JUNE 16 • 2022 | 47

ARTS&LIFE
FILM

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 con-
tinue 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, direc-
tors 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 pro-
duction 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 mad-
ness.”
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 cou-
ple hours after the screening when I 
started getting texts from my acqui-
sition’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-year-
old college graduate stagnating 
at home with his parents 
(Leslie Mann and Brad 
Garrett) and 13-year-
old 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.

Cha Cha Real Smooth
Bought by Apple TV+ 
for $15 Million
JULIE SMITH YOLLES
CONTRIBUTING WRITER

JUNE 16 • 2022 | 47

buzz started a cou-

ple hours after the screening when I 
started getting texts from my acqui-
sition’s friends. Apple immediately 
made it known to us that they loved 
the movie and wanted it,” Switch 

Apple TV+ bought the film for $15 

million and will start streaming it 
worldwide on June 17. Cha Cha Real 

 will also premiere exclusively 

at the Maple Theater in Bloomfield 
Township the same day.

The biggest sale at Sundance 

Cha Cha Real Smooth

also won the Sundance Audience 

 was written and 

directed by Cooper Raiff, who 
also stars as Andrew, a 22-year-
old college graduate stagnating 
at home with his parents 
(Leslie Mann and Brad 
Garrett) and 13-year-

Jessica 
Switch

continued on page 48

