At Sundance, an anarchist creates waves
Cody Wilson turned a toothpick over in his mouth and swirled the olive-adorned drink in front of him.
“I don’t ask anyone to be sympathetic to my position,” he said. “I don’t think I’m a very sympathetic character.”
The 28-year-old may or may not be on to something when he makes that statement about his personality. He is decidedly on-point when he makes it about his ideas.
Wilson is part of a loose group of techno-anarchists, or crypto-anarchists. Together with such figures as Bitcoin developer Amir Taaki and, somewhat more distantly, the likes of Julian Assange and Edward Snowden, he seeks to overthrow established systems by using new forms of digital savvy and aggression. These are, needless to say, far from consensus beliefs..
FULL COVERAGE: Sundance 2017 »
Wilson’s ideology, ascent and travails are followed in Adam Bhala Lough’s “The New Radical.” The youth-culture filmmaker’s latest documentary, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this week, takes viewers on a sweep through an underground world, offering as much a portrait of a new and subversive way of thinking as of the thinkers themselves. Told slickly if not always explanatorily, “New Radical” follows such initiatives as Defense Distributed, a digital file that allows anyone with a 3-D printer to create their own gun away from government oversight, and Dark Wallet, a kind of Internet market in the shadows where digital currency can move undetected.
At the center of it all is Wilson, who founded and created the file for Defense Distributed and is a key cog in Dark Wallet.
As it has played at Sundance several times over the course of the week, “Radical” has landed with all the gentleness of a Molotov cocktail. Despite their ambition, issue-minded movies at this gathering tend to fall into a comfortable set of mainstream center-left positions; someone who occupies both the extreme right and left ends of the spectrum (depending on the issue) will almost inherently be a feather-ruffler.
Power is the threat of violence.
— Cody Wilson
In “New Radical,” the archetype alluded to by the title looks to create fundamental political change by pushing for one or more of the following: an eradication of intellectual-property laws, radical free speech, fierce encryption to protect that speech, anonymous money (basically, digital currency not controlled or monitored by any government) and a general disdain for traditional legislative structures.
Wilson has added another element: weapons. The hyper-articulate Arkansas native came into the public eye in 2013 when Defense Distributed released the blueprint for its first gun, called The Liberator. The program essentially allows anyone with access to a 3-D printer to make an end run around gun regulations by printing a plastic weapon at home.
“The project started with guns. It was like, ‘If you combine WikiLeaks and guns — guns and the Internet — doesn’t that change the political?’ Power is the threat of violence,” he said. The mere possibility that anyone can take up arms will, in Wilson’s view, keep everyone in check — in turn both neutralizing government and taking over its order-maintaining function.
John Lithgow and Salma Hayek from the film “Beatriz at Dinner.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Director and actress Michelle Morgan from the film “L.A. Times.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Director Dan Sickles, left, director Antonio Santini and director of photography Adam Uhl from the film “Dina.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Director of photography Adam Uhl from the film “Dina.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Director Danny Strong, left, actor Nicholas Hoult and actress Zoey Deutch from the film “Rebel in the Rye.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actress Lois Smith from the film “Marjorie Prime.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actor Mark Hamill from the film “Brigsby Bear.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actor Nick Offerman from the film “The Hero.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Director Jovanka Vuckovic from the film, “XX.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actress Laura Prepon from the film “The Hero.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actor Sam Elliott from the film “The Hero.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Director Annie Clark (also known as the musician, St. Vincent) from the film “XX.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Director Joshua Z. Weinstein, left, and Menashe Lustig from “Menashe” at the Sundance Film Festial in Park City, Utah, on Jan. 23.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actress Zoe Chao, left, co-director Celia Rowlson-Hall, co-director Mia Lidofsky and actress Meredith Hagne from the television movie “Strangers.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actor Martin Donovan, left, actress Julia Ordmond, director Mark Palansky and actor Peter Dinklage from the film “Rememory.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actress Madeline Weinstein from the film “Beach Rats.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Ryan Horrigan, left, Paul Raphael, Felix Jajeunesse and Sebastian Sylvan from the film “Miyubi.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actor Harris Dickinson from the film “Beach Rats.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Director Eliza Hittman from “Beach Rats.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actresses Nefessa Williams, left, Adriyan Rae, Steve Harris, Seryah and Imani Hakim from the film “Burning Sands.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actor Jon Daly, left, director Janicza Bravo, actress Judy Greer, actress Shiri Appelby and actor Brett Gelman of “Lemon.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actress Anya Taylor-Joy, director Cory Finley and actress Olivia Cooke from the film “Thoroughbred.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Director Matt Heineman, second from right, and citizen journalists Mohamad Almusari, left, Hamoud Almousa and Abdalaziz from the documentary film “City of Ghosts.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Subjects Raj Majethia and Victoria Harrelson from the documentary film “The Mars Generation.