Austin
Film Festival 2003 - Day 2 - October 10, 2003
A rather uneventful day, in a way. I went to the Bar-B-Que
at the Governor's mansion at about 6pm. I was only going
to stay for a few minutes because I knew that I had to
be at the new Arbor theater by 7 for a screening and I
wasn't sure how traffic would be. Of course, you always
want to get to the screenings at the smaller venues early
too, just to be on the safe side.
On my way to the Bar-B-Que, I was listening to
the gay news radio program that runs on KOOP every Friday
afternoon at 5pm. I've only recently discovered it and
still only catch it by accident. They had a segment
about an author John Rechy and his classic novel, "City
of Night." I want to read this one.
For a few minutes, I didn't see anyone I knew.
One of the few people I wanted to see was Ryan Williams
because he doesn't live in Austin (he's in L.A. now)
and he has a short in this year's fest. Just when I
was about to consider leaving, the crowd parted and
there was Ryan right in front of me on a cell phone.
(While I waited for him to be available, I saw Chris
Garcia of the Austin-American Statesman walk by). Ryan
finished his call and we got to talk for a few minutes.
Ryan is such a sweet guy and everyone at AFF just loves
him. It's easy to see why once you meet him. He almost
always has a smile on his face and he is one of the
most amiable people you will ever meet. Ryan told me
he is digging L.A. He's going to school, acting in plays
and making short films. His new short, showing at AFF,
is called "Confine."
Ryan was soon beseeched by old friends and we said
our "see you laters." I saw Alan Odom over to the side
having a conversation and decided to go say hello. While
I was waiting for a break in conversation, Robert Christopher
Ohlson came over and said hello. He introduced me to
his girlfriend and I think I recognized her name as
someone who helps him with his films. Chris' new film
is called "The Meat Market" and it stars local Austin
indie faves the Zellner Brothers.
Chris and I talked for quite a bit and perhaps
a little to intensely. I had to apologize to his girlfriend
for seeming somewhat to ignore her. She added to the
conversation and seemed to know a lot about films. (I
liked her). We discussed the amazing talent in Chris'
film including the Zellners, cinematographer Jay P.
Lips, his assistant Ben Kobbs (who is a pal of mine),
and score composer Graham Reynolds. We agreed that all
of these people are about to blow up BIG TIME. Chris'
joked that he has begged Reynolds not to get too famous
too soon so he can use him in some more films before
he is too famous.
We talked for quite a while and I realized I'd
better get going. We said our good-byes and I headed
back to my car. I drove up Mopac to where the new Arbor
is located. I haven't ever been to the theater where
it is now housed, which used to be a General Cinema.
The name of the new Regal theater is "The Arbor at Great
Hills," so once I found Great Hills street, I found
the theater easily. I parked and walked up and they
had a radio station there doing giveaways.
I went into the theater and sat for a while and
noted it looked much like the old Arbor did. The seats,
wall coverings and flooring all seemed brand new.
My friend Jan, who is the only person I know who
sees more films than me, came up and said hello. I like
Jan a lot and it is so great to talk to her. I hadn't
seen her for a while, so I really appreciated that she
came up to talk to me. We discussed a ton of films.
She had seen "Prey
for Rock and Roll" and a film at the Driskill the
night before ("Ash Tuesday?). We chatted for a bit and
she went back to her seat. (She sits in the back and
I sit in the front or we might be inseparable).
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"Pieces
of April" director Peter Hedges
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Jen Garrison, a local radio and TV personality
who does a lot of work with Agliff
and the Gay Youth Media Project, came up and
introduce AFF Film Programmer Phil Scanlon. (Phil
programs the advanced studio releases). Phil,
in turn, introduced Peter Hedges, the director
and writer of "Pieces of April."
Hedges was a friendly and funny guy. He talked
wonderfully about Austin and mentioned that he
was here when Lasse Hallstrom filmed his script,
"What's Eating Gilbert Grape." Hedges did one
of the most humorous and light introductions I've
ever seen a filmmaker do and I looked forward
to his film and hoped I could stay for the Q&A.
I wanted to get back downtown to the Driskill
by 9:30 for a screening.
"Pieces
of April" was great and I stayed for as much
of the Q&A as I could. Most of the important ideas
Hedges covered are in my review and my notes of
his film.
Before the film, there was another funny AFF
trailer. This one was animated and had Mark Twain
at a pitch meeting for "Huck Finn." Although the
white- haired author seemed taken aback by most
of what smarmy Hollywood exec had to suggest,
when he was asked who he saw in the cast, the
author replied, "Haley Joel Osment and Will Smith."
It was funny. It was made by Dano Johnson and
Tate English.
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I slipped out at the Q&A and drove downtown to the
Driskill. I had to walk past the front of the Paramount
to get there and saw Alan Odom but again didn't have
a chance to say hello. (He is always surrounded by admirers).
I saw the back of Austin Chronicle film critic Marjorie
Baumgarten's head (she is easily recognizable to those
of us in the know). She looked like she was headed to
the Hideout.
I went inside and found the screening room. It
is exactly where it was last year. I sat for a bit and
the girl next to me started talking to me. She had a
small speech impediment, (I think, maybe she just had
her tongue pierced or something) and I thought for a
second or two that maybe she was deaf. Then I realized
when the film started that, of course, this would be
somewhat impossible.) There were no open captions or
subtitles). She seemed really nice and asked me about
my press pass. We talked about the website. She was
a writer, a novelist, and claimed she was just at the
festival for fun. She told me she was about to go to
Tokyo and I told her a little about "Lost
in Translation," since the city of Tokyo is such
a big part of that film.
Before the film, there were again ads for other
AFF screenings, this time for "Sumo" and "Mutzie's Wedding."
The AFF trailer was about an Eskimo coming to Austin
for the festival. It was cute but a bit less interesting
than the others. (It was made by Vance Kotria, Raighne
Davidson, Christopher Beauchamp and Don Swaynos).
There was a short film called "Subject One" by
Eric Norsgaard that I thought to be typical and poorly
done. It followed a child through adulthood and old
age (played by three generations of the same family).
It was about how the kid gave up his dream of playing
soccer as he got older. At least, that's what I think
it was about. It was silent with music. I've seen a
thousand short films just like it, most of them done
much better.
After the film, I hung out in the Driskill bar.
I saw Chris Garcia and Ryan Williams briefly. I saw
the guy I hung out with in 2001 that claimed to be on
the NYPD force and told an amazing 9/11 story just one
month after the fact.
Mainly today reminded me of how much I missed John
Christensen. When he was alive in
2000, just before his death, we went to the Bar-B-Que
together and hung out at the Driskill bar and it was
so much fun. Today was nothing like that.
Lodger@AFF200
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