In this issue:

Playing the name game with Michael Dalmon

The Agency gigs for SXSW

A Letter about Matt Damon

Celebrate America With Fish!

Johnny Depp at the Dobie

Making a film with Kelly

Barn of the Blood Llama at ZXZW

This Weekend at the Multiplex

More info on film festivals, calls for entries and SXSW screenings.

Michael Dalmon is one of Austin's finest film actors. We here at the website have enjoyed his work in several productions over the past few months. But, as many people have pointed out, his name is misspelled or horribly mangled on several reviews and articles here at filethirteen. We became aware of this sometime during Slamdance in Park City, where we got to hang out with Michael a bit. Since then, the mistakes on the site have been brought to my attention a few times.

Rather than go back and correct these errors, which would be a long and arduous process. We here at filethirteen have decided to make the misspellings and misrepresentations of his name a running gag on the site. Let's face it... It's just a hell of a lot easier. The guys a rock star and going to be huge anyway, what the hell does he need us for? In an effort to be prepared for future film appearances by Mr. Dalmon, we here come up with a list of possible misspellings/mistakes to be utilized on the site. The short list as of now includes Michael Dalmatian, Michael Many Nations, Mark DuMelon, Skinny D, Michael Minelli, Michael Malfeasance, Margaret Dumont and Patti Lupone.

If you have any ideas for future misspelling or representations of Mr. Dalmon's moniker, please send them to Michael-Dalmon-is-a-running-gag@filethirteen.com

Our apologies to Mr. Dalmon in advance on this matter.

Thank you; The Management.

The Agency has a couple shows lined up for the SXSW timeframe:

Manuel's -- 3/10/00: The What I Like About You party, which is a private affair.

Longhorn Lodge -- 3/17/00: Says Jason Lee, "That's a FRIDAY, folks. During the peak of South-by-Southwest, but entirely removed from the festival itself. What this means is that you do NOT have to have a badge, wristband or SXSW dog collar of any kind to get in, and no one with said festival passes will get preferential treatment. The venue is on the Southeast corner of 6th and Neches, and our show begins at 10:00 PM."

Seems like I had a pretty busy week even though I didn't get much accomplished. Monday night I went with some business associates to Ruth's Chris Steakhouse on 6th street. It was incredibly smarmy and pretentious and expensive. I felt like I had to keep a lid on my overblown personality in the place. There were 6 of us, we ordered dinner, appetizers, sodas and dessert. It was almost $400!

I did get to see a lot of films this week which was cool, including sneaks of "Next Best Thing" and "Drowning Mona." I also saw "Wonder Boys." All three of these films had some "gay" element to them. We're everywhere.

Wednesday night, Rich called and asked me to come over on Thursday to do a brief cameo type thing in his student film. More on that later. John Christensen told me he is playing a thug (as is his Lube TV cohost Mark) in a film called "Karate Dumpster Boy." John's upstairs neighbors, who have a darling little boy named Gage, told me that their son is in a feature called "Cacadis." Or something like that. It's titled after some sort of insect. Gage appears in a flashback sequence. It's pretty cool to get to know people who are working in local indie stuff here and there.

Thursday night, I went over to Rich's. My friend Max was suppose to go with me but he backed out with a weenie excuse at the last minute. When I got to Rich's, Tim and his girlfriend; Paige; Rich and his filming partner Keana were there. Tim has not spoken to me since Park City. Paige hates me due to some prior weird evening we spent together in the past. (The whole sordid story is in an old "Notes" somewhere). Why don't these people like me? Because I am always myself. I don't pretend to be having a good time when I'm not. I don't just sit back and keep my mouth shut. I say what I'm thinking. People hate that. Also, it makes me seem like an asshole which, at times, I can be.

