Reporting from Park City, Utah — 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.
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John Lithgow and Salma Hayek from the film “Beatriz at Dinner.”
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Director and actress Michelle Morgan from the film “L.A. Times.”
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Director Dan Sickles, left, director Antonio Santini and director of photography Adam Uhl from the film “Dina.”
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Director of photography Adam Uhl from the film “Dina.”
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Director Danny Strong, left, actor Nicholas Hoult and actress Zoey Deutch from the film “Rebel in the Rye.”
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Actress Lois Smith from the film “Marjorie Prime.”
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Actor Jon Hamm from the film “Marjorie Prime.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Actor Mark Hamill from the film “Brigsby Bear.”
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Actor Nick Offerman from the film “The Hero.”
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Director Jovanka Vuckovic from the film, “XX.”
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Actress India Menuez from the Amazon series “I Love Dick.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Actress Laura Prepon from the film “The Hero.”
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Actor Sam Elliott from the film “The Hero.”
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Director Annie Clark (also known as the musician, St. Vincent) from the film “XX.”
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Director Joshua Z. Weinstein, left, and Menashe Lustig from “Menashe” at the Sundance Film Festial in Park City, Utah, on Jan. 23.
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Actress Zoe Chao, left, co-director Celia Rowlson-Hall, co-director Mia Lidofsky and actress Meredith Hagne from the television movie “Strangers.”
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Actor Martin Donovan, left, actress Julia Ordmond, director Mark Palansky and actor Peter Dinklage from the film “Rememory.”
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Actress Madeline Weinstein from the film “Beach Rats.”
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Ryan Horrigan, left, Paul Raphael, Felix Jajeunesse and Sebastian Sylvan from the film “Miyubi.”
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Actor Harris Dickinson from the film “Beach Rats.”
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Director Eliza Hittman from “Beach Rats.”
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Actresses Nefessa Williams, left, Adriyan Rae, Steve Harris, Seryah and Imani Hakim from the film “Burning Sands.”
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Actor Jon Daly, left, director Janicza Bravo, actress Judy Greer, actress Shiri Appelby and actor Brett Gelman of “Lemon.”
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Director Julia Ducournau from the film “Raw.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Actress Anya Taylor-Joy, director Cory Finley and actress Olivia Cooke from the film “Thoroughbred.”
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Director Matt Heineman, second from right, and citizen journalists Mohamad Almusari, left, Hamoud Almousa and Abdalaziz from the documentary film “City of Ghosts.”
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Subjects Raj Majethia and Victoria Harrelson from the documentary film “The Mars Generation.”
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Subject Raj Majethia, left, director Michael Barnett and subject Victoria Harrelson from the documentary film “The Mars Generation.”
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Actor Adam Horowitz, left, actress Emily Browning, director Alex Ross Perry and actress Analeigh Tipton from the film “Golden Exits.”
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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.”
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Director Rory Kennedy and surfer Laird Hamilton, from the documentary film “Take Every Wave: The Life of Laird Hamilton.”
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Actress Julia Jones from the film “Wind River.”
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Actress Kelsy Asbille from the film “Wind River.”
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Director Kogonada from the film “Columbus.”
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Actor Rory Culkin, left, actor John Cho, actress Michelle Forbes, actress Haley Lu Richardson and actor Parker Posey from the film, “Columbus.”
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Director Taylor Sheridan from the film “Wind River.”
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Actress Gigi Gorgeous and director Barbara Kopple from the film “This Is Everything: Gigi Gorgeous.”
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Actress Gigi Gorgeous, from “This Is Everything: Gigi Gorgeous.”
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Executive Producer Danny Glover, left, and director Yance Ford from the documentary film “Strong Island.”
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Actor Sam Elliott, left, actor Nick Offerman, director Brett Haley, actress Katharine Ross and actress Laura Prepon from the film “The Hero.”
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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.”
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Actress Kathryn Hahn, actress Roberta Colindrez and director Jill Soloway from the Amazon series “I Love Dick.”
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Actor Jason Isaacs and Crash from the film “Red Dog: True Blue.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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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.”
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Actor Daniel Houck and director Stefan Avalos from the documentary film “Strad Style.”
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Actor Jeremy Renner from the film “Wind River,.”
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Director/actor Zoe Lister-Jones from the film “Band Aid.”
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Actress Chloe Sevigny from the film “Golden Exits.”
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Actor Jack Black from the film “The Polka King.”
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Surfer Laird Hamilton, subject of the documentary film “Take Every Wave: The Life of Laird Hamilton.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Actress Julia Jones from the film “Wind River.”