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Subject Raj Majethia, left, director Michael Barnett and subject Victoria Harrelson from the documentary film “The Mars Generation.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actor Adam Horowitz, left, actress Emily Browning, director Alex Ross Perry and actress Analeigh Tipton from the film “Golden Exits.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Director Wally Wolodarsky, left, actor Jack Black, actress Jenny Slate, director Maya Forbes, actress Jacki Weaver and actor Willie Garson from the film “The Polka King.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Director Rory Kennedy and surfer Laird Hamilton, from the documentary film “Take Every Wave: The Life of Laird Hamilton.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actress Julia Jones from the film “Wind River.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actress Kelsy Asbille from the film “Wind River.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Director Kogonada from the film “Columbus.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actor Rory Culkin, left, actor John Cho, actress Michelle Forbes, actress Haley Lu Richardson and actor Parker Posey from the film, “Columbus.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Director Taylor Sheridan from the film “Wind River.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actress Gigi Gorgeous and director Barbara Kopple from the film “This Is Everything: Gigi Gorgeous.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actress Gigi Gorgeous, from “This Is Everything: Gigi Gorgeous.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Executive Producer Danny Glover, left, and director Yance Ford from the documentary film “Strong Island.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actor Sam Elliott, left, actor Nick Offerman, director Brett Haley, actress Katharine Ross and actress Laura Prepon from the film “The Hero.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Co-Executive Producer Sarah Gubbins, left, actor Griffin Dunne, actress India Menuez (kneeling), actress Roberta Colindrez, actor Kevin Bacon, director Jill Soloway, actress Kathryn Hahn and Lily Mojekwu from the Amazon series “I Love Dick.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actress Kathryn Hahn, actress Roberta Colindrez and director Jill Soloway from the Amazon series “I Love Dick.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actor Sasheer Zamata, director Sydney Freeland, actress Danielle Nicolet, actor David Sullivan, actress Rachel Crow and actress Ashleigh Murray, from the film “Diedra and Laney Rob a Train.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actor Daniel Houck and director Stefan Avalos from the documentary film “Strad Style.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actor Jeremy Renner from the film “Wind River,.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Director/actor Zoe Lister-Jones from the film “Band Aid.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actress Chloe Sevigny from the film “Golden Exits.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actor Jack Black from the film “The Polka King.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actress Julia Jones from the film “Wind River.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actress Kelsy Asbille from the film “Wind River.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actress America Ferrera from the new Web series “Gente-fied.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Director Miguel Arteta from the film “Beatriz at Dinner.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actress Connie Britton from the film “Beatriz at Dinner.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actress Salma Hayek from the film “Beatriz at Dinner.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actor Jay Duplass jumps behind writer-director Gillian Robespierre, actress Jenny Slate, actress Edie Falco and actress Abby Quinn from the film “Landline.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actor Blake Jenner, actor Logan Lerman, actress Elle Fanning and actress Michelle Monaghan from the film “Sidney Hall.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actress Natalie Paul, left, actor Lakeith Stanfield, screenwriter Matt Ruskin and actor-producer Nnamdi Asomugha, from the film “Crown Heights.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actress Judy Greer, left, actor Woody Harrelson and actress Laura Dein, from the film “Wilson.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actor Josh O’Connor, left, director Francis Lee and actor Alec Secareanu, from the film “God’s Own Country.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Jaque Fragua, director Michelle Latimer, center, and Sarain Carson-Fox, from the documentary film “Rise.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Director Amir Bar-Lev, left, Steve Parrish and Trixie Garcia, from the documentary film “Long Strange Trip.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actor-producer Nnamdi Asomugha, from the film “Crown Heights.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Director Andrew Dosunmu from the film “Where Is Kyra.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Director Shawn Christensen from the film “Sidney Hall.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actor Garrett Hedlund, director Dee Rees, actor Rob Morgan, musician Mary J. Blige, and actress Cary Mulligan from the film “Mudbound.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Geremy Jasper, director and writer of the film “Patti Cake$.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actor Mamoudou Athie, left, actress Cathy Moriarty, actor Siddharth Dhananjay, director-writer Geremy Jasper, actress Bridget Everett and actress Danielle Macdonald from the film “Patti Cake$.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Director Evgeny Afineevsky and subject Kholoud Helmi from the HBO documentary film “Cries From Syria.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Subject Marli Renfro and director Alexandre O. Philippe from the documentary film “78/52.