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Notes
from Austin, Volume 2 #23
Including:
Things to Do (7/7-7/13)
Lodger on LubeTV
Monster Piss
John Christensen, Professional Extra!
The Austin Connection
The Real World
Splendor
Thundercloud Subs
4th of July Extravaganza (Miss Xanna Dont, ATG Fundraiser
at Waterloo Park, Boyd Vance, Rainbow Cattle Company, Austin
Babtist Women, The Forum, Fireworks, Antones, "Pageant," Sandra
Bullock the "Bimbo Bitch" and Bob Schnieder, Clifford Antone,
Lucky Lounge, Magnolia Cafe)
Kevin DuRard's "Shimmer"
Hobble and Federation X at Flamingo Cantina!
The Agronauts at 710 Club
"Radio Free Steve"
Hollywood Hubub
"The Laughing Boy"
The Judys!!!!!!
Cinemaker
Micro-Film
thru 7/9 - CITY OF LOST CHILDREN - Alamo Drafthouse
thru 7/16 - Barefoot in the Park - Mary Moody Northern Theater
thru 7/30 - Soul Picnic (The music of Laura Nyro) - Scottish
Rite Opera House
thru 8/13 - Tapestry: Music of Carole King - Zach Scott Theater
7/7 - Films Released Nationally
SCARY MOVIE (WAYANS BROS)
THE KID (BRUCE WILLIS, LILLY TOMLIN)
BLOOD SIMPLE (RERELEASE DIRECTORS CUT)
BUT I'M A CHEERLEADER (NATASHA LYONETTE)
SHOWER (ASIAN FILM)
7/7 - Films Released in Austin
JESUS' SON (BILLY CRUDUP) - DOBIE, ARBOR 7
SUNSET BOULEVARD (RERELEASE) - DOBIE
SUNSHINE (RALPH FIENNES, WILLIAM HURT) - ARBOR 7
ADRENALINE DRIVE (JAPAN) - ARBOR 7
LUMINOUS MOTION - ARBOR 7
7/7-7/8 - Pink Floyd's The Wall (70mm) - Paramount
7/7-8/6 - Nunsense 3 - State Theater
7/7-7/8 - Ween - Stubbs
7/7 - Fuckemos - Flamingo Cantina
7/7 - Ian Moore - Antones
7/7 - Sussanna Van Tassle - Central Market (Central Park)
7/8 - Punchy - Flying Saucer (Dallas) Dallas
7/9-7/10 - Last Emperor (70mm) - Paramount
7/11-7/12 - Total Recall (70mm) - Paramount
7/11 - aGLIFF drive-in movie "Pillow Talk" - MACC, 600 River
Street.
7/11 - Derek Geary (Free Show) - Cactus Club
7/12 - Goldfinger/Dynamite Hack/Bowling for Soup - Stubbs
7/12 - Golden Showers - Flamingo Cantina
7/13-7/14 - The Untouchables (70mm) - Paramount
7/13-7/16 - THE BREAKFAST CLUB - Alamo Drafthouse
7/13 - Unloco - Lazona Rosa
A week ago, Wednesday night, I went over to John Christensen's
pad for another LubeTV taping (Episode 28). Mark Brauner, his
LubeTV co-host was there and soon we were joined by Tobey Hydell
who had directed a short called "Kung Fu Dumpster Boy," as well
as a couple of John's friends, Trish and Bob, Dude, Bob.
I got to be on the show again. I was wearing dark eye shadow
and dark lipstick and on camera I looked like death. I had
also dyed my hair the night before. It was supposed to be
"Dark Brown Triumph," but it was actually almost jet black.
John and Mark also showed a cartoon that had something to
do with Nazis, a video about cross dressing by The Mormon
Yahoos (or something like that) and a video I made with my
friend Tim the Wonder Horse called "Monster Piss." This will
debut in early August on access. My first public showing of
a video and it's on cable access TV! I know most people are
going to lambaste me for it. It's just a funny, silly goof.
At the end of the night, when I was about to go home, John's
neighbors were also coming in. These are 3 Hispanic guys,
in their early 20's and very thug looking. John and I went
out and talked to them for a bit. They were pretty typical.
One of them, actually, really two of them were pretty cute.
The cutest one had tattoos all over his arms. I'll be knocking
on that door one night when I get really drunk.
After I left John's, I went home and caught the end of "The
Austin Connection" on cable access. This runs on channel 16,
Wednesday nights from 12 mid-1:30am. There is just a load
of cute young guys on the show. Once again, DJ Cadabra and
Tucker were on and a lot of other regulars. It's a fun show
to watch if you like cute guys. It's pretty cool that anyone
can have their own cable show in Austin. Even if it cost some
bucks.
Another recent night over at John's found us taping yet another
of LubeTV. John has a ton of acting work coming up and many
auditions, so he's trying to get ahead a few episodes. He's
working as an extra on the Sandy Bullock film "Miss Congeniality."
He also will probably doing some extra work on a film about
Jesse James that is about to lens here. John, I bet, will get
more of a featured extra role in that one. He's also auditioning
for several projects including the new Tony Hewitt ("What I
Like About You") film, "The Duo," and a film shooting in L.A.
