Reporting from Park City, Utah — On one level, the outstanding Sundance drama “Walking Out” tells a very simple father-son wilderness survival tale. But just below the surface, roiling emotional complications add meaning and difficulty at every turn.
Similarly, the story of how this film, which premiered Saturday night in Sundance’s U.S. Dramatic competition, got made can sound fairly straightforward and direct.
Myriad elements, some deeply personal and several reaching back decades, had to almost magically coalesce. So when Alex Smith, who shared writing and directing with his twin brother, Andrew, calls the whole process “fate” it is nothing but the truth.
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The Smiths have been in the Sundance competition before, with 2002’s “The Slaughter Rule,” a key early role for Ryan Gosling, and all three of their features (“Winter In The Blood,” from the James Welch novel, was their second) are set in their home state of Montana.
We have failed in our attempts to sell out.
— writer-director Andrew Smith
The brothers’ connection to Sundance is almost as strong as the one to Montana. They volunteered at the festival for 10 years, starting with taking tickets. “This was our first film education,” Andrew says. Between them, the brothers have memories of driving Dennis Hopper and seeing Sam Fuller resplendent on Main Street in a long, fur-lined coat.
It was at the Sundance Lab in 1988 that the Smiths became friends with writer-director Rodrigo Garcia. The plan to make a film out of “Walking Out,” based on a short story by David Quammen, was Garcia’s and, knowing of the Smith’s Montana roots, he asked if they wanted to write the script.
The Smiths had not only heard of the story, William Kittredge, the partner of their mother, Annick Smith, had edited it when it first appeared in the magazine TriQuarterly when the boys were in high school and he’d told them “you guys have got to read this.”
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It took more than a decade, but Garcia found producers for the project and started to look for a major film star to play Cal, the story’s father, who takes his young son, David, who he sees only once a year, on a moose hunting trip in Montana’s Crazy Mountains.
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John Lithgow and Salma Hayek from the film “Beatriz at Dinner.”
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Director and actress Michelle Morgan from the film “L.A. Times.”
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Director Dan Sickles, left, director Antonio Santini and director of photography Adam Uhl from the film “Dina.”
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Director of photography Adam Uhl from the film “Dina.”
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Director Danny Strong, left, actor Nicholas Hoult and actress Zoey Deutch from the film “Rebel in the Rye.”
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Actress Lois Smith from the film “Marjorie Prime.”
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Actor Jon Hamm from the film “Marjorie Prime.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Actor Mark Hamill from the film “Brigsby Bear.”
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Actor Nick Offerman from the film “The Hero.”
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Director Jovanka Vuckovic from the film, “XX.”
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Actress India Menuez from the Amazon series “I Love Dick.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Actress Laura Prepon from the film “The Hero.”
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Actor Sam Elliott from the film “The Hero.”
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Director Annie Clark (also known as the musician, St. Vincent) from the film “XX.”
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Director Joshua Z. Weinstein, left, and Menashe Lustig from “Menashe” at the Sundance Film Festial in Park City, Utah, on Jan. 23.
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Actress Zoe Chao, left, co-director Celia Rowlson-Hall, co-director Mia Lidofsky and actress Meredith Hagne from the television movie “Strangers.”
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Actor Martin Donovan, left, actress Julia Ordmond, director Mark Palansky and actor Peter Dinklage from the film “Rememory.”
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Actress Madeline Weinstein from the film “Beach Rats.”
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Ryan Horrigan, left, Paul Raphael, Felix Jajeunesse and Sebastian Sylvan from the film “Miyubi.”
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Actor Harris Dickinson from the film “Beach Rats.”
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Director Eliza Hittman from “Beach Rats.”
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Actresses Nefessa Williams, left, Adriyan Rae, Steve Harris, Seryah and Imani Hakim from the film “Burning Sands.”
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Actor Jon Daly, left, director Janicza Bravo, actress Judy Greer, actress Shiri Appelby and actor Brett Gelman of “Lemon.”
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Director Julia Ducournau from the film “Raw.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Actress Anya Taylor-Joy, director Cory Finley and actress Olivia Cooke from the film “Thoroughbred.”
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Director Matt Heineman, second from right, and citizen journalists Mohamad Almusari, left, Hamoud Almousa and Abdalaziz from the documentary film “City of Ghosts.”
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Subjects Raj Majethia and Victoria Harrelson from the documentary film “The Mars Generation.”
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Subject Raj Majethia, left, director Michael Barnett and subject Victoria Harrelson from the documentary film “The Mars Generation.”
