#2

I saw 158 films in 1999.

More Rich and Kelly

Steve McQueen in Houston

Lube TV

My Big Badass Birthday Bash

Obi-Wan and The Force

News 8 Austin's "Websightings"

Bruce LaBruce

Wanna be an extra for Mike Judge and Richard Linklater?

"Dreamers"

Agliff and the HRC "Awards" screening

Alamo Drafthouse presents "Spike and Mike"

"The Book That Wrote Itself"

I saw 158 films in 1999.

First film I saw in 1999: Fassbinder's "Bolweiser" on IFC

Last film I saw in 1999: "Three Kings" at the Alamo

First film I saw in 2000: "Hit and Runway" at agliff screening

Wednesday night. Went out with Rich and Kelly to a Italian place right by Hut's Hamburgers called Frank and Angie's. The food was really good. Rich doesn't eat meat (very often), so we ordered a pizza with lotsa veggies and it had artichoke hearts on it. I've never had them before. Their like the hybrid bastard sons of mushrooms and green peppers. The pizza was really good. And the service was good too.

It was great to see Kelly again. Seemed like a long time. He wasn't feeling well and half way through dinner he got to be pretty quiet, but not in his usual "notice me being quiet" Kelly way.

We went back to their place to watch some movies we shot. Kelly hasn't seen a lot of the stuff that Rich, Tim and I have shot when we were together. Kelly called his parents and they got in a small argument about him going to a doctor or something. That pretty much shut him down for the night. So he went to bed. Rich and I watched this great film Kelly made when he was by himself. Kelly has this weird uncanny knack for emulating a film I have seen without even knowing it. The piece opens with a shot that, if you didn't know any better, you would swear was a rip-off/homage to the opening shots in "No Skin Off My Ass." It was weird. Then he smokes a cigarette. Now, when Kelly smokes a cigarette, and he doesn't normally smoke by the way, but here, he turns the act into an artform. It's amazing. There is a scene where he takes a drag and then raises up his arm and it looks like it's the smoke from the cigarette for half a second. One of those magical accidents that's just amazing. The whole piece, although it drags a bit at times, is wonderful considering that Kelly filmed the entire thing completely by himself. It's truly an interesting work.

Next, Rich showed me this trio of shorts that he, Kelly and Tim shot one night a few weeks back. They all begin and end with the same shot. Each of them took a turn behind the camera (something we have been trying of late). Kelly's piece was his most fully realized comment on filmmaking yet. Kelly's films often have filmmaking as a motif. This one is exceptional. I wish we could show it at some festival at Slamdance sometime. I hope we can load it up as streaming video at filethirteen one day.

Rich's piece had an interesting idea where two guys (seemingly brothers), one seemingly "retarded" and the other not, switch places. It's one of those films that, if I explained it, would seem heavy-handed and contrived, but Rich filmed it with a subtlety and a quiet understanding that amazed me. The "retarded" character (I wish I had a better word for this), obsessed over cleaning something. And, when given a chance to speak with a clear voice, articulated why he was obsessing about it and was able make his obsession understood by the "brother." It wasn't perfect but it was damn good. Perhaps Tim and Kelly, who acted in it, tried a little too hard and came off as hammy, but there was an underlying sweetness and hopefulness to the piece. It allowed the viewer, as all good film should, to see the world through someone else's eyes and momentarily glean a bit of understanding through seeing the world from that vantage point.

Tim's conclusion was not so fully realized but it was a good work. Kelly and Rich made the film by playing drunks. Not just drunks. But incomprehensible, passed-out-face-down-on-the-floor drunks. It was funny. Tim needs to leave arty pretense aside a bit and work more naturally, but he and I have a lot of catching up to do to reach the level of filmmaking savvy and inventiveness that Rich and Kelly have achieved.

Oh and, by the way, Rich and Kell's video, "The Paul Collection" is now available at the I (heart) Video on Guadalupe. Ask for it by name!

For all you in Houston:

Steve McQueen films at the Museum of Fine Arts!