We pretty much threw a party at John's because it was his
friend John Marshall's Bday. We shot a Lube episode that will
feature Bowie's "Jazzing for Blue Jean" 22 minute video from
the 80's. It was fun, Trish was there as well.
A lot of folks came over including John's neighbor Bunny
and his girlfriend, who refuses for some reason to let me
call her Tomato like John does, Johnny Rocket, a bartender
at the Driskoll, a young filmmaker named Justin (I think)
who is going to L.A. soon, and a really cute friend of Bunny's
named Charles. I was pretty keen on Charles but he was obviously
pretty sure he was hetero and I didn't want to seem like a
puppy latching on to him all night. He was interesting to
talk to though. He was a well dressed, theologian, acoustic
bass player! Don't meet many of those.
I got drunk and started to do a lot of the dialogue from
"The Corndog Man," a film John turned me on to. Mark "Zaphod"
Brauner, John and I all love this film. We now quote lines
from it all the time. One of my favorites is: "I'll sell a
black man a boat faster than a cat can lick his ass." I am
calling us all the "Cult of the Corndog Man" now.
I used to love "The Real World" on MTV. In fact, I think this
particular show has done more to advance gay people into becoming
accepted that any other single thing in the last 20 years. The
Puck and Pedro episodes in SF were some of the most riveting
and insightful television programs ever produced.
Also, for some reason, I really loved the year they were
in London. Some people really hated this series but I liked
it a lot. I am not sure why. It aired the year after SF and
seemed very lame by comparison. But I liked it. For one thing,
my gaydar always went off on Mike the race car driver and
Jay the little playwright. Remember the girl Jay was so in
love with, she was so masculine. Anyway... I've been watching
the new season of episodes set in New Orleans and I find them
kind of interesting. There's a really cute but hopelessly
straight guy on there named Matt that is a virgin. And there's
a Mormon girl and, of course, a gay guy. He's dating a military
man, and they blur his face when he visits. I think this is
a wonderful and bold move on MTV's part. They are protecting
this guy's identity and at the same time making a glaring
statement about the ridiculous nature of the "Don't Ask Don't
Tell" policy, without ever saying this straightforwardly.
It's kinda brilliant.
My friend Max turned me on to the band Splendor. They do that
song "Yeah... Whatever" where the lyrics continue... "make you
happy. Yeah, whatever makes it beautiful..." The CD is great.
What made me decide to buy it was when Max told me it was produced
by Todd Rundgren. That was the clincher. I dig the songs "Cigarette"
and "London."
When I got the CD at Best Buy, I also picked up a CD of
Phillip Glass compositions. There is some awesome stuff on
here. I think it has the music Aaron Valdez used for his Robert
Kennedy/High Noon film at one of the Cinemaker shows.
I love Thundercloud. Maybe they should change the name to smoke
cloud, cause there always seems to be one coming out of the
kitchen. It's always as if everyone working there is stoned
out of their mind. They also always have some awesome music
playing. The other day I was in the store by my house and I
thought they were playing Air but when I asked the guy behind
the counter, he told me it was some kind of Brazilian electronica
sampler CD. He went and got the cover for me. That was pretty
cool. I liked the music a lot. But who would have ever thought
that there would be a genre called "Brazilian electronica?"
The 4th of July was quite a festive day for me. I spent the
day with Miss Xanna Don't and her girlfriend Ann. We went to
Waterloo Park in the afternoon for a beer and barbecue bust
sponsored by the Austin Tavern Guild, a loose association of
the gay bars in town. Of course, Xanna, after spending the last
few years playing at every bar in the Capitol City, knows everyone.
The afternoon's entertainment was provided by the Austin Babtist
Ladies, a group of drag performers who look like the understudies
for the cast of "Greater Tuna." The Babtists have traveled the
country over the past few years and raised somewhere over $4
million for AIDS charities. Xanna introduced me to some of the
guys in the group (when they were both in and out of drag).
Unfortunately, we arrived a bit late and only caught the tail-end
of their last song. (BTW - the ATG raised over $2,400 at this
event for charities!)
Lots of the bartenders from different bars were there serving
food and beer to help raise money. Xanna got into an intense
discussion with the young man who books talent for The Forum,
Jaffa. Xanna's point of contention was that they don't book
enough gay talent, opting for a mix of straight and gay acts.
This seems like a sore point with Xanna and maybe rightfully
so. She insists that gay acts don't get the recognition and
gigs they deserve when they are "out." She cited, for example,
Lourdes Perez, a local Puerto Rican lesbian that is an awesome
performer. Lourdes, like Xanna, found it difficult to get
book in some of the more "straight" venues here in town. Again,
perhaps Xanna is right to be so zealous in her promotion of
gay entertainers. They are fighting what sometimes seems to
be an uphill battle.