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Actress Kelsy Asbille from the film “Wind River.”
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Actress America Ferrera from the new Web series “Gente-fied.”
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Director Miguel Arteta from the film “Beatriz at Dinner.”
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Actress Connie Britton from the film “Beatriz at Dinner.”
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Actress Salma Hayek from the film “Beatriz at Dinner.”
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Actor Jay Duplass jumps behind writer-director Gillian Robespierre, actress Jenny Slate, actress Edie Falco and actress Abby Quinn from the film “Landline.”
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Actor Blake Jenner, actor Logan Lerman, actress Elle Fanning and actress Michelle Monaghan from the film “Sidney Hall.”
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Actress Natalie Paul, left, actor Lakeith Stanfield, screenwriter Matt Ruskin and actor-producer Nnamdi Asomugha, from the film “Crown Heights.”
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Actress Judy Greer, left, actor Woody Harrelson and actress Laura Dein, from the film “Wilson.”
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Actress Isabella Amara, from the film “Wilson.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Actor Josh O’Connor, left, director Francis Lee and actor Alec Secareanu, from the film “God’s Own Country.”
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Jaque Fragua, director Michelle Latimer, center, and Sarain Carson-Fox, from the documentary film “Rise.”
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Director Amir Bar-Lev, left, Steve Parrish and Trixie Garcia, from the documentary film “Long Strange Trip.”
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Actress Connie Britton, from the film “Beatriz at Dinner.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Actor-producer Nnamdi Asomugha, from the film “Crown Heights.”
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Director Andrew Dosunmu from the film “Where Is Kyra.”
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Actor John Lithgow, from the film “Beatriz at Dinner.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Director Shawn Christensen from the film “Sidney Hall.”
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Actor Garrett Hedlund, director Dee Rees, actor Rob Morgan, musician Mary J. Blige, and actress Cary Mulligan from the film “Mudbound.”
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Geremy Jasper, director and writer of the film “Patti Cake$.”
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Actress Danielle Macdonald from the film “Patti Cake$.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Actress Laia Costa from the film “Newness.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Actor Mamoudou Athie from the film “Patti Cake$.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Actor Nicholas Hoult from the film “Newness.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Actor Siddharth Dhananjay from the film “Patti Cake$.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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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$.”
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Director Evgeny Afineevsky and subject Kholoud Helmi from the HBO documentary film “Cries From Syria.”
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Subject Marli Renfro and director Alexandre O. Philippe from the documentary film “78/52.”
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Actress Cathy Moriarty from the film “Patti Cake$.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Actress Bridget Everett from the film “Patti Cake$.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Actor Nicholas Hoult and director Drake Doremus from the film “Newness.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Ben York Jones, screenwriter of the film “Newness.”
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Actress Aisha Tyler, who participated in the Women’s March through Park City.
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Rashida Jones, Jill Bauer, and Ronna Gradus of the film, “Hot Girls Wanted: Turned On.”
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Co-writer Justin Lader, Director Charlie McDowell, and Alex Orlovsky of the film, “The Discovery.”
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Actor David So of the film, “Gook.”
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Actress Hania Amar of the film “The Nile Hilton Incident.”
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Actor Fares Fares of the film “The Nile Hilton Incident.”
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Director Tarik Saleh of the film, “The Nile Hilton Incident.”
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Director Dee Rees of the film “Mudbound.”
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Director Jim Strouse of the film “The Incredible Jessica James.”
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Actor Tye Sheridan of the film, “Yellow Birds.”
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Actress Pom Klementieff of the film, “Ingrid Goes West” and “Newness.”
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Actor Jack Huston of the film, “Yellow Birds.”
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Director Matt Spicer of the film “Ingrid Goes West.”
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Directors Cary Murnion and Jonathan Milott of the film, “Bushwick.”
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Actress Jasna Fritzi Bauer and Director Helene Hegemann of the film “Axolotl Overkil.”
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Co-Director Sabbah Folyan, Kayla Reed, Tef Poe, Co-director Damon Davis of the documentary film, “Whose Streets.”
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Actress Elizabeth Arjok, actor Fares Fares, director Tarik Saleh, actress Hania Amar, and actress Mari Malek of the film, “The Nile Hilton Incident.”
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Roxanne Shanté, and actress Nia Long of the film “Roxanne, Roxanne.”
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Actor Michael Larnell, actress Chante Adams, Roxanne Shanté, actor Elvis Nolasco, and actress Nia Long of the film “Roxanne, Roxanne.”