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Actor Adam Horowitz, left, actress Emily Browning, director Alex Ross Perry and actress Analeigh Tipton from the film “Golden Exits.”
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Director Wally Wolodarsky, left, actor Jack Black, actress Jenny Slate, director Maya Forbes, actress Jacki Weaver and actor Willie Garson from the film “The Polka King.”
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Director Rory Kennedy and surfer Laird Hamilton, from the documentary film “Take Every Wave: The Life of Laird Hamilton.”
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Actress Julia Jones from the film “Wind River.”
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Actress Kelsy Asbille from the film “Wind River.”
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Director Kogonada from the film “Columbus.”
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Actor Rory Culkin, left, actor John Cho, actress Michelle Forbes, actress Haley Lu Richardson and actor Parker Posey from the film, “Columbus.”
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Director Taylor Sheridan from the film “Wind River.”
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Actress Gigi Gorgeous and director Barbara Kopple from the film “This Is Everything: Gigi Gorgeous.”
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Actress Gigi Gorgeous, from “This Is Everything: Gigi Gorgeous.”
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Executive Producer Danny Glover, left, and director Yance Ford from the documentary film “Strong Island.”
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Actor Sam Elliott, left, actor Nick Offerman, director Brett Haley, actress Katharine Ross and actress Laura Prepon from the film “The Hero.”
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Co-Executive Producer Sarah Gubbins, left, actor Griffin Dunne, actress India Menuez (kneeling), actress Roberta Colindrez, actor Kevin Bacon, director Jill Soloway, actress Kathryn Hahn and Lily Mojekwu from the Amazon series “I Love Dick.”
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Actress Kathryn Hahn, actress Roberta Colindrez and director Jill Soloway from the Amazon series “I Love Dick.”
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Actor Jason Isaacs and Crash from the film “Red Dog: True Blue.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Actor Sasheer Zamata, director Sydney Freeland, actress Danielle Nicolet, actor David Sullivan, actress Rachel Crow and actress Ashleigh Murray, from the film “Diedra and Laney Rob a Train.”
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Actor Daniel Houck and director Stefan Avalos from the documentary film “Strad Style.”
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Actor Jeremy Renner from the film “Wind River,.”
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Director/actor Zoe Lister-Jones from the film “Band Aid.”
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Actress Chloe Sevigny from the film “Golden Exits.”
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Actor Jack Black from the film “The Polka King.”
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Surfer Laird Hamilton, subject of the documentary film “Take Every Wave: The Life of Laird Hamilton.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Actress Julia Jones from the film “Wind River.”
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Actress Kelsy Asbille from the film “Wind River.”
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Actress America Ferrera from the new Web series “Gente-fied.”
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Director Miguel Arteta from the film “Beatriz at Dinner.”
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Actress Connie Britton from the film “Beatriz at Dinner.”
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Actress Salma Hayek from the film “Beatriz at Dinner.”
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Actor Jay Duplass jumps behind writer-director Gillian Robespierre, actress Jenny Slate, actress Edie Falco and actress Abby Quinn from the film “Landline.”
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Actor Blake Jenner, actor Logan Lerman, actress Elle Fanning and actress Michelle Monaghan from the film “Sidney Hall.”
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Actress Natalie Paul, left, actor Lakeith Stanfield, screenwriter Matt Ruskin and actor-producer Nnamdi Asomugha, from the film “Crown Heights.”
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Actress Judy Greer, left, actor Woody Harrelson and actress Laura Dein, from the film “Wilson.”
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Actress Isabella Amara, from the film “Wilson.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Actor Josh O’Connor, left, director Francis Lee and actor Alec Secareanu, from the film “God’s Own Country.”
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Jaque Fragua, director Michelle Latimer, center, and Sarain Carson-Fox, from the documentary film “Rise.”
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Director Amir Bar-Lev, left, Steve Parrish and Trixie Garcia, from the documentary film “Long Strange Trip.”
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Actress Connie Britton, from the film “Beatriz at Dinner.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Actor-producer Nnamdi Asomugha, from the film “Crown Heights.”
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Director Andrew Dosunmu from the film “Where Is Kyra.”
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Actor John Lithgow, from the film “Beatriz at Dinner.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Director Shawn Christensen from the film “Sidney Hall.”
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Actor Garrett Hedlund, director Dee Rees, actor Rob Morgan, musician Mary J. Blige, and actress Cary Mulligan from the film “Mudbound.”
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Geremy Jasper, director and writer of the film “Patti Cake$.”