See, I'm not a perfect person. I just take one day at a time. But one thing you can be sure of is this: I am not two-faced. I don't pretend I like you if I don't. If you know me and I suddenly stop seeing you or it seems like I'm never around, it's because I'm consciously avoiding you. That's what I do when I don't like someone, avoid them. People don't like me because I don't blindly agree with them if they say something stupid. I do what I want and say what I think. That's me. Like it or lump it. It's the only way I know to be.

I knew Paige and Tim would be there so I brought some things to do while I waited my turn to do my "shot." Rich and Keana are making a short film on 16 called "Celebrate America With Fish!" It's an interesting concept. All I had to do basically was hold a fish and look sullen. Pretty easy stuff. Paige did her shot and left as did Tim and his girlfriend. Kelly came in after I got there so I did my shot with he and Rich and Keana looking on. It was fun. I got make-up and everything. And I got to hold a smelly old fish as well.

Afterwards, I watched Rich and Keana do their shots and talked to Kelly a bit. He's going to be in a play called "Tracers" later in March (and early April). Hopefully he will do some more work with the group who is putting on this play. They are trying to establish themselves in Austin. I have to remember to get the dates and venue and stuff from Kelly when the show is on so I can go check it out. Hopefully Kel and I will spend a little time together this weekend. I really miss he and Rich when they are so busy with school and life. There just not enough time to go around for them, it seems.

Friday I worked an 11 hour day and then came home to Kelly's call. We decided to go to the Arbor and see either "Emperor and the Assassin" or "Topsy Turvey," depending on how soon we could get there. I rushed to go over to his place and we made it in time to see "Emperor and the Assassin." It was 3 hours of pure boredom and I actually fell asleep during parts. I haven't slept through a movie since I was a young child.

Afterwards, we went to a place on the north side called Encore so Kelly could rent some DVD's. I bought the new Beck CD. I just love that song "Debra." The rest of it is just okay for my tastes. I'm not much on rap/hip-hop/sampling madness stuff.

Had the usual conversations with Kelly and went home early because, of course, he wanted to call his girlfriend. It was nice to spend time with him. He did tell me about filming his part with Rich and Keana on "Celebrate." I believe he plays a cooking show host in that one. And I guess he also is working on another student film for some friends of ours named Matt and Adam. I think they filmed some stuff at the Paramount for that one. I want to do some stuff with Kelly too but don't have a really great story yet.

Letters, I get a letter!

"I happen to have a lot of free time, and since seeing Mr.Ripley over the winter, I'm starting to wonder.....do you think Matt and Ben have had or are having a relationship? Sometimes I'm sure of it, sometimes I think I'm dreaming. We're pretty sure George Clooney is gay now, aren't we? I know it's none of my business, but I keep going back and forth on it. I notice you do too. I was so confused after seeing Ripley. Yes, it's another homosexual murderer and for the life of me I can't understand why it wasn't picketed like we did to Basic Instinct, which was a lot less offensive when I finally saw it. Yet, somehow, after seeing it I thought a great coup had been pulled off in marketing this basically gay themed romantic picture to the mass audience. Plus, I think we were supposed to sympathize with Ripley. I know the audience I saw it with in SantaFe cheered when he got the money from the dad. It's not about stealing his identity at all, it's about a crime of passion that Ripley (almost) schemed his way out of. What would have made me happy is if he did get away with it. Then I suppose it wouldn't have been such an anti-gay picture. Which it was, I know, but just thinking of Damon as gay was kind of a kick. Which I can't get rid of. Oh! I know I'm in trouble! I hope you have time to reply.

Thinking aloud,

Jennifer P"

---===---

Hi Jennifer;

Thanks for taking the time to write. I too have had numerous thoughts and discussions with friends on this issue. On the one hand, I think we (as gay people) need to "lighten up" on things sometimes. After all, we are being accepted fairly well into the mainstream and there are a whole lot of good gay role models in the media/entertainment field. Look at how "Will and Grace" is able to successfully pull of a non offensive show while including what is basically a "screaming queen" in the role of Jack. There's balance and truth in that show. I don't watch it very often, now that I have a life, but I have seen enough to know it is a good, honest and fair representation of homosexuality with in the confines of a weekly sitcom.

