The tremendous economic boom we’re experiencing these days has been manna from heaven for just about every industry in town, right? Well, that depends on whom you talk to: For struggling filmmakers looking to rent spaces for temporary soundstage work, the boom has translated into high rental prices and nonexistent properties. Try finding a loft or warehouse space to erect a mock-up of Main Street, USA, without first having to eliminate your craft services and location budgets and you’ll see what I mean. Leave it to the Austin Film Society, then, to spearhead a proposal to adapt four existing hangars and an office space at the now-defunct Robert Mueller Airport to the cause of local (and out-of-state) filmmaking. The proposal, headed by filmmakers Richard Linklater, Robert Rodriguez, Elizabeth Avellán, and Mike Judge, among others, went before the Austin City Council this morning at 9am, and while that’s still in the future as we go to press, AFS director Rebecca Campbell says a positive response is expected. “We have been working with the Mueller Neighborhoods Coalition and the City Council,” says Campbell, “and we’ve gotten a very warm reception from the neighborhoods and the City Council thus far.” The proposed business plan will allow for phased development of the soundstage space with price breaks available to the first few renters in exchange for making improvements. Why the AFS, you ask? “As a nonprofit organization,” explains Campbell, “we’re interested in more than just the bottom line. We want to build a film community there, we want to create job and training opportunities for Austinites, and we’d like to create an entrée into film careers for people by providing paid internships on movies. It also makes sense for us because of our existing connections to the national and local film communities. Lastly, since we don’t know where the airport is going to be in 10 years, as a nonprofit organization we could walk away with no harm done should the city or the neighborhood associations decided against this at a later date.” And you thought Robert Mueller Airport was doomed to post-life of massive midnight raves and the occasional renegade drag race… Another Sundance Film Festival has come and gone and word is beginning to trickle in from Austin filmmakers on their exploits (or lack thereof) in Park City. Bob Ray‘s Rock Opera screened to enthusiastically inebriated crowds at the smaller offshoot No Dance. The film is slated to go on the road as part of the upcoming No Dance 2000 Tour, which means the legend of Pig Poke will end up hitting the Cannes and Toronto fests, as well as the IFFM and perhaps even SXSW. Over at Slamdance, there was a premiere screening of the Austin-made What I Like About You, directed by Jeff Stolhand (Seeking the Cafe Bob). Across the way at that other, larger fest, Sundance’s Special Jury Prize for Writing for Documentary went to local filmmaker Paul Stekler, Daniel McCabe, and Steve Fayer for their work on George Wallace: Settin’ the Woods on Fire… Cinemaker Co-op is holding its monthly meeting this Sun., Feb. 6, 7pm, at 1705 Guadalupe in the Artplex Building. Anyone with an interest in small-gauge filmmaking is encouraged to show up with film in hand, if possible… Screenwriters take note: the Austin Heart of Film Screenplay Competition has announced its call for entries for AHFF 2000. Entries must be postmarked by May 15 and include a $40 entry fee. Complete details are available by calling 800/310-FEST or check ’em out on the Web at http://www.austinfilmfestival.com.
This article appears in February 4 • 2000.