By Jay A. Fernandez

Here’s a brief Q&A with New York-based Apparition topper Bob Berney, whose new company picked up the indie film “The Runaways” this weekend ahead of its Sundance film festival bow. Berney, an indie veteran via IFC Films, Newmarket Films and Picturehouse (shuttered last year by WB), also shares his thoughts on the state of the indie space leading up to Sundance 2010.

When did you see “The Runaways?”

It’s been about 3 or 4 weeks. [Bill Pohlad's] River Road Productions is run as a separate company than Apparition, but we’re trying to find films that they produce that would match the kind of style and distribution plan that we do. So this was the perfect one. It’s kind of informal, but there’s a relationship.

How long did it take you to pull the trigger?

Really just finally seeing the film. Part of it is the idea of the cast, for sure, is interesting and great. Floria made a film that is really about the relationship, so there’s more to it than just a typical rock bio. It’s really a story of the two girls, Joan and Cherie. She did it really stylized, and it’s done in a real indie spirit, which I think is the spirit of the original group and Joan’s group. It fit with how we wanted to market it. So it was really just finally seeing Floria’s work that convinced us to do it.

The cast opens up some extra possibility overseas given the “Twilight” angle. To what extent did that factor into your decision?

It’s huge. Obviously, there’s a huge base of fans for [Stewart] from the “Twilight” movies, and although this is a different film and it’s R-rated and edgier, it gives you a great fanbase to start with. You just gotta be careful how you market it. I think her fans are interested in her doing something very different, and stretching, and that’s probably why she wanted to make the film. So it’s great as long as we try to be really truthful about what the film is and what it’s going to be about. I think her fans will really like it.

Luckily, some of her “Twilight” fans are the mothers. You don’t have to worry about the R-rating with them.

Yeah, exactly.