I don't think Ben and Matt are lovers. I just think that's a "picture" we hang on them because basically, as a society, we cannot except two men as very close friends. Yes, I know in the review of "Ripley" I basically "peg" Damon as a homosexual but that was more being sarcastic and proving a point than anything else. Look at the relationship between Flea and Anthony Kedis, of Red Hot Chilli Peppers. Here's another duo of close male friends who have even kissed and said "I love you" to one and other on stage! But are they gay? I don't think so. Perhaps sexually secure and explorative to a degree but gay lovers. No, I don't think so.

What is most offensive to me about "Ripley" and Madonna and Rupert's new film, "Next Best Thing" is that they are "bad" films. If the characters were heterosexual we would completely dismiss these films as wastes. "Ripley" starts good but ends up "going on forever" to the point where you really don't give a damn what happens. Plus I never, ever, not for a second, believed that Ripley would hit Dickie with the oar. It's an awesome special effect, and it propels all that happens after. But I never bought it for a moment. It's poor script and poor acting because you have to believe that Ripley is capable of a crime of passion. As played by Damon, he is not passionate at all. So at best it is a crime of passion evolving out of repressed feeling and unrequited affection. While the latter is explored a bit, the former, that Ripley felt repressed, is not substantiated. Ripley even walks by two men kissing on the street and has ABSOLUTELY NO REACTION TO IT. It's Europe in the 50's, things were far more relaxed than they were in America. If he is repressing within himself, that is never explored adequately either, not to justify this "passion crime." anyway.

Conversely, "Next Best Thing" is a horrible film that has a killer finish. But the "courtroom drama" at the film's end, which explores the theme of "family" and "fatherhood" with great effect, cannot make up for the ridiculous, horrid, and wrongly played out opening hour of the film. John Schlesinger films the piece like an homage to 30's Noel Coward plays. Why? It doesn't work. And the film has the worse sound design in 50 years. It's just a bad film, first and foremost. The only thing that makes you like it is the kid and Everett, because we have so much respect for him.

The place of gay characters in film in the new millennium, I think, will become less and less precarious. Eventually we will be able to discuss films solely on their own merits regardless of the sexuality, gender or race of the characters. I think that will be a glorious day.

But the true sexuality of the actors involved is another question. Everett is openly gay but when is the last time he played a straight character. And, yes, "Inspector Gadget" doesn't count. It's an awful little film as well. I had high hopes for it, with Everett and Matthew Broderick, an actor who got his break in "Torch Song Trilogy" on stage, as the leads in the film. But it fell flat on it's face.

The only example I can think of that really makes me feel good about it all is a commercial for car insurance that stars the gay guy from "Will and Grace" (and Billy's HW Screen Kiss"), Sean I-don't know-his-last-name. As a three headed man, he tries to pick up a female at a party and is totally convincing as a straight man, even as 3 straight men! It's a start.

peace lodger

BTW - One thing I didn't expound upon in my letter to Jennifer was the marketing of "Ripley." I must agree with her whole-heartedly. The mass audiences who saw the film over Christmas had no idea they were walking into a "gay" film. But, again, this is what makes this film particularly disturbing. I saw it with an audience that had several teenage males in it. All I could think of was "What if this is their first 'gay' film?" What kind of an example is this story for impressionable young people? It basically says gay people are unhappy murderers who will do anything, kill anyone, to keep their secret. It's such a mangled and mixed up message of a film that it cannot be a healthy example for anyone; Gay straight, young, old...

