Day 2 (10/13/2000 )

Wow! What a day.

Web, my compadre who helps me put together filethirteen, comes to Austin at around noon. We do lunch at Frank and Angies. While there, we talk about the days activities. On the agenda: The Governor's Party at the Governor's mansion, a screening of "Sunset Strip" and then watching another movie or hitting the party circuit. Of course, some of these plans change

At 5, we head to the Governor's place and upon arrival see Fred "The Hammer" Williamson being interviewed on the steps up to the mansion. Linda, one of the rather loud AFF staffers, ushers us in past the scene and tells us we must keep our badges on at all times. The Secret Service checks out Web's bag to make sure all is good. The Governor, of course, isn't here, but with so many Nader supporters in town, I can see why they want to be cautious. Web, of course, has a Gore/Lieberman bumper sticker, so we drive carefully and park cautiously all day.

At the party, we see a variety of people. David Bilow is there, hanging out, looking like he has a purpose. What it was, I do not know. John Christensen is there looking as suave as all get out. He's in a black coat and crazy sunglasses and looks like a character out of "Black Milk," if it had been directed by Tarantino. We hang and talk to John quite a bit. I decide to get some food and we sit at a table with two really attractive females. One of them engages me in conversation and we end up talking about "Dancer in the Dark" for 10 minutes. Her friend brings them some food, which they share on one plate, and I wonder if they are "together." The girls work for the local NBC affiliate, who helped sponsor the event.

John Christensen and Lodger caught in the act of "Being Smooth"!

Harry Knowles and his father Jay are there. Harry is talking to someone I don't know while Jay is chatting up Bob Ray and Jerry Don Clark of "Rock Opera." After a while, Web and I go up to say hi to the guys as I want to ask Bob about the "Rock Opera" after party on Saturday night. Jerry, who always remember my name, says hi and, as always, is just a real delight to talk to. Bob introduces me to Jay, whom I've never meet officially before and he says hello and then promptly excuses himself. Bob and Jerry and Web and I talk for quite a while about our exploits in Park City, meeting Lloyd Kaufmann of Troma fame and Bob's experiences going to Cannes with No Dance. Bob is a really cool guy and tells some crazy stories about partying with Dennis Rodman in Cannes as well as seeing a bloody street fight there. I recall reading about all of this in Marc Savlov's column in the "Chronicle" after his return from abroad earlier this year. Bob also tells me that Troma is ready to release the film whenever he wants but he's looking for a better deal.

Bob Ray Shows Lodger how the Gangstas do it!

Jerry had chipped his tooth shooting a short with Bob recently. Jerry apparently was playing the part of a hillbilly and was reaching down to grab a prop when he chipped one of his front teeth. It certainly helped him look much more the part! So, I guess Bob is still making films even though he continues to work on promoting "Rock Opera." I also recently saw another Austin short Bob had done cinematography for called "Movie Star." This was directed by someone named Viet Nguyen. Although it had a pretty typical premise (a young guy who spouts movie lines trying to find love and happiness), it was a step above the usual sophomoric efforts of this ilk. I thought it had something a bit special. And, you know, the cinematography was pretty awesome too.

Jerry Don Clark enjoying free cocktails courtesy of George W. "Subliminable" Bush

I want to go to a screening of "Sunset Strip" and when I tell Courtney Davis, Film Competition Director for AFF, about this, she tells me the schedule is changed. Some movie called "New Waterford Girl" is playing at the Paramount instead, so we opt to go to a screening of a new local film called "cicadas" (sic). Courtney is the person who asked me to help preview films for AFF. Usually she is quite quiet and reserved but here, with a few drinks in her, she suddenly has a personality and I grow to like her much more in this short time. We discuss some films in the festival as well as some shorts which I liked that did not make it into the final round. I realize I am discussing this stuff a little too passionately with her (i.e. almost arguing) and retract and apologize a bit. She is very polite and forgiving when I do this. Courtney needs to get to the Omni to get her car and we offer to give her a lift on our way to the "cicadas" screening. On the way out, I pose for a picture with Fred Williamson and Web also clicks off a few snaps with me in front of the mansion. We also see the director of "What I Like About You," Jeff Stolhand, but are running a bit behind and don't have time to say howdy.

The "cicadas" screening is at the Arbor and things are a bit hectic when we get there. There's a lot of people. I ask a group of folks at the theater entrance if there are any people from the film among them and one woman says that she is. I ask her to introduce me to Brandon Howe and after assuring her that I am not a deranged stalker, she takes me to him. I have only conversed with Howe briefly via e-mails and never actually met him, so I want to say hi. In addition to starring in "cicadas," he also runs something called the "Texas Film Network." The theater is dimly lit and has only the eerie glow of a white digital projection on the screen to illuminate it. Howe is sitting in the aisle talking to some friends and in this half-light, he looks extremely attractive, his hair seems to shimmer. He is very nice when introduced to me and we speak briefly, him thanking me for coming. I was charmed, of course.

