Short Cuts

"We've Come To Ruin Your Life and Wreck Everything -- God Sent Us" Dept.: Several people have called me asking if those vague rumors regarding a Quentin Tarantino/Russell Crowe Romper Stomper screening were actually a go or just another case of wishful thinking. A quick call to Tim League over at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema -- site of the impending QT Quattro fest -- reveals that although League pushed the idea on QT co-sponsors, the Austin Film Society, nothing has come of it and it looks to be muerto en la agua. Such a superstar, live-in-person double-billing would have been perfect for League's venue, and he was all for it, but in light of the fact that both Tarantino and Crowe already have their work cut out for them while in town, this gladiator vs. the superfly mofo event has been banished to the realm of "if only, if only." On the other hand, a special addition has been made to the festival's final night, Sunday, Sept. 3: "Rock N Roll-a-Go-Go," described as a four-hour marathon of Sixties-era go-go music (short-) shorts, rockin' craziness, and a feature-length go-go film. Tix are still available via the AFS (to members, that is), with individual tix available at the box office (subject to availability) the day of the show. More info can be found at www.austinfilm.org... In other AFS news, that organization is currently looking to hire some lucky soul for a new Development Associate half-time position. Responsibilities include taking care of member services, development support, special events coordination, and assorted communications obligations. To apply, mail a cover letter and resume to: Anne del Castillo, Austin Film Society, 3109 N. I-35, Austin, TX, 78751. Attempts to circumvent the traditional methods of job application modus operandi by phoning them up and gabbing on for 30 minutes about how Fassbinder warped you at an early age will doubtless be frowned upon and elicit the kind of semi-stifled giggling you don't want to hear from prospective employers... Next Friday, Sept. 1, at 6pm, and the following Saturday, also at 6 pm, the Political Asylum Project of Austin will be screening David Riker's feature film La Ciudad, "a hauntingly beautiful collection of love, hope, and loss amongst Latin American immigrants living in New York." The screenings, which will take place at the Center for Mexican American Cultural Arts (600 River St.), will be followed by a discussion of the film with National Outreach Coordinator Francisco Arguelles...The second installment of Alchemy Works' five-part Movie Midwifing series will be held Tuesday, Sept. 5, 7pm, at The Hideout (617 Congress Ave.). This time out, they'll be starting with a screening of Tom Chamberlain's short DV film The Story of an Hour, which will be followed by a staged reading of Dumb Luck: How Not to Win the Lottery by Austin screenwriter Sara Stiffler. Admission is $5. For more info call 443-8229... Finally, Austin-based Hollywood consultant and screenwriter Aubrey Horton will be presenting a lecture titled "The Hollywood Option," on Sunday, Sept. 10, 3pm, at the Guadalupe Barnes and Noble. Somehow I've never actually met Mr. Horton, but he's been kind enough to send me a few cinematic texts in the mail over the last year, so I can tell you straight up the CCAH Fellow and UCLA Film School MFA knows of what he speaks. More info can be had at: www.ScriptDoctor911.com or by calling 835-7639.