The cut is that these young people will probably never see interesting and positive examples on the big screen, really. They aren't going to see "Edge of 17" or "Billy's Screen Kiss" or any other "preaching-to-the-choir" gay film because they aren't mass marketed and they don't have mass appeal. They will, at least, see a couple of examples of "normal" gay people in "Next Best Thing." They're hidden, but you can find them if you look. And Everett, although he is a bit queeny, is basically a good example. I will give him that. He is never ashamed, afraid, or untrue to himself. That's what makes the film so sad. There's a possibility for greatness and for a discussion of true understanding and it's wasted by Schlesinger and his scripter.

Only television and popular culture can continue the fight for acceptance adequately at this time. MTV's "The Real World" did more for gay acceptance in the past 10 years than any rally, spokesperson, feature film or other television show could. If the season with Puck and Pedro wasn't honest, interesting, and dramatic television put before the American public in simple and easy to grasp terms, ideas that caused true thought and debate, ideas that opened the minds of young people to discussion and acceptance, I don't know what is.

The Dobie is featuring Johnny Depp films at midnight in March. They've also cut down their admission prices for midnight shows from $7 to 6. That's still a shitload of money to pay for films that you could rent if you wanted to. The Depp series features "Gilbert Grape," "Fear and Loathing," "Dead Man" and "Edward Scissorhands."

Houston Screening of MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26, 10:00am Landmark River Oaks Theatre Tickets: $6.75/adults, $4.75/seniors and children For more information: 713/528-4608

Saturday night I worked and then went over to Kelly's late. Rich, his roommate, is spending the weekend in Houston. We were going to shoot this idea for a video I have where Kelly's fucks everything in the house. It would be done tastefully, of course. No seriously, it wasn't going to be porno, I wanted it to be erotic and funny. Kelly, an actor of incredible daring and talent, had agreed to work on it with me. But, of course, when I got there I could tell he was nervous and unsure. We talked about it quite a bit beforehand.

Eventually I had to tell him to get ready. I learned something about directing an actor. Sometimes if there is trepidation or questioning, you just have to push them to get started gently. Even someone as willing and as bold as Kelly had to be kickstarted. I wanted him to start dressed really nicely and then move into a state of undress. Kelly went to his room and got dressed up.

We finally began and worked slowly towards the center of the film. Kelly, of course, in his own way, took the idea and ran left with it. We didn't end up with the film I started out to make. Perhaps this reflects poorly upon me as a director, that I didn't get what I set out to get. But, instead, I got a film that is bold, erotic and disturbing. It builds on themes of guilt, shame and insecurity and exposes demons that are deep and universal, I believe. It turned out to be a great film. I'm extremely proud of it. I filmed Kelly from around corners and from other rooms and angles so the pieces has an enormous element of voyeurism to it. It's withdrawn and somewhat sterile. Like a film by Warhol I read about called "Hedy," the camera threatens to leave the main subject in almost every frame. Just as Kelly somewhat teases us erotically in the film, the camera teases us as well, often moving Kelly to the edge of the frame, to the periphery, and indicates that it may leave the moment Kelly is in. At times, it does make good on it's threats and moves to the blank wall or to the lights in the ceiling before cutting back to another angle of Kelly in frame and the process begins again. I didn't have the Warholian cool and assuredness to move completely off the subject at it's most intriguing moments, as I wished I did. but I think the film turned out quite well regardless. I'm extremely proud of it. And I'm overwhelmingly grateful to Kelly for taking the risk and working on it with me. He's a great actor. And when I become a greater director, and more assured, I think I will be able to make awesome films.

After the shoot, Kelly showed me another film he made on his own. While it was funny and interesting, it wasn't a masterpiece or anything. But what amazes me about Kelly's "solo" work it it's inventiveness and cohesiveness. Kelly can make awesome films with nothing but a camcorder and his own imagination and talent. He doesn't need actors. It's awesome. And it compels one to be even more creative on their own. Kelly's "solo" work has forced me to pressure my own creativity. It forces me to make films on my own as well, with nothing but my own camcorder and imagination and talent as well. I have done some interesting things on my own, but nothing as clever and as watchable as Kelly is able to create.

