DJN June 16, 2022

Page 47

ARTS&LIFE FILM

Cha Cha Real Smooth Bought by Apple TV+ for $15 Million

H

er red-carpet glam and skis were all packed. Her flight and hotel were booked. And then Omicron hit. As everyone watched the COVID numbers continue to soar in January, Sundance Film Festival planners made the crushing decision to cancel the in-person portion of the event. And West Bloomfield native Jessica Switch was stuck at home, attending Sundance virtually. “Sundance is my favorite festival. I’ve been going every year since 2014 to scout new talent — writers, directors and actors. Hollywood does a full takeover of Park City [Utah]. Schools, libraries — anything with a big space and stadium seating — are converted into a movie theater,” said Switch, senior vice president of production at PICTURESTART in West Hollywood. “Sponsors, talent agencies and some production companies take over restaurants and bars to have events and after-parties for films. And there’s usually a snowstorm at some point, which adds to the madness.” Over five days of the fest, Switch typically sees six films a day, from 8:30 a.m. to the final screening at midnight. She takes notes at each one to remember what she liked and meets with her favorite directors. As a producer, Switch brought Cha Cha Real Smooth to Sundance this year.

“The screenings are one part of the festival. The sale aspect is a whole other whirlwind. The Cha Cha Real Smooth buzz started a couple hours after the screening when I started getting texts from my acquisition’s friends. Apple immediately made it known to us that they loved the movie and wanted it,” Switch said. Apple TV+ bought the film for $15 million and will start streaming it worldwide on June 17. Cha Cha Real Smooth will also premiere exclusively at the Maple Theater in Bloomfield Township the same day. The biggest sale at Sundance this year, Cha Cha Real Smooth also won the Sundance Audience Award. Cha Cha was written and directed by Cooper Raiff, who also stars as Andrew, a 22-yearold college graduate stagnating at home with his parents (Leslie Mann and Brad Garrett) and 13-yearold brother (Evan Assante). Andrew lands a job as a bar and bat mitzvah “party starter”— better known to Metro Detroiters as the Star Trax MC. At one bar mitzvah, Andrew

Behind the deal with Jessica Switch. JULIE SMITH YOLLES CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Jessica Switch

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