by Jen Scoville
We can now officially say that the South by Southwest Festivals are right
around the corner, with the Film Conference and Festival `s March 7 start date
just four weeks away! It seems like good news travels daily across the parking
lot between the Chronicle and SXSW, as the list of screenings is
finalized and panelists are confirmed. So far, the exciting line-up of accepted
films includes many coming straight from Sundance or Slamdance and lots of
local representation. Kevin Smith’s Chasing Amy, the final installment
in his “New Jersey Trilogy” (Clerks, Mallrats) will show as a special
screening. Chasing Amy was a favorite at Sundance, along with John
O’Hagan’s Wonderland, a SXSW competition documentary on the first
“planned community” in Levittown, New York. Sarah Jacobson’s Mary Jane’s Not
a Virgin Anymore, a narrative feature exploding the myths of teenage
sexuality, will compete in the narrative category. Two new films from Steven
Soderbergh, Gray’s Anatomy (the newest Spalding Gray monologue) and
Schizopolis (in which Soderbergh also stars) are also on the schedule.
Sweethearts, the story of a blind date and the fatal night that follows,
directed by Aleks Horvat and produced by (and starring) Jeaneane Garofalo was
the closing night film at Slamdance. Daniel Harris’ The Bible and Gun
Club came home that festival’s jury winner. The latter two are special
screenings at SXSW. Local flavor will be provided by Don Howard’s Letter
From Waco, a documentary exploring race, religion, death, and football in
the filmmaker’s hometown (camera: Lee Daniel); Marcus Van Bavel’s narrative
feature Redboy 13, Jim Brennan’s competition doc Return to Giant;
and narrative shorts BREEZEWAY by George Lang-worthy and Jesus of
Judson by Jacob Vaughan. Film passes go on sale Feb. 14 at Star Ticket
Outlets (469-7469) for $30+ tax and service charge. News from the conference:
Quentin Tarantino will be participating in a panel discussion titled Outside
the System/Inside the System with indie colleagues Robert Rodriguez,
Richard Linklater, Kevin Smith, and George Huang (Swimming with Sharks).
Amy Taubin of The Village Voice will serve as moderator… After months
of searching, Survival Research Labs (SRL) has finally found a sound venue and
the rock `em sock `em, larger-than-life robot show is back on schedule for
March 28. The group is looking for skilled volunteers and will accept crew
applications on Thu., Feb. 13, 8pm at the Holy 8 Ball Studio, 2206 E. Seventh.
All positions are unpaid, and ideally, volunteers should be able to commit at
least a week of their time to the production… Calling all eligible
bachelorettes: Single Out, a lesbian dating game that will appear on
ACTV in honor of the 1997 International Woman’s Day Community Media Festival is
looking for contestants. An open call will be held this Saturday, Feb 8,
10am-2pm, and the following Sat., Feb. 15, 10am-noon at WATER House, 109 W.
Johanna St. For more info call Margaret Perez at 477-2803; Single Out will air on March 8. The Austin Salon of the Association of Independent Video
and Filmmakers is still accepting applications for inclusion in their downtown
multimedia Installation planned for SXSW. For more information call 322-9707…
This article appears in February 7 • 1997 and February 7 • 1997 (Cover).