Sterling VanWagenen produced “The Trip to Bountiful” with screenwriter Horton Foote. VanWagenen was a co-founder of the United States Film Festival and the Sundance Institute, and served as the executive director of the latter organization for five years. He is also known as a director of stage and screen, and he has produced both films and documentaries. He currently heads the Leucadia Film Corporation in Salt Lake City, Utah.
“The Trip to Bountiful” was first written in 1953 by Horton Foote for the "Philco/Goodyear Television Playhouse," and starred Lillian Gish. A longer version opened eight months later on Broadway to critical acclaim. Thirty years later, Peter Masterson, an award-winning actor and director, approached his cousin Horton Foote about making “The Trip to Bountiful” into a movie. Masterson then contacted VanWagenen, who agreed to produce the film. Filming began in the summer of 1985 on location in Texas, and was completed in five weeks. The film starred Geraldine Page (in an Oscar-winning performance), John Heard, Carlyn Glynn, Richard Bradford, and Rebecca De Mornay.
From the guide to the Sterling VanWagenen Papers Collection 015., 1984-1985, n.d., (Southwestern Writers Collection, Special Collections, Alkek Library, Texas State University-San Marcos)
