Film News

Spaghetti Western takes aim at incentives battle

Set decorator Jeanette Scott may be the perfect example of the impact of ineffective Texas film incentives, and thus it's no surprise to see her artistic hand in an event aimed at turning the tide. It's called Spaghetti Western and planned for Nov. 7 at Star Hill Ranch, an Old West set that has been used in a few films in its time. Scenes from Italian Westerns will screen in the background on the Alamo Drafthouse's inflatable screen during the seated dinner for 500 as local film celebs wander about. Gary Clark Jr.'s band will play. A silent auction will be conducted.

Most important, Scott hopes it will raise $20,000 for the Central Texas region of the Texas Motion Picture Alliance, a film lobbying group working to convince the Legislature in 2009 to increase the current 5% financial incentives offered to somewhere in the 15% range, so Texas can regain the Hollywood films that now bypass the Lone Star State in favor of more incentive-rich states such as Louisiana and New Mexico at 25% and Michigan, which is offering up to 42%. "If we're not successful, nothing is going to be shooting," Scott says. "Our feature film industry is gasping for breath. We have to make this happen this [legislative] session, or it's too late."

As we said, Scott could well be the Texas film industry's poster child: She's been hard at work for 20 years on such films as Selena, Richard Linklater's The Newton Boys, most of Robert Rodriguez's films, and, most recently, Terrence Malick's Tree of Life. "I've managed to stay right here at home and work continuously in Austin," she says. "Two years ago, that just disappeared." She's been offered two film projects out of state recently, one in Louisiana and the other in Puerto Rico, which just began offering 40% incentives. Her commitment to the Texas incentives battle and the Spaghetti Western fundraising event convinced her to say no. See more at www.centraltxmpa.org.

And the rest ...

Join Reel Women for its First Monday Mix from 6 to 8pm Monday at Opal Divine's. It's free and open to the public... The 4th annual Seguin Film & Arts Festival is now accepting short films for this year's competition, Oct. 24-26, at the Palace Theatre. More at www.seguinfestival.org... HBO's currently shooting Temple Grandin biopic, starring Claire Danes, is still seeking extras, particularly hikers, swimmers, joggers, and square dancers. Send your photo to tgcasting@yahoo.com.

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