely viable market for commercial films, but is it still genuinely a friend to the unknown filmmaker?

That's really the trick for Sundance. The festival, in my experience, has been a great avenue to show films that are never going to be distributed, and they're to be commended for that. They typically focus on a particular demographic or style and they go with that, whether it is homosexual films, Native American films or whatever they're interested in that doesn't fall into the competition category. Sundance is betting on people who are going to make films, whether Sundance helps them or not. As a place for people to learn the ins and outs of the industry, you can get a crash course in Hollywood in two weeks at Sundance. You have access to people that you would never have access to in L.A. You walk right by Harvey Weinstein, you're the next booth over from Cameron Diaz and you don't necessarily have to talk to them; you can just listen to their conversation and chill out. As far as being a film person is concerned, Sundance is a place that everybody really should go. Take a look at it and get some perspective regarding the way films are made, distributed and the way the pace is set. The festival is in January and it sets the tone for the year. I wish it was a little less high profile, that there were more artistic elements to it, although I think there still are. Having been on the inside, I don't think that they're just egoists trying to trade favors, but now programming my own festival, I understand why sometimes you choose films for reasons you wouldn't initially consider. That's just the nature of programming. The Sundance programmers live in L.A.; they don't live in Salt Lake City where the logistics are set up and where I did all my time. It's a good festival and a great experience.

General question: What is the purpose of film festivals?

I'd like to think it's to celebrate film and to show people's message off, which is the attempt we're making here. Nobody on my staff is making any money on it and my greatest thrill will be introducing John Landis and then handing a prize to someone who is really interested in making movies. Just showing off people's hard work to those who would never get a chance to see it otherwise.

What will it take for you to label the inaugural F4 festival a success?

I'd just like to see people come. Having a full house on opening night would be my definition of success. Having filmmakers talk about their work and having the citizens of Fitchburg come check out these films. I'd love to see the college and the film program get some recognition from it. It'd be great to bring the prestige of the college up too. This is a program that has really generated some good people, who have worked hard on their own accord and they go out in the world and make a name. By doing that, they hopefully also make a name for Fitchburg St. There's a lot of apathy in the communications department and I'd like to see them get excited about something.

Anyone you would like to thank?

Definitely my partner Keith Gerrard. There are so many people who have donated time, effort and sometimes money. I'd like to thank everybody who's helping to move this festival forward and I will on opening night.

The F4 Film Festival runs from March 7-9, 2002 in Fitchburg, Massachusetts

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