Boulder Goes All Hollyweird on Us
Utah’s Sundance loss is Colorado's gain, right? I’ll get back to you on that, babe! Let’s do lunch. WRITTEN & ILLUSTRATED by PETER MOORE, OH-SO-SPECIAL to THE COLORADO SUN.
I live in a state of hilarity. Yes, I like to laugh. But the “state” I’m referring to is Colorado, which keeps me amused pretty much full-time. We’re all so gosh-darn proud to live here that we promote the hell out of this beautiful place, which will of course lead to ruin and pestilence. And if I wasn’t laughing at that process, I’d be weeping over it. That is, if there were enough water in my system to produce tears.
Our latest triumph has been to lure the Sundance Film Festival to Boulder, which is exciting and also potentially disastrous.
Please join me in considering all the ways that the film biz will f’up the most beautiful state in the Union. Look what it did to California!
BEFORE MOVING TO COLORADO, I spent time in Boulder, to assess the vibe. One morning, early, I sat down outside a coffee shop for meditation and caffeine. My latte curdled when a half dozen tech bros invaded the terrace, blotting out the bird song with loud disputes over VC pitches and scalable assets.
We moved to Fort Collins, instead.
So I felt some trepidation when I learned that Boulder had outbid Atlanta, Cincinnati, Louisville and Santa Fe for the $36 million honor of hosting the Sundance Film Festival. Does Boulder really need to become more celeb obsessed? Does it need more fat cats scratching in the municipal litter trays?
Here’s what to expect as Boulder goes Hollyweird:
You think the AirBnb takeover is bad now? Wait until 72,000 film industry movers and shakers move and shake into your neighbor’s garage!
The promotional possibilities are endless. And worrisome.
There will be adjustments to Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks.
Pearl Street Mall will adapt. Out with patchouli, in with eau de toilette.
Click here for four other hilarious ways that the Sundance Film Festival will corrupt Boulder!
“Be careful of success; it has a dark side.” —Robert Redford
As Butch and Sundance memorably shouted, when they jumped off that cliff: “Shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitttttttttt!” But they survived, so I guess Boulder will, too.
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Great to be with all 12,000 of you here on the Road2Elsewhere. And, Robert Redford.
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Many thanks.
Quite similar to the ski towns that got swept up by the rich and famous, making it too expensive for the local folk to stay. At least in Boulder, they will leave after a couple of weeks and let the locals resettle.