Sometimes as a part of my day gig, I go to another facility owned by the same company I work for and help them out. It’s rare, but I do it occasionally. The reason I mention it was because, well, I did it on this day. But even moreso, one of the employees there, a young woman in her early 20’s, lost a friend that very morning. He died of liver failure. He was as young as she. It was very sad and she talked about it all day and cried. I tried to be as comforting as I could but what can you say at a time like that?

I could only think of friends I had lost. I lost a friend to liver failure too. She was also in her early 20’s. Her name was Maggie, we all called her Magz, and I worked with her in Houston. Magz was always sweet to me and I really liked her. We even went out and partied quite a bit. I knew she had some medical problems but I never knew how bas it was. Hell, every time we partied, she out-drank me. She always vomited, but I just thought it was because she partied so hard. I just didn’t know how bad off she really was. After I moved to Austin, I heard that she died. I couldn’t get back in time for the funeral. It was really dumbfounding. It was so unexpected. The young lady I work with had a similar situation. She had just found out yesterday that her friend (from when they were kids) was sick and went to see him at the hospital They told her he wasn’t expected to live. So unfathomable…

Anyway, I was in a pretty sober mood during most of the day and when I wasn’t concentrating on work, I tried to doodle a poem about a green, lush valley between two mountain. The valley held all it’s residents captive between the two mountains, named “Hope” and “Fear” and also held all the darkness, sadness, sorrow and pain of the world within its shadowy land. It’s called “The Valley of Despair,” but it isn’t very good and I didn’t quite finish it, so maybe it will be up on the site in some future day.

I really suck at recognizing people sometimes (although he was a nice looking guy so that’s unusual) and I really suck at remembering names. I have to work on this if I want to become the true schmooze-meister I so desperately want to become. Anyway, this guy told me it was a British film and sort of a Guy Ritchie-type movie. That ruffled my neck feathers and I should have seen it as a sign, but it was nearly 7 and I decided to give it a shot and check it out. It was pretty bad.

Went to the bar and got a Jack and Coke before I went in. The cutie blone guy was available so I stepped up and ordered a drink from him. This time I was sure that he was the guy I had met during Agliff’s party and so I mentioned it to him. He didn’t even remember me and barely even tried to play along. (Even more invisible).

I went in and there were not a whole lot of people there but enough to call it a crowd. Sat there for a minute and one of the more recognizable volunteers came out to introduce the film and mentioned that Brad Renfro would be out in a second to explain to the crowd what was going on with his film. I had forgotten that Renfro was supposed to come to the screening. I got my camera ready and Renfro comes out and he’s dressed really oddly but looks cute. I’m so busy taking pictures that I was really wasn’t paying attention to what he was saying.

I noticed that Linda from AFF was sitting behind me and yelling out suggestions to him on what to say. He said that the print had accidentally been shipped to Massachusetts or Pennsylvania or someplace and made sure that we knew, thanks to Linda’s prompt, that it was UPS’ fault and not AFF’s. He told us that the film would screen the next day as scheduled and that he would be in attendance. I wonder where he partied on Tuesday night? Renfro seemed pretty lucid (i.e. sober) and even said, “God bless you” at the end of his little speech. It was really nice of him to get up there and introduce another film for AFF.

“Lava” was preceded by a short called “At Dawning” which was okay but had some sound issues (inherent in the finished product, not in The Paramount’s sound system).

After the film was finally over, it was a few minutes after 9. I knew I had less than 20 minutes to get to the Westgate for “Love in the Time of Money” but thought I could make it if I really booked. They usually don’t start on time anyway. On the way out, I heard someone call my name and it was Meredith who was there with Phatt Matt and the other people from Taos.

They said they were going to the Westgate for “Money” as well and we acknowledged that we’d have to hurry to get there. We also talked about how “lava” wasn’t as bad as “Beeper,” but that’s a tough call for me. I could see how some might like “Lava,” if they really loved Guy Ritchie and were hungry for some second-rate “Snatch.” He he, that’s funny. I have to remember that for the review. If you liked Guy Ritchie’s “Snatch,” get ready for some sloppy seconds!

I booked to the Westgate nearly killing myself and several other motorist. I should not have stressed so much and just relaxed and drove, but I hate missing the beginning of a film. I hate it! And there are no previews before festival films usually to give you a cushion.

I got to the Westgate and saw Phatt Matt inside. They hadn’t started the film yet and I had to piss like a racehorse, so I took a chance and went in the bathroom. As I was standing and peeing, my cell rang. Like a dumbass, I answered it. It was my boss and it was just a quick message, so I got off the phone quickly and got into the theater right as the AFF trailer started. And after the trailer, was a short. A SHORT! A fucking short! I nearly killed myself and pissed my pants and there’s a short! Fuck. Worse yet, it was a short I had already seen when I previewed films for AFF. Luckily, it was one of the better ones, “Running with Scissors,” so I forgave myself for being a film maniac and AFF for scrunching the schedule too tight!

After the film, I talked to the Taos folks again. I noticed one of the guys from this group, whom Matt introduced to me the night before looked a little like Steve Buscemi, one of the stars of “Money.” So I joked, “Buscemi called. He wants his DNA back.” We also talked about “White Oleander” and “The Ring” among other films and personal stuff. I noticed they all wore badges and Matt said that they got passes through Fritz, another guy from Taos. Fritz is an actor and was in a Austin film that never got shown to the public, as far as I know, called “Pageant.” Apparently he’s got the hook-up with someone at AFF.

Anyway, it was pretty cold, so we said our good-byes and I headed back to Lodg Angeles. I stopped by Jack in the crack and got some shitty, greasy food. The Austin Film Festival leaves you little time to sleep, eat or drive properly, especially if you work for a living.

Lodger2002 @ AFF2002