Notes from Austin, Volume 2 #19

Including:

Things to do in Austin (6/2-6/8)

Tinseltown takes Credit!

Scott LaRose and "Comedy Hell"

Chris Farley Blues

Douglas Sirk films at the Paramount

Casino el Camino

Woozy Helmet at Flamingo Cantina

"The Laughing Boy," a film made in Houston

The Hollywood Shuffle - new release dates

Kevin Smith's animated "Clerks"

"American Movie" on video

"Shaft" Week at Alamo Drafthouse

SUPER 8 2000 WORLD TOUR AT THE RITZ!

Jason Wolk's "The Closet"

The Agency

Kyle Henry in NYC - and the McCollege Tour

Lunch and a Story at Alamo Drafthouse

Reel Women Garage Sale

Cinemaker's "Best of 88 and 89" Video release party

SXSW job openings

DV director's wanted

and much more!

Things to do this week in Austin!

Here's what's going on this week:

thru 6/3 - THE TERMINATOR - Alamo Drafthouse, Midnight

thru 7/2000 - Summer Youth Theater 2000 - Vortex

6/2 - Films Released Nationally

BIG MOMMAS HOUSE MARTIN LAWRENCE, NIA LONG

HEAD OVER HEELS FREDDIE PRINZ JR.

RUNNING FREE (AKA HOOFBEATS)

6/2 - Films Released in Austin

Sex: The Annabelle Chong Story - Dobie

6/2 - SUPER 8 2000 WORLD TOUR - THE RITZ!

6/2 - Dynamite Hack - Lazona Rosa

6/2 - Nancy Wilson - Paramount

6/2 - Modest Mouse - Stubbs

6/2 - Veruca Salt - Stubbs

6/2 - Jimmy Smith/Mike Nickoli - Flipnotics

6/2 - Golden Arm Trio (6:30) - Central Market Central Park

6/2 - Biscuit Rollers - Central Market Westgate

6/2 - Blazers/Wayne Hancock - Continental Club

6/2 - La Tribu - Mercury@Jazz

6/2 - Impossibles - Emos

6/2 - Dale Watson - Mangos

6/2 - Thrill Core/Stoneracker/Betty's Ford/Temperstrain - Back Room

6/2 - Callous Taoboys/Fencecutters - Triple Crown

6/3 - Primal Scream - Lazona Rosa

6/3 - Bayou Boogie and Crawfish Fest - Waterloo Park

6/3 - Willis Alan Ramsey - Antones

6/3 - Hug/Zero Skills Inc - Red Eyed Fly

6/3 - 8 1/2 Souveniers - Flipnotics

6/3 - The Barkers/Orange Mothers/Grand Champeen - Continental Club

6/3 - Dawtahs of Jah - Flamingo Cantina

6/3 - Larry - Mercury@Jazz

6/3 - Makers/Bangs/Stereo Total - Emos

6/3 - Mos Def - Back Room

6/3 - Carolina Moonshine/Pavlov's Dogs - Triple Crown

6/4 - Wizard of Oz - Paramount

6/4 - HONG KONG SUNDAYS - A BETTER TOMORROW PART 2 - Alamo Drafthouse

6/4-6/5 - Streetcar Named Desire/On the Waterfront - Paramount

6/4 - Hangover Helper Afternoon Show - Red Eyed Fly

6/4 - Mystic Journeymen/Living Legends - Flamingo Cantina

6/6 - Douglas Sirk Film Series - Paramount - Written on the Wind

6/6 - Wizard of Oz - Paramount

6/6-6/7 - Free Kids Films - Regal Lakeline/Westgate

6/6 - Jethro Tull - Backyard

6/6 - Toots and the Maytals - Flamingo Cantina

6/6 - Zulu as Kono/Sicbay - Emos

6/6 - Videos Released Nationwide

GIRL, INTERRUPTED

NEXT FRIDAY

6/7-6/8 - "The Thin Man" Films - Paramount

6/7 - Black Eyed Peas - Stubbs

6/7 - "Employer/Employee" - Emos

6/8-6/10 - SID AND NANCY - Alamo Drafthouse - Midnight

6/8 - Acoustic Alchemy - One World Theater

6/8-6/9 - Sister 7 - Antones

6/8 - Skatalites - Flamingo Cantina

6/8 - Peter Rowan Trio/David Nelson - Mercury@Jazz

6/8 - Vue/Enduro - Emos

6/8 - Pimpadelic/Primer 55 - Back Room

6/8 - MTV Movie Awards Telecast

Ongoing:

