SXSW
Day 2- Saturday March 9, 2002
A blonde woman ahead of me began talking to someone
who looked familiar and when I looked at his SXSW badge,
it said Nathan Zellner. I've never met either of the
Zellners but have conversed a bit via e-mail with David.
I should have introduced myself but I find a level of
anonymity at these things often helps me to see and
hear things I might not otherwise. I asked the woman
how she knew Nathan after they had stopped talking and
she said they had taken an acting class together. She
was a nice girl but a bit flighty.
| I also saw Bob
Ray outside the Paramount and said a quick hello.
It finally hit me when I was talking to the actress
that I know 4 of the "6 in Austin" filmmakers in
some way. I have a nice "festival" relationship
with Bob, we were in Park
City in 2000 and Bob has always been quite cordial
to me when we've met up at festivals and events.
Kat Candler has also spoken with me a time or two,
particularly during the Austin
Film Festival. I met Gonzo Gonzales at Cinemaker
when I went to one of their meetings a couple years
ago. And, as I've said, I've chatted via e-mail
with Zellner. |
 |
I have seen Geoff Marslett's "Monkey Vs. Robot"
and liked it a bit but never seen him or met him. And
the Phillips brothers are totally new to me. I've heard
of them recently; I think it is they who are doing this
film "Yorik the Fool" with Michael Dalmon, but I could
be wrong.
Walking into the Paramount I also noticed Salvator
Botti, the Film Programmer for the Austin Film Society.
I took my seat close to the front and was almost immediately
hailed by Mike Flatten, guitarist of Hobble. Mike also
makes the band's videos and is looking to make some
short films. I was going to be in one of his shorts,
but he told me today that the girl who was to star has
moved out of town so he's abandoned the idea.
Mike told me about some ideas for some shorts as
well as a pretty detailed description of a horror film
he wants to make. I will avoid discussing the feature
because it is a marvelous idea and I would hate for
someone to steal it. Suffice it to say that it has something
to do with the technical aspect of music and this theme
would lend itself perfectly to sound design in a horror
film.
Mike told me that he and Oriah were going to be
at the midnight shows of the videos tonight but I'll
be at the Arbor watch "Y Tu Mama Tambien," so I'll have
to wait until next weekend to see them. Hobble's video
is showing as part of the SXSW music video showcase
program.
|
Anne del
Castillo, producer of "Six in Austin"
|
Oriah soon joined us. I haven't seen him for
months and he looked as sexy as ever. This guy
rocks. Once again, Hobble is playing Wednesday
at the Hickory Street Grill, so check them out
and see the greatest live band Austin has to offer.
Mike also told me that Hobble is in the studio
working on their third album. They're just starting
and have about 20 songs they are going to try
and work on. Mike and Oriah also have a video
planned for their new song "God Bless America"
which sounds like a real hoot. Presumably, the
song will be on the new album.
"Six in Austin" was introduced by Anne del
Castillo, the producer who was, in turn, introduced
by Angela, the SXSW Film Programmer. I finally
saw the SXSW trailer with audio. It's funny. I
also saw that Charlie Soto is simply listed as
"Producer for SXSW." I don't know who made the
SXSW trailer, but it's better than the ones from
the last two years.
The Q&A for the film featured all 6 filmmakers
(well, 8 actually if you count the brothers) and
was pretty unenlightening. Afterwards, I said
my goodbyes to Oriah and Mike as they struck up
a conversation with Bob Ray. They were all going
to the "6IA" party at Elysium. I haven't been
there since it changed from Atomic Cafe.
|
I headed to the Alamo to see "CQ," but the line
was very long and people were already getting turned
away even though some of the badges people had not been
seated yet. I saw Kevin, who screened films with me
at AFF but again did not say hi. I figured that I better
find something else to see. I'm going to have to rearrange
my schedule for the week so I can see "CQ" at some point.
It's pretty high on my list. Why they showed this film
at Alamo and "The Scoundrel's Wife" at the Paramount
is beyond me. That's what I went to see at the Paramount.
It did have a decent crowd. I thought it wasn't on my
list but when the film started, I saw it featured Tatum
O'Neal and I realized that it actually was on my list.
More rearranging will be necessary now.
| Before the movie I saw a friend
of a friend, kinda. His name is Adam and he also
works as a bartender at the Paramount. He knows
my friends Rich and Kelly and we've talked a few
times. Adam remembered my name and was very nice
and talked to me for a few minutes. He's an attractive
lad. |
 |
|
Angela -
"Angela, Film Programmer of SXSW"
|
Before the film, a second SXSW trailer appeared.
It featured the same characters as the first one.
The characters are a young man and a puppet who
work at a Burger Barn-type drive-thru. The second
trailer finds it funny to intimate that the young
man and the puppet are "more than friends." It's
not really that fresh or funny.
The director of "Scoundrel's
Wife" did a Q&A after the film with his co-
scripter (who also happens to be his wife) and
one of his producers. His name is Glen Petrie
is apparently from Louisiana, where the film is
set and has made some Cajun films that were quite
popular in the state.
After the Q&A, I drove up Mopac to the Arbor
for "Y Tu Mama Tambien." The line for the film
was a complete hassle. I thought for sure the
thing would sell out and the numerous folks waiting
to buy tickets would be denied. But everyone got
in and there were even seats left, surprisingly.
I saw my friend Alan Campbell there and he joked
that it was the Spanish title and the subtitles
that kept the flocks at bay. Perhaps he is right.
This film will be released soon in America and
they had planned to call it by its name as translated
into English, "And Your Mother Too." They should
have. That's a much better title for America.
|
Alan was with his friend Danna (pronounced Dayna)
who lives in Beaumont. She was a very nice and interesting
girl. I also saw Chris Garcia from the "Austin American-Statesman"
and Ravkill from Ain't-It-Cool (at least I think he
still writes for Harry sometimes. Last time we talked
he was also doing some writing for Movie Headlines or
something like that). Rav and his cute friends had badges
and had gotten into "CQ." They said Roman Coppola was
there. I sure am pissed I missed that.
After the film, I bade my goodbye to Alan and the
charming Danna and came home. I ate a frozen pizza as
I hadn't had a chance to grab any dinner. I called J.K.,
my friend who is a boy (i.e. not really boyfriend but
guy I am dating). He seemed down and finally told me
he was thinking about his ex. I think I cheered him
up talking to him. I hope so. His birthday is Monday
and I will be at SXSW rather than with him. I am now
questioning myself as to what is more important to me.
I don't want to have to choose. Thankfully, J.K. isn't
making me. We agreed to celebrate his birthday after
SXSW.
All this film and a young man in my life too! Ain't
that cooler!
Lodger @ SXSW2002
|