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Actress Danielle Macdonald from the film “Patti Cake$.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Actress Laia Costa from the film “Newness.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Actor Mamoudou Athie from the film “Patti Cake$.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Actor Nicholas Hoult from the film “Newness.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Actor Siddharth Dhananjay from the film “Patti Cake$.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Actor Mamoudou Athie, left, actress Cathy Moriarty, actor Siddharth Dhananjay, director-writer Geremy Jasper, actress Bridget Everett and actress Danielle Macdonald from the film “Patti Cake$.”
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Director Evgeny Afineevsky and subject Kholoud Helmi from the HBO documentary film “Cries From Syria.”
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Subject Marli Renfro and director Alexandre O. Philippe from the documentary film “78/52.”
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Actress Cathy Moriarty from the film “Patti Cake$.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Actress Bridget Everett from the film “Patti Cake$.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Actor Nicholas Hoult and director Drake Doremus from the film “Newness.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Ben York Jones, screenwriter of the film “Newness.”
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Actress Aisha Tyler, who participated in the Women’s March through Park City.
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Rashida Jones, Jill Bauer, and Ronna Gradus of the film, “Hot Girls Wanted: Turned On.”
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Co-writer Justin Lader, Director Charlie McDowell, and Alex Orlovsky of the film, “The Discovery.”
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Actor David So of the film, “Gook.”
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Actress Hania Amar of the film “The Nile Hilton Incident.”
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Actor Fares Fares of the film “The Nile Hilton Incident.”
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Director Tarik Saleh of the film, “The Nile Hilton Incident.”
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Director Dee Rees of the film “Mudbound.”
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Director Jim Strouse of the film “The Incredible Jessica James.”
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Actor Tye Sheridan of the film, “Yellow Birds.”
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Actress Pom Klementieff of the film, “Ingrid Goes West” and “Newness.”
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Actor Jack Huston of the film, “Yellow Birds.”
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Director Matt Spicer of the film “Ingrid Goes West.”
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Directors Cary Murnion and Jonathan Milott of the film, “Bushwick.”
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Actress Jasna Fritzi Bauer and Director Helene Hegemann of the film “Axolotl Overkil.”
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Co-Director Sabbah Folyan, Kayla Reed, Tef Poe, Co-director Damon Davis of the documentary film, “Whose Streets.”
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Actress Elizabeth Arjok, actor Fares Fares, director Tarik Saleh, actress Hania Amar, and actress Mari Malek of the film, “The Nile Hilton Incident.”
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Roxanne Shanté, and actress Nia Long of the film “Roxanne, Roxanne.”
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Actor Michael Larnell, actress Chante Adams, Roxanne Shanté, actor Elvis Nolasco, and actress Nia Long of the film “Roxanne, Roxanne.”
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Director Morgan Neville, Cristoph Neimann, Tinker Hatfield, and Scott Dadich of the Netflix series, “Abstract: Art of Design.”
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Cristoph Neimann of the Netflix series, “Abstract: Art of Design.”
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Director Morgan Neville of the Netflix series, “Abstract: Art of Design.”
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Scott Dadich of the Netflix series, “Abstract: Art of Design.”
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Actress Omono Okojie of the film “Gook.”
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Actor Curtiss Cook Jr., and actress Simone Baker of the film “Gook.”
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Actress Brittny Snow and actor Dave Bautista of the film, “Bushwick.”
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Director Austin Peter of the documentary film “Give Me Future.”
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Actress Cary Mulligan of the film “Mudbound.”
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Director and actor Justin Chon of the film, “Gook.”
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Director Lone Scherfig of the film “Their Finest.”
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Actress Pom Klementieff of the film “Ingrid Goes West.”
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Director Alexandre Moors of the film, “Yellow Birds.”
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Actor O’Shea Jackson Jr., actress Aubrey Plaza, director Matt Spicer, and actress Pom Klementieff of the film “Ingrid Goes West.”
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Richard Vevers, Director Jeff Orlowski and Zackery Rago of he film, “Chasing Coral.”
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Actress Chelsea Handler.
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Director Austin Peters, musician Jillionare, and singer/songwriter Diplo, of the documentary film “Give Me Future.”
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Singer/songwriter Diplo, Thomas Wesley Pentz of the documentary film “Give Me Future.”
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Musician Jillionaire of the documentary film “Give Me Future.”
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Actor Lakeith Stanfield of the film “The Incredible Jessica James.”
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Actor Chris O’Dowd of the film “The Incredible Jessica James.”
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Actress Jessica Williams of the film “The Incredible Jessica James.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Actress Aubrey Plaza of the film, “Ingrid Goes West.”