Prior to the feature is a short by Ryan Williams. Attractive and typically collegiate, I have met Williams a couple times because he is also Assistant to the Director of AFF. This, of course, makes it much easier to get your short shown in the festival. His short, "Daydream" however, is quite good. Written by AFF Conference Director Alan Odom, the piece is an eerie allegory about personal history and friendship. It was shot on DV but looks astounding. This short stars only three actors, Williams, who also produced and edited it, as well as Howe and a young lady.

"cicadas" is quite good as well. And after the screening, which is peopled by much of the cast and crew, director Kat Chandler does an impromptu Q&A. Chandler seems quite humble and demure and yet her film is an obvious example of a passionate master in her formative years. I was blown away by it. The film also stars some young actors whom I saw in a short that was submitted to AFF but did not get in. And, of course, one of the kids in the film is also in "The Patriot," a fact that seemed to be bandied about all night. His work here makes his work in the Mel Gibson flick look pale by comparison. Of course, he has much, much more to do here.

"cicadas" is playing again this Thursday, Oct 19, at 7:20pm at the Arbor. I urge you not to miss this opportunity to see one of the finest Austin films of the year.

George W. Lodger!

After the screening, Web and I spent about 45 minutes trying to find a parking space downtown. John and our clique usually hang out at the Driskill bar. John was also going to go to a wrap party for "The Duo" at the Longhorn Lounge. We went to this latter event but didn't see John. Michael Dalmon (whom will forever be known as Mark Dalmont to me because I fucked up his name on the site in about 20 places last year when talking about "Sweet Thing," "Attack of the Bat Monsters" and "What I Like About You") was there and we said hello. Dalmon knows how to party and seemed to be in very high spirits. Other than this, we knew no one at the party, even though it was made by the folks at Jam Pictures.

We headed for the Driskill and saw Trish the Dish. She lead us to the LubeTV group party where John Christensen and Mark Brauner had just stepped out. Ryan was there and we talked a bit. I began to drink more heavily and the party really got thumping. Johnny and Adam were working the bar and took really good care of us. Johnny looked spiffy in a 3-piece suit and Adam, in his tux sans jacket, looked hot as well. There are just so many cute guys at AFF this year. Also in attendance was Chris Garcia of the Austin American Statesman and Fred Williamson. These, of course, are just the people I know. AFF has many scripters, producers and directors who are not recognizable on sight. The fest is really much more about schmoozing than films, in a way.

John and Mark soon arrived and, as always, several people were drawn to their light. Brandon Howe and some of his friends stopped by. A young man named Daniel who is here for the scriptwriter's convention suffered my weak attempts to chat him up as well. Derek Mahr, a scripter from Des Moines stopped by and we exchanged quips about my hometown, Keokuk, Iowa. Courtney Davis, who was really in full festival party mode by this point, comes by and hangs with us. One of the films Courtney and I really like that we screened together is "Ten Hundred Kings" and the filmmakers are in town. Courtney was going to introduce me to them earlier in the day, but she wasn't sure if they were at the Driskill. Courtney also told me she has finished shooting her DV feature, "My Names is Buttons," and is hoping to get to editing after the festival. I cornered Garcia and talked to him briefly about some of the films in the fest and when we discussed "Kings," he said he hated it. Yes another reminder that Garcia is a pompous ass who has virtually no excitement about film anymore. Earlier in the day, at the Governor's mansion, he had refused to take a picture with me.

Yeah....ok...sure....you are gay Lodger???

Anyway, the party at the Driskill was extremely fun and went well past two. After much confusion over the tab, we headed out to Katz's for a late snack. We being John, Mark, Web, Trish and I. Trish wasn't feeling well, having partied quite hard but somehow made it through the evening. At Katz's we saw Michael Dalmon who was well into his post party craziness. This guy makes Robert Downey Jr. look like a lightweight pussy. Dalmon came over and said some shit to us and then proceeded to slobber all over his finger and then put them in my tea. I don't even know what that was about. Maybe I should get a tetanus shot.

Our waiter, who looked like John Malkovich's and Lurch's bastard son, must have liked us and wanted us to hang forever because our food took a real long time. We ended up not getting home until close to 5am. Web and I immediately crashed hard having been through 12 hours of insane and fantastic partying. I fucking love AFF!

AFF Reviews!

More of Lodger's reviews indexed alphabetically! Just click your favorite letter to go there.

a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

HOME

All contents of www.filethirteen.com are the property of the webmaster and the author of filethirteen.com and cannot be reproduced, copied, distributed, quoted or in any other way used without our written consent. For more details please e-mail us at  lodger@filethirteen.com  Links to the site are appreciated and do not require permission. Informing us of your link to our site may result in gratitude and heartfelt thanks.