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An integral creative talent of the past and present in this extraordinary town, Cast Away screenwriter Bill Broyles makes the perfect cover subject for this publication as we cross over into the new millennium.

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Given that this is the Chronicle's New Year's Eve issue, some may question the appropriateness of our cover story. Sure, Cast Away screenwriter Bill Broyles has a hit movie, but shouldn't the cover be an old man with a baby rather than a not-so-old man and the sea?

A few weeks back, I had the pleasure of introducing Sandra Bullock, Lance Armstrong, and the rest of the guests at the Paramount screening of Miss Congeniality to support the Lance Armstrong Foundation and the Austin Film Society. I pointed out that this event could be interpreted as being about celebrity and movie stardom, but I suggested it represents something more. I really think it is about what an extraordinary town Austin is. Here, in the center of Texas, in the center of the country, we boast a world-renowned creative community. There is an active local culture, but there are so many talents here that touch the world. Toward this end, Bill Broyles is the Ghost of Austin Present. There could be no better cover subject for this publication as we cross over into the new millennium.

One of those people who seems capable of doing whatever he wants, Broyles has been a successful soldier (and how often do we read that about this generation?), editor, writer, essayist, producer, and scriptwriter. And he doesn't seem to be running out of energy yet. I recently ran into Broyles and his wife Andrea (an acclaimed artist whose work, including a silver wing emblem, is featured in the movie). I congratulated Broyles on the film's critical success (it hadn't opened yet), but his main question was whether or not I had seen it. I hadn't. He was clearly more concerned about people's reactions than about the acclaim it has achieved (and now, financial success; Cast Away earned about $40 million over the long Christmas weekend). Broyles is driven by a real love of his work; he brings a visceral intensity, common to the best artists, to his descriptions of new projects. The question with Broyles is always "What's next?" As often as it is a new project, it is a major lifestyle change. In his life, there are always new challenges. Broyles relishes the energy of ideas. You can see this in his work; you can see this in his life. Sarah Hepola's terrific piece in this issue ("Lost at Sea and Back Again," p. 52) goes a long way toward capturing this extraordinary talent.


This is the last issue of the millennium. Regardless of what has been written by many (including me in this very column), the New Year's of 2000 was only a symbolic triumph. In numerical terms, the new century starts Monday, January 1, 2001. Lacking the hoopla of last year's festivities, this true changing of the millennium invites a reflective mood. This has been a great year for us as a publication. We've had the privilege of sharing an encyclopedia's worth of new stories, ideas, items, and ads with our readers. Next year should be quite an adventure; we're very glad to be taking it all together. The Chronicle staff wishes you all a very happy New Year's Eve and a wonderful New Year. end story

A note to readers: Bold and uncensored, The Austin Chronicle has been Austin’s independent news source for over 40 years, expressing the community’s political and environmental concerns and supporting its active cultural scene. Now more than ever, we need your support to continue supplying Austin with independent, free press. If real news is important to you, please consider making a donation of $5, $10 or whatever you can afford, to help keep our journalism on stands.

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KEYWORDS FOR THIS STORY

bill broyles, william broyles jr., cast away

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