Still Time to Learn Final Cut Pro Dept.: The Austin Film Festival is wrapping up another successful run as I write this (how successful you ask? The line at the Driskill Bar was three deep the other evening — that’s how successful) which can only mean one thing: South By Southwest Film Festival and Conference 2002 (March 8-16) has begun accepting entries from the legions of filmmakers that got Canon XL2s this past Christmas, as well as those working in the primordial ooze of what we like to call “film stock.” If you’ve got a labor of love you want the world to take a cotton to, here’s the rules, bucko: Submissions must be on standard-speed NTSC VHS, accompanied by a synopsis of 50 words or less, a director’s bio, cast and crew list, a list of previous and planned screenings, a processing fee of $20 for shorts/$30 for features, and an application (downloadable from www.sxsw.com, by e-mailing sxsw@sxsw.com, or by dreaded spore-mail at SXSW Film, PO Box 4999 , Austin, TX 78765). Got that? Good. There’s more: Early submission deadline must be postmarked by Friday, Nov. 16, 2001, late submission deadline by Friday, Dec. 10, 2001, at which time the processing fee jumps by $5 in both categories. The fee is nonrefundable, and SXSW gets to keep whatever physical manifestations of your hopes and dreams you send, i.e. your tapes. Submitted films must have been completed in 2001 or early 2002 to be considered, and works in progress must be completed no later than Feb. of 2002. Any other questions — excluding perennial fave “Why don’t you like my film, ya bastids?” — can be answered by calling SXSW direct at 467-7979 or at the e-mail address above… Congrats to local scribe Sean Bridges who has had his screenplay Roll of the Die optioned by Hawk Entertainment Inc. “in a contract reported from mid-to-high six figures,” according to Austin entertainment attorney Manning Wolfe… Looking for a way to invest your spare change without risking it on the ever-more-interesting markets? Why not write a check to Texas-based director Hart D. Fisher‘s new project, the brazenly titled corrupt-cop drama Pig? According to the press release we received, this is “an investment in a legitimate film by an up and coming director” complete with an online investment profile available for your perusal at www.bone yardpress.com/pig/pig_invest.htm. The trailer for the film is also available at www.boneyard press.com/pig/pig_intro.htm. Questions? Call the man directly at 818/720-1565 or drop him a line at bonedaddy@boneyard.press.com.
This article appears in October 19 • 2001.