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Director Morgan Neville, Cristoph Neimann, Tinker Hatfield, and Scott Dadich of the Netflix series, “Abstract: Art of Design.”
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Cristoph Neimann of the Netflix series, “Abstract: Art of Design.”
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Director Morgan Neville of the Netflix series, “Abstract: Art of Design.”
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Scott Dadich of the Netflix series, “Abstract: Art of Design.”
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Actress Omono Okojie of the film “Gook.”
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Actor Curtiss Cook Jr., and actress Simone Baker of the film “Gook.”
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Actress Brittny Snow and actor Dave Bautista of the film, “Bushwick.”
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Director Austin Peter of the documentary film “Give Me Future.”
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Actress Cary Mulligan of the film “Mudbound.”
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Director and actor Justin Chon of the film, “Gook.”
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Director Lone Scherfig of the film “Their Finest.”
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Actress Pom Klementieff of the film “Ingrid Goes West.”
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Director Alexandre Moors of the film, “Yellow Birds.”
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Actor O’Shea Jackson Jr., actress Aubrey Plaza, director Matt Spicer, and actress Pom Klementieff of the film “Ingrid Goes West.”
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Richard Vevers, Director Jeff Orlowski and Zackery Rago of he film, “Chasing Coral.”
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Actress Chelsea Handler.
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Director Austin Peters, musician Jillionare, and singer/songwriter Diplo, of the documentary film “Give Me Future.”
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Singer/songwriter Diplo, Thomas Wesley Pentz of the documentary film “Give Me Future.”
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Musician Jillionaire of the documentary film “Give Me Future.”
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Actor Lakeith Stanfield of the film “The Incredible Jessica James.”
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Actor Chris O’Dowd of the film “The Incredible Jessica James.”
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Actress Jessica Williams of the film “The Incredible Jessica James.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Actress Aubrey Plaza of the film, “Ingrid Goes West.”
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Actor O’Shea Jackson Jr. of the film “Ingrid Goes West.”
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Actress Jessica Williams of the film “The Incredible Jessica James.”
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Actress Mari Malek of the film “The Nile Hilton Incident.”
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Actress Jasna Fritzi Bauer of the film “Axolotl Overkil.”
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Executive Producer Tim Robbins and his son, Director Jack Henry Robbins, from the short “Hot Winter, A Film By Dick Pierre.”
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Actor Michael Larnell of the film “Roxanne, Roxanne.”
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Actor Garrett Hedlund of the film “Mudbound.”
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Executive Producers Christopher Cohen, Sean Hayes, Mark Herzog (kneeling) and Todd Milliner of the CNN series, “History of Comedy.”
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Executive Producer Sean Hayes of the television series, “History of Comedy.”
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Actress Melanie Lynskey of the film, “I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore.”
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Actress Nia Long of the film “Roxanne, Roxanne.”
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Actress Simone Baker of the film, “Gook.”
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Actress Elizabeth Arjok of the film, “The Nile Hilton Incident.”
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Roxanne Shante of the film “Roxanne, Roxanne.”
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Actor Elvis Nolasco of the film “Roxanne, Roxanne.”
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Jack Henry Robbins, from the short, “Hot Winter, A Film By Dick Pierre.”
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Actress Mari Malek of the film “The Nile Hilton Incident.”
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Actress Jasna Fritzi Bauer of the film “Axolotl Overkil.”
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Actress Maya Stange, director Damien Power and actor Aaron Glenna from the film “Killing Ground.”
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Actress Tavi Gevinson with the film “Person to Person.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Dolores Huerta from the documentary “Dolores.”
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Director
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Actor Jorma Taccone from the film “L.A. Times.”
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Actor Aaron Glenane from the film “Killing Ground.”
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Actress Kate Micucci with the film “The Little Hours.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Dree Hemingway with the film “L.A. Times.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Directors Andrew Smith and Alex Smith with the film “Walking Out.”
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Actress Molly Shannon from the film “The Little Hours.”
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Actor Jason Ritter with the film “Bitch.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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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.”
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Actor Dave Franco with the film “The Little Hours.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Actress/director Michelle Morgan and actors Jorma Taccone and Dree Hemingway from the film “L.A. Times.”
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Director Marina Zenovich of the film “Water and Power.”
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Actress Abbi Jacobson with the film “Person to Person.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Actress Florence Pugh and director William Oldroyd from the film “Lady MacBeth.”
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Producer Ryland Aldrich, from the film “L.A. Times.”
