Short Cuts

Elvis, the Dude, and You Dept.: South by Southwest Film Conference and Festival 2001 (March 9-13) has released their initial list of attendees and, as in previous years, the influence of the rapidly expanding documentary field will be prominent. Among the documentarians slated for either screenings or panel duty are Jesco-star maker Jacob Young (Dancing Outlaw), Coven-backer Chris Smith (American Movie), perennial fest fave Michael Moore (Roger & Me), and punk rawk's legendary chronicler Penelope Spheeris, who arrives with a new doc in tow, We Sold Our Souls for Rock 'N' Roll. Confirmed panelists include The New York Times critic Elvis Mitchell, Film Threat founder Chris Gore, the Shooting Gallery's Eamonn Bowles, Palm Pictures' David Koh, and legendary producer's rep Jeff "The Dude" Dowd, among others. Regional premieres will include Hector Galan's Accordion Dreams, Jonathan Parker's updating of Melville's Barteleby (featuring Crispin Glover), and David Cronenberg's short "Camera." SXSW promises a more complete list on Feb. 5. More information on everything from registration to hotel accommodations can be found at www.sxsw.com or by calling 467-7979... Hey script boy! Concerned about your ability to craft a finely wrought orgy of destruction? Local screenwriting guru Aubrey Horton will be presenting a free lecture titled "Screenwriting: Sex and Violence," on Sunday, Jan. 21, 3pm, at the Barnes & Noble on the Drag (2244 Guadalupe), which should help you out. He'll also be teaching a deuce of screenwriting workshops at St. Edward's University during the month of February. The first runs four weeks with a $140 entry fee, the second runs eight weeks with a $340 fee, and applications are due by Jan. 27. Complete info is available at www.scriptdoctor911.com or by calling 835-7639... Also filed under Education: The Austin Museum of Art is presenting a pair of film-related classes at their downtown branch (823 Congress Ave.). "Cinema Eye: Film" will run Jan. 29-Feb. 26, and "Film Theory Goes to the Movies" will run March 19-April 9. Registration begins now, fees are $85 and $102, respectively, and both classes are taught by former Chronicle film scribe and current Statesman critic Alison Macor. Call 323-6380 for more information... Scripting, film theory, hmmm, what else can we cover? Ah, yes: "First Flicks -- Directing & Self-Producing Your First Movie," an eight-week workshop taught by Sidney Brammer, runs Feb. 8-March 29, and covers everything from scheduling and budgeting to casting and distributing the final project. The class will be taught at Alleywood Studios (1902 S. Congress), the cost is $275, and everything else you need to know can be had by calling 916-0001 or e-mailing [email protected]... Not going to Park City this year? Funny, everybody else seems to be. Local filmmaker Geoff Marslett's animated "Monkey vs. Robot," which, apart from being featured in the current Spike & Mike's Sick and Twisted Festival of Animation (conveniently playing Friday, Jan. 19-Feb. 11 at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema), has been accepted into the Slamdance Film Festival 2001, which runs concurrently with the better-known Sundance Film Festival in (natch) Park City, Utah. Ditto for Duane Graves' acclaimed documentary Up Syndrome, which chronicles the, uh, ups and downs of the director's childhood buddy Rene Moreno, who suffers from Down Syndrome. And then there's Bob Ray's Rock Opera, which goes to the Nodance Film Festival (also in Park City) again -- this time as an official selection. Congrats to all, and check out www.slamdance.com and www.nodance.com for more info... Finally, the Cinemaker Co-op will present a free screening of the films of groundbreaking Czech animator Jan Svankmajer at their bimonthly meeting, Sunday, Jan. 21, 7pm, at the ACA Gallery of the ArtPlex (1705 Guadalupe). Call 236-8877 for more info.