“I am Pig Poke, hear me roar”: Austinite Bob Ray‘s feature film examining the cunning stunts of the local underground music scene — Rock Opera — is creating a stir on the Web with its new site (http://lonestar.texas.net/~crashcam). The expanded site now features the full trailer, mind-warping graphics, Ray’s journal on the production, and, lest we forget the lessons of the Blair Witch gang, the all-powerful merchandising page. That’s not all from the Ray camp, though. The long-awaited soundtrack CD is finally ready to go and will debut with a release party Saturday, Dec. 4, at the Red Eyed Fly. The CD features a number of Austin bands you’re not likely to see gigging around town much anymore, such as the Cherubs, Ed Hall, as well as some you may, including film stars the Fuckemo’s and Honky. Not surprisingly, you can grab a copy of the CD off the Web site, or pick it up around town. Finally, Ray says Rock Opera has been selected to play the San Francisco Independent Film Festival in early January and that suave leading man Jerry Clark and he will be traveling out west to raise the requisite mayhem (barring cash flow problems, natch). You go, Toe… Reel Women will be having their next meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 17, 7:30pm, at GSD&M. This month’s featured speaker sounds exceptionally worth checking out — it’s producer Elizabeth Avellán (The Faculty, El Mariachi, etc.), with a provocatively titled talk on “Producing My Movies: Pregnancy, Post-Partum, and Post Production”… The Cinemaker Co-op is having one of their Super-8 workshops this weekend, Sunday, Nov. 14, noon-4pm. Taught by the Co-op’s assistant technical director Justin Hennard, this is highly recommended to anyone interested in exploring the world of small-gauge filmmaking. Hennard will cover the basics of equipment use, lighting setup, film stock differences, narrative and conceptual filmmaking, and oodles more. Admission to the course is $50 for non-members/$30 members, and will be held at the ArtPlex (1701 Guadalupe, Ste. 201). Call 236-8877 for more information or e-mail Justin at hurrahjustin@yahoo.com. While we’re discussing the Co-op’s activities (and when are we not?), new office manager Rachel Posey and her assistant Alma Piper have sent out an appeal for volunteers to help reorganize the offices. Interns are also needed. This is a great way to immerse yourself in the Austin film community and help out a good cause, so call 236-8877 to sign up… Parents’ orientation for Barna Kantor‘s upcoming Center for Young Cinema kidfilm workshops has been moved to this Sunday, Nov. 14, 2pm, at 906 E. Fifth, Ste. 106. Call 469-0114 for more info… A call for entries has been issued by the Video Association of Dallas for the 13th Dallas Video Festival, which runs Mar. 23-26, 2000. This is open to anyone with a vid to screen, submission deadline is Dec. 4, and all the other information you need can be found on their web site at http://www.videofest.org… A quick reminder: The Film Alliance of Austin is holding their Fall Film Actor’s Showcase this coming Monday, Nov. 15, 7:30pm at the Capital City Comedy Club. That’s 20 professional actors doing their thing for over 300 assorted producers and agents in what can only be described as a litmus test for any number of antiperspirant products currently available to Austin actors. Bust a limb, y’all.
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This article appears in November 12 • 1999.