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Actor O’Shea Jackson Jr. of the film “Ingrid Goes West.”
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Actress Jessica Williams of the film “The Incredible Jessica James.”
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Actress Mari Malek of the film “The Nile Hilton Incident.”
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Actress Jasna Fritzi Bauer of the film “Axolotl Overkil.”
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Executive Producer Tim Robbins and his son, Director Jack Henry Robbins, from the short “Hot Winter, A Film By Dick Pierre.”
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Actor Michael Larnell of the film “Roxanne, Roxanne.”
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Actor Garrett Hedlund of the film “Mudbound.”
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Executive Producers Christopher Cohen, Sean Hayes, Mark Herzog (kneeling) and Todd Milliner of the CNN series, “History of Comedy.”
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Executive Producer Sean Hayes of the television series, “History of Comedy.”
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Actress Melanie Lynskey of the film, “I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore.”
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Actress Nia Long of the film “Roxanne, Roxanne.”
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Actress Simone Baker of the film, “Gook.”
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Actress Elizabeth Arjok of the film, “The Nile Hilton Incident.”
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Roxanne Shante of the film “Roxanne, Roxanne.”
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Actor Elvis Nolasco of the film “Roxanne, Roxanne.”
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Jack Henry Robbins, from the short, “Hot Winter, A Film By Dick Pierre.”
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Actress Mari Malek of the film “The Nile Hilton Incident.”
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Actress Jasna Fritzi Bauer of the film “Axolotl Overkil.”
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Actress Maya Stange, director Damien Power and actor Aaron Glenna from the film “Killing Ground.”
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Actress Tavi Gevinson with the film “Person to Person.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Dolores Huerta from the documentary “Dolores.”
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Director
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Actor Jorma Taccone from the film “L.A. Times.”
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Actor Aaron Glenane from the film “Killing Ground.”
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Actress Kate Micucci with the film “The Little Hours.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Dree Hemingway with the film “L.A. Times.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Directors Andrew Smith and Alex Smith with the film “Walking Out.”
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Actress Molly Shannon from the film “The Little Hours.”
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Actor Jason Ritter with the film “Bitch.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Lauren Weedman, actor Jon Gabrus, actress Kate Micucci, director Jeff Baena, actress Alison Brie, actor Dave Franco, Adam Pally and actress Molly Shannon with the film “The Little Hours.”
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Actor Dave Franco with the film “The Little Hours.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Actress/director Michelle Morgan and actors Jorma Taccone and Dree Hemingway from the film “L.A. Times.”
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Director Marina Zenovich of the film “Water and Power.”
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Actress Abbi Jacobson with the film “Person to Person.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Actress Florence Pugh and director William Oldroyd from the film “Lady MacBeth.”
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Producer Ryland Aldrich, from the film “L.A. Times.”
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Actress Maya Stange with the film “Killing Ground.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Front: Actors Kingston Foster and Jason Maybaum; back: actors Rio Mangini Jason Ritter and Brighton Sharbino from the film “Bitch.”
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Actress Kingston Foster, director Marianna Palka, actress Brighton Sharbino, actor Rio Mangini, actor Jason Ritter, actor Jason Maybaum, actress Jaime King and actor Zac Clark with the film “Bitch.”
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Director Marianna Palka with the film “Bitch.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Actress Brighton Sharbino mingles with the rest of the cast of the film “Bitch.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Director Amanda Lipitz, center, and step team members, from left, Tayla Solomon, Cori Granger and Blessin Giraldo from the documentary “Step.”
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Directors Jon Shenk and Bonni Cohen with the film “Follow Up to An Inconvenient Truth.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Producer Carlos Santana with the film “Dolores.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Team members, from left, Tayla Solomon, Cori Granger and Blessin Giraldo from the documentary “Step.”
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Director Kristen Stewart and actor Josh Kaye with the film “Come Swim.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Actress Zoe Kazan with the film “The Big Sick.”
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Joshua Wong and director Joe Piscatella with the documentary “Joshua: Teenager vs. Superpower.”
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From left, producer Barry Mendel, actress Holly Hunter, director Michael Showalter, actress Zoe Karan, writer Emily V. Gordon, writer Kumail Nanjiani, and producer Judd Apatow with the film “The Big Sick.”
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Husband and wife co-writers Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon from “The Big Sick.”
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Consulting Producer Benjamin Bratt of the film “Dolores.”
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Director Kristen Stewart of the film “Come Swim.”
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Actress Holly Hunter with the film “The Big Sick.”
