Short Cuts

Death Is But a Minor Inconvenience Dept.: Six years after his untimely demise from pancreatic cancer, Austin's all-time favorite comedian/visionary -- Bill Hicks -- continues to make the rounds, appearing in two unrelated filmic venues this week. Hicks, who was, for my money, the single greatest comedian I ever had the pleasure to catch onstage, is both name-checked and seen (in footage from one of his several television appearances) in Justin Kerrigan's Brit import feature Human Traffic, opening this week at the Dobie Theatre. While Hicks appears only briefly in the film, it's of note that the main character uses the comic's unique Hicksian wisdom as a guide in operating his own rather comedic life. Good stuff, and something that I suspect Hicks himself wouldn't be too bothered by. Definitely worth seeking out for Hicks fans everywhere. The other reappearance of the Great One comes courtesy of rabid Hicks fan (and SXSW co-programmer) Charlie Sotelo, who sends news that he will be screening Hicks' failed sitcom pilot, Bulba, during his phone-in/clips program The Show With No Name, Sun., June 10, 10pm, on cable channel 10. Says Sotelo, "It's from 1991 and features Bill as a bumbling Marine corporal guarding the U.S. Embassy on Bulba Island. Bill isn't the star, but he gets good screen time. There's not much of his acerbic wit here, but plenty of broad physical comedy. Where else can you see Bill Hicks take pratfalls in his underwear?" Bulba is truly the rarest of finds as the only other copy around belongs to Hicks' buddy and posthumous producer Kevin Booth, who rarely screens his copy. I've certainly never seen it but plan to dust off my recording heads and mass-produce a few copies for the my Hicks-starved friends in far-away places (just kidding, Kevin). For Ken Lieck's reviews of other Booth-produced Hicks videos see last week's "Video Reviews"... Heads up from the Austin Film Society, who remind everyone that there are fewer than three weeks remaining before the July 1 application deadline for the Texas Filmmakers' Production Fund 2000 (TFPF). The fund awards annual grants to "emerging film and video artists in the state of Texas," and "since 1996 has granted $180,000 to 81 filmmakers whose work demonstrates promise, skill, and creativity." If that sounds like you (and even if it doesn't), get thee to a writing device and hammer out your application posthaste. TFPF staff will be available until June 16 to review applications and offer feedback in advance of the deadline. Information about the fund (including applications) can be found at www.austinfilm.org or by calling 322-0145... The fine folks at Pixel Perfect have issued an open invite to the monthly meeting of the Digital Storytellers Alliance, Tue., June 13, 8pm, at CC Digital, (6549 Burnet Road). The meeting will feature Michael Akel and Chris Maas' documentary-in-progress, Butcher's 15, the tale of a "down-on-his-luck working stiff who gets the chance ... to win a manufactured home in a celebrity challenge tennis match." Unique barely covers it. Call 485-3095 or go to www.cc-digital.com/location.htm for more info... On Wed., June 14, 8pm, at the Empanada Parlor (707 Sixth), Austin's Cinemaker Co-op is throwing a shindig to celebrate the video release of Fast, Cheap Prophesies, a compilation video featuring the best of the Co-op's 1998-99 season. Live music from the supercool DJ Firewheel and more will be on hand. Join them for a night of "music, grubbin', booze, and film," all free of charge to you, their adoring public.

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