Contributors
Don Clinchy
- Contact: dclinchy [at] austin [dot] rr [dot] com
After 21 years in a film-oriented town like Austin, I've become quite the film nerd, seeing about 100 films a year in theaters and on DVD. I prefer low-budget, quirky, character-driven indie films (if a film can change one's life, Slacker changed mine). But I'll watch almost any high-quality film no matter the genre. (Note: A chick flick must be extraordinarily well reviewed, profoundly original, and boldly artistic before I'll watch it. The opposite is true for exploitation films, which I'll watch no matter how awful they are, because that's the point. I'm a film nerd -- not a film snob.)
I have a journalism degree from Trinity University and a longtime day job as a technical writer at National Instruments. I've also written op/ed articles for the Austin American-Statesman, published two essays in Writing Austin's Lives and -- like most any good technical writer -- am the author of two inexplicably unpublished novels.
When not being a film nerd, I'm a political rabble-rouser, Facebook junkie and Texana nerd who collects Texas-related books and films.
Marcelena Mayhorn
- Twitter: @mmayhorn
Marcelena Mayhorn received a BFA in Filmmaking from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. A native Texan, she has worked for Austin Film Festival and is currently a freelance writer, copywriter and screenwriter here in Austin.
Elizabeth Stoddard
- Website: http://elizs.tumblr.com/
- Twitter: @elizs
Longtime resident of Austin, classic film addict, fan of the Paramount Summer Classic Film Series, contributor to Austinist since 2005.
Jordan Gass-Poore'
- Contact: jgasspoore [at] yahoo [dot] com
- Website: jgasspoore
- Twitter: @nerdosaurus
I am an English, mass communication senior at Texas State University- San Marcos. I completed an internship with the Austin Film Society a few years back, which renewed my interest in screenplay writing and sparked a new interest in marketing for non-profit organizations.
If I'm not writing for my campus newspaper, The University Star, or sitting outside of my favorite local coffee shop drinking a Shyster, you can catch me watching episodes of my favorite television series, "Battlestar Galactica," online.
Mike Saulters
- Contact: neploxo [at] hotmail [dot] com
- Twitter: @MikeSaulters
Herding programmers by day and slinging words by night, I came to Austin twenty years ago hoping to make movies. After the requisite 7 years to complete a CS degree at UT, I found I was perfectly happy watching and writing about them while working separately in a field that's much more suited to keeping bills paid. I have contributed scores of reviews for Ain't It Cool News writing under the nom-de-clavier Augustus Gloop, mostly festival coverage for AFF, SXSW and Fantastic Fest.
Debbie Cerda
- Contact: debbie [at] slackerwood [dot] com
- Website: A Geek of Small Consequence
- Twitter: @snax
I studied journalism at Texas A & M University, where I volunteered as a deejay and Program Coordinator for KANM Radio. My favorite class was the "History of Film", where I learned an appreciation for Sergei Eisenstein, Fritz Lang, and other master filmmakers.
As an active member of the now defunct Austin Cinemaker Co-op, I participated in the "Make a Film in a Weekend (MAFIA") and "Splice of Life" filmmaking events. As a result, I collect Super 8 cameras and film.
I've spent a lot of time volunteering at movie premieres in Austin for South by Southwest Special Venues Crew, and enjoy being on the red carpet side of things now. Here's hoping my photojournalism class from Texas A & M stuck with me!
My favorite genre is science fiction, having grown up watching "Them" and "Forbidden Planet" every time it was on TV. The first movie I recall seeing in a movie theater as a child was a Sergio Leone flick with Clint Eastwood.
I am the senior contributor for Slackerwood and the lead curator and project manager for Austin Film Society's annual SXSW ShortCase film series. I am also a proud member of the Austin Film Society and a supporter of UT's Women in Cinema organization.
Jette Kernion - Founder and Editor-in-Chief
- Twitter: @jettek
I'm a freelance writer who also happens to love movies. I feel very lucky to live in Austin, where you can see a free movie at a venue every day if you want, and which offers such a wonderful range of movie screenings and events. So I decided to share the news about Austin film by founding Slackerwood. I also work on a variety of other writing and editing projects.
James Christopher
- Website: http://www.twitchydolphin.com
- Twitter: @twitchydolphin
James Christopher is the President and co-founder of Twitchy Dolphin Flix.
Holly Herrick
- Contact: holly [at] austinfilm [dot] org
- Website: Austin Film Society
I'm the Associate Artistic Director at the Austin Film Society.
Chale Nafus
- Website: Austin Film Society
I'm the Director of Programming and a Founder's Circle member at the Austin Film Society.
Chip Rosenthal - Technical Director
- Contact: chip [at] unicom [dot] com
- Website: It's Just This Little Chromium Switch Here
- Twitter: @chipr
Chip Rosenthal is the Technical Director for Slackerwood. He is a software engineer and consultant. He has watched "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan" more times than you have.
Katy Daiger Dial
- Contact: katy [at] austinfilm [dot] org
- Website: Austin Film Society
Katy was born and raised in Houston, Texas, where she developed an eclectic love of all things film – from JURASSIC PARK to GONE WITH THE WIND. She moved to Austin to get her RTF degree from the University of Texas and never left the Bat City. She currently serves at the Community Education Manager at the Austin Film Society. Before AFS, she worked as the Video Game & Animation Industry Liaison for the Texas Film Commission, where she grew the State’s educational opportunities and economic benefits. She’s also had her hand in other aspects of filmmaking, working as Assistant Managing Director for CinemaTexas Short Film Festival and doing research and publicity for the documentary RICHARD GARRIOTT: MAN ON A MISSION. Katy has a Master’s Degree from the UT School of Information and has served on the Steering Committee for non-profit arts organization StrataTX. In those rare moments that she’s not working on, talking about or experiencing the moving image industry, Katy is indulging in her love of historical fiction and digital archives.
Natalia Ciolko
- Twitter: @nataliaciolko
Natalia Ciolko is a writer based in Austin, Texas. She has served in various editorial and production roles with The Texas Tribune, Sundance Film Festival, The Guardian, the San Antonio Current, The FADER and The Daily Texan. Born and raised in San Antonio, Natalia is a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin with a degree in journalism.
Stephanie Baker
- Contact: stephanie [at] austinfilm [dot] org
- Website: Austin Film Society
Ryan Long
- Contact: ryan [at] austinfilm [dot] org
- Website: Austin Film Society
James Pound
- Contact: news [at] austinfilm [dot] org
- Website: Austin Film Society