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Ben York Jones, screenwriter of the film “Newness.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actress Aisha Tyler, who participated in the Women’s March through Park City.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Rashida Jones, Jill Bauer, and Ronna Gradus of the film, “Hot Girls Wanted: Turned On.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Co-writer Justin Lader, Director Charlie McDowell, and Alex Orlovsky of the film, “The Discovery.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actor David So of the film, “Gook.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actress Hania Amar of the film “The Nile Hilton Incident.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actor Fares Fares of the film “The Nile Hilton Incident.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Director Tarik Saleh of the film, “The Nile Hilton Incident.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Director Dee Rees of the film “Mudbound.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Director Jim Strouse of the film “The Incredible Jessica James.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actor Tye Sheridan of the film, “Yellow Birds.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actress Pom Klementieff of the film, “Ingrid Goes West” and “Newness.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actor Jack Huston of the film, “Yellow Birds.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Director Matt Spicer of the film “Ingrid Goes West.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Directors Cary Murnion and Jonathan Milott of the film, “Bushwick.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actress Jasna Fritzi Bauer and Director Helene Hegemann of the film “Axolotl Overkil.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Co-Director Sabbah Folyan, Kayla Reed, Tef Poe, Co-director Damon Davis of the documentary film, “Whose Streets.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actress Elizabeth Arjok, actor Fares Fares, director Tarik Saleh, actress Hania Amar, and actress Mari Malek of the film, “The Nile Hilton Incident.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Roxanne Shanté, and actress Nia Long of the film “Roxanne, Roxanne.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actor Michael Larnell, actress Chante Adams, Roxanne Shanté, actor Elvis Nolasco, and actress Nia Long of the film “Roxanne, Roxanne.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Director Morgan Neville, Cristoph Neimann, Tinker Hatfield, and Scott Dadich of the Netflix series, “Abstract: Art of Design.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Cristoph Neimann of the Netflix series, “Abstract: Art of Design.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Director Morgan Neville of the Netflix series, “Abstract: Art of Design.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Scott Dadich of the Netflix series, “Abstract: Art of Design.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actress Omono Okojie of the film “Gook.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actor Curtiss Cook Jr., and actress Simone Baker of the film “Gook.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actress Brittny Snow and actor Dave Bautista of the film, “Bushwick.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Director Austin Peter of the documentary film “Give Me Future.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actress Cary Mulligan of the film “Mudbound.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Director and actor Justin Chon of the film, “Gook.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Director Lone Scherfig of the film “Their Finest.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actress Pom Klementieff of the film “Ingrid Goes West.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Director Alexandre Moors of the film, “Yellow Birds.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actor O’Shea Jackson Jr., actress Aubrey Plaza, director Matt Spicer, and actress Pom Klementieff of the film “Ingrid Goes West.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Richard Vevers, Director Jeff Orlowski and Zackery Rago of he film, “Chasing Coral.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actress Chelsea Handler.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Director Austin Peters, musician Jillionare, and singer/songwriter Diplo, of the documentary film “Give Me Future.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Singer/songwriter Diplo, Thomas Wesley Pentz of the documentary film “Give Me Future.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Musician Jillionaire of the documentary film “Give Me Future.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actor Lakeith Stanfield of the film “The Incredible Jessica James.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actor Chris O’Dowd of the film “The Incredible Jessica James.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actress Aubrey Plaza of the film, “Ingrid Goes West.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actor O’Shea Jackson Jr. of the film “Ingrid Goes West.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actress Jessica Williams of the film “The Incredible Jessica James.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actress Mari Malek of the film “The Nile Hilton Incident.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actress Jasna Fritzi Bauer of the film “Axolotl Overkil.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Executive Producer Tim Robbins and his son, Director Jack Henry Robbins, from the short “Hot Winter, A Film By Dick Pierre.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actor Michael Larnell of the film “Roxanne, Roxanne.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actor Garrett Hedlund of the film “Mudbound.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Executive Producers Christopher Cohen, Sean Hayes, Mark Herzog (kneeling) and Todd Milliner of the CNN series, “History of Comedy.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Executive Producer Sean Hayes of the television series, “History of Comedy.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actress Melanie Lynskey of the film, “I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actress Nia Long of the film “Roxanne, Roxanne.