Fridays

Caucus Club - Phuz - DJ til 4am

Velvet - Deluxe

Saturdays

Atomic Cafe - Industrial Night

Caucus Club - Phuz - DJ til 4am

Velvet - Force

Sundays

Atomic Cafe - Suburbia - New Wave Night

Flipnotics - Shorty Long

Mondays Caucus Club - Swing Night

Spiros - Service Industry Night

Tuesdays

Atomic Cafe - Fetish Night

Flipnotics - Erik Hokkanen

Spiros - Salsa Dance Lessons

Wednesdays

Atomic Cafe - Swing Night

Blind Pig Pub - Pitcher Night

Flipnotics - Rubinchik's Orkestyr

Mangos - Southern Fried

Mercury - Hip Hop Humpdays

Velvet - Naughty Wednesday

Thursdays

Atomic Cafe - Service Industry Night

Caucus Club - Phuz - DJ til 4am

Earl Campbells - Service Industry Night

Velvet - Devotion Thursdays

I can wear a suit and tie, have my hair mouse up like it's a mountaintop or be in drag and shave my head and people still have the fucking balls to come up to me and tell me I look like Chris Farley. It's enough to make me want to kill myself. Don't get me wrong, I loved Chris as much as everybody else did! And still do! But I don't look a thing like him. It's absurd.

At one point me and my friends wanted to do a remake of "Mayberry RFD" (to be called "Mayberry LSD," of course). We wanted to have Chris play Aunt Bea. Guess I'll have to do the role now. Here was our casting choices:

Andy: Everett McGill

Barney: Crispin Glover (or) Steve Buscemi (or) John Waters

Aunt Bea: Chris Farley

Opie: Linda Hunt (or) David Spade

Floyd: David Lynch (or) Bill Murray

Goober: Jim Varney

Wow. Jim Varney is gone now too. Maybe Billy Ray Cyrus would do.

Scott LaRose, who screened his hilarious spoof "The Blair Bitch Project" starring Linda Blair, at Park City earlier this year recently took the short to Cannes. While there, he set up a deal to release the short in Germany as well as cut a deal with Alpine Pictures to direct a feature film called "Comedy Hell."

In Scott's own words: "The dirt on 'Blair Bitch' is a company called Astro distribution made a wonderful offer (after laughing their German butts off for 20 minutes) to put the 'Bitch' on DVD for all of Deutchland. It's not final yet but it will also mean they will show it on German TV (dubbed) which will suck...

"As for 'Comedy Hell' it's a script that I wrote about 3 stand-up comics and a serial killer in Big Bear, CA. Basically it's 'Swingers meets Scream.' Alpine pics is doing it (the company who made 'The Convant' @ Sundance 2000) for a budget of 1.8 mill...

"I'm directing and Meg Liberman (the casting person from 'Seinfeld') is producing. We start casting next week and I'll keep you posted."

Scott had a chance to check out some flicks at Cannes as well. "I saw 'O Brother Where Art Though' and 'Shadow of the Vampire' and they both rule!"

Lucky bastard! Scott's having a pretty good week I'd say!

Tuesday night I saw the Douglas Sirk film at the Paramount. Salvator Botti, the Austin Film Society guy, doesn't make announcements or introductions at the Paramount like he did for the Preston Sturges films at UT. He did hand out some flyers.

The film, "There's Always Tomorrow," was a hilarious and campy artifact from the 50's. The morals and social mores it represents are now long gone. Dig it! In the film, a family man ALMOST has an affair because his family ignores him so much. It's so silly by today's standards, but I bet it was almost "shocking" in 1956. And who is most upset about the father's suspected dalliances? The wife? Nope - it's the oldest son. He is damn near traumatized by it! It's just so damn funny and silly nowadays.

