Austin Film Purveyors: Action Figure Studios, the local group behind A&E series Rollergirls, has purchased th e former Texas Meat Purveyors facility at 3000 E. Cesar Chavez with designs on making the about 17,000 square feet into a film production hub. “There is a lack of production space of this size – there are several small stages that struggle to handle larger commercial shoots, and then very large and unfinished stages like those at the old airport – but there isn’t much in between,” says Matt Hovis of Action Figure. Since the building was refrigerated, it comes naturally insulated. If Rollergirls gets a second season it will move there from Austin Studios. Also look for the KLRU show Downtown to film there, as well as another TV project that Action Figure is mulling. Early signs are good for Rollergirls, with A&E publicly vowing an aggressive marketing campaign for the saga of Austin’s roller-derby queens.
“Chain Saw” in Waiting: The latest reported starting date for Platinum Dunes’ prequel to its 2003 Texas Chainsaw Massacre remake is September. Variety reports that Jordana Brewster (The Fast and the Furious) is in negotiations for this tale of Leatherface’s origins. Yes, we are assured, it will be shot in Austin.
Burnt Offerings: The Burnt Orange Productions machine is rolling along. The Cassidy Kids began filming this week with an all-star lineup of Austin talent: Jacob Vaughan directing, his Dear Pillow pal Bryan Poyser producing, P.J. Raval shooting, Kyle Henry editing, and Leslie Milligan handling production design. They’ll be joined by about 30 UT students honing their craft for credit. Film No. 3 from the University of Texas film arm is still up in the air. It won’t necessarily be A West Texas Children’s Story, which has been pushed back. Country musical Austin Angel remains in the bullpen. “It’s a picture we love and will make,” says Carolyn Pfeiffer, president of Burnt Orange. Oh, and did I mention the first Burnt flick The Quiet is set to open at the Toronto International Film Festival in September?
High Sundance Moon: Melody Taylor goes to the Sundance Independent Producers Conference in August with hopes of escaping the Texas heat and gathering buzz for High Moon, a supernatural spaghetti horror film that pits Native American shape-shifters against bounty hunters. Sean Bridges penned the script and hopes to direct in Austin later this year. The Sundance conference gives intensive help in marketing, financing, and distribution.
This article appears in July 22 • 2005.