by Jen Scoville
Panels at last weekend’s SXSW Film Conference were well-attended, especially
Outside the System, Inside the System — without a doubt the most
star-studded film panel of the bunch. Celeb indie directors Quentin Tarantino,
Richard Linklater, Robert Rodriguez, Kevin Smith, George Huang, and Mike Judge
had conference attendees spilling out into the convention center’s foyer
watching the proceedings on video monitors. It was equally crowded at the
sold-out world premiere of Full Tilt Boogie, a behind-the-scenes look at
the making of From Dusk Till Dawn, directed by Sarah Kelly. The premiere
benefited the Texas Filmmakers’ Production Fund and the Full Tilt gang were
especially ready to boogie since they had just learned that their movie had
been picked up for distribution by the big boys at Miramax. The first screening
of Traveller occurred before another sold-out crowd, the hometown
audience taken not only with the film but its soundtrack, heavy on country
twang and blues and coordinated by Tom Huckabee, an old friend of
Traveller‘s star and producer Bill Paxton and a UT graduate. Austin
musicians Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Lou Ann Barton, who are each represented on
the Traveller soundtrack, will participate in a SXSW Music Festival showcase,
outdoors on Friday March 14, which Paxton himself will host. Traveller screens again on Saturday, March 15, 2:30pm at the Dobie. If perhaps you were
intrigued by Beeaje Quick’s Real Stories of the Donut Men, or by the
promotional stickers for the film plastered all over town, stop by Artplex
Gallery, 1705 Guadalupe, where some of the filmmakers’ artworks are exhibited
through Fri., March 14. The festival screenings continue through Saturday… As
the Austin Film Society winds down its week-long co-presentation of the Century
of Cinema series at SXSW, they’re getting ready to kick back into the Sam
Fuller groove with the presentation of his second directing effort, 1950’s
Baron of Arizona starring Vincent Price (Tue., March 18, 7pm, Union Theatre).
The following night (Wed. March 19, 7:30pm, Dobie), the AFS launches the 1997
Israeli Film Festival. The series’ opening film is There Was No War in ’72, a
coming-of-age story directed by David Kreiner. The six-film festival continues
weekly through April 23… Theatre producer Charles Duggan, certainly
well known in these parts as producer of the Tuna stage productions, is
also responsible for the film version of The Twilight of the Golds,
(from the stage play of the same name) made for Showtime, which asks such
questions as whether or not homosexuality is genetic, and what you would do if
you suspected your unborn child might be gay. The Twilight of the Golds will
have a special screening at the Paramount, Thursday, March 20, at 8pm to
benefit the Austin Gay & Lesbian International Film Festival. Duggan will
be present to discuss the journey of the play from script to screen and to
answer questions… Reel Women, the women’s film collective, will hold its
monthly meeting on Wed., Mar 19, 7:30pm at W.A.T.E.R. House (109. W. Johanna).
Carol Pirie, assistant director of the Texas Film Commission will speak.
This article appears in March 14 • 1997 and March 14 • 1997 (Cover).