What does make the film still remarkably interesting is the outstanding performance by Barbara Stanwick (best known as the matriarch on TV's "The Big Valley" in the 60's). Starring with her co-star from "Double Indemnity" 12 years earlier, Fred MacMurray (the father on "My Three Sons," the original "Flubber"), Stanwick makes the film crackle at every frame she inhabits. She is awesome. Suddenly it was clear to me why she was such an immensely popular leading lady. She had something that was rare in female leads in the golden age: A brazen quality that bordered between masculine sexuality and feminine wiles. She was just tough yet tender, sexy yet not submissive. And given a role to sink her teeth into, well, she would gnash it to a pulp. Given the tripe that is "There's Always Tomorrow," Stanwick cuts a piece of the script out for herself and never allows any of the other performers to touch her. She steals every scene she is in.

After the flick, I was going to go to Atomic Cafe, but it was early, so I stopped off at Casinos for a bit. There was a really cute little blonde guy and Casino was hanging all over him. I wondered, "Who could that be?" Casino was introducing him around like he was some sort of celebrity. I was squinting, trying to see if I recognized him, the guy was so cute. Later, I saw the guy working in "Hell's Kitchen" frying up the burgers in back at Casinos. I've noticed that a lot of the "employees" hang around the place, even if they are off work. It's like family there. That's part of why I like going there. Everyone treats you like you belong. That's awesome.

I saw Brandi from Woozy Helmet and said Hi. She was playing next door at 1am at the Flamingo Cantina, so I told her I would come over. I hadn't had a chance to see Woozy yet and Brandi is so cool, I was just dying to check them out. I called up Rich and Kelly. Rich was in Houston, but somehow I persuaded Kelly to come out for the show. Kelly used to promote a lot of punk shows in Houston in the 90's when he was just a teenager.

Cover was $5, which seems a little steep. No wonder there were only 10 people in the place. Got there in time to see Woozy Helmet set up and play. They fucking rocked. Their drummer was one of the best I have ever heard. The only skin-beater I've seen better in Austin is the guy who plays for Voltage. (He rocks so hard that he pukes on stage which is just unsurpassable). The lead singer/guitarist for the band had a better mic than Brandi (She plays bass and sings), so he was easier to understand. All in all, they were a fun and tight little punk trio. I'd pay to see them anytime. They did a cool song where the drummer and guitarist switched instruments during the tune. It was quite unique.

There will be a sneak preview of the low-budget independent feature film (made in Houston) called "LAUGHING BOY" in Chicago on Tuesday, June 6th. The screening will be held at the Vic Theater, 3145 N. Sheffield, Doors open at 7PM, the screening begins at 8PM. Admission is $8.

"LAUGHING BOY" is the directorial debut of Brazil J. Grisaffi (he also produced.) The film is written by George Douglas Lee (based on his play) and stars Anne Quackenbush, Therese Kotara and Michael Gray. The comedy also features actors Bob Gebert, Bryan Lee McGlothin, Robin Craig and Tiffany Grant, among other talented Houston actors.

"LAUGHING BOY" also features several short animated sequences by Houston's Stone Soup traditional cel animation.

"LAUGHING BOY" features an original score by Houston's Jeff Walton, and features hit songs from The Dead Monkeys (from New York), ToeHead (from California) and The Strangeways (from Florida).

The film was produced entirely in Houston, Texas. To date, the film has cost under $50,000 to produce and market.

"LAUGHING BOY" will make its festival premiere at the New York Int'l Independent Film & Video Festival in July, 2000.

To learn more about LAUGHING BOY, visit the movie's website at: www.grisaffi.com/laughingboy.html

A clip from LAUGHING BOY can be found at: www.filmdeli.com (downloadable mpeg) and http://www.ifilm.com/films.taf?film_id=99628 (streaming video)

The Hollywood Shuffle!

As is a summertime wont, distributors will alter their release schedules nearly every day to achieve an optimum opening date. Here are some of the latest moves:

Paramount has now decided to put out the Kim Bassinger Satanist-are-stealing-my-baby film "Bless the Child" on 7/21 rather than in the fall. The film also stars Jimmy Smits.

The Richard Gere/Wynona Ryder weepie, about an aging playboy in love with a terminally ill young woman has moved up a couple weeks to 8/4.

Possibly seeing the dismal failure of Jaimee Foxx's latest film "Held Up" as a death knoll, Warners has moved his next flick, "Bait," to the wasteland that is September. Look for the film to bow on 9/15 now.

The Robert Redford directed golf flick, "The Legend of Bagger Vance," starring Matt Damon and Will Smith was to come out in late August. It has now moved to a pre-Thanksgiving date of 11/3.