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Actor Logan Miller, actress Cynthy Wu, director Ry-Russo Young and actresses Zoey Deutch, Elena Kampouris, Medalion Rahimi and Jennifer Beals, from the film “Before I Fall.”
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Actress Zoey Deutch, from the film “Before I Fall.”
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Actress Medalion Rahimi, from the film “Before I Fall.”
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Actress Elena Kampouris, from the film “Before I Fall.”
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Actress Jennifer Beals, from the film “Before I Fall.”
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Actress Cynthy Wu, from the film “Before I Fall.”
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Actor Logan Miller, from “Before I Fall.”
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Actor Miles Fischer, from the television show “Playdates.”
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Composer Dan Romer, from the films “The Little Hours” and “Chasing Coral.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Director Jamie Greenberg, who’s at Sundance with the film “Future ’38.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Directors Shaul Schwarz and Christina Clusiau, with the documentary “Trophy.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Peter Nicks director of the documentary film “The Force.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Composer Dan Romer, attending Sundance with the films “The Little Hours” and “Chasing Coral.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Actors Paul Scheer and Carla Gallo, from the television show “Playdates.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Actors Paul Scheer, left, Carla Gallo and Miles Fisher, from the television show “Playdates.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
But Garcia got more interested in his Jesus Christ story “Last Days In The Desert” and, with the option for the short story about to run out, the Smiths asked if they could take the project over. “We didn’t want it to die on the vine, it was so close to us, so familiar,” Alex says.
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For it’s more than hunting that is on the minds of both Cal and David. They don’t know each other very well and, despite unease and awkwardness on both sides, father and son are desperate to connect, to figure each other out — a theme that resonated powerfully with the Smiths, whose father died when they were 6.
“We’ve always had conversations about our father; who was he, what would it have been like to have him around,” Alex says. When Cal says of his son, “You want so badly for him to know who you are you could cry,” it is a line the Smiths know cuts both ways.
For this story to be effectively told, casting was essential, and here, too, fate took a hand. A teaching colleague of Alex’s at the University of Texas, Kat Candler, had directed a the Sundance film called “Hellion,” which had featured a strong performance by young actor Josh Wiggins.
The Smiths sent the script to Wiggins, who loved it, and signed on immediately. “We didn’t do any looking,” says Andrew, “which was the complete opposite of our experience with ‘Slaughter Rule,’ where Ryan was our third choice after Jake Gyllenhaal and Ben Foster.”
As far as father Cal, the Smiths were close to casting Christian Bale, but when the actor became a new father he was not eager to spend six weeks in remote locations. And because Wiggins, the boyish actor who turned 17 during filming, could convincingly play 14 for only so long, Bale reluctantly dropped out.
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Matt Bomer, best known for FX’s very different “American Horror Story,” as well as the “Magic Mike” films, is completely convincing as the assured, self-reliant, demanding Cal. But the lean, wiry actor was not who the Smiths thought of at first.
“I didn’t see it right off the bat,” Andrew Smith admits, but Bomer’s performance in HBO’s “The Normal Heart” was convincing, as was the actor’s connection to the role.
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Gael Garcia Bernal speaks during the 2017 Sundance Film Festival Awards at Basin Recreation Field House in Park City, Utah, on Saturday.
(Nicholas Hunt / Getty Images)
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Bryan Fogel, right, with cast and crew members, accepts the Orwell Award for his film “Icarus.”
(Michael Loccisano / Getty Images)
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Director Michael Larnell, right, and Sean Kirkland accept the US Dramatic, Breakthrough Performance award on behalf of Chante Adams for the film “Roxanne Roxanne.”
(Nicholas Hunt / Getty Images )
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Peter Dinklage presents the U.S. Dramatic Grand Jury Prize at Sundance.
(Nicholas Hunt / Getty Images for Sundance Film Festival)
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Larry Wilmore speaks during the 2017 Sundance Film Festival Awards ceremony.
(Nicholas Hunt / Getty Images for Sundance Film Festival)
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Actors Kevin Bacon, left, and Kathryn Hahn at the premiere of “I Love Dick” at the MARC Theatre.
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Actor Peter Dinklage, left, and filmmaker Mark Palansky of “Rememory” attend The IMDb Studio featuring the Filmmaker Discovery Lounge.
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Analeigh Tipton and Jason Schwartzman attend the Creators League Studio.
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Actor Mark Hamill attends the “Brigsby Bear” premiere at Eccles Center Theatre.
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Actors Anne Heche, Thomas Sadoski and AnnJewel Lee Dixon of “The Last Word” attend The IMDb Studio featuring the Filmmaker Discovery Lounge.
