Pulling the film loop tighter
The catch phrase for the Texas film industry this fall appears to be "organized and on message." That's what drew 35 local film insiders to Austin Studios last week as they brainstormed about what holes the Austin film machine needs to fill on its road to further success, be they in the areas of infrastructure, facilities, or services. This talk also comes as plans are gearing up to push for the November approval of the city of Austin's Proposition 4, which would provide $5 million to upgrade sound stages at Austin Studios. How can local film folk follow the flock? Start by attending a Texas Association of Film/Tape Professionals and Screen Door Film meeting, 7-10pm, Sept. 14, at Mother Egan's Irish Pub, 715 W. Sixth, where some movers and shakers from the new Texas Motion Picture Alliance will discuss efforts to persuade the Legislature to approve filming incentives in Texas like those offered in Louisiana and New Mexico and how Proposition 4 will help. Listen to insider insights from Texas Film Commissioner Bob Hudgins and Rebecca Campbell, executive director of the Austin Film Society. Last, but certainly not least, the new alliance will have its Austin regional meeting Sept. 30 from 10am to noon at St. Edward's University. Check the details at www.txmpa.org, send your Austin Studio ideas to Rachel Blackney at rachel@austinfilm.org, get organized, and give me plenty to write about next year.
Scaring Harry Knowles to death
Two minutes. That's all you get to freak out horror maven Harry Knowles of Ain't It Cool News. Two minutes of mayhem, chills, spills, and fake blood. Learn about the Big Scream Film Contest this Sunday at 2:30pm at the Alamo Drafthouse South from Knowles, Pathogen filmmaker Emily Hagins, Dear Pillow star Rusty Kelley (he's also about to make his own horror flick, Shores of Another Sea). Sponsored by the Nightmare Factory and the Austin School of Film, the contest promises a trip to the L.A. Film Festival to the winner. Hey, vampire wannabes, just come to the panel and get a packet of fake blood while supplies last. Film submissions can be uploaded Sept. 4 through midnight, Oct. 1, at www.nightmarefactory.com.
And the rest...
University of Texas film grad Alejandro Gomez Monteverde's Bella premiered in the Contemporary World Cinema section of the Toronto International Film Festival. Patrick Million co-wrote the script with Monteverde... See Heather Courtney's thought-provoking PBS documentary, Letters From the Other Side, for free Tuesday at 7pm in the Austin City Limits Studio 6A at the corner of Dean Keeton and Guadalupe. The film offers personal stories behind immigration issues and showed to strong reviews at the Slamdance and South by Southwest Film festivals. KLRU will air the film at 9pm on Sept. 26... The Austin Movie Show might have to rethink its name, given that El Paso station KVAI has picked it up for airing on its new CW affiliate, which also serves Las Cruces and Ciudad Juarez. The show from creators Jegar Erickson and Leila Hernandez, which spotlights the Texas filmmaking community and offers movie reviews, will air at 2pm on Sundays starting Sept. 24. Video podcasts of the show can be downloaded from www.austinmovieshow.com.
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