Hank Rogerson and Jilann Spitzmiller’s SHAKESPEARE BEHIND BARS was one of 16 films chosen—out of 624 entries—for the 2005 Sundance Film Festival Documentary Competition. This marks the first time that the filmmaking duo has had a film in the festival. The screenings, the parties, the press, the exhilaration, and the exhaustion—it’s all part of the “Sundance experience.”

Diary Entry
January 25 / 26, 2005 | Days 5 & 6

S.W.A.G. - or, Stuff We All Get, is a much talked about thing in and around the fest. All the big sponsored parties hand out gift bags, and occasionally you'll get something good. Some people only go to a party 'cause they've heard there's good SWAG. The Sundance Channel party was tonight, and it was rumored that this party has the best SWAG. Well, they must have been on a budget this year because all we got was a knit hat with headphones built into it. Cute idea, but I was hoping for an iPod or something! The party was fun, and especially great because we've never had tickets to it before. But you know, these parties are all hype anyway. You go and mostly hang out with the people you know and dish about this and that. We've gotten to know some other filmmakers better and that's been great. Sometimes you meet a new person who might be a good connection. Tonight at the party, I really enjoyed hanging out with Marion Lipschutz, Rose Rosenblatt and Shelby Knox. Rose and Marion have made a film called "THE EDUCATION OF SHELBY KNOX" which will air on POV, is funded by ITVS, and is doing well at the fest.

We for once did not have any screenings today. It was a nice break. We got to see another film, 9 Lives, which was a fiction film with Robin Wright Penn, Glenn Close, Sissy Spacek and other luminous actresses of our time. It was beautifully made and well acted, but heavy. We left in a dark mood, and had to regroup and go right to an on-camera interview with the Salt Lake City NBC affiliate. The reporter loved the film, so she made us feel good and the interview was easy.

Hank attended a high school screening yesterday in Salt Lake. Because we were funded in part by the Sundance Institute, we were included in their high school outreach program. This screening was attended by 250 kids. The Q&A afterwards was on caliber with the questions from Sundance auds, but more direct, more personal. Like, "What was the most amazing connection or moment you had during the filming?" (One of the inmates rehearsing a speech from Henry 5 that was very special to Hank's grandfather), or what was most diifficult about making the doc? (Raising a child at the same time).

The weather continues to charm—50 degrees and sunny. And the gimmicks continue: An “alternative” festival called Tromadance promotes itself on Main Street with men in monster heads; a truck with a film projected from within onto its rear panel, circling the theater loop; a lad with a handlebar mustache promoting heaven knows what.

It is about the halfway mark of the festival and we can feel the energy shifting from "anything goes" to "hope this happens," which we're trying to keep in check. This experience is much more enjoyable if you can keep from having expectations, and just be fully present to enjoy what is actually happening. Having a child along with us helps us stay in the moment and keep perspective, but still it's not an easy task.

Tomorrow, Curt Tofteland, the volunteer director of the Shakespeare Behind Bars prison program arrives from Kentucky, along with his wife Marcia. They have driven all the way here and their son, Josh will fly in to join them, as well as Michelle Bombe, the volunteer costume designer for the plays. We are excited to have them here to experience all this. It seems so bizarre that the guys in the film can't be here. I was struck yesterday by the fact that they have done this very private psychological work in this prison theatre program, and here at Sundance, their very private work is becoming very public. As we all enjoy watching and reflecting on it, they go about their day at Luther Luckett living by the bells and orders of someone else. It makes you really appreciate freedom. It makes you really think about having the courage to face your own demons. These guys are so courageous. We owe them big time.

—Jilann

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