(Rich Polk / Getty Images for IMDb)
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Actors Zoey Deutch and Nicholas Hoult, director Danny Strong of “Rebel in the Rye” and Kevin Smith, top, attend the IMDb Studio featuring the Filmmaker Discovery Lounge.
(Rich Polk / Getty Images )
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Actors Tim Robbins, Jon Hamm, Lois Smith and Geena Davis attend the “Marjorie Prime” premiere at Eccles Center Theatre.
(Nicholas Hunt / Getty Images for Sundance Film Festival)
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Brigsby Bear attends the “Brigsby Bear” premiere at Eccles Center Theatre.
(Nicholas Hunt / Getty Images for Sundance Film Festival)
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Actor Lakeith Stanfield, left, and the film subject he plays, Colin Warner, attend the “Crown Heights” premiere at Library Center Theater.
(Sonia Recchia / Getty Images)
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Actor Nicholas Hoult at the premiere of “Rebel In The Rye.”
(Danny Moloshok / Invision / Associated Press)
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Comedian Patton Oswalt speaks onstage at the Shorts Program Awards and party at Jupiter Bowl.
(Matt Winkelmeyer / Getty Images for Sundance Film Festival)
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Times reporter Amy Kaufman and Logan Lerman speak at the Cinema Cafe at Filmmaker Lodge.
(Michael Loccisano / Getty Images for Sundance Film Festival)
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Actress Ann’Jewel Lee attends the “The Last Word” premiere at Eccles Center Theatre.
(Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images for Sundance Film Festival)
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Executive producer Harvey Weinstein and executive producer and rapper Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter attend the “Time: The Kalief Browder Story” Sundance world premiere at The Marc Theatre.
(Neilson Barnard / Getty Images for Spike TV)
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Actress Sanaa Lathan attends the “Shots Fired” premiere.
(Michael Loccisano / Getty Images for Sundance Film Festival)
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Marti Noxon attends the Feature Fillm Competition dinner.
(Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images for Sundance Film Festival)
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Director Mark Palansky, actor Martin Donovan, actress Katheryn Kirkpatrick, Matt Ellis, actress Julia Ormond and actor Peter Dinklage attend the “Rememory” premiere.
(Matt Winkelmeyer / Getty Images for Sundance Film Festival)
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Actors Logan Lerman, Blake Jenner, Elle Fanning, Michelle Monaghan and Margaret Qualley attend the “Sidney Hall” party at the Acura Studio at Sundance Film Festival 2017.
(Neilson Barnard / Getty Images for Acura)
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Cast and crew speak onstage during the “Shots Fired” premiere.
(Michael Loccisano / Getty Images for Sundance Film Festival)
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Actress Chloe Sevigny at the premiere of the film “Beatriz at Dinner” at the Eccles Theatre.
(Arthur Mola / Invision/Associated Press)
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Chef Cat Cora prepares entrees during a luncheon hosted by Glamour editor Cindi Leive and photographer Amanda de Cadenet.
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Actresses Alfre Woodard and Elle Fanning attend the Lunch Celebrating Films Powered by Women.
(Vivien Killilea / Getty Images for Glamour)
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Jon Hamm, left, and Tim Robbins of the “Indiewire in Conversation” panel.
(Jack Dempsey / Invision / Associated Press)
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Shirley MacLaine, left, Salma Hayek, Cindi Leive, and Dee Rees at the Lunch Celebrating Films Powered by Women event.
(Vivien Killilea / Getty Images for Glamour)
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Reginald Hudlin, left, Stephanie Allain, Gerard McMurray, Mel Jones and Jason Michael Berman at the premiere of director McMurray’s “Burning Sands.”
(Nicholas Hunt / Getty Images )
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Malia Obama strolls on Main Street at the Sundance Film Festival at Park City, Utah.
(Danny Moloshok / Invision / Associated Press)
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Producer Noshre Chkhaidze, left, director Simon Grob, actress Ia Shugliashvili and producer Jonas Katzenstein attend the “My Happy Family” premiere at Egyptian Theatre.
(Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images)
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Viewers take in Al Gore’s film “Melting Ice” on Condition One’s virtual-reality system at the Sundance VR release party.
(Valerie Macon / AFP/Getty Images)
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IMDb founder and Chief Executive Col Needham enjoys his 50th birthday party.
(Rich Polk / Getty Images )
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Actress Connie Britton attends the “Beatriz at Dinner” premiere at Eccles Theatre.
