Independent Filmmaker Has Dreams Shattered After Theft Of His Film During Festival
Independent Filmmaker Brett Meisner Has Dreams Shattered After Theft Of His Film During Festival. Filmmaker heads to Sundance Film Festival full of Hope, Leaves broken-hearted after thieves turn his life upside down.
For most filmmakers attending the Sundance Film Fest in Park City, Utah, it’s a chance for them to change their lives forever and land the big studio deal that will set them on their path to stardom. For Hollywood resident and aspiring filmmaker Brett Meisner this year’s festival turned into a nightmare after the 35mm print of his film Snow Blind was stolen from his truck just prior to two important screenings.
“It was not a good month for me,” explained a tearful Meisner. “We came to Sundance with a mission to sell this movie. We worked extremely hard setting up our screenings. Having my film print stolen from me is something I still cannot comprehend.” Despite pleas within the film community and the offer of a cash reward for return of the film print, no one has come forward with any information on the whereabouts of the two film canisters that contained the only master print of the film…..
After a week long hunt for the missing print, Meisner and his crew left Park City, Utah with empty hands and broken hearts. “The fact that someone could be so heartless and mean has changed my whole outlook on life and the human race,” said Meisner. “I don’t know what I have ever done to suffer such a loss.”
The film, which features Meisner as an undercover Los Angeles narcotics detective battling a ruthless gang of drug dealers, has been a three year labor of love for Meisner, a 41 year-old former rock critic turned filmmaker who financed most of the film’s $500,000 budget out of his own pocket.
“It looks like we’re going to have to start from scratch and salvage what we can from existing footage and other materials,” said a defiant Meisner. “I won’t give up so easy. This film will be finished and sold to a major distributor one way on another.”
Plans to take the film to the Cannes film festival have been placed on hold until further notice. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of the film print for Snow Blind is asked to call (323) 375-1379. All calls are anonymous and confidential.
