Festival happenings past and present, a local casting call, and movies that need your monies to get made.
When Austin filmmaker Bob Byington took his latest film, Somebody Up There Likes Me, to Switzerland’s Locarno Film Festival last week, the Swiss rather took to it: The jury, led by American filmmaker Roger Avary, awarded the comedy the Special Jury Prize, which comes ribboned in a 30,000 euro booty.
And onto future film festival greatness: Local production The Man From Orlando will make its debut at the Cincinnati Film Festival in early September. The comedy was directed and co-written by Craig Elrod, stars Jason Newman (who also co-wrote), Lee Eddy, Alan Metoskie, Byron Brown, Macon Blair, Chris Doubek, Vincent Van Horn and a whole host of other ridiculously funny local actors. Full disclosure: It was produced and co-edited by our Chronicle colleague and softball coach Michael Bartnett, so we’re not even gonna try to pretend at objectivity here, when really we’re just giddy that good things are happening for The Man From Orlando.
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Matt Muir‘s debut feature Thank You a Lot is seeking extras for a shoot tomorrow at a local music club:
“We are seeking men and women dressed as members of an audience for Chicago jazz artist Keri Johnsrud and Austin hip hop artist Da’Shade Moonbeam. If interested in participating, please send a recent photo of yourself to thankyoualotmovie@gmail.com.”
Incidentally, the filmmakers are also seeking funds to keep the shoot motoring along. You can read more about the film, which stars musician James “Slim” Hand, at the film’s Kickstarter page here.
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And speaking of Kickstarter fundraisers, we know of additional worthy projects asking with hands out: Animator Lucas Martell, who made the swell 3D animated short “Pigeon Impossible,” is seeking funds for his followup, “Cloud Catchers,” about “one courageous pilot who fights against vicious sky pirates for control of the last remaining source of water: the clouds.”
And former Austinite Jenn Garrison (Prize Whores) is looking for funds to complete post-production on her new documentary Dance Like No One’s Watching, which “explores the world of competitive country/western dancing within the gay community.” Garrison makes her case – and gives you a glimpse of some of the footage – in the video below.
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Talk at us here: filmflam@austinchronicle.com.
This article appears in August 10 • 2012.