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Actress Maya Stange with the film “Killing Ground.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Front: Actors Kingston Foster and Jason Maybaum; back: actors Rio Mangini Jason Ritter and Brighton Sharbino from the film “Bitch.”
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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.”
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Director Marianna Palka with the film “Bitch.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Actress Brighton Sharbino mingles with the rest of the cast of the film “Bitch.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Director Amanda Lipitz, center, and step team members, from left, Tayla Solomon, Cori Granger and Blessin Giraldo from the documentary “Step.”
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Directors Jon Shenk and Bonni Cohen with the film “Follow Up to An Inconvenient Truth.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Producer Carlos Santana with the film “Dolores.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Team members, from left, Tayla Solomon, Cori Granger and Blessin Giraldo from the documentary “Step.”
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Director Kristen Stewart and actor Josh Kaye with the film “Come Swim.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Actress Zoe Kazan with the film “The Big Sick.”
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Joshua Wong and director Joe Piscatella with the documentary “Joshua: Teenager vs. Superpower.”
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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.”
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Husband and wife co-writers Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon from “The Big Sick.”
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Consulting Producer Benjamin Bratt of the film “Dolores.”
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Director Kristen Stewart of the film “Come Swim.”
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Actress Holly Hunter with the film “The Big Sick.”
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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.”
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Actress Zoey Deutch, from the film “Before I Fall.”
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Actress Medalion Rahimi, from the film “Before I Fall.”
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Actress Elena Kampouris, from the film “Before I Fall.”
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Actress Jennifer Beals, from the film “Before I Fall.”
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Actress Cynthy Wu, from the film “Before I Fall.”
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Actor Logan Miller, from “Before I Fall.”
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Actor Miles Fischer, from the television show “Playdates.”
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Composer Dan Romer, from the films “The Little Hours” and “Chasing Coral.”
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Director Jamie Greenberg, who’s at Sundance with the film “Future ’38.”
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Directors Shaul Schwarz and Christina Clusiau, with the documentary “Trophy.”
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Peter Nicks director of the documentary film “The Force.”
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Composer Dan Romer, attending Sundance with the films “The Little Hours” and “Chasing Coral.”
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Actors Paul Scheer and Carla Gallo, from the television show “Playdates.”
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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.
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Actor Peter Dinklage of the film “Rememory.”
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Actress Shirley MacLaine, director Mark Pellington and actress Ann’Jewel Lee Dixon of the film “The Last Word.”
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Actor Harris Dickinson of the film “Beach Rats.”
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Actress Anne Heche of the film “The Last Word.”
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Actress Adriyan Rae of the film “Burning Sands.”
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Actress Shiri Appelby of the film “Lemon.”
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Actor Brett Gelman of the film “Lemon.”
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Director Janicza Bravo of the film “Lemon.”
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Director Adam Bhala Lough, seated, and subject Cody Wilson of the film “The New Radical.”
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Actress Isabella Amara of the film “Wilson.”
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Andrew Dosunmu, director of the film “Where Is Kyra?”
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Actor John Lithgow of the film “Beatriz at Dinner.”
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Actor Josh O’Connor of the film “God’s Own Country.”
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Actress Connie Britton of the film “Beatriz at Dinner.”
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Actress Michelle Monaghan of the film “Sidney Hall.”
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Actress Judy Greer of the film “Wilson.”
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Actress Elle Fanning of the film “Sidney Hall.”
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Actor Jay Duplass of the film “Landline.”
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Actress Salma Hayek of the film “Beatriz at Dinner.”
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Trixie Garcia of the documentary film “Long Strange Trip.”
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Actor Logan Lerman of the film “Sidney Hall.”
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Actress Isabella Amara of the film “Wilson.”
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Actress Chloe Sevigny of the film “Golden Exits.”
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Surfer Laird Hamilton, subject of the documentary film “Take Every Wave: The Life of Laird Hamilton.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Actor Jeremy Renner of the film “Wind River.”
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Actress Gigi Gorgeous from the film “This Is Everything: Gigi Gorgeous.”
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Actor Adam Pally from the film “Band Aid.”
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Actress America Ferrera from the new Web-series “Gente-fied.”
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Director Jovanka Vuckovic from the film “XX.”
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Director Sofia Carrillo from the film “XX.”
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Director Yance Ford from the documentary film “Strong Island.”
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Beastie Boy and actor Adam Horowitz from the film “Golden Exits.”
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Director Roxanne Benjamin from the film, “XX.”
