WBC, Smith Protest at Premiere

Protesters from the Westboro Baptist Church were vastly outnumbered by counterprotesters Sunday at the Sundance Film Festival premiere of Red State, the Kevin Smith horror film inspired by the antigay group led by Fred Phelps.

The Hollywood Reporter
details the scene outside the Eccles Theatre in Park City, Utah, where at least two rounds of protests occurred, with Westboro representatives numbering as few as three.

”Another round of protesting kicked into high gear just before the film’s 6:30 p.m. showing, when Smith walked through the assembled mass of people, who were situated just off the parking lot in front of the theater,” noted the Reporter. “As cameramen and protestors swarmed, Smith drew cheers and also cries that he was going to hell.”

Smith announced after the screening that he would release the film, which stars John Goodman, himself and take the film on the road to raise money prior to an October release. The director denounced the state of the Hollywood system and bucked anticipation that he would hold an auction for the rights to the film, which cost around $4 million to make.