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actress Simone Baker of the film, “Gook.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actress Elizabeth Arjok of the film, “The Nile Hilton Incident.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Roxanne Shante of the film “Roxanne, Roxanne.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actor Elvis Nolasco of the film “Roxanne, Roxanne.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Jack Henry Robbins, from the short, “Hot Winter, A Film By Dick Pierre.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actress Mari Malek of the film “The Nile Hilton Incident.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actress Jasna Fritzi Bauer of the film “Axolotl Overkil.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actress Maya Stange, director Damien Power and actor Aaron Glenna from the film “Killing Ground.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Dolores Huerta from the documentary “Dolores.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Director
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actor Jorma Taccone from the film “L.A. Times.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actor Aaron Glenane from the film “Killing Ground.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Directors Andrew Smith and Alex Smith with the film “Walking Out.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actress Molly Shannon from the film “The Little Hours.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Lauren Weedman, actor Jon Gabrus, actress Kate Micucci, director Jeff Baena, actress Alison Brie, actor Dave Franco, Adam Pally and actress Molly Shannon with the film “The Little Hours.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actress/director Michelle Morgan and actors Jorma Taccone and Dree Hemingway from the film “L.A. Times.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Director Marina Zenovich of the film “Water and Power.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actress Florence Pugh and director William Oldroyd from the film “Lady MacBeth.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Producer Ryland Aldrich, from the film “L.A. Times.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Front: Actors Kingston Foster and Jason Maybaum; back: actors Rio Mangini Jason Ritter and Brighton Sharbino from the film “Bitch.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actress Kingston Foster, director Marianna Palka, actress Brighton Sharbino, actor Rio Mangini, actor Jason Ritter, actor Jason Maybaum, actress Jaime King and actor Zac Clark with the film “Bitch.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Director Amanda Lipitz, center, and step team members, from left, Tayla Solomon, Cori Granger and Blessin Giraldo from the documentary “Step.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Team members, from left, Tayla Solomon, Cori Granger and Blessin Giraldo from the documentary “Step.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actress Zoe Kazan with the film “The Big Sick.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Joshua Wong and director Joe Piscatella with the documentary “Joshua: Teenager vs. Superpower.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)From left, producer Barry Mendel, actress Holly Hunter, director Michael Showalter, actress Zoe Karan, writer Emily V. Gordon, writer Kumail Nanjiani, and producer Judd Apatow with the film “The Big Sick.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Husband and wife co-writers Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon from “The Big Sick.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Consulting Producer Benjamin Bratt of the film “Dolores.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Director Kristen Stewart of the film “Come Swim.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actress Holly Hunter with the film “The Big Sick.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actor Logan Miller, actress Cynthy Wu, director Ry-Russo Young and actresses Zoey Deutch, Elena Kampouris, Medalion Rahimi and Jennifer Beals, from the film “Before I Fall.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actress Zoey Deutch, from the film “Before I Fall.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actress Medalion Rahimi, from the film “Before I Fall.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actress Elena Kampouris, from the film “Before I Fall.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actress Jennifer Beals, from the film “Before I Fall.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actress Cynthy Wu, from the film “Before I Fall.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actor Logan Miller, from “Before I Fall.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actor Miles Fischer, from the television show “Playdates.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Composer Dan Romer, from the films “The Little Hours” and “Chasing Coral.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Director Jamie Greenberg, who’s at Sundance with the film “Future ’38.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Directors Shaul Schwarz and Christina Clusiau, with the documentary “Trophy.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Peter Nicks director of the documentary film “The Force.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Composer Dan Romer, attending Sundance with the films “The Little Hours” and “Chasing Coral.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actors Paul Scheer and Carla Gallo, from the television show “Playdates.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actors Paul Scheer, left, Carla Gallo and Miles Fisher, from the television show “Playdates.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Though the State Department shut him down shortly after he went online, Wilson continues to fight the battle in the courts, and says he is optimistic that he can win in the next few years. “What [judges] have been doing is piece by piece committing themselves to positions I hold. What I’m doing them is beating them slowly, death by a thousand paper cuts.”
