Redford says he won’t move to Ireland,

or so they were saying in this morning’s news. I guess Glenn Beckwon’t be sending him there yet.

Redford claims he never said he’d move to Ireland, but this BBC news article contradicts that,

In the run up to the US presidential election last week, Hollywood veteran Robert Redford was asked what he would do were George W Bush to be reinstalled in the White House for four more years.

“I’ll probably be in England, no Ireland,” said Redford. Visiting or living asked the BBC reporter? “Living,” replied the Oscar-winning actor.

Must be that the Sundance business is doing too well to leave behind, vis-a-vis the tax breaks in Ireland. Even the Restoration Hardware guy’s joining the fun: Restoration Hardware founder leaves to head Redford firm. The politics are thriving, at least. Or are they?

There was much applause from the audience of 1,300, even as most everyone present understood that this premier American film festival already goes at its unifying mission as if it were a lone blue trout trapped in a vast red fish tank.

Liberal sentiments are no guarantee of successful filmmaking, as was exemplified by “Trudell,” a gaseous documentary about the radical poet-philosopher at the hub of American Indian activism for three decades.

Dr. David Yeagley questions Redford’s politics:

Is Robert Redford different from any other Hollywood liberal? His politics don’t appear to be distinguished from the most radical Leftist in Los Angeles. Is there some other unique notoriety about Redford that exempts him from criticism, or gives a free pass to use the Indian name “sundance” to validate his anti-American views?

Dr. Yeagley in a prior post states,

Redford himself has produced not a single Indian script or film. The Sundance Institute does not produce either, for anyone. The Institute is a brief, professional educational opportunity for those accepted, for those who have already completed their work, but want finishing touches, i.e., to make acquaintances with those who can “produce” their work. There is no stipend involved. One is provided a hotel room for a short duration of tutelage under professionals.

The Sundance offers misleading impressions about it’s “work” for Indians. Under “Programs,” one finds a “Native American” category. Yet, to apply, one submits his entry to the general application, for a decision from the board. Bird Runningwater, who heads the “Native American Initiative,” has no say in who is awarded a stipend-less fellowship to come to the Institute. The Institute looks like is has an Indian program, but it really doesn’t. They may as well have a Lithuanian Initiative, a Somalian Initiative, and have a token representitive, like Runningwater. Apparently Runningwater is the sole salaried beneficiary of the Institute. Yes, the Institute offers a giant step forward for Indiankind. Indeed. There is simply no special effort for Indians. The Institute offers only a fraudulent impression of interest.

The Institute lists a few Indians “who have gone on to have their feature films produce,” and they include Greg Sarris (Federated Coast Miwok), writer/producer of GRAND AVENUE; Chris Eyre (Cheyenne/Arapaho), director/producer of SMOKE SIGNALS, SKINS and SKINWALKERS; Shirley Cheechoo (James Bay Cree), screenwriter/director/producer of BEAR WALKER; Randy Redroad (Cherokee), screenwriter/director/producer of THE DOE BOY; and Sherman Alexie (Spokane/Coeur d’Alene), screenwriter/director/producer of THE BUSINESS OF FANCYDANCING. Was this because they ‘did time’ at Sundance Institute? Is there any connection at all? “Gone on…” is the key phrase there. They were essentially already “there.” The institute’s influence for Indians is miniscule.

And how many Indians do attend the Institute? How many “fellowships” have been given? Is there a quota, a racial agitation clause, like every Leftist institution has? Forty Indian writers and directors have attended in the last twenty-three years. That’s two a year, average. Sounds like a pretty low quota for an Institute with an Indian name, and a special “Native American” program

Learn about Dr. Yeagley’s efforts to reclaim the Sundance.