He also read some of his writing to me and although it is quite sophomoric and overly descriptive, it does show promise. With maturity and age, his written work could easily equal his visual proficiency.

An excerpt of BARN OF THE BLOOD LLAMA, a film by local filmmaker Kevin West is being screened March 11 as part of the ZXZW Festival. BOTBL was his first "no-budget" feature. Due to time constraints, ZXZW is only showing a 20 excerpt of the film. Kevin may include a trailer for his upcoming feature "ROWDY ROUNDUP: Night of the Killer Piñatas" (Starring FOF13 Miss Xanna Don't) at the end of the excerpt.

Official BOTBL site - http://www.lamc.utexas.edu/klw/

Well, "MISSION TO MARS" and "THE NINTH GATE" are the big films coming out this weekend. In the former, BRIAN DIPALMA pays homage to Kubrick. It looks like it might be a really great film, we'll have to see.

"THE NINTH GATE" is the new POLANSKI film starring JOHNNY DEPP as the owner of a rare book shop. It's has mysticism and the occult at it's heart, a subject POLANSKI has covered before.

Other films out, but I'm unsure of the scope of the release, or whether the date has been changed, include "O," a modern remake of "Othello. "DETERRENCE" starring KEVIN POLLACK as a futuristic president, and "THE BIG TEASE" staring CRAIG FERGUSON of the "DREW CARREY SHOW." And in NYC, you can check out "CONDO PAINTING" about an artist and his work. It also features the last filmed appearance of WILLIAM S BURROUGHS.

Also at some theaters this weekend on Saturday night, you can pay to see a sneak preview of JULIA ROBERTS' new film, directed by STEVEN SODERBURGH, called "ERIN BROCKOVICH."

Aaron Valdez's film "Hallway" was accepted into the Experimental category for SXSW 2000, and he is still shooting his 16mm diary film "Throwing Stones at the Sun."

Justin Hennard's film "Noise of Angry Candy" is playing at Flicker Fest in Los Angeles, while two other films, "3 Studies of the Human Body" and "Akiko for Awhile," are playing at the United States Super 8 Fest in February. Meanwhile, he just finished a script for a feature that he is going to film this year.

Also on the SXSW 2000 front, "Outbound," directed by Jessica Tate, will be included in the UT shorts program. This film was shot by Cinemaker's Technical Director, Rico McIntosh. McIntosh is also beginning work on his undergraduate thesis, a documentary about taxi driving. He will shoot in a completely lo-fi manner shooting Super 8mm, 16mm and surveillance video.

Anne Heller's band, Aurora Plastics Company (who provides soundtracks for some of Cinemaker's festival films), has been selected to play at SXSW 2000 as part of the music festival.

CALL FOR ENTRIES

Alchemy Works seeks submissions of feature-length screenplays for its upcoming series, Movie-Midwifing: A Series of New Screenplay Readings. Selected screenplays will be cast with professional actors and performed for the public the first Tuesday evening of the month, August - December, 2000. Entry Fee: $15. Alchemy Works is also seeking short film (15 minutes or less) submissions for the series. No entry fee. Submissions accepted until October 15, 2000. Send a SASE for entry forms and submission guidelines to Alchemy Works, P.O. Box 3440, Austin, Texas 78764-3440 or email moviemidwifing@yahoo.com.

Note from Cinemaker Tom Chamberlain:

"Wanted to let you know that the feature film I wrote and directed, and a short I wrote and directed are appearing in the Audience Awards Film Festival at Always Independent Film dot com (Alwaysif.com) ending March 22. Winners are to be announced March 24.

What I need you guys to do is

Go to http://www.alwaysif.com/festival/awards.asp and watch the films, or if you've already seen them, vote for them. The competition is totally up to you, the audience. Tell as many folks as you can about this. If you teach a class, force your students to watch it. If you run a company, force your employees to see it. You get the idea. ;-) I'd appreciate any help you can give in channeling viewers to my films, and the other 88 or so worthy entrants.