Wilson speaks with a kind of intellectual turbocharge, casually using phrases such as “furious mimetic force” and assuming a level of political-philosophy literacy that would tax an advanced grad student. Radiating a no-nonsense confidence, Wilson can be off-putting to some; at the festival, that reaction has sometimes been palpable.
Silicon Valley needs to get its teeth kicked in whenever it can; I’m down for that first and foremost.
— Cody Wilson
His ideas, he said, took root in intensive readings of leftist political theory before sprouting into a new kind of hybrid. Indeed, Wilson confounds most traditional positions; figuring out where he stands on issues can be an exercise in checking off boxes from wildly different columns.
Here’s a quick list:
Intellectual-property rights, no; political leaders, really no; progressive politics, really, really no (“Liberalism is the thing we whistle while we assert our domination over people,” he says in the film); the tech world, pretty emphatically no (“Silicon Valley needs to get its teeth kicked in whenever it can; I’m down for that first and foremost,” he said in the interview).
Easy access to guns, yes; unfettered encryption, yes; radical free speech, yes; a monetary system untethered to any government, really yes; a government that itself withers away, Marx-style, really, really yes.
Wilson does take pains to separate himself from the alt-right. As he began to explain the distinctions, Bhala Lough jumped in to say that the movie was largely completed before that movement gained mainstream currency, then sought to change the subject, implicitly suggesting that such publicity would be radioactive.
Actor Peter Dinklage of the film “Rememory.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actress Shirley MacLaine, director Mark Pellington and actress Ann’Jewel Lee Dixon of the film “The Last Word.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actor Harris Dickinson of the film “Beach Rats.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actress Anne Heche of the film “The Last Word.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actress Adriyan Rae of the film “Burning Sands.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actress Shiri Appelby of the film “Lemon.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actor Brett Gelman of the film “Lemon.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Director Janicza Bravo of the film “Lemon.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Director Adam Bhala Lough, seated, and subject Cody Wilson of the film “The New Radical.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actress Isabella Amara of the film “Wilson.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Andrew Dosunmu, director of the film “Where Is Kyra?”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actor John Lithgow of the film “Beatriz at Dinner.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actor Josh O’Connor of the film “God’s Own Country.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actress Connie Britton of the film “Beatriz at Dinner.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actress Michelle Monaghan of the film “Sidney Hall.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actress Judy Greer of the film “Wilson.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actress Elle Fanning of the film “Sidney Hall.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actor Jay Duplass of the film “Landline.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actress Salma Hayek of the film “Beatriz at Dinner.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Trixie Garcia of the documentary film “Long Strange Trip.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actor Logan Lerman of the film “Sidney Hall.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actress Isabella Amara of the film “Wilson.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actress Chloe Sevigny of the film “Golden Exits.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actor Jeremy Renner of the film “Wind River.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actress Gigi Gorgeous from the film “This Is Everything: Gigi Gorgeous.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actor Adam Pally from the film “Band Aid.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actress America Ferrera from the new Web-series “Gente-fied.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Director Jovanka Vuckovic from the film “XX.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Director Sofia Carrillo from the film “XX.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Director Yance Ford from the documentary film “Strong Island.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Beastie Boy and actor Adam Horowitz from the film “Golden Exits.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Director Roxanne Benjamin from the film, “XX.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actress Kelsy Asbille from the film “Wind River.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actress Lois Smith from the film “Marjorie Prime.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actress Geena Davis from the film “Marjorie Prime.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actor Mark Hamill from the film “Brigsby Bear.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actor Nicholas Hoult from the film “Rebel in the Rye.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Producer Akiva Schaffer from the film “Brigsby Bear.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Director Danny Strong from the film “Rebel in the Rye.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actor Kyle Mooney from the film “Brigsby Bear.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actor Jack Black of the film “The Polka King.