Steve McQueen: The King of Cool "Acting's a good racket. And let's face it, you can't beat it for the bread." One of the most popular screen personalities of the 60s and 70s, Steve McQueen (1930-80) possessed an appealing combination of a heroic antihero, gregarious loner, and exuberant introvert. Predicting a McQueen revival in Interview, Peter McQuaid commented "McQueen was one of those rare actors who doesn't have to change characters from film to film -- he just had to find the right role, and audiences just had to watch." Assembled here are highlights from his indelible, and altogether, too brief career.

Dates, times, and preview information:

Papillon Directed by Franklin J. Schaffner (USA, 1973, 150 min.) Friday, January 28, 7:30 p.m. Based on the autobiographical writings of French thief Henri Charriere with a screenplay by Dalton Trumbo, McQueen stars as a criminal sent to Devil's Island in the 1930s determined to escape from the prison. Dustin Hoffman costars as the swindler he befriends. (The title refers to a butterfly tattoo on McQueen's character.)

The Great Escape Directed by John Sturges (USA, 1963, 170 min.) Saturday, January 29, 7:30 p.m. During World War II, the Nazis threw troublesome POWs into an "escape-proof" camp. This film classic recounts the prisoners' plot to join forces in a single, mass break for freedom. Inspired by a true story and based on the novel by Paul Brickhill, McQueen performed most of the stunts himself, against the wishes of director Sturges. The film features an ensemble cast including Charles Bronson, James Coburn, and James Garner.

Thursday night I had a lot to do and didn't get much accomplished. I was, at least, able to manage getting a copy of "Index," the NY based magazine that Bruce LaBruce works on. I also, after much driving backroads and getting lost, was able to go to Tinseltown Pflugerville and get advanced tickets to the opening performance of "Magnolia."

Friday, went to see "Magnolia" with Rich. We talked about it afterwards and it was a very nice experience to share going to the movie with him.

That night, after work, I edited and put tiles on some of the short film stuff Rich and Tim and I have been working on and dubbed them from 8mm to VHS. There's some good stuff and some junk.

Sunday, I went to a closed down movie theater near my house and shot some exteriors. I have a short film in mind for this using some other footage I shot recently. I also went to Zilker Park and filmed some stuff, nothing interesting. Later, Tim and his girlfriend came over and we watched a lot of the stuff that we've made over the last couple months. None of it seemed to really interest her. It's hard to watch your work with an audience that doesn't grasp experimental and slowly-paced stuff. She mainly seemed bored. Rich came over after work and joined us and we tried to make some stuff but the chemistry just wasn't right and so mainly what we did was crap, although there were a few moments here and there that worked.

Tim and his girlfriend left and Rich and I talked some. We couldn't figure out what to do, so eventually we went to Casino and hung out. I saw guys from Voltage, Pocket FishRMen and The Titz there but didn't go to say hi. It's hard to see anyone else when your with Rich. He drinks up most of my attention, which is fine by me. We talked a hell of a lot and I continued to realized how important his friendship is to me.

Afterwards, we came back to my place and I gave him a copy of one of the scripts I am working on. He also borrowed a few movies. I have told Rich that I am not sexually interested in him and that is only partially true. Because the closer I become with him the harder it is not to think of him romantically. I never think about mad passionate sex with him, just mainly hanging around and enjoying each others company. I feel very relaxed and casual around him and this is truly nice. He is a great friend and if that is all we ever are, that will be more than enough. As it is, he seem comfortable around me and never seems uneasy when I kid around with him. He makes me very happy. His friendship makes me very happy. He is the first person I have met in a long time who makes me feel like he and I are going to be really good friends for a long time and that is a pretty wonderful thing. I hope the trajectory continues.

If nothing else, Rich has slightly given me back that feeling that maybe, just maybe, there is someone out there for me. Somewhere.... And I don't feel so foolish for feeling that way.

Got this in an e-mail

Howdy! John Christensen here. Meant to write this last week, but I was sick and out of town. Last week the 1st episode of LubeTV premiered- variety show hosted by myself and Mark Brauner. For those who have Austin Access, it's on every Wed., ch.10, 11pm. (not in the tv guide yet, but will be) Every week will be something different, you never know what to expect. For those who missed last week, we showed my last video- Manifesto- to set up the program and exemplify what it can mean to lubricate the social environment (thanx Janet!), and the rest of the show we sat around and talked weird stuff with special guests such as local legend Allan Campbell. **I would also like to invite anyone to contribute to the show. Whatever you may have done, whether film or video of any genre, or music, monologues, skits, performance art, philosophical rantings, general silliness, or just hanging out. It's a variety show and the general attitude is that Fun Rulz! so we'll consider anything.** We can be contacted at this email- lubetv@yahoo.com, and again, LubeTV is on every Wed., ch.10, 11pm. Tune in and let us know what you think sometime. Thanx.Go out and be kind to your fellow human and get lubed!