Wes Craven's "Dracula 2000" which was to go head-to-head with the "Blair Witch" sequel on 10/27 has now moved to an almost 2001 release date of 12/22. Craven's first "Scream" struck Xmas gold with a non-traditional release date (horror films almost always bow at Halloween) a few years back.

Warners hopes to release the Sandra Bullock film, "Miss Congeniality," which is wrapping up filming here in Austin, on Christmas Day 2000.

Meanwhile, the Robert Rodriguez directed film "Spy Kids," which has been filming here in Austin will probably not be available to the public at large until 2001, possible in March.

Wednesday I watched Kevin Smith's new animated series based on "Clerks" on ABC TV. There's been a lot of hubbub that maybe Disney buried the show because of all the problems Smith bitched about trying to get "Dogma" distributed. Um... I think the problem is, you know, the series, or at least this first episode, sucked. Well, it didn't just suck; It imploded in the vast emptiness that was it's own absurdist ineptitude. What a piece of unmitigated ca-ca. Smith is, simply put, not suitable for broadcast TV. Part of his humor is his guttural and base reactions to modern pop culture. Someone like Jason Mewes isn't really funny unless he's talking about sex. This series is going to be a joke for - what will hopefully be - it's limited run. Smith was foolish to even try. I hope he got a big fat Goddamn paycheck. I hope Mewes did too.

What's next? "Henry Fool - The Animated Series?"

The filmmakers behind "American Movie," the awesome documentary that took America by storm last year, have sent out the following message to fans:

"WE NEED HELP! 'American Movie' was released last week on VHS and DVD and is at your local video store now! Big problem: We've heard major retail stores are only stocking 1-2 copies for sale or rent, grossly underselling the movie!

"YOU CAN HELP! If you go to your local stores to rent or buy the movie and it's sold out OR they only have a few copies, ask the manager of the store to order at least 10 more ASAP!

"ALSO, CALL THIS NUMBER: 310-244-4000 and ask to speak to Marshall Forrestor--he's a top exec of sales at Sony and needs to hear the demand for more copies!!!!!"

Emails:

>From the Alamo Draft House:

SHAFT WEEK! JUNE 9-15

"John Singleton's 'SHAFT' opens nationwide on June 16. While Hollywood is remaking the genre with a modern sheen and an all-star cast, we at the Alamo feel it's appropriate to get back to the roots, declaring the week of June 9-15 SHAFT-WEEK. We will be screening the original 1971 Gordon Parks classic SHAFT starring Richard Roundtree. Before each feature, you will see a stunning array of the best BLAXPLOITATION previews ever made. Plus, with every ticket, receive an icy cold COLT 45 40 oz malt liquor. We have loads of Shaft information, articles, pictures and even Sammy Davis Jr's version of SHAFT on downloadable MP3. Check it out at http://www.drafthouse.com "

From Cinemaker Co-op:

"DON'T MISS CINEMAKER'S PRESENTATION OF THE SUPER 8 2000 WORLD TOUR AT THE RITZ!

"FOLLOWED BY A *FREE* WORKSHOP IN SUPER 8 PINHOLE CAMERAS, IN STUDIO 4E OF COMMUNICATIONS BUILDING B ON THE UT CAMPUS!

"Back from a two year hiatus and proud to present Super 8 2000 - The World Tour, the Super Super 8 Film Festival aims to bring the festival back into the film festival--with live musical accompaniment to silent films, bingo, door prizes, sing-alongs and more.

"On Friday, June 2 at 7pm at the Ritz Lounge Upstairs, the Cinemaker Co-op will host this throwdown of short film with tour coordinator Melinda Stone in person. Super 8 films spanning diverse styles and subjects will be featured, from Mark Fox's mysterious and alluring *Untitled Animation*, to Matt Hulse's frenetic wonder tour of the wild *Take Me Home*, to bad girl Martha Colburn's unforgettable hard-core creation *There's a Pervert in our Pool*. All projected ON FILM with live musical accompaniment by Peter Stopschinski of Brown Whornet! The Super Super 8 program will be followed by a selection of the most bold, beautiful, and bizarre Super 8 films made in Austin in the past few years. $7 general/$3.50 Cinemaker members. The Ritz Lounge is located at 320 6th St.

