The Birthday Party

Photo By John Anderson

(l-r) Mayor Will Wynn, Tim McCanlies, Elizabeth Avellán, Robert Rodriguez, and Rick Linklater puzzle over an uncut cake for Austin Studios' third birthday on Friday, Nov. 7, in the complex's impressive screening room. Although the Farrelly brothers at one point reportedly expressed dissatisfaction with the room -- the construction of which was hastened in time for viewing dailies of their (now postponed) production of the Austin-shot, Johnny Knoxville-starring The Ringer -- it seemed fit enough for a press conference and reception celebrating local film (aside from those ill-affixed sound panels occasionally tumbling down off the walls). The assembled luminaries deserved a little party, of course: McCanlies' Secondhand Lions, Avellán and Rodriguez's Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over and Once Upon a Time in Mexico, and Linklater's School of Rock have all had tremendous box-office success, and, more importantly, their talents and time spent have led to Austin Studios' attraction of major movie productions (see Short Cuts, Nov. 7, for the ongoing and upcoming). The mayor and filmmakers in turn credited the formidable local crews (which they admitted a need for as projects mount), Austin residents' acceptance and enthusiasm, and Texas Film Commission Director Tom Copeland. Rodriguez lauded Linklater's "visionary thinking. ... [Austin Studios] may be 3 years old, but in my mind it's 12 years old," and said that he has used "Texas for an island ... for outer space. Texas can be anything!" Wynn said he hoped that the city would "not screw things up," but was hazy on any tax-incentive programs or otherwise (and didn't acknowledge the music scene's struggles). It was Austin Studios Director Suzanne Quinn who provided the bottom line: 15 productions ranging from $4,000 to $50 million, $135 million to the Austin economy, and an influx of 1,800 local jobs.