Which films are these, you say?

In Flagrante in entered in the Feature category. It's a 71-minute-long comedy. There's a full description of the film up there so check it out

The Story of an Hour is in the Short Drama category.

(Also in the short drama category is a fine film by two very talented friends of mine, starring other talented friends of mine called Cross Walk. Check it out too.)

Anyway, I'm really excited about this and would appreciate the support. The guys that run the site said 6 films or so have gotten distribution from exposure on this site."

CONDUIT SCREENING SALON Wednesday, March 15 At the ArtPlex Building, 1705 Guadalupe

Cinemaker will present a screening/workshop with these pioneers of short digital media as part of their special events taking place during SXSW Interactive. Some of the most cutting edge work from Austin and the world. Time TBA. Stay tuned!

SUPER 8 FILMMAKING WORKSHOP, March 18, 12-4pm [NOTE DATE CHANGE] $50 general/$30 Cinemaker members

Cinemaker staff members Aaron Valdez and Jen Proctor will be teaching equipment use, lighting setup, film stock differences, narrative & conceptual filmmaking, plus a little bit of hand processing, bleaching, hand painting, and more! This is a great opportunity for those just starting out to become familiar with the basics of filmmaking. To sign up, call 236-8877 or email Jen Proctor at canetoad@mail.utexas.edu.

MONTHLY MEETING Sunday, March 26 at 7pm Gallery at the ArtPlex, 1705 Guadalupe

The public is always invited to join us at these screening salons/business meetings. Bring works to show: Super 8, 16mm, and VHS video. Refreshments always provided, and discussion always welcome.

Coming from Cinemaker Co-op in May:

MAKE A FILM IN A WEEKEND! Friday, May 5- Sunday, May 7 AND Sunday, May 21 and Monday, May 22

May marks the return of our most popular festival, Make A Film in a Weekend! Filmmakers will come by our office on Friday, May 5 to pick up a mystery prop. No one will know what this prop is until it is in their grubby little hands. They then have until Sunday to make a one reel, in-camera edited Super 8 film. We send off the footage for processing, and two weeks later, on May 21 and 22, we screen the whole lot in a wham bam marathon screening. Mark your calendars now!

THE AUSTIN CINEMAKER CO-OP ANNOUNCES A SCREENING SALON WITH CONDUITFEST.COM, THE DIGITAL FESTIVAL!

FutureFusion: No-Budget Film Meets Digital Media Production Wednesday, March 15, 7pm At the ArtPlex, 1705 Guadalupe $6 general/$3 Cinemaker members Info: (512) 236-8877, cinemkr@texas.net

In a brave venture outside the domain of lo-fi Super 8 filmmaking and into uncharted technological territory, Cinemaker is teaming up with the folks behind Conduit, Austin's all digital media festival, for a special screening salon/digital demonstration, FutureFusion: No-budget Film Meets Digital Media Production

The salon follows Conduit's digiparties during SXSW Interactive and will provide the average Joe with some tools and techniques for creating digital art--right in their own living room!

Ben Davis, one of the pioneers and founders of C0ndu1t, will present a mini-showcase of new works from the retro-futuro digital edge as well as hold a hands-on demonstration of some of the new digital video tools in Adobe Premiere. Video capture, innovative animation techniques as well as Premiere as a desktop moviemaking studio will be discussed.

Guest filmmaker Jay Robert Jennings will also show clips from his new digital feature "Loan Shark" and demonstrate mini-DV.

Join us in this unique effort to fuse lo-fi, low-budget, downhome filmmaking with hi-tech digital media production.

The salon will take place Wednesday, March 15, at 7pm in the ArtPlex, 1705 Guadalupe. $6 general/$3 Cinemker members. Give us a call for more info: (512) 236-8877. Sponsored in part by SXSW.