John is a guy I met briefly who was the Assistant Program Director at the 1999 Austin Film Festival. He has a lot of energy and is really down to Earth, so I imagine the show will have some interesting stuff. I'll try to catch an episode or two.

Tuesday night I met Tim over at Rich and Kelly's. Kelly was sick and in a horrid mood. He was really being quite ugly. He is a very high strung person, however, so he is entitled to have his moods. Rich and Tim and I decided to leave him be and went on a car ride. We tried to film some stuff but nothing was really working. We decided to go to the Tinseltown parking lot, since it was closed and deserted and ended up making two decent little shorts under the parking lot lights, one called "The Car Ride" and the other "The Wait." Tim sort of directed the first and Rich, the second. I acted in both.

Wed-Fri - I spent in Houston visiting my family for my birthday. My mom and I talked a lot but her interest seems limited to TV and the family. I used to be a TV junkie but I am not anymore (now I'm more of a cinemajunkie), so it was kinda like being an addict out of rehab and going to visit your old haunts. I know I'm cured tho, because I haven't been so bored in a very long time. Don't get me wrong, I love my mom, but I realized we had almost nothing in common now that I don't just sit and watch TV 24 hours a day. It was kinda depressing.

Thursday, my mom fixed a big turkey dinner and some old friends came over. That was nice. Friday I went to Bayou City Nights in the lovely little town of Pasadena and saw my friend Obi's band, The Force, play. They are a very good cover band and they do a lot of modern rock stuff. Obi dresses very glam with a few costume and make up changes during the set. It seems to be a "safe" way for him to deal with his repressed bisexuality. It was really kinda amusing watching him and thinking about this. Obi and his wife let me sleep it off on their couch that night and then I got up early and headed back to Austin.

Going back home to Houston didn't feel like home at all. I can't believe how dramatically my life has changed over the past 6 months. Austin is home. My apartment here is home. It felt good to get back.

On Friday 1/14/2000, the site was featured on Channel 8, News8Austin's "Websightings." I was out of town but my friend Tim taped it for me. I noticed they didn't mention "Notes from Austin" or any of the gay stuff. They did say we were a good source for news about local film stuff and independent "third coast" film stuff. That was cool.

Bruce La Bruce is taking his new film, "Skin Flick," to South Africa this week. I would be curious as to how the film is received there. Hope he let's me know.

Neal Fredericks is the DP of "The Blair Witch Project" and "Dreamers," a new film I didn't care for much. After reading my review(s), Neal sent me the following e-mail. I think it shows what a class act he is. (BTW - the Ann he refers to is Ann Lu, the director of "Dreamers.")

One thing Ann and I have learned is that you can't take reviews and opinions as personal attacks. The ultimate goal of any filmmaker is for the film to be seen by the widest audience possible, so you have to be ready for people to NOT like your film. A great example is BLAIR WITCH.

We know that everyone will not like our film and that's cool with us. Luckily we have gotten a very positive response on the festival circuit and distribuors are calling our producer's reps. to pick up the film.

We are working towards a limited theatrical release starting in LA and then NYC this spring. We then want the film to open in other U.S. and Canadian cities.

Another recent e-mail:

CALL FOR EXTRAS: Dimension feature film shooting in Austin looking for extras: Teenagers, children, demolition derby fans, Bubbas, bowlers, interesting faces, men and women of various ages. Positions will be paid.

Executive producers Mike Judge and Richard Linklater. Mail photo and contact information to "Stewart"/Demolition Film Corp. ATTN: Extras Casting, PO Box 4398, Austin, TX 78765-4398.