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Actress Kelsy Asbille from the film “Wind River.”
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Actress Lois Smith from the film “Marjorie Prime.”
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Actress Geena Davis from the film “Marjorie Prime.”
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Actor Mark Hamill from the film “Brigsby Bear.”
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Actor Nicholas Hoult from the film “Rebel in the Rye.”
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Producer Akiva Schaffer from the film “Brigsby Bear.”
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Director Danny Strong from the film “Rebel in the Rye.”
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Actor Kyle Mooney from the film “Brigsby Bear.”
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Actor Jack Black of the film “The Polka King.”
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Actor John Lithgow of the film “Beatriz at Dinner.”
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India Menuez of the Amazon series “I Love Dick.”
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Actor Jon Hamm of the film “Marjorie Prime.”
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Actor Mark Hamill of the film “Brigsby Bear.”
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Actress Anya Taylor-Joy of the film “Thoroughbred.”
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Actor Sam Elliott of the film “The Hero.”
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Director Kitty Green of the documentary film “Casting JonBenet.”
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Director Michael Barnett of the documentary film “The Mars Generation.”
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Actress Parker Posey of the film “Columbus.”
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Grammy-winning Beastie Boys founder and actor Adam Horovitz of the film “Golden Exits.”
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Actress Jenny Slate of the film “The Polka King.”
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Executive producer Danny Glover of the documentary film “Strong Island.”
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Director Annie Clark (also known as the musician St. Vincent) of the film, “XX.”
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Actor Nick Offerman of the film “The Hero.”
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Actor John Cho of the film “Columbus.”
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Actress Jasna Fritzi Bauer from the film “Axolotl Overkill.”
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Actress Brittany Snow from the film “Bushwick.”
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Actor Dave Bautista from the film “Bushwick.”
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Executive producer Sean Hayes from the documentary series “The History of Comedy.”
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Actress Jessica Williams from the film “The Incredible Jessica James.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Director Jack Henry Robbins from the short film “Hot Winter, A Film by Dick Pierre.”
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Actress Melanie Lynskey from the film “I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore.”
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Executive producer Tim Robbins, standing, and his son, director Jack Henry Robbins, from the short film “Hot Winter, A Film by Dick Pierre.”
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Musician Jillionaire from the documentary film “Give Me Future.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Actress Cary Mulligan from the film “Mudbound.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Actress Chante Adams from the film “Roxanne Roxanne.”
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Actor Fares Fares from the film “The Nile Hilton Incident.”
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Actor Chris O’Dowd from the film “The Incredible Jessica James.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Actor Lakeith Stanfield from the film “The Incredible Jessica James.” (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Director Nacho Vigalondo from the film “Colossal.”
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Actress Chelsea Handler, who led the Women’s March through Park City, Utah.
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Actress Aisha Tyler, who participated in the Women’s March through Park City. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Executive producer Tim Robbins from the short film “Hot Winter, A Film by Dick Pierre.”
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Actor Garrett Hedlund from the film “Mudbound.”
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Director-writer Michael Larnell from the film “Roxanne Roxanne.”
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Roxanne Shanté, subject of the biopic “Roxanne Roxanne.”
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Actress Mari Malek from the film “The Nile Hilton Incident.”
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Actor O’Shea Jackson Jr., from the film “Ingrid Goes West.”
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Actress Pom Klementieff, starring in “Ingrid Goes West.”
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Director Matt Spicer of the film, “Ingrid Goes West.”
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Actor Jack Huston of the film, “Yellow Birds.”
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Rashida Jones of the film “Hot Girls Wanted: Turned On.”
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Actor Tye Sheridan of the film “Yellow Birds.”
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Executive Producer Tim Robbins of the short “Hot Winter, A Film By Dick Pierre.”
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Executive Producer Sean Hayes of the CNN series “History of Comedy.”
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Mary J. Blige of the film “Mudbound.”
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Actor Elvis Nolasco of the film “Roxanne, Roxanne.”
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Actor Chris O’Dowd of the film “The Incredible Jessica James.”
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Actor Lakeith Stanfield of the film “The Incredible Jessica James.”
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Music producer and DJ Thomas Wesley Pentz, known as Diplo, of the documentary film “Give Me Future.”
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Actress Molly Shannon of the film “The Little Hours.”
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Actor Dave Franco of the film “The Little Hours.”
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Actress Kate Micucci of the film “The Little Hours.”
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Actor Paul Sparks of the film “Thoroughbred.”
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Dree Hemingway of the film “L.A. Times.”