Anyway, Xanna kind of gave this guy from the Forum a hard
time and it was kinda amusing and also kinda indicative of
Xanna's personality. Personally, she is a wonderful and warm
and giving person. Professional, she is a bulldozer. She is
a perfection. She has ideas and principles and she is unwavering
in her righteousness. I kinda dig it. But like myself, or
at least like I like to think of myself, she sometimes gets
too opinionated and that can turn people off. People think
we're mean when, in fact, we are just convicted. It's such
a hassle to be misunderstood.
I also understood Jaffa's points and agree with him as well.
For one thing, The Forum is a commercial entity. His job is
to get butts in the bar. Also, gay people like straight entertainers
too. There is no need to discriminate in the reverse. And
many of the bands that Jaffa books have gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgenderal
members. Or they are bands that gay people want to see. But
it's ultimately his job to get people in the door to spend
money. Nothing more. I think it's better to make sure the
club owners and the people who make the most money from these
places are gay. If "we" make money off "straight" entertainment,
so be it. A lot of these bars do much for gay related charities,
as did this 4th of July event. That's really what it's all
about.
Xanna also introduced me to Boyd Vance, who works with the
Zachery Scott Theater. And Jitten, a cameraman for News 8
Austin. Boyd has an interesting event coming up, the Fourth
Annual African American Festival of Dance, at 8pm, Friday,
July 21, at the Helm Fine Arts Center on the campus of St.
Stephens Episcopal School. Bre Dance of Los Angeles, 7th Principle
of Newark, New Jersey, Second Generation Dance Theater, Kumba
Dance Theatre and Media Dance of Houston, and Puerto Rican
Folkloric Dance of Austin are all scheduled to perform. (For
Ticket information in Austin call 454-TIXS.) Shameless Plug!
We also ran into a rather large, funny and bleach blonde
young man by the name of Dale "Momma" Jordan. He is the owner
of the Momma's Boyz agency that does the male G-string dancers
around town. He also MC's his dancers shows (a nice gig if
you can get it) at Oil Can Harry's. He told us a great story
about seeing a woman who had her back to the strippers at
their most recent show. He called the girl a "bimbo bitch"
several times before she came over and introduced herself
as Sandra Bullock! He said she was incognito wearing glasses
and a wig!
Anyway, after the park, we decided to go to the Rainbow
Cattle Company for drinks and the happy hour buffet (yummy
tacos), and await dusk so that we could go see the fireworks
from the roof of the parking garage next door. Xanna and Ann
took some country dance lessons while I played TV trivia thanks
to our cool bartender Norbert.
We met a weird but cute couple, a guy and a girl. He seemed
gay but she didn't. I don't know what their deal was. They
were nice though. We talked to them for a bit and then they
joined us on the parking garage roof, with about 500 other
people, for the fireworks. It has been years since I saw a
fireworks show. I really liked it. Xanna and Ann seemed to
like it to. We asked some young boys what they thought, and
they said the city "blew the best fireworks at New Years."
We went back to Rainbow for a while then Xanna and I decided
to take the party to Antones. We arrived at Antones just in
time to see Bob Schnieder do his last song, a cover of "Hotel
California." Sandy (Sandra Bullock to those of you from outside
her circle) was there with some friends. I just assumed Ann
and Xanna were looking for her and saw her like I did. But
after Sandy left, Ann was kinda upset she missed her. We wanted
to call her a "bimbo bitch" like Dale had. Ann also questions
what Sandy sees in Schnieder, whom she finds a misogynist,
citing his Scabb's songs as an indication of his true personality.
Ann brought this up to Brad, the manager of Antones and
an old friend of Xanna's. It was amusing to me. I think it
made Xanna a bit tense but it seemed all in good fun to me.
After a bit of the third degree on Bob and Sandy, Xanna also
approached him about doing an "all gay" show at Antones and
he seemed very receptive.
We also saw Tracie Laymen, the producer of the local film
"Pageant." Tracie chucked in her gig at News 8 Austin to take
on the film. It stars an acquaintance of mine named Fritz
Hoepfner in the lead so this gave me something to talk to
Tracie about. Fritz is probably riding a donkey, filming a
scenes as you read this. I guess there is a possibility that
Xanna may have a small role in "Pageant" as well. And, Tracie
told us that Willie Nelson was going to do a small appearance.
Gee, maybe they need a big weird gay guy to kinda make everything
more cohesive.
Before we left, we had a round in honor of Clifford Antone,
the owner of the club and longtime Austin music scene impresario.
Antone is headed for prison for drug charges (marijuana) and
tax evasion. As we were about to leave, we ran into Clifford
and Eddie Wilson, the owner of Threadgills coming into the
club. We stopped to say hello and offer words of encouragement
and Clifford told us he was going to go to prison the very
next morning! Needless to say, he did not look in the best
of spirits. He looked, in fact, quite like someone who was
indeed going to report to prison the very next day. Xanna
spoke to him for a while and then we all walked away feeling
quite shaken by the event.
We went next door to the Lucky Lounge, just to see what
it was like, but the mood of the night was pretty much broken.