"THEN, on Saturday, June 3 at 11am, tour director Melinda Stone will conduct a FREE two-hour workshop in pinhole Super 8 camera-making and use. A rare treat for those interested in experimenting with this small format--or those that are just too broke to buy their own! IN STUDIO 4E OF COMMUNICATIONS BUILDING B, 26th & Guadalupe, on the UT Campus. Sponsored by the Department of Radio-Television-Film.

"This gala event highlighting unusual and lovely Super 8 films is dedicated to keeping the beauty of Super 8 filmmaking alive. Through an extensive network of supportive venues across the world, the Super 8 2000 Tour is presenting magical and adventurous Super 8 creations to hungry small format audiences far and wide.

"For more information, please contact the Austin Cinemaker Co-op at (512) 236-8877 or email cinemkr@texas.net"

Jason Wolk's film, THE CLOSET, which showed at Slamdance earlier this year, was sold to two distribs: DVD to Quickband Networks (an indie label owned by Warner Bro.) and all other rights were sold to ATOM FILMS.

THE CLOSET also won the Jury Award for Best Short at the Cleveland International Film Festival. Subsequent screenings since Slamdance have included: Seattle International, HBO/US Comedy of Arts, Newport Beach International, Santa Monica and Cinequest.

From Jason Lee, front man of Austin's fave band The Agency, comes this news:

"First things first: For reasons far too numerous to list here, The Agency won't be touring this summer.

"Also, I'm afraid there won't be any farewell gig in Austin before we move out to L.A.. During our trip out to the Left Coast last week, Barry found himself a day job... which begins on the 5th of June. The poor guy is running around like a one-legged man in an ass-kicking contest to get everything squared away before he leaves. The rest of us are moving out in stages, upon completion of our existing commitments. We're out of our rehearsal room, so it's up for grabs!

"Mark David is shooting two films this summer: "Thug Life" in early June, and "Duo" in late July/August. "Sweet Thing" is expected to be out on video and DVD by the end of this summer... look for it at your local Hollywood Video.

"William is putting the finishing touches on Casie Waller's CD."

Jason better keep me updated on how things go for him and the guys out in LA-LA land. Getting a e-mail or a returned phone call out of Mark David is like pulling teeth!

Here's a weird but fun little e-mail I got!

Take the first 3 letters of your first name. Add the last 2 letters of your last name. This is your Star Wars first name.

Now take the first 2 letters of your mother's maiden name. Add the first 3 letters of the city you were born in. This is your Star Wars last name.

BTW - Mine is Doner Hokeo....

>From Kyle Henry:

"The McCollege Tour, a traveling side-show of media, discussion and tool-kits for investigating corporate greed at universities and colleges across the nation has just completed another semester of opening a can of whoop ass!

"CHECK-OUT OUR NEW WEB-SITE (in construction) AT: http://www.mccollege.org

"PLEASE REPLY TO mccollege@hotmail.com WITH COMMENTS!!!

"Over 25 sites have hosted the tour to date, including: Rice (TX), Yale, Cornel, UMASS-Amherst, Boston College, Swarthmore, UC-Berkeley, UC-San Diego, Pitzer (CA), Cal State Fullerton, RPI (NY), SUNY-Binghamton, Southern Oregon University, Univ. of Oregon, Univ. of Arkansas, Univ. Kansas, Univ. of Texas, Univ. of Colorado-Boulder, the SXSW Film Festival, the Dallas Video Festival, and last but not least, a screening at the IMF/World Bank Protests in Washington, D.C. on April 15.

"A movement is building against the corporate takeover of academia, merging with movements fighting the concentration of power, wealth, and privilege by global transnational corporations. We are overwhelmed daily by the sheer size and growing awareness of this populist drive to make the centers of capital accountable to the communities of people they continue to exploit across the globe. We are also overwhelmed by the local efforts taking place on each campus we've visited to make corporate clones in administrative positions accountable to the needs of their students, faculty, staff and the communities they claim to serve. WE THOUGHT WE WERE ALONE! HOW FOOLISH!