(Valerie Macon / AFP/Getty Images)
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Marti Noxon, left, writer and director of “To the Bone,” poses with cast members Lily Collins, center, and Carrie Preston at the Jan. 22 premiere of the film in Park City Utah, during the 2017 Sundance Film Festival.
(Chris Pizzello / Invision /Associated Press)
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Cartoonist Daniel Clowes, the screenwriter of “Wilson,” poses at the Jan. 22 premiere of the film in Park City, Utah, during the Sundance Film Festival.
(Chris Pizzello / Invision / Associated Press)
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Chanté Adams, Roxanne Shanté and actress Nia Long pose at the Jan. 22 premiere of the film “Roxanne Roxanne” in Park City, Utah, during the Sundance Film Festival.
(Arthur Mola / Invision / Associated Press)
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From left, Jeff Skoll, Al Gore, Heather Rae and David Suzuki speak on stage Jan. 22 at the New Climate Lunch Roundtable during the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.
(Matt Winkelmeyer / Getty Images )
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David Suzuki speaks on stage Jan. 22 at the New Climate Lunch Roundtable during the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.
(Matt Winkelmeyer / Getty Images for Sundance Film Festival)
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“Strong Island” executive producer Danny Glover relaxes Jan. 22 at the Indiewire Photo Studio at Chase Sapphire on Main during Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.
(Jack Dempsey / Invision / Associated Press)
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Actress Brittany Snow of “Bushwick” attends the Acura Studio on Jan. 22 during Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.
(Neilson Barnard / Getty Images )
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DJ Cool V and Biz Markie attend the Acura Studio Jan. 22 during the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.
(Neilson Barnard / Getty Images)
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Luca Guadagnino, Timothee Chalamet, Armie Hammer, Michael Stuhlbarg and Walter Fasano attend the Jan. 22 “Call Me By Your Name” premiere at Eccles Center Theatre during the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.
(Nicholas Hunt / Getty Images )
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Roxanne Shante performs onstage at the Jan. 22 “Roxanne, Roxanne” party in the Acura Festival Village during the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.
(Neilson Barnard / Getty Images )
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Biz Markie performs onstage at the Jan. 22 “Roxanne, Roxanne” party in the Acura Festival Village during the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.
(Neilson Barnard / Getty Images )
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Michaela Watkins, Jill Soloway, Jessica Williams and Stacey Wilson Hunt speak onstage Jan. 22 at an event hosted by the Bentonville Film Festival during the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.
(Joe Scarnici / Getty Images)
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Roxanne Shante and Chante Adams attend the Jan. 22 “Roxanne, Roxanne” party during the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.
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Jon Daly, Brett Gelman, Nia Long, Judy Greer, Janicza Bravo and Shiri Appleby attend the Jan. 22 “Lemon” premiere at Library Center Theater during the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.
(Matt Winkelmeyer / Getty Images for Sundance Film Festival)
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Jack Black attends the Jan. 22 premiere of “The Polka King” at the Eccles Center Theatre during the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.
(Nicholas Hunt / Getty Images )
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Willie Garson, Jason Schwartzman, Jack Black, Jacki Weaver and Jenny Slate pose at the Jan. 22 premiere of “The Polka King” during the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.
(Danny Moloshok / Invision / Associated Press)
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Tim Robbins, center, shakes hands with Mary J. Blige, left, while introducing Blige to his son, Jack Robbins, at Sundance at the Music Lodge during the Sundance Film Festival.
(Jud Burkett / Invision for The Music Lodge)
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Actresses Elizabeth Olsen, left, and Aubrey Plaza from “Ingrid Goes West” during the “Indiewire in Conversation” panel at Chase Sapphire on Main.
(Jack Dempsey / Invision for Chase Sapphire)
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Executive producer John Legend poses at WGN America’s “Underground” Sundance red carpet screening.
(Danny Moloshok / Invision / Associated Press)
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Actors Aldis Hodge, left, and Jurnee Smollett-Bell at WGN America’s “Underground” Sundance red carpet screening during the 2017 Sundance Film Festival.
(Danny Moloshok / Invision / Associated Press)
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People march down Main Street during the March on Main event during the Sundance Film Festival.
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
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Brett Haley, left, director of “The Hero,” poses with cast members Nick Offerman, Sam Elliott and Katharine Ross at the premiere of the film at the Library Center Theatre.
(Chris Pizzello / Invision / Associated Press)
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Laura Prepon, left, a cast member in “The Hero,” with her fiancé, actor Ben Foster, at the premiere of the film at the Library Center Theatre.
(Chris Pizzello / Invision / Associated Press)
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Director Anthony Hemingway, left, producer John Legend, actors Jurnee Smollett-Bell and Aldis Hodge, and writer Misha Green speak at WGN America’s “Underground” panel at the Blackhouse Foundation.
