Slackery News Tidbits, June 1
By Jette Kernion on June 1, 2011 - 12:00pm
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Here's the latest Austin film news, plus an Austin-shot short film at the end.
- Ain't It Cool News reports that Austin producer/TXMPA rep Paul Alvarado-Dykstra and local animator/actress Samantha Inoue-Harte have formed a new production company called Animetropolis. Their first project will be producing an animated feature adaptation of Tailchaser's Song by Tad Williams. Check out the AICN link above for some interesting concept art for the movie.
- The Boston Globe and Roger Ebert have both been publicizing the fact that many theaters are now projecting 2D movies using 3D lenses, making the movies look darker and murkier. On some digital projectors, the 3D lenses are very difficult to remove, so theaters don't bother. Now Alamo Drafthouse founder Tim League has stepped in to talk about how the Drafthouse theaters, which use the Sony projectors under discussion, deal with the problem. I'm hoping that his article inspires other theaters to do the same things (because I'm cynical enough to believe that very few chains are doing the same things Alamo is doing, sadly).
- Local production company Arts + Labor is profiled in the Austin American-Statesman. You'll find a lot of familiar names in the article, from founder Alan Berg (Outside Industry: The Story of SXSW) to former Alamo programmer Brad Parrett (so that's where he is now!) to local filmmakers Kat Candler (who has been tweeting lately about some intriguing-sounding film projects) and Joe Nicolosi (the guy behind the SXSW 2011 bumpers).
- Alex Jones may have actually influenced the Austin filmmaking community for the better? Joe O'Connell has the story about how a theory overheard on Jones's radio show inspired musician Jesse Dayton to write the screenplay for Zombex, a movie that just finished shooting in Austin. Jones is not listed in the cast for the movie (but Kinky Friedman is).
- The Austin American-Statesman has posted a photo gallery from last night's The Tree of Life benefit screening at the Paramount. In addition, Victor Diaz was on the red carpet for YNN and interviewed star Jessica Chastain. No, Terrence Malick isn't in any of the photos or video. We hear that attendees did get to view the actual Palme D'Or as well as the film, which opens at the Arbor on Friday.
- Finally, some short films for your viewing pleasure. Filmmaker Steve Collins (Gretchen, the upcoming You Hurt My Feelings) has reunited the stars of his earlier short films, