The legendary actor and director discusses Petes Dragon, the Sundance festival and more.
Not this time, though.
It was very diverse from anything I had done, up until that point, and have subsequently done.
And there was the idea of going back to my own childhood, which was based on storytelling.
I didnt see the other iteration ofPetes Dragon.
To me, it was brand new.
Hes carving wood and suddenly he hears something outside, and its children, so he bursts out.
He tells a story that no one really believes, but they like hearing it anyway.
And then, they find out that its true.
I love that angle on it.
I thought it was fun.
We loved that film, he recalled.
It was in the festival and I really liked it.
I thought it was really well done and an intimate story.
I was curious about it.
The part was narrower in the beginning and not totally fleshed out.
It didnt need to be because it was about the dragon and about the boy.
David Lowery was very welcoming, in terms of saying, Heres the character.
Do you want to add something?
Do you want to shift anything?
Id like your input, Redford said.
He allowed me to enter the character and have my own way with him.
That drew me even further into it.
I got to design my own character, a little bit, in addition to what was written.
I wanted to just keep giving them more opportunities and hope that they reach broader audiences.
Its not like its going against the film industry or the Academy.
Its just about trying to enhance it and add more to it.
I think that was misconstrued, for a long time, when I started Sundance, he continued.
It was simply because the land I had in Utah was the only thing that I could afford.
I couldnt have afforded to do something like that in an urban environment.
So, I thought, What if we do it in nature?
It might add something to it.
It took a while for that to get through, but I had good intentions.
I was dependent on the generosity of my colleagues.
Thats how it started.
When we first started, we thought it would never work.
No one cared about independent film, and we were doing it in Utah, in Mormon country.
We were really asking for it.
We had the one theater and maybe 30 films, with 12 or 14 documentaries.
Thats how it started.
Thats a problem, admitted Redford.
For whatever reason, people associate the festival with Park City.
A lot of people think Sundance is Park City, but its not.
Its about 30 miles away.
Its going to be a problem.
I dont worry about Sundance because we have control of that land there.
The Institute develops there, and it exhibits in Park City.
We bring 60 to 80 million dollars into the economy.
Money speaks in Utah.
So, the question is, how are they going to accommodate us?
Theyre going to have to create some space for us.
Theyre going to have to do something that allows us to stay, and I think they realize that.
The mayor certainly does.
Ive been that way my whole life.
Im always moving forward and trying new things.
It helped that I was in athletics cause I could always do new sports and keep very physically active.
I think thats just passed through my life, in general.
Ive always wanted to try new things because its exciting and it keeps you active and alive.
Thats just the way it is.
Petes Dragonis out in theaters this Friday (August 12).