And yet another e-mail:

aGLIFF(Austin Gay & Lesbian International Film Festival) and HRC (Human Rights Campaign) will co-sponsor a screening of the October 9, 1999 Human Rights Campaign Annual Washington D.C. Black Tie Dinner. The screening will be at the Dobie Theatre on January 20th at 7:00PM.

The video contains extremely emotional scenes from speakers such as the Parents of Matthew Shephard, the family of James Byrd from Jasper, Texas and other notable attendees such as Martina Navratilova, Ellen DeGeneres, Attorney General Janet Reno and HRC Executive Director Elizabeth Birch.

The Human Rights Campaign is the largest national lesbian and gay political organization, with 300,00 members throughout the country. It effectively lobbies Congress, provides campaign support and educates the public to ensure that lesbian and gay Americans can be open, honest and safe at home, at work and in the community.

Admission is free to HRC and aGLIFF members. We request a $5.00 donation from those who are not members of either organization. Members must present their membership card for 2 free tickets. Anyone wishing to join HRC or aGLIFF to receive two (2) free passes to the screening may contact either group at austinhrc@hotmail.com or kino@agliff.org for more information or membership applications.

Again, the date is Thursday, January 20th at 7:00pm at the Dobie

News from the Alamo Drafthouse:

Last chance to buy vintage Alamo seats!

On February 4, the Alamo Drafthouse we will be donating the remaining chairs to charity, so get yours while you still can. Chairs are $20 each (5 for $80) and come with a notarized certificate of authenticity. Call 476-1320 to arrange a pick-up time or stop by the theater from noon to midnight weekdays and 5 till midnight weekends.

These seats were originally manufactured in 1946, and were reupholstered in 1994.

Update on the Gold Rush/Asylum Street Spankers Show:

Guy Forsyth will once again be joining the ranks of his former band, the Asylum Street Spankers, for a very special performance of Charlie Chaplin's THE GOLD RUSH. Advance tickets are still available for all shows, Wed and Thurs, January 19 & 20 7:00 and 9:30 Tickets are available at the Alamo or call 476-1320, call 867-1839 for information.

SPIKE & MIKE'S® 2000 SICK AND TWISTED® FESTIVAL OF ANIMATION® Arrives in Austin, Texas

Featuring TWENTY TOTALLY UNCENSORED PREMIERS!

Hey Austin, the fun times are back because once again it's time to get Sick and Twisted® with Spike and Mike®! But this time with more premiers, more sequels, more sarcasm, more humiliation, and more vulgarity! And along with our brand new, ludicrous, depraved, hysterical, repulsive, and unsavory animated shorts we're bringin' our raucous emcees and crazed pre-show stage antics back to Austin's favorite theater where its fun to get rowdy and ripped while trying not to ralph!

The notoriety of our Sick and Twisted® Festival of Animation® has caused Spike and Mike® to be dubbed by animation giants as the kings of tasteless toons. The Sick and Twisted® Festival is home for animated pieces which are simply too revolting or adult in nature for our prestigious and tasteful Original show. This show is not recommended for those of delicate constitution. When the Sick and Twisted® show arrives in town, be prepared for a wild and tasteless cartoon super-bash. Spike and Mike's® team of hooligans take over film theaters, performing art centers, major universities and contemporary art museums, and turn unsuspecting rooms into chaotic dens of debauchery. A pre-show freak-show warms the crowd and when the audience is good and riled, the emcee begins the show, and the riotous fans writhe and scream as all good taste is beaten into submission.

Animation hounds and party dogs will bark and howl as Spike and Mike, the producers of the first two Beavis and Butthead films, return to Austin with their 2000 Sick and Twisted® Festival of Animation®, to unleash their latest, newest, and annual batch of outrageously funny animated shorts. This year's nationally touring showcase featuring 20 brand new side-splitting, knee-slapping, stomach-turning films that represent the best animated hijinks on the planet. This event is geared to offend, provoke, and disgust the wildest of animation fans. The show will be screened daily from January 21 thru February 13 at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema. Tickets are $7.50 at the door and go on sale one hour before show time. For ages 18 and over only.

The 2000 Sick and Twisted® includes such premieres as:

FORREST DUMP & FORESKIN GUMP Roy T. Wood Life is no box of chocolates here, when you can't wipe off the mess!