"The McCollege Tour will continue, with the help of further grants pending, in the Spring of 2001, after participating in the Southern Circuit Tour in the Fall 2001. We will play this summer at the following sites:

June 16, Friday, 7:30 PM - Museum of Fine Arts - Houston, TX Freed Auditorium, inside the Glassell School of Art, 5101 Montrose Blvd. $5 General/$4 Students/Seniors/MFA Members http://www.mfah.org

June 17, Saturday, 9AM-1PM - SouthWest Alternative Media Project McCollege Tour Self Distribution Workshop Rice University Media Center, Houston, TX

"We will be conducting a special workshop on video activism and alternative distribution. If you would like to learn from our mistakes and discover what it takes to tour your documentaries, please check out this web site for more info on the workshop: http://www.swamp.org/wksp.html

"August - Time and Date TBA - Protest at the Democractic National Convention - Los Angles, CA

"We'll be there as protestors try to unbalance the neo-liberal strangle-hold on the Democratic Party. With Clinton winning today the new NAFTA for China, things keep changing for the worse. By the way, I'm voting for Ralph Nader and have registered for the Greens. At least I'll be voting for a candidate I actually believe in, instead of the lesser of two evils..."

From aGLIFF:

"We're excited to announce that aGLIFF is collaborating with the Austin Children's Museum for their Austin's Own Youth Film and Video Festival 2000. As part of this collaboration, aGLIFF is sponsoring a three hour animation workshop on Saturday, June 24. We are looking for an experienced traditional or computer based animator to lead this workshop. Thisd project will be our first attempt to collaborate with the museum and lay groundwork for the beginnings of a gay youth multimedia program. If you are interested in helping out with this workshop, please email Sandra Martinez at sandra@agliff.org stating your interest along with a brief (one to two sentences) description of your experience.

From Cinemaker Co-Op:

RELEASE PARTY FOR THE BEST OF 1998 AND 1999 Wednesday, June 14 8pm Empanada Parlor, 6th St. Free! Live music, drinks, and free food!

"Join us in celebrating the video release of the Cinemaker Co-op's Best of 1998 and 1999 compilation tape, "Fast Cheap Prophecies"! An amazing collection of the most beautiful, powerful, and hilarious Super 8 produced out of Austin in the past two years. Co-sponsored generously by the Empanada Parlor and Jennifer Hill Public Relations.

"For more information, contact the Cinemaker Co-op at 236-8877 or email cinemkr@texas.net "

From Austin Access TV:

http://austinaccess.com

"Austin Community Access Center Celebrates 27th Birthday with Party!

"Join us for Food, Festivities and Fun, featuring Live Music and a Live Broadcast Party Showcasing the 2000 Austin Video Awards.

"The Austin Community Access Center (ACAC) is 27 years strong and wants YOU to help them celebrate. Long recognized as the nation's premier public access Television facility, ACAC is opening up their doors to party on Saturday, June 10, 2000 and EVERYONE is invited!

"ACAC will be hosting a 27th Birthday Bash and Open House at their studios from Noon to 5:00 P.M. on Saturday, June 10. If you can't make it, never fear! Tune into Channel 16 from Noon to 2:00 P.M. for a LIVE party broadcast, featuring winners of the 2000 Austin Video Awards and live musical performances by Austin favorites' Leeann Atherton and Dahebegebees. The entertainment will continue throughout the afternoon with an acoustic "Songwriter in the Round" hosted by Tres Hombres Publishing.

"The Austin Video Awards recognize the outstanding achievements of ACAC Independent Producers, who produce more than 2,500 programs monthly. ACAC members are a widely diverse group, representing all ethnic backgrounds and include women's groups, disability groups, churches, schools, local clubs, local music shows, and more. Three access channels are provided through Time Warner's cable franchise, Channels 10, 11 and 16 and service more than 170,000 households in the Austin viewing area.

"Throughout the past 27 years, ACAC has remained the nation's leader, receiving outstanding praise on the local, state, and national levels. Devoted to the community, ACAC has held fast to their mission, "to promote a free exchange of ideas, community dialogue and individual artistic expression through cable television and other media." In 1996, ACAC was awarded for the second time, the "Community Communications Award," the highest honor given by the Alliance for Community Media. Any resident within the Austin Time Warner viewing area is eligible to take low-cost workshops, which provide certification for use of ACAC equipment, thus providing the public access to affordable video production opportunities.

"ACAC is located at 1143 Northwestern Ave. (off of Rosewood) and any questions or comments can be directed to 478-8600 ext. 10. A map and additional information about the services provided by ACAC can be downloaded from http://austinaccess.com "

I dont remember who sent me this one. It's happening at the Alamo Drafthouse:

Lunch and a Story with Maria Grace

"Come have an experience that will nourish your body, stimulate your mind, and (maybe) open your heart to your inner knowledge about your personal journey through Heaven and Earth.

