The Sundance Institute’s Screenwriters and Directors Labs have played an instrumental part in guiding all kinds of talent over the past years. And if you need any evidence, look no further than this weekend’s “Ain’t Them Bodies Saints,” which was developed up in Park City, before shooting last year. And now, another movie is getting going, boasting stars, indie spirit and a Sundance badge of honor. And thus it’ll be one we keep an eye on….
Elizabeth Banks, Boyd Holbrook, Chloë Sevigny, Jacob Lofland and Josh Lucas have all come aboard the first feature by writer/director Sara Colangelo. Based on her award winning short of the same name, the story follows the disappearance of JT, a 14 year-old boy in an American coal town that has already seen its share of tragedy after a mining accident. JT’s disappearance draws together three local residents from very different walks of life. Together they struggle to navigate the web of secrets surrounding the boy’s death, unaware of how connected they truly are.
So, is this another taut, dramatic piece of work to emerge from the pool of talent selected from Sundance? We’ll see, but Colangelo certainly has the cast to help her accomplish the task. Production is now underway… perhaps we’ll see the results in January?