(Gustavo Caballero / Getty Images for WGN AMERICA)
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Jason Mitchell, left, Dee Rees, Rob Morgan, Carey Mulligan, Mary J. Blige and Garrett Hedlund attend the “Mudbound” premiere at Eccles Center Theatre.
(Valerie Macon / AFP/Getty Images)
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Actors Lily Mojekwu, left, Griffin Dunne, Kathryn Hahn and Kevin Bacon of “I Love Dick” attend The IMDb Studio featuring the Filmmaker Discovery Lounge.
(Rich Polk / Getty Images for IMDb)
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Harvey Weinstein attends the “Wind River” party at the Acura Studio at Sundance Film Festival.
(Neilson Barnard / Getty Images for Acura)
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Actress Brittany Snow attends the “Bushwick” premiere.
(Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images)
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A policeman with a bomb sniffing dog checks out a snow pile next to a Banksy artwork along Old Main Street on the first day of the 2017 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.
(George Frey / EPA)
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Omar Wasow, left, an assistant professor at Princeton in the department of politics, and director Jennifer Brea attend An Artist at the Table benefit during the 2017 Sundance Film Festival at DeJoria Center in Kamas, Utah.
(Nicholas Hunt / Getty Images for Sundance Film Festival)
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Former Vice President and cast member Al Gore speaks as he arrives for the premiere of “An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power” at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.
(George Frey / EPA)
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Kristen Stewart, left, David Shapiro, Josh Kaye and Sydney Lopez attend the world premiere of director Kristen Stewart’s “Come Swim” at Prospector Square Theatre.
(Joe Scarnici / Getty Images for Refinery29)
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Kristen Stewart attends the world premiere of “Come Swim.”
(Joe Scarnici / Getty Images for Refinery29)
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Actresses Molly Shannon, Alison Brie, Kate Micucci, and Aubrey Plaza attend “The Little Hours” premiere at Library Center Theater.
(Michael Loccisano / Getty Images for Sundance Film Festival)
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Jon Gabrus, Dave Franco, Nick Offerman, Trevor Groth, Aubrey Plaza, Jeff Baena, Molly Shannon, Alison Brie, Jemima Kirke, Kate Micucci, Adam Pally and Lauren Weedman, from left, attend “The Little Hours” premiere.
(Michael Loccisano / Getty Images for Sundance Film Festival)
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Former Vice President and cast member Al Gore, left, and Director of the Sundance Film Festival John Cooper arrive for the premiere of “An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power.”
(George Frey / EPA)
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Actors Nick Offerman, left, Molly Shannon, and Dave Franco attend “The Little Hours” premiere.
(Michael Loccisano / Getty Images for Sundance Film Festival)
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Executive director of the Sundance Institute Keri Putnman, left, founder and president of the Sundance Film Festival Robert Redford and director of the Sundance Film Festival John Cooper talk to the media to open the 2017 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.
(George Frey / EPA)
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Robert Redford, founder of the Sundance Institute, addresses the audience at the opening night premiere of the film “An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power,” at the Eccles Theater.
(Chris Pizzello / Invision / Associated Press)
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People are bundled up as temperatures dropped below 20 degrees along Main Street in Park City, Utah, as the start of the Sundance Film Festival approached.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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A trolley rolls up Main Street in Park City, Utah, as the Sundance Film Festival approached.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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The Egyptian Theatre on Main Street, one of the major venues for the Sundance Film Festival, is lit up a few nights before the festival’s opening in Park City, Utah.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
“His read on Cal was super-deep,” Alex reports. “His father was a hunter, a fisherman, an ex-NFL player, and Matt himself had done fishing and bird-hunting. He really responded to the character.”
Shooting outside of Bozeman, Mont., in the dead of winter was another challenge that had to be faced, with the scarcity of daylight meaning that shooting days were nine hours long instead of the usual twelve. “We were on location literally finding our shots while it was dark,” Andrew reports, “so we’d be ready to go at first light.”
While of late many directors who start at Sundance go on to major studio blockbusters, the Smiths, who do have projects pending at Fox Searchlight and Amazon and have written for Warner Bros. and Disney, have remained true to their independent Montana roots.
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Though Andrew jokes “we have failed in our attempts to sell out,” there is something deeper involved here.
“We have no desire to make a big franchise movie; we didn’t get into it for that reason,” Alex explains. “The films I love… I’ll still be thinking about it two days later. Those are the kinds of films I want to make.”