Park City, Utah
Indie film attention hound Kevin Smith ("Clerks") makes a horror movie about religious fundamentalists. Religious fundamentalists come to the Sundance Film Festival to protest Smith's film. Stake in the heart of free speech, or PR coup for Smith? Battle of the Photo Ops! The Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kan., known nationally for its anti-gay picketing, plans to hold two pickets outside the premiere of "Red State" Sunday. The gesture is being whipped up to the proportions of a second Scopes Monkey Trial in the entertainment press, though its real scope promises to be a tempest in a miniature teacup. According to Westboro spokesperson Shirley Phelps-Roper, all of seven people from the church plan to march, chant, picket and otherwise protest the film. Other than its anti-zealot theme, the plot of "Red State" has been a well-guarded secret. Sundance festival director John Cooper hinted during Thursday's kickoff press conference that it concerns a fire-and-brimstone church whose congregation ritually murders gays. John Goodman, Melissa Leo and Michael Parks are among the stars. A posting on a Westboro-affiliated website charges that "Red State"is "dedicated to mocking the servants of God for preaching His word." Fliers advertising the Sunday protest employ vulgarities as they note Sundance's long history of supporting gay-themed films or movies by gay filmmakers. "Pariah," a film about a teenage lesbian's coming of age, was developed through the Sundance Institute's emerging filmmaker programs and was features as one of Thursday's opening night presentations. "Red State" film has become the hottest ticket at the festival, though those wise to the ways of festival publicity roll their eyes and say that is largely a result of a shrewd marketing campaign. The film's publicists have created an aura of exclusivity by limiting the number of screenings from the four typical for Sundance premieres to a stingy two. Sundance spokeswoman Brooks Addicott noted that there is a long tradition of protest at Sundance. "Last year we had some people protesting 'Prop. 8,'" a documentary on the California ballot initiative blocking gay marriage. "The festival attracts so many people with different viewpoints that protest is inevitable. It's their constitutional right to protest. Our concern is making sure that filmgoers are safe." The protest group's city permit assigns their demonstration to a specific space nearby the 1,200-seat Eccles Center.