Lucky Lounge is a very nice, very comfortable but incredible
sterile and lifeless place. While the chairs were plush and
it was easy to relax, there was no spirit there. No local
color. It was just too subdued and clean for our tastes. We
didn't even finish our beers before deciding to call it a
night.
We wrapped up the day at the Magnolia café by having breakfast.
A really nice and cute waiter named Jason helped us. Xanna
made friends with the gay guy in the booth next to us who
was also a father. He claimed his kids had encouraged him
to "be true to yourself," as he always encouraged them to
do, and to come out.
Like I said, it was a very festive day!
Xanna also gave me a copy of Kevin DuRard's CD, "Shimmer." Well,
it isn't as much a CD as an EP, having only four tracks. But
it's spectacular. I listened to it the next morning at work,
suffering from a hangover and being kinda tired.
My favorite track is "50 Acres," which was also a standout
when Kevin performed at the KOOP Stonewall Festival at the
Rainbow Cattle Company a few weeks ago. "50 Acres" examines
a desire so quaint and so bucolic that we immediately recognize
it as some sort of American dream. In the track, DuRard sings
passionately and dramatically to the object of his desire,
bluntly telling him that he could "even hold my hand... and
no one would ever have to know." This is a statement and an
idea that almost any, if not all, gay men can relate to. It's
that one step still in the closet ideal of love. But by the
end of the song, DuRard pleads for a love that is open and
honest... "and you could even tell me you love me and maybe
want everyone to know." he emotes sorrowfully. This honest
and passionate idea ends the tune. It's beautiful. If the
lyrics and the gorgeous piano accompaniment aren't enough,
DuRard's voice is angelic and beautiful. He hits a note near
the end of the song that, I swear, almost takes wing. It's
as if you could float on it. This is an exceptional song.
I dare any gay man to listen to it without weeping. It's that
poignant.
Almost as interesting a surprise is the title track, "Shimmer,"
which appears in traditional song form as well as an extended
"club" mix. The more interesting of these is the later, which
really shows DuRard as a singer/songwriter capable of being
quite poppy. The song is yet another openly gay tour de force
where a club kid ("a glitter fairy" with "plastic pants")
lusts for the love of a more masculine man he sees at a bar
("a dragon slayer" with a "chest of chains"). It's a song
full of new age imagery. DuRard, occasionally, seems like
he's read to many fantasy books about dragons and sprites
and such? but it's still a unique and interesting song that
just gets better with each listen. The club version, which
mixes a retro 80's sound with a bit of modern house, makes
the traditional version of the song more accessible. If Oil
Can Harry's and The Forum aren't playing the club mix, they're
idiots.
DuRard's voice, which was a bit more operatic and dramatic
in person, put me off a bit when he played at KOOP's Stonewall
Fest. Granted, it was Kevin's first "official" live show and
the bands had to be hurried and the sound was far from perfect,
but DuRard impressed me more with his piano virtuosity and
his wonderful songwriting than his voice that night. Listening
to the CD for the 20th time, it began to hit me what was so
different about his voice.
It's gay!
No, I don't mean that it's nelly, or lispy, or queeny? It's
just obviously gay. DuRard is a gay performer. It's obvious
when you hear his voice. But it's HIS voice and in many ways
it becomes OUR voice. It's real and honest and open and pure,
especially on the CD.
Kevin has found his voice. And now I am beginning to see
that my initial apprehension about it was that it was different.
It was gay. I had never heard a voice that sounded like this
before. It was new. I had no other performing voice to judge
it against. It was unique. Singular. Bold. Unafraid. Unashamed.
And oh so beautiful to me now!
Check out his site at http:\\www.kevindurard.com
Wednesday night's airing of LubeTV Episode 24, (not so) live
and direct from Wimberely, was one of the best episodes yet.
(Channel 10 at 11pm - after the horrible "Reel Deal") Like I
always hoped the show would be, it was a weird and wild acid
trip where hosts John Christensen and Mark Brauner simply taped
a party they had and used the footage to segue between clips.
Of course, this week there was only one big clip, about 20 minutes
of weirdness from Neil Young's video "Human Highway" featuring
Devo. This was mid-80's Young - right around the time of the
rockabilly album he put out. Also close to the release of "Trans."
The elongated and super weird version of "Hey Hey My My" featuring
Devo was really awesome. Mark Mothersbaugh, dressed like band
mascot Boojie Boy, sits in a crib and plays squawky keyboards
and sings while Young jams hard on the guitar becoming his most
edgy and grating and freeform ever. Towards the end, Boojie
simply freaks out at the weirdness. The whole image seems similar
to what Young must have dealt with having an autistic son. It's
weird as shit and seemingly highly personal at the same time
(like "Eraserhead" for example). Really strange stuff. Also,
we got to see Mark and John suck on some trashy girls toes and
Mark's naked butt! God Bless Access TV. Actually, Mark has a
pretty damn cute butt.
I will be making my debut in a few weeks on Episode 27. To
the best of my recollection, no one gets naked.
After Lube, I switched over to Channel 16 for "The Austin
Connection" at midnight. Instead of cute, little DJ Cadabra
spinning the hits, they had a female DJ, the Reverend Cathy
Russell. And while she was an awesome jock, she was no where
near as fun as Cadabra to watch.