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actor John Lithgow of the film “Beatriz at Dinner.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)India Menuez of the Amazon series “I Love Dick.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actor Jon Hamm of the film “Marjorie Prime.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actor Mark Hamill of the film “Brigsby Bear.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actress Anya Taylor-Joy of the film “Thoroughbred.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actor Sam Elliott of the film “The Hero.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Director Kitty Green of the documentary film “Casting JonBenet.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Director Michael Barnett of the documentary film “The Mars Generation.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actress Parker Posey of the film “Columbus.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Grammy-winning Beastie Boys founder and actor Adam Horovitz of the film “Golden Exits.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actress Jenny Slate of the film “The Polka King.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Executive producer Danny Glover of the documentary film “Strong Island.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Director Annie Clark (also known as the musician St. Vincent) of the film, “XX.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actor Nick Offerman of the film “The Hero.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actor John Cho of the film “Columbus.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actress Jasna Fritzi Bauer from the film “Axolotl Overkill.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actress Brittany Snow from the film “Bushwick.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actor Dave Bautista from the film “Bushwick.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Executive producer Sean Hayes from the documentary series “The History of Comedy.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Director Jack Henry Robbins from the short film “Hot Winter, A Film by Dick Pierre.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actress Melanie Lynskey from the film “I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Executive producer Tim Robbins, standing, and his son, director Jack Henry Robbins, from the short film “Hot Winter, A Film by Dick Pierre.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actress Chante Adams from the film “Roxanne Roxanne.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actor Fares Fares from the film “The Nile Hilton Incident.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Director Nacho Vigalondo from the film “Colossal.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actress Chelsea Handler, who led the Women’s March through Park City, Utah.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Executive producer Tim Robbins from the short film “Hot Winter, A Film by Dick Pierre.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actor Garrett Hedlund from the film “Mudbound.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Director-writer Michael Larnell from the film “Roxanne Roxanne.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Roxanne Shanté, subject of the biopic “Roxanne Roxanne.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actress Mari Malek from the film “The Nile Hilton Incident.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actor O’Shea Jackson Jr., from the film “Ingrid Goes West.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actress Pom Klementieff, starring in “Ingrid Goes West.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Director Matt Spicer of the film, “Ingrid Goes West.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actor Jack Huston of the film, “Yellow Birds.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Rashida Jones of the film “Hot Girls Wanted: Turned On.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actor Tye Sheridan of the film “Yellow Birds.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Executive Producer Tim Robbins of the short “Hot Winter, A Film By Dick Pierre.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Executive Producer Sean Hayes of the CNN series “History of Comedy.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Mary J. Blige of the film “Mudbound.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actor Elvis Nolasco of the film “Roxanne, Roxanne.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actor Chris O’Dowd of the film “The Incredible Jessica James.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actor Lakeith Stanfield of the film “The Incredible Jessica James.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Music producer and DJ Thomas Wesley Pentz, known as Diplo, of the documentary film “Give Me Future.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actress Molly Shannon of the film “The Little Hours.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actor Dave Franco of the film “The Little Hours.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actress Alison Brie of the film “The Little Hours.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actress Kate Micucci of the film “The Little Hours.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actor Paul Sparks of the film “Thoroughbred.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Dree Hemingway of the film “L.A. Times.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Director and actress Michelle Morgan of the film “L.A. Times.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actor Jorma Taccone of the film “L.A. Times.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)Actress Abbi Jacobson of the film “Person to Person.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)