SXSW 2010 Day 3: Happy Poet and Spilled Beer

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I am so tired. I hope this all makes sense.  Today I managed to make it to The Happy Poet world premiere.  I'm really glad I asked for a reserved seat as a guest of the filmmakers, because badges got turned away. It was in fact so packed, that the filmmakers were standing in the back to give up seats, and one guy was sitting on a table. Seriously, space was indeed reserved for Dave's butt. 

As it turns out, all of us made a great choice to see The Happy Poet because it's a fun film. In fact, I have to say that The Happy Poet is my favorite film so far at SXSW.  Writer/director/star Paul Gordon's delivery are very deadpan yet reflect the earnest wish of a man with little resources and no food service experience to open up an organic food stand.  The cast is a charming ensemble, all portraying characters rooting for Bill (Gordon) as he struggles to start a business and find his voice. 

The Happy Poet plays again tomorrow and Thursday in Ritz 1, so more people can catch it.  Bur be warned, you will find yourself craving a near veggie organic sandwich.  And if you're in line, you can get some healthy snacks from their cart if it's there (and I hope it is).

I tried to make some of the parties, but that wasn't happening, other than a quick stop into The Happy Poet after-party, which was a Who's Who of the Austin film scene. I managed to miss no less than four parties on Sunday. I did manage to catch a second film, Helena at the Wedding, a character study about three married couples in varying stages of intimacy. What could have been a very dry film held my attention the entire time, in part because of a solid cast and in part because of a clever soundtrack underscoring the scenes.

I made a quick stop into the Cheezburger Network's Late Night with Cheezburger party. It wasn't working for me, so I hopped on a shuttle to Alamo Lamar intending to catch a midnight film, but ended up chatting with Cinematical's Scott Weinberg, several other film bloggers, and cast and crew from Red White and Blue, which was almost finished screening in its World Premiere.  I knew it was the hot ticket so I decided to wait until the next screening.  

Now, normally I don't name drop. I've known Scott for years and while he's a great guy, he doesn't need the press.  But later I went over with him and a few others to the Red White and Blue after party. And there, a stranger approached me, to ask if I was with Slackerwood. Apparently the Slackerwood name was dropped quite a bit in the How to Rawk SXSW panel. But before the stranger could get far, Weinberg managed to spill the man's beer all over me. I think it was payback for missing his panels this year.* I think my tiredness betrayed me by causing me to laugh hysterically.

I should have gone home at that point, but I was drenched in beer, and I didn't want to be That Person in a cab, so I dried off a bit, got to hear some great and terrible karaoke, and talked to said stranger, who really was rather sweet, but I was really distracted. 

I ended up staying past closing and enjoying some RoseBerry Fizzes and the good company of friends.  But now my clothes are in the washer, my sneakers have been fabreezed, and I'm about to crash. 

So don't forget, The Happy Poet is back at the Ritz in the bigger room tomorrow, followed by Dance with the One. But that's opposite Earthling, which is followed by Cherry.  Oh, I hate making decisions.  But I do have to at least stop by aGLIFF's Steers and Queers party at Frank, so I suspect I'll be downtown for a lot of tomorrow.  And on that note, I'm going to try to get to bed before 4am, with a couple minutes to spare. 

[*total accident, just being flippant, and Weinberg would never do that on purpose]