The rest of the show was rather lame as they all tried to
control calls and stuff rather than just allowing the show
to freeform into oblivion. It was rather stagnant and oppressive,
really. At least DJ Cadabra and Tucker were there as well
as some cute guy with beaded hair. He tried to flow while
RevKathy was spinning and she cut his ass right off. It was
horrid.
Check out more of her shameless self promotion at http://revkathyrussell.com
Ah, Thursday night. Xanna and I went out to see Hobble at Flamingo
Cantina. I had invited a few friends but nobody showed up. This
was pretty sad. There has never been a crowd for a live show
at Flamingo and it was particularly dead Thursday. Too bad for
everyone else - because Hobble put out their best live set yet!
It was awesome.
Before the gig, Xanna and I had a drink over at Casinos.
When we went to the Flamingo, Oriah, the lead singer of Hobble,
was hanging out by the front door. We got into a pretty interesting
conversation about their new CD "Blackmassking," which should
be coming out later in July. They don't have any live shows
lined up this month, except for Emo's in Houston on the 21st
or 22nd, can't remember exactly. Oriah is going to have to
get busy and book some gigs so they can promote the new CD.
The show was phenomenal. Xanna really loved a tune called
"The Cowboy Song" which she thinks could be a hit. I dug the
last song which was something about a DJ and a black hole
or something. I thought it rocked. Oriah is one of the most
intense and hard working performers you will ever see. The
band is one of the tightest and most cohesive groups playing
Austin right now. Why were there so few people at this gig?
It boggles my mind! The opening band from the East coast,
Federation X, were also quite good. It was yet another great
show in the continuing tradition of great shows from Hobble.
We talked to Oriah after the gig. While he was on-stage,
he mentioned that they played at the new 710 Club (on Red
River) on July 4th and he wore a dress during the performance.
This pissed me off. I can't believe he didn't email me and
tell me about this gig. I busted him for it after the show
and he told me it was all done on really short notice. Still.
I was bummed. I need a Hobble fix as often as I can get one!
Speaking of the 710 Club, Xanna knows the guy who owns it,
Woody. He used to book talent for Flamingo. He also played
in a band called Cactus Smack Conspiracy. Xanna had wanted
to go over there after the Hobble gig and see her friend Lisa,
former guitar player for Handful (a defunct lesbian band),
and her new band The Agronauts. She couldn't tear me away
from Oriah though. I enjoyed hanging out and talking to him
after the gig.
We went to the 710 just in time for last call however and
the place was pretty packed. I wish this many people had been
at the Hobble show. I met the lead singer for Agronauts when
I saw that he had a Boomtown Rats pin on and struck up a conversation
with him about that band. I think his name was Micha. I was
pretty toasty by this point. Anyway, we got along well and
talked for quite a bit. He doesn't have any Rats on CD, but
he does have a burner, so maybe I'll take him "Tonic for the
Troops" and "Fine Art of Surfacing" so we can make some illegal
copies.
There's a new local film coming out called "Radio Free Steve"
that will be getting some attention later this month. they are
going to have a premier at the Alamo, which will be hard to
get into, on July 30. The film purportedly uses some video lensed
in the 80's by Steve Glenne, a man whom some have called him
a prophet of the future. He believed he was a prophet for video
filmmaking. Glenne's footage from the 80's, where he is riding
around in a van showing video and pretending it's after the
apocalypse is a big part of the film.
The big music event later this month is the Afterparty on
July 30. Friends of Dean Martinez, Viper Horse & Brown Whorenet,
who do music for the film, will be playing at Club DeVille
(with a cover charge) that night. They will start playing
at 9pm.
I'll keep you updated on more about the film as soon as I
know more. For now, check out http://www.radiofreesteve.com
I've been telling people that aGLIFF is doing a sing-a-long
with "The Wizard of Oz" later this month but that was wrong
- It's even better - It's "The Sound of Music" Sing-A-Long!!!!!
At the glorious Paramount Theater!
Saturday, July 29, Sponsored by aGLIFF and Project Transitions.
Here's the pitch:
Let's start at the very beginning. Have you ever been to
a musical film and had an uncontrollable urge to burst spontaneously
into song? Well here's your chance to give full rein to your
vocal chords and share a few of your favorite things with
fellow audience members. "The Sound of Music" Sing-a-long
is coming and YOU need tickets! Visit Book People, Book Woman,
Vulcan Video, Top Drawer Thrift, TapeLenders Video, or the
Paramount Theatre for tickets.
Visit the website at www.agliff.org or call 454-8646 for
information.
Hollywood Bru-ha-ha
The best story I heard this week: "The St. Francisville
Experiment," which is being released by Trimark later in July
claims to be about "a psychic, a ghost hunter, a filmmaker
and a historian," all trained in the paranormal and equipped
with camera, who go to Louisiana to investigate a haunted
house, plagued by the spirits of slaves." when "Independent
Marketing Edge" contacted Trimark and asked for the name of
the director and writer of the film, they were told, "There
were none."