Check out Conduit's other showcases during SXSW Interactive:

Scattergun Edit: Rem1x Saturday March 11, 2000; 6:30pm Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, 409 Colorado PARTY 9pm-2am Mercury, Upstairs @ Jazz, 214 E. 6th Street

Telefragging Monster Movies March 12 , 2000 Mercury, Upstairs @ Jazz, 214 E. 6th Street, 8pm

http://www.conduitfest.com

CONDUITFEST.COM, Austin's digital media fest, needs your help!

As part of their showcases during SXSW Interactive March 11-12, Conduit is planning a tribute screening to digital films of Texas. They need your entries, now! If you have worked on any kind of digital film or if your film incorporates digital techniques of any kind, and it was made in Texas or by a Texan, your entry may be considered. Deadline: ASAP (March 8 at the latest)! Please contact Jen to enter: canetoad@mail.utexas.edu.

It's official, The No Dance 2000 Touring Film Festival will present a screening of Rock Opera at the Ritz Lounge (320 Sixth Street, upstairs) on March 13th at 9pm. The No Dance Film Fest will be screening various short films starting at 7pm and Rock Opera will kick off at 9:00. The Ritz Lounge is a swank-ass screening room with a full bar!

Rock Opera will also have its East Coast premiere at the New York Underground Film Festival. Screening times are Saturday, March 11th at 11:30pm and on Sunday, March 12th at 9:45pm at Anthology Film Archives. Attending the screening will be Director Bob Ray, Actors Jerry Don Clark and Chad Holt, and Art Director Tony Linder. Also check out the panel discussion on Saturday, March 11th from 12:00-2:00 p.m. at Anthology Film Archives, 32 Second Ave. at Second St. Courthouse Theater (upstairs) THANK YOU FOR THE MUSIC sponsored by Insound and AIVF A panel discussion on music rights for independent filmmakers Featuring:

Gill Holland, independent producer

Bob Ray, director of ROCK OPERA

Zoel, music director of feature documentary SHADOW BOXERS

Tracy McKnight, music director

Steven Beer, entertainment lawyer

Bill Brown, ASCAP Moderator:

Michael Galinsky, independent filmmaker (HALF COCKED, RADIATION) and musician

Pro-Jex Gallery is pleased to present the fine art photography of legendary filmmaker Monte Hellman. The exhibit, entitled "To be or Wannabe", will run from March 6th to March 30th, with a public reception being held on Saturday, March 11th, from 6pm to 10pm

Mr Hellman's still work will include over 20 contemporary and vintage black and white photographs. Hellman, the director of Two Lane Blacktop and other cult films has worked with a number of important talents from cinematographer Giuseppe Rotunna to producer Roger Corman, Francis Ford Coppola, Jonathan Demme, Quentin Tarantino to Actors Jack Nicholson, Warren Oates, Lee Marvin, Jason Robards, Harvey Keitel, Steve Buscemi and Lawrence Tierney.

Mr. Hellman, with associate Barry Cooper is currently preparing a new film "The Payoff", to be directed by Hellman in the Austin area sometime this summer. *

Contact: Neil Coleman @ 472-7707 Pro-Jex is located within Artplex on 1705 Guadalupe St

Local Filmmaker Mark Jones on stage!

Juliet Dervin wrote:

"The play, 'Below the Belt,' is being performed at the Santa Cruz Culture Center 1805 e. 7th street this Friday and Saturday at 10pm and Sunday at 8pm.

These times are also for the following weekend. BUT then that's it for this short run of an utterly engrossing play written by Richard Dresser and performed by the new Chicano theater collective called nushank.

Admission is only $5.00.

MFA graduate student Mark Jones performs one of the three characters, all of whom are employees at an industrial compound in the desert.

