Sundance 2013: The Hollywood Reporter’s Video Lounge Returns; Top Talent, Live Google Hangouts Planned

The Hollywood Reporter‘s video lounge returns to the Village at the Lift at Sundance this season, with a new dimension: a series of Google+ Hangouts featuring top filmmakers and stars in live video discussions with a select group of THR readers.

Google+ Hangouts allow anyone with a Google+ profile to engage in a live, face-to-face video conversation with up to 10 other people. The Hangouts are a central part of The Hollywood Reporter Sundance Video Diaries, which also features original video reporting from Sundance.

“THR Video Diaries harnesses Google+’s cutting-edge live video technology, Google+ Hangouts, to bring our readers into direct contact with the leading talent at a major international film festival,” said THR editorial director Janice Min. “This is truly a first in entertainment coverage, and we look forward to continuing the THR Festival Diaries at leading film festivals throughout the year.”

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Leading actors and directors confirmed for or THR‘s video lounge include Matthew McConaughey, Paul Rudd, Ellen Page, Naomi Watts, Nicole Kidman, James Franco, Alex Gibney and many more.

The THR Sundance Hangouts kick off on 11:30 a.m. ET Friday, Jan. 18, with Academy Award-winning filmmaker Freida Lee Mock and Anita Hill discussing Anita, a documentary about attorney Hill’s infamous sexual harassment accusations against Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, who at the time was a nominee for the high court. THR.com readers can be part of the Hangout by going to THR.com/Hangouts and filling out the participant form.

Hosted by THR editors Stacey Wilson and Sophie Schillaci, the Google+ Hangouts will be simulcast at THR.com, at YouTube.com/HollywoodReporter and on Google at plus.google.com/+hollywoodreporter.