Second best story I heard this week: The director's cut
of the Coen Brothers "Blood Simple" which will hit theaters
finally this week is shorter than the original. Joel and Ethan
purportedly cut out "the boring parts."
More Gossip:
Austin's adopted son OWEN WILSON is in negotiations to play
a middle-class man who turns to a life of crime to finance
his daughter's education in the comedy "Stealing Stanford."
JAMES VAN DER BEEK will star in writer-director Todd Solondz's
untitled New Line film about the pressures of trying to fit
in on a college campus. A well-known Austin actor has also
auditioned for the film.
SHARON STONE has signed to reprise her role as Catherine
Tramell in MGM's "Basic Instinct 2." The sequel to the 1992
thriller will begin filming this fall.
CHLOE SEVIGNY, Oscar nominee for "Boys Don't Cry," may star
for director Jon Avent in "Uprising," a story set in the Warsaw
Ghetto of 1943.
LAURA DERN will join William H. Macy in "Focus," an independent
film based on the Arthur Miller novel about a Brooklyn family
faced with anti-Semitism.
MOLLY SHANNON is in final talks to join Kate Beckinsale and
John Cusack in the Miramax romantic comedy "Serendipity."
Indie honey JANEANE GAROFALO will play a police officer
in director Barry Sonnenfeld's "Big Trouble."
MAGGIE SMITH is in talks to portray the headmistress of
the school of Wizardry, and Tim Roth is considering the role
of Professor Snape, in "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone."
ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER has signed to reprise his cyborg role
in "Terminator 3." The sequel will begin filming next spring
with hopes for a summer 2002 release. (If EDDIE FURLONG is
in it, I'm in!)
BURT REYNOLDS will play a wheelchair-bound former driver
in director Renny Harlin's auto-racing film "Champs." Sylvester
Stallone plays the lead in the film. REYNOLDS also has a movie
about aged ex-cons who decide to return to a life of crime
coming out soon called "The Crew."
PAUL HOGAN will again play the lead in the third installment
of the "Crocodile Dundee" film series, which begins filming
in August in Queensland, Australia, and later in Los Angeles.
One of my least favorite actors, SAM NEILL will reprise
his role of Dr. Alan Grant in "Jurassic Park 3." Spielberg
will only produce. Neill appeared in the first film in the
Universal franchise but not in the second film, "The Lost
World."
"American Psycho" star CHRISTIAN BALE will play the lead
role in "Librium," a futuristic thriller about a world where
emotions are forbidden. Isn't that already the case in most
of The Bible Belt? Emily Watson and Taye Diggs will co-star.
STEVE ZAHN will star opposite Drew Barrymore in director
Penny Marshall's "Riding in Cars With Boys." Zahn will play
Barrymore's drug-addicted husband.
JET LI has committed to play Kato in the film version of
"The Green Hornet." Martial arts great Bruce Lee played the
role in the 60s TV series.
GIOVANNI RIBISI is in talks to star opposite Cate Blanchett
in Miramax's drama "Heaven." Ribisi will play a police officer
in the film.
MATT DAMON is in final talks to play the lead in an adaptation
of the Robert Ludlum bestseller "The Bourne Identity."
M. NIGHT SHYAMALAN, of "The Sixth Sense" fame, is in talks
with George Lucas, Steven Spielberg and Harrison Ford on the
script of the fourth installment of the Indiana Jones franchise
with hopes for production to start in 2002.
THE FARRELLY BROTHERS are developing a comedy that centers
on the three rather large triplet sons of Jim Carrey's character
from their latest film "Me, Myself & Irene."
CAMERON CROWE, who has a still unnamed film due this fall,
is in negotiations to adapt and helm the film version of Marijane
Meaker's coming-of-age novel "Shockproof Sydney Skate." CROWE'S
next film is set in the 70's and has TOBEY MAGUIRE following
around a rock band on a huge US tour for "Rolling Stone" magazine.
LAUGHING BOY, a film lensed in Houston, will make its New York
premiere July 12th at the New York International Independent
Film and Video Festival.
Wednesday, July 12, 2000 12PM (Noon) Clearview Cinema 239
East 59th St. (between 2nd & 3rd Ave.) New York New York 10022
Admission is FREE.
"Laughing Boy" was written by George Douglas Lee (based
on his play) and features some unknown Houston actors, including
the director in the lead role.
To learn more about LAUGHING BOY, visit the movie's website:
www.grisaffi.com/laughingboy.html
View a clip on ifilm.com: http://www.ifilm.com/films.taf?film_id=99628
A complete list of LAUGHING BOY cast and crew credits is
here: http://us.imdb.com
The Judy's were the most prominent and important local band
in Houston during the early 80's punk and new wave scene. They
are my favorite local band ever. They were the scene. Now, it
is almost impossible to hear their music because there are no
CD's out. All of us fans only have our vinyl copies of albums
and singles to keep us happy. I don't have a turntable anymore,
but I do still have the records. I WANT THEM ON CD!