"Psychotherapist Dr. Maria Grace is using film to tell stories that aim at connecting you to basic, forgotten truths. Whether you are a movie fan, a spiritual seeker, a lover of art, or just curious, you will be given some new tools to discover the healing power of film. You will learn about symbols and myths as signs toward self-discovery. You will be part of a forum that asks questions and looks for answers. And all this, while you will be having a lot of fun!

"One Sunday of each month, beginning June 11, 2000, on 409 Colorado Street. 12:00 doors open. 12:30-2:30 presentation. 2:30-3:15 general discussion. Admission $8.00. (Lunch bought separately)

June 11: "Star Wars and the path to our Bliss: the search for our Myth" July 16: "What dreams are made of inside the Matrix" August 13: "The unbearable lightness of being in Love and War" September 10: "Cinderella and The Sleeping Beauty in Wonderland"

"For more info contact: 476-1320 or thegrace@flash.net"

From Reel Women:

Clean out your closets and help support the Reel Women Production Group!

The Reel Women Production Group is holding a garage sale on June 24 to raise money for Tell Mona and Wisegals. If you have items you would like to donate to the garage sale we will be picking them up on June 10 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and on June 17 from 8 a.m. until 12 p.m. To schedule a pick up please call 292-9008 X1 and leave your name, phone number, address and preferred pick up date. Thanks!

SXSW is currently looking to fill two positions on staff:

Graphic Designer and Layout Person

Candidates for this position must have strong experience in print design and layout; responsible for design and layout for brochures, event directories, ads, banners, and various other needs. Person would be responsible for coordinating with the staff and print houses to accomplish full-color print production and graphics for the web. Requires strong working knowledge of: Mac OS, Photoshop, Illustrator, Pagemaker, Quark. Also, beneficial to have experience in: Flash, Fireworks, AfterEffects, HTML, Dreamweaver and other graphics and layout applications. Candidate must be able to show a porfolio of previous work.

Interested parties should their resume to: RE: Graphic Designer, wilcox@sxsw.com or FAX 512/451-0754 Attn: Scott Wilcox

Filemaker Pro Designer and Tech Support

Candidates for this position must have previous database design experience in Filemaker Pro, and be able to show examples of previous relational database design. Person would be responsible for designing and supporting the front-end work environment for SXSW staff, database management, and working with other staff prgrammers to integrate office systems with the website. Requires strong working knowledge of: Mac OS, Filemaker Pro, user interface design, scripting, and a desire to increase working knowledge of database design and systems integration.

Interested parties should their resume to: RE: Filemaker Pro Designer, wilcox@sxsw.com or FAX 512/451-0754 Attn: Scott Wilcox

Kolodner Heading Madstone Search for Feature Digital Directors

Newly-formed Madstone Films has announced an international search for first-time feature filmmakers to direct full-length digital movies -- the effort is being spearheaded by acclaimed indie producer Eva Kolodner ("Boys Don't Cry," "Safe Men").

As part of the initiative, Madstone will award -- every six months -- a two-year contract for 3 - 5 directors. The package includes an annual salary of $50,000, benefits, a 401(K) plan and funding for a feature with a $500,000 to $1.5 million budget. Filmmakers will receive profit participation in films produced during their tenure with the organization.

In a prepared statement, Head of Feature Development and Production Eva Kolodner commented, "Madstone is determined to destroy the myth that you have to be working three jobs and developing your script in the middle of the night to make your vision a reality."

According to a company announcement that is being released today, Madstone is "laying the foundation for a digital distribution network for the theatrical exhibition of the resulting films." The announcement continues, "The company plans to create a unique network of community-based cinemas where theatergoers can experience a varied slate of entertainment uniquely suited to their specific interests."

Madstone indicated that it will be searching for directors through film festivals, film schools , and sites streaming short films. The company is also encourging applications via its website. Eligibility requirements include previous work as a director of short form work, including films, commercials, music videos or internet content. Applicants must submit a feature treatment or script. The deadline for the tenure starting July 17, 2000 is Friday, June 16th.

For further submission guidelines, visit www.madstonefilms.com or call Madstone Films at (212) 989-4500.

And that's a wrap for this week folks!

lodger2000