HORNED GRAMMA Dave Foss A doser's delight, with Gramma spinning a baker's tale of total dementia. For experienced drug users only!

BEYOND GRANDPA II Breehn John Burns and Jason Johnson 13 brand new episodes of unforgettable and utterly absurd caricatures of Grandpa's secret and sexy life that will once again knock you off your rocker.

TONGUE TWISTER Sean Scott Licking feels good until it gets bloody.

HOME, HONEY, I'M HIGHER: WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT DRUGS Matt Davis and Dan Dudley Who says Spike and Mike don't offer anything educational? This potent, instructual sequel may cloud some minds, but it won't be difficult for everyone to inhale. As the lessons line up, your brain may be blotted as your heart races up and down so your mind may open to nurture effective habits.

SWING SLUTS Brett Johnson The sluts are back! Summer and Tiffany, of Hut Sluts infamy, tangle with the L.A. swing scene. If you thought 'camel toes' were bad, wait until you find out about 'meat curtains'.

BOWLIN' FER SOULS Super Genius A slick, ultra-cool, rockin' rampage with a fast car, cheap thrills and an insane driver; all revved for excitement! A definite, roaring, crowd pleaser!

BILLY'S BALLOON Don Hertzfeldt A cruelly morbid and twisted tale of exacting revenge, from the creator of the 'I Need My Space!' smash hit Ah L'Amour. Another bitterfilms.com classic!

PLUS 12 OTHER PREMIERS including RADIOACTIVE CROTCH MAN, BEAT THE MEATLES, TYSON: I AM NOT AN ANIMAL and other SURPRISE, BONUS FILMS both new and old!

Daily January 21 thru February 13 Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays: 7:00 pm, 9:45pm & Midnight Sundays thru Wednesdays: 7:00 pm, & 9:45pm * No shows on Wed, Jan 26 due to the Texas Documentary Tour!

http://www.spikeandmike.com

Filmmakers who want their work exhibited on the web should stay "tuned" to www.filethirteen.com.

But, until we get there... check out www.anteye.com

Cisco Gamez of the WB in Austin is trying to put together a syndicated show called "Two Guys and a Girl Reviewing Movies" (a horrid title) which stars Korey Koleman, Jana Lyford and Martin Thomas. One of these guys, Koleman - I think, has his own cable access show currently. The show would feature trailers, interviews and behind the scenes stuff. It would be 30 minutes and air once per week. They have shot a couple of pilots, I believe. Good luck guys!

Liam O'Mochain's film, "The Book that Wrote Itself," was my pick for the "best of the fest" at the Austin film Fesitval last year. Liam has set up a website for the film at http://www.thebookthatwroteitself.com

You can also read my glowing review here at filethirteen in the 1999 Austin Film Festival section.

Sunday night was fun but Monday at work was a horror show. Tim came over Sunday afternoon and showed me the News 8 Austin blurb. Then we watched part of an interview with Charlie Rose and P.T. Anderson he had taped. And finally, we made a silly little film.

Then we went and spent the rest of the night at Rich and Kelly's. I started drinking this cheap wine Tim and his girlfriend got Rich for his 21st B-Day a few weeks back. Then I started putting shots of vodka in it. Then I added various other combustibles to the mixture and before it was all over I was a heap of quivering goo (and in the second best way possible). We watched a lot of the stuff that we have made over the past few weeks that Kelly had not seen. Then the guys started to make another film. I was far too intoxicated to really take part but I tried to do what they asked me. I really don't remember much except we "carpet surfed" a bit and, at one point, Kelly made us all go in seperate rooms and I spent an inordinate amount of time in Rich's closet (make your own joke here). I finally came out and hung out with Kelly while he filmed the other guys. I was in there a long time. I think he made me go back in. I may have passed out at some point. I don't remember. Anyway, eventually we watched it and it was an extended mosaic of silliness. I'd like to see it sober sometime if the guys don't burn the tape...

Got home at 5am and had to get up for work at 8am... not a pretty sight.

Okay - Going to Sundance/Slamdance/Slamdunk/No Dance... maybe the partying will get me warmed up for the massive amounts of sleep depravation and drinking I plan to do with the Mormon boys.

If you see a rather large gay man making snow angels with Jason Priestly make sure to tell me hi...

lodger 2000