From Michael, the site proprietor at http://www.thejudys.com
comes this:
"A recent conversation regarding music piracy in the discussion
area of THEJUDYS.COM caused me to track down the leader of
The Judy's, David Bean, and ask him a few questions about
his thoughts on the issue.
I'm pasting some choice snippets of David's thoughts on
piracy of The Judys' music. Our exchange also offered a hint
of information on the reissue of the band's music (YES!!!).
Enjoy the "interview", and check out the web site's discussion
area when you get time...
I started the exchange with a note to "Dad Bean". David's
father has been a supporter of the Judy's web site since we
put it online, and has always been very kind to answer our
questions and reminisce about old times. Having not spoken
with him in awhile, I decided to drop him a note to say hi,
and ask him about contacting David:
'Since I've removed the high quality sound files from the
web site and replaced them with low quality "am radio" sounding
versions, there's been quite a bit of discussion about the
trading of the band's music online.
'I'd like to talk to David personally about his thoughts
on this. There continues to be a large number of people who
inquire about re-releases, so I hoped I'd be able to chat
with him about the possibility of some reissues, or at least
get his opinions on underground trading of his music. Even
though I've taken all of the downloadable CD-quality music
offline from our site, people continue to pirate the Judy's
music and trade it online. If David ever plans to do a re-release
of the band's music, this might be detrimental to the possible
sales of the new re-releases.
'What would be the best way to contact him? I'd like to
once again let him know that he's sitting on a very valuable
asset - his music!"
David's father responded, and promised to forward my message
on to David. The next day, I had a message in my mailbox from
David himself addressing the piracy issue, as well as a few
other items...
'Michael:
My dad forwarded your email inquiring about The Judy's music
and recordings. Recently there was an auction on eBay where
someone was trying to sell a CD of The Judy's recordings from
1980-1985. We immediately notified eBay, the seller, and all
bidders that this merchandise was illegal and violated applicable
copyright laws. In regards to the Internet and related bootlegging,
my current feelings are basically the same: that it's a violation
of the laws and stealing from the songwriters, artists, record
labels, distributors, publishing companies, publishing affiliates
(such as BMI and ASCAP), and all others who make their money
producing and selling music. It's difficult, I know, to feel
sympathy for wealthy artists and record companies... particularly
when the manufacturing costs of producing music dropped (with
CD replication), and the costs of purchasing music rose considerably.
But for small independent labels and almost all artists, the
economies of making and selling music is still prohibitive.
And while bootlegging and unauthorized duplication may "get
their music out there", it does nothing but erode what little
revenues may exist for these people, making it difficult to
recoup costs and justify the time creating and sharing their
talents. Financial considerations aside, there is the question
of ownership. Regardless of what one intends to do with one's
property, is it still not their property, and don't they retain
the rights to decide how to use it? Copyright owners should
be able to decide when and how their works will be produced
and disseminated. The argument that "if they're not going
to sell it, we have a right to bootleg it" as one post asserts
on your webpage is ridiculous. Does that mean if you're not
driving your car, I have a right to take it and drive it?
'At this point and time, we are still planning to release
the albums on CD. We actually started the process a number
of years ago, and let it drop after the graphic artist moved...
There is currently no release date set. In the event that
we should decide not to produce the CDs directly, we will
then sell or lease the masters. We have had a number of inquiries
into this possibility already. However, Wasted Talent Records
is a going concern and will more than likely release these
products ourselves. In the meanwhile, many used record stores
have copies of these albums (some are rather expensive, I
know), and they can regularly be found at auctions such as
eBay. (A friend of mine purchased Washarama through eBay at
a really good price a few months ago.)
'We appreciate the continuing interest in The Judy's music
and ask that all would help us maintain the integrity of our
copyrights and ownership by respecting the laws regarding
reproduction and distribution of these materials. (And we
certainly don't want to delay the release of the CDs because
we spent all of our money on lawyers chasing after bootleggers!)
'Michael, I especially appreciate your efforts to limit
and discourage unauthorized copying and appreciate your discernment
in removing the MP3's without being asked.'
David then followed up with a little musical recommendation:
'And if you're still in Nashville, be sure to check out
Y'ALL... a couple of guys (as in a "couple") that sing ole-timey
country music and tell funny stories. To read or hear about
them makes them sound very camp, but they're really warm and
great songwriters. Jay Byrd (real name) - he's the tall bald-headed
one that wears a dress- was a background singer/dancer for
the Boy Radio Show which was the promotional show for the
modomusic EP. That's where I first met him. Anyway, now he
and his partner Steven are in Nashville, plugging away. They
get really great press from the Tennessean to the New York
Times- they've even been on the John Stewart show for winning
an MTV video contest, but their big break has yet to happen.
Anyway, if you get the chance, go see them live and tell them
I said hello. You can also check them out at www.luckygreendress.com,
but you have to see them live to really get a true sense...'
Yes, they play here in Nashville frequently, and now seeing
"Y'ALL" in concert is on my short-list of to-do's!
