Christine Vachon on making movie-going ‘a greater experience’, being ‘not fit to do a Marvel movie’

Superheroes, making movies bigger, and the Hollywood writers’ strike were among the topics of a Monday masterclass with legendary independent film producer Christine Vachon as part of the second day of Karlovy’s Eastern Promises Industry Day program Various International Film Festivals.

One of the questions Vachon received was whether theaters are doing enough to cultivate the cinematic experience and audience. “What theaters are trying to do is create a greater experience,” he said. “It’s about creating environments that make the experience feel more like an event.”

He added: “I know in Europe this is old hat, but in America the idea of ​​eating or drinking in a movie theater is still relatively new and creating an event where your seat is remarkably comfortable with the screenings actually decent.” .” Vachon later joked, “I don’t know if in New York you’ll ever get rid of the noise of the subway.”

Vachon was also asked if he ever thought about making films about people wearing spandex and saving the world. “Why would anyone make me do this?! That’s not where my fantasies go,” he replied. “It would be really cool if one of the movies made a lot of money, but I’m not fit to make a Marvel movie. I’m just not that interested.

Is there a dream project you would like to get off the ground? “I really want to do something about 80s New York,” shared Vachon. “I feel like everything I’ve seen hasn’t worked out right. I would say the ’80s spilled over into the ’90s, that time in New York City, which was a time of an amazing collision between art and music and film, but also the AIDS crisis, and it was just a time so crazy, crazy to be there. I just didn’t find that story.

Of course, Vachon was also asked about the Hollywood writers’ strike. “I remember the 2008 strike and how devastating it was,” he recalled. Killer (Films) came out barely intact. My concern is: I know a lot of young writers and how difficult it is for them, especially those who are just starting their careers.

He added: “Most of the demands on the table are right. Streamers have dropped out of the business so much and need to sort things out. Obviously, Killer supports the writers. We are not part of the collective bargaining group, we have no power. We’ve made it our job, albeit as a company, to support writers in any way we can and directors, nurturing new talent. We have helped many writers get their first breaks.

The session covered the state of independent cinema and Vachon looking back on various famous projects he has worked on, from Boys do not Cry, Happiness AND Velvet Gold Mine.

The 57th edition of the great Czech festival, which runs until Saturday 8 July, pays homage to Vachon and his work. By screening You sing louder, I sing louderstarring Ewan McGregor and his daughter and directed by Emma Westenberg, and Past lives by director Celine Song, the Karlovy Vary festival declared it wanted to honor Vachon “one of the most important producers of independent films”.

Commending her for helping to “bring to life dozens of award-winning films,” the festival highlighted her “many years of working with outstanding talent in the field of independent cinema (Todd Haynes, Todd Solondz, Paul Schrader)” and producing efforts by directed by stars like Helen Hunt and Ethan Hawke. In 1996, Vachon and Pamela Koffler founded Killer Films, which “today is one of the most important companies in the field of independent cinema,” the Karlovy Vary festival team also noted.

At the time of unveiling the tribute, festival organizers had also highlighted Vachon’s television work, including the production team winning a 2008 Emmy Award in the category of outstanding non-fiction series for This American lifein the TV movie Mrs. Harrisand on the miniseries Mildred Piercedirected by Haynes and starring Kate Winslet, which won five Emmys.