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Director and actress Michelle Morgan of the film “L.A. Times.”
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Actor Jorma Taccone of the film “L.A. Times.”
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Actress Abbi Jacobson of the film “Person to Person.”
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Producer Carlos Santana of the film “Dolores.”
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Actor Jason Ritter of the film “Bitch.”
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Director Amanda Kernell of the film “Sami Blood.”
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Director Peter Bratt and his brother Benjamin, producers of the documentary film “Dolores.”
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Dolores Huerta of the film “Dolores.”
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Actress Jamie King of the film “Bitch.”
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Directors Andrew Smith and Alex Smith of the film “Walking Out.”
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Actress Holly Hunter of the film “The Big Sick.”
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Actor Logan Miller of the film “Before I Fall.”
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Actress Carla Gallo from “Playdates.”
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Producer Judd Apatow of the film “The Big Sick.”
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Actress Cynthy Wu of the film “Before I Fall.”
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Actor Paul Scheer from the television show “Playdates.”
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Actress Zoey Deutch from the film “Before I Fall.”
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Actress Medalion Rahimin from the film “Before I Fall.”
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Actor Josh Kaye of the film “Come Swim.”
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Actress Elena Kampouris of the film “Before I Fall.”
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Joshua Wong of the documentary film “Joshua: Teenager vs. Superpower.”
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Director Kristen Stewart of the film “Come Swim.”
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Actress Zoe Kazan of the film “The Big Sick.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) The truth is that some of Wilson’s positions, particularly those involving guns, could be conflated with that movement’s. Then again, President Trump’s proclamation during the campaign that he was the “law-and-order candidate,” with its intimations of a strong, government-led police and military presence, are hardly the sorts of ideas most anarchists get on board with.
At Sundance screenings, questions directed at Wilson have at times been skeptical, even hostile, and laid bare the divisions at the festival, which takes place in a red libertarian state but is attended heavily by registered Democrats. Wilson, of course, occupies terrain all over the map.
“I love the fact that people will write him off as a gun nut and then [when they hear more] say, ... ‘I’m just conflicted about this guy now,’” Bhala Lough said.
The filmmaker takes few overt positions on his subject in the film. Even in person he is hard to read on the matter, though he certainly has grown close with Wilson. Bhala Lough said that he thinks his movie has some things in common with another piece about a man who fought a crusade with uncomfortable side effects.
“I thought a lot about ‘The People vs. Larry Flynt’ when I was making this movie,” the director said. “Was that a pro-porn film? He was a difficult person to love, but man, did he do some important things.” (Gun-control advocates might note some distinctions, both historical and legal, between the 1st and 2nd Amendments.)
Some of Wilson’s ideas have a seductiveness across the political spectrum. The notion that technology combined with radical speech could enable a toppling of the plutocracy taps into the same currents that elected Trump. Those opposed to the new president, meanwhile, would find in those ideas meaningful tools of resistance.
What the anarchist may not have satisfactorily explained, however, is what happens if his vision pans out as he says it would: What comes after a government crumbles? Could hundreds of millions of people exist, let alone be better off, without government so long as they owned guns and had their own Internet-enabled Swiss bank account? Would that not lead to vigilantism, or demagoguery, or other forms of exploitation?
“I’m not useful as a human. I’m useful as a cherub of the disaster to come,” Wilson says in the film, perhaps acknowledging where society will go if it follows his template, though more likely warning what will happen if it doesn’t.
He said in the interview that he was reckoning with what he can or wants to change.
“I’m trying to limit my expectation,” he said. “Maximum potentiality motivates me even as I wake up every day and see the limits of my own power.”
At the same time, he talked grandly about winning the 3-D gun case and then springboarding to other radical libertarian changes — “In order to do other stuff, we need to have the moral authority [on guns] first.” He also alluded mysteriously to soon “deploying a number of technologies I’ve sat on for years.”
So is Wilson the future or just a really good talker? A truth-talking prophet or just one more whippersnapping expression of digital overconfidence?
Is his prediction of a techno-enabled anarchy the stuff of pure prescience — a man who sees the emergent populism of the past American and European year not as a familiar pendulum-swing but the rumblings of something much deeper and longer lasting?
Or are such predictions the delusions of someone less powerful than he imagines, a man who uses theory-speak to make up for what he lacks in actual influence?
“The New Radical” doesn’t answer these questions. But at Sundance, perhaps for the first time in mainstream pop culture, they’re being asked.
See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour »
steve.zeitchik@latimes.com
Twitter: @ZeitchikLAT
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