Slackery News Tidbits, Nov. 23

in

Garbage DreamsAs we head into Thanksgiving week, Austin-area filmmakers and film fans have a lot to be thankful for. Here are a few reasons:

  • The Academy Award shortlist for Best Documentary Feature nominees was released last week. One of the 15 films was SXSW 2009 selection Garbage Dreams. The doc tells the story of the Zaballeen, who live in "garbage villages" made of the city's garbage, and until recently were the only system in place for trash removal. Their livelihood is now being threatened by international outsourcers. 
  • Good news for another movie that premiered at SXSW 2009: B-Side Entertainment has picked up now-Austinite filmmaker Alex Karpovsky's latest film: Trust Us, This is All Made Up. Jette caught the movie in March and although it took a few minutes to get going, really enjoyed the long-form, detailed improv performance staged by T.J. Jagodowksi and David Pasquesi.
  • One more from SXSW, this time 2008: David and Nathan Zellner's feature film Goliath will be out on DVD on January 12, 2010. You can pre-order it now from Amazon. Jette loved this Austin-made comedy about a guy who just can't live without his cat, which premiered at Sundance in 2008. Slackerwood interviewed the Zellners via email about the film.
  • Reel Women is hosting "Holiday Cheer with Connie Britton" on Saturday, December 5, from 2-4 pm at the Picture Box Studio. This will be a salon-style interview and conversation with the Friday Night Lights star, who will talk about her career and acting experience and more. Admission is $15 at the door or $12 for Reel Women members.  Visit the Reel Women website for more information.
  • The Austin Gay and Lesbian International Film Festival, aka aGLIFF, will become a juried festival starting in 2010. We got the news in an email from the longtime local film fest. aGLIFF board member (and cinematographer/filmmaker) PJ Raval, Programs Director Jake Gonzales, and the festival's programming team have been working on the transition and are excited about the possibilities.
  • Lights. Camera. Help., a local film fest that focuses on movies from nonprofit and activist groups, is trying to file for nonprofit status. They need to raise an $800 fee and are asking for donations.
  • Local company HomeAway, which helps people find vacation rental homes, has started a new ad campaign featuring the Griswolds from National Lampoon's Vacation. The Austin-American Statesman article includes a photo of the Griswold family station wagon in front of downtown Whole Foods.
  • And finally, Austin film-related Quote of the Week has to be a Twitter post from local editor Don Swaynos: "If Austin is a "film-lovers city" then why do we have to wait two weeks longer than Houston and Dallas to see Broken Embraces?"

How embarrasking!

I saw GOLIATH at the AFS screening room. I was amazed how well they documented the disappearance, because you see -

I thought I was at a DOCS-in-progress screening, and didn't realize until 15 minutes into it that it was a NARRATIVE-in-progress - and yes, I asked the gal next to me, "This is a narrative screening?"

Here's hoping Jette doesn't cut my pay :P