After this initial exchange, I wrote David back, and requested
specific permission to keep the low-quality Real Audio files
on the web site. Permission was granted, with an important
aside... David says:
'If piracy continues and becomes a bigger problem (several
people have told me they have "friends" who are considering
bootlegging The Judy's for profit), I may need to request
that you remove the files or cut them into short intros of
the songs just to keep up people's awareness of the illegality
of this sort of thing- (they may think if you've got the files
on the internet that it's OK to reproduce the music elsewhere).
Anyway, at this time it's OK. You may want to put something
on your site that the files were reproduced with the explicit
permission of Wasted Talent Records...'
For this reason, there is now a 10-second "Please Don't
Pirate The Judy's Music" disclaimer graphic at the beginning
of each Judy's Real Audio clip on THEJUDYS.COM. While this
may seem to be overkill, it is truly our wish at THEJUDYS.COM
to try to stop piracy of the band's music while still offering
the songs online allowing fans to reminisce.
I would like to take this chance to thank David Bean for
his time this past week and also thank him for allowing THEJUDYS.COM
to exist as well as granting us permission to play his songs
on the site.
We hope you continue to enjoy THEJUDYS.COM, and I personally
hope that I can somehow find time to update the site a little
more frequently. I still have several bootleg recordings (one
really fine one of the band on the air at KTRU Radio in 1981)
and a few choice interview and concert video clips that need
to be added to the site. *
Moo!
Michael@THEJUDYS.COM"
LODGER SAYS:
What David Bean does not consider here is that he has an
OBLIGATION to his fans to release the music on CD. I know
this is hard for talented and creative people to understand
but when they release their art into the public it does ETHICALLY
become part of the public domain. LEGALLY - no, it doesn't.
But ethically it does. Those old Judy's songs are a part of
my life. I don't want bootlegs of them. I want David to get
my hard earned cash for his talent and work. But if he continues
to refuse to work to release the CD's (and this has been going
on for years now), he is doing a DISSERVICE to the public
who love and adore those songs. They aren't solely his anymore.
They belong to the PUBLIC consciousness who are as involved
with them as he is. The musician/audience relationship is
twofold. We are as INVOLVED in The Judy's music as David,
Jeff and Dane were/are. Those songs mean a great deal to us.
David and the guys have a DUTY to see that those songs are
available to us legally and they have NEGLECTED this duty
for far too long. Like a junkie desperately needing a fix,
right or wrong, legally or not, we will have our Judy's! Their
music is a part of the lexicon of my existence. I am all tied
up in those songs. To not allow me access to them is morally
wrong. THE TIME IS NOW.
David. Jeff. Dane. I will beg one last time! PLEASE GET
US YOUR MUSIC OUT ON CD. To deny us any longer is cruel and
morally wrong. Your obligation to us is undeniable. To say
that an artist has no obligation to his supporters is ridiculous.
Life is so short. Do not make us exist without this vibrant
and important music from our past. It means too much to us!
It's too important to our history and our lives to simply
evaporate into non-existence.
Please.
Please.
CINEMAKER CO-OP PRESENTS A CALL FOR ENTRIES FOR *SPLICE OF LIFE:
THE SUPER 8 DOCUMENTARY FESTIVAL*!
For the first time ever, the Cinemaker Co-op presents a
festival devoted solely to the documentary format, SPLICE
OF LIFE: THE SUPER 8 DOCFEST. Filmmakers from around Austin
and the world are invited to create a one-reel, in camera
edited Super 8 film on any subject for this end-of-summer
celebration of the doc.
Entries are due at the Cinemaker office at 5pm on August
11, 1705 Guadalupe, Suite 201.
In embracing Super 8 as a documentary format, Cinemaker
hopes to focus on the details and intimacies of life, people,
and issues--stories that can be told with tiny images, in
a tiny space of time. And yes, mock-u-mentaries will be accepted!
Cinemaker provides inexpensive film equipment rental for
those in need of cameras, splicers, tripods, etc. and film
stock is now on sale at the office. An intro to Super 8 production
workshop will also be held on Saturday, July 22; to sign up
please call 236-8877 or email Technical Director Aaron Valdez
at valdezfilm@yahoo.com.
As always, the festival follows the 4 x 4 rules: no more
than four splices allowed and no more than four minutes in
running time.
Selected films will be screened at a docu-bash at the Ritz
Lounge on August 20 and 21.
For more information or a complete set of rules below.,
please call the Cinemaker Co-op at (512) 236-8877 or email
cinemkr@texas.net.
Finally, a correction. In last week's Notes from Austin column,
I mentioned that Jason Pankoke's editorial concerning "Famous
Monsters Magazine" in his indie-rag "Micro-Film" was about a
"Dave Forrie" when it's actually about Forrest J Ackerman. Sorry
Jason. Although I only know a little about this subject, I know
that this was a huge misrepresentation to you and your readers
as well as Mr. Ackerman's legion of fans!
Find out more at http://www.artisticunderground.com/mf_unbound/
And that's a wrap for this week.
NEXT WEEK FILETHIRTEEN CELEBRATES ONE YEAR IN AUSTIN!
Lodger2000
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