The time is now (or five minutes from now), and the play centers around the lives of these three employees who work for a nameless place and can never leave. Their lives are spent continually checking work and re-checking it, and checking it again.

check it out, and check out this week's Chronicle, which highlights the play in its theater section.

The cast is Mark Jones, Mike D. Garcia, and Gabriel R. Martinez."

Local filmmaker, Anne Lewis, film to be shown at SXSW.

Writes Anne, "This year, my new documentary "To Save the Land and People" is one of the featured films at SXSW.

"To Save the Land and People" will be screened: SATURDAY March 11 at 1:00 at the DOBIE and WEDNESDAY March 15 6:30 at the DOBIE.

The film is a history of the resistance movement against strip mining in eastern Kentucky. It's about people standing up for themselves and organizing for environmental justice and community rights. It includes a number of very strong women.

This is a remarkable (and somewhat unexpected) opportunity to have work of this kind seen in Austin.

Please come and bring your friends!"

PREMIERE OF GEORGE WALLACE: SETTIN' THE WOODS ON FIRE

"George Wallace: Settin' the Woods on Fire", a documentary film by Daniel McCabe and local Austin filmmaker Paul Stekler, will have its Texas premiere at SXSW on March 12th, Sunday night at 7 PM, at the Paramount Theater. The film just won the Special Jury Award at the 2000 Sundance Film Festival.

The screening will also be the Austin Film Society's Doc Tour screening for March. There's 1000 plus seats at the Paramount, so even if you don't have SXSW passes, just being on the line to get in will get you a seat.

REEL WOMEN DIRECTING WORKSHOP: The next workshop will focus on the role of the director. It will be on Saturday, March 18, from 1-4 at the Austin History Center. FREE to RW members, but please register. Not a member? What a perfect time to join! You'll be able to attend this workshop as well as all the rest they'll be offering! Email reelwmen@texas.net to secure your place.

Director will be Kat Candler. After having graduated from Florida State University with a degree in creative writing, Kat Candler moved to Austin, Texas to pursue filmmaking. She attended Austin Filmworks where she wrote and directed two shorts, "The Bathroom" and "Avenue K" which went on to travel the festival circuit, picking up an Honorable Mention at the Rochester International Film Festival. She also wrote and directed the super-8 short, "Trophies". In 1999, Kat and two fellow students from Austin Filmworks formed Mutiny Productions. Through Mutiny Productions, Kat wrote and directed her first independent feature film, "cicadas". Also serving as editor and co-producer on "cicadas", the film is currently in the final stages of post-production. Mutiny Productions is in pre-production on their second independent feature on which Kat will serve as co-producer. Kat is hoping to start pre-production in the fall for her second feature, "Blessed".

6th annual GOLDEN SHOWER VIDEO FESTIVAL

June 16-17 San Antonio, TX.

Deadline: April 28.

Fest looking for narrative, animation, doc, or experimental film/video that are "out of the main stream".

Format: VHS only (shorts or features).

Entry fee: $10 CASH ONLY!!! (per entry), No checks or money orders. An entry form must accompany all entries.

Contact: Adam Rocha 8039 Callaghan Rd. PMB #611 San Antonio, TX 78230

tel: (512) 457-8780; voicemail: (210) 885-5888 email: info@safilm.com website: www.safilm.com

Call for entries

anteye.com is back in town with the second phase of their contest. 2 lucky guys in Austin won $500 to make another video after creating a stop motion animation from pieces originally xeroxed.

On April 15 at La Zona Rosa a winner from Austin will be announced. The winner receives $10,000 and the opportunity to develop a project with a budget up to $100,000. Also, look for the d.v.r.v. (digital video recreational vehicle) coming to town April 2-15. We'll be showing off the latest consumer goods that prove that anybody can and should make their own films.

Here's the deal. anteye.com is looking for original video and film for their contest and website. Each project must be on a separate video tape. For each project you must fill out a submission form on the site @ www.anteye.com

That's it kids - See ya this week at SXSW!