Slackery News Tidbits, August 16

Wondering what's going on with Austin film these days? Well, wonder no longer. Here are this week's Slackery News Tidbits, hot off the online equivalent of the presses:

• The Austin American-Statesman reports that The University of Texas at Austin will announce a new chair of the Radio-Television-Film department today: documentary filmmaker Paul Stekler. Fortunately for all of us, he intends to continue making documentaries after assuming his new role in the department.
• For those of you who have been waiting, the full version of Grindhouse will be released on Blu-ray and DVD on October 8. The two-disc set includes the theatrical (shorter) versions of both Robert Rodriguez's Planet Terror and Quentin Tarantino's Death Proof, plus all the fake trailers including one trailer that isn't fake anymore ... Machete. My only complaint is that I'm not thrilled with the cover art; I would have preferred the original theatrical release art, which is way cooler.
• Those of us who missed last Thursday's screening of Scott Pilgrim vs. the World at Alamo South Lamar with Edgar Wright and many cast members now have a chance to enjoy the highlights from this event on video. My favorite: Because the event was extended to two theaters, the second theater had to wait for their Q&A, so they devised a little prank.
• Locally shot comedy The Happy Poet, which played SXSW this year, will return to Austin on Aug. 30 for a special screening at Alamo Ritz. Will there be hot dogs and vegetarian egg-salad sandwiches? That I don't know yet. Read Jenn's review for more details on this movie.
• Downtown Austin Blog has a rendering and update on the Violet Crown theater being built on 2nd Street downtown. Can't wait to see this in person.
• The Long Center has decided to spend the weekend of August 27-29 showing movies. Check out the schedule for Long Center Cinema, which includes a variety from Aida (which has free admission) to Monty Python and the Holy Grail. The films are being shown in Dell Hall; I'd like to find out how that works as a movie venue (AFF has used the Rollins Studio Theatre as a venue, which is comparable to seeing a movie at ACC during SXSW; Dell Hall might be more comfy, but I wonder how big the screen will be.)
• IFC is giving away a pair of Fantastic Fest badges.
• This is not really news, but I saw I Am Love at the Arbor over the weekend and thought it was absolutely beautiful and you should all go this week, since I don't know how much longer it will be there. Tilda Swinton is amazing. Go. Tonight.
• Finally, here's a great deal for you that we found out about from Austin Film Festival supporters Linda Ball and Forrest Preece. They're on the planning committee for AFF's 8th Annual Film & Food gala, which is traditionally held the night before the film fest starts, on Wednesday, Oct. 20 this year. It's a fundraiser for AFF's Young Filmmakers Program. A number of local chefs from restaurants like Parkside and Fonda San Miguel prepare food, and there's an open bar. And -- this is the cool part that is actually news -- if you buy a Film & Food ticket soon, you get a chance to win an AFF Producer's Badge, which gets you into just about everything at the festival, from movies to the conference to parties. The Producer's Badges cost something like $650 each so this could be a pretty amazing opportunity. If you buy a ticket before Sept. 5, you have two chances for a badge -- one chance if you buy before Sept. 20. So go buy your Film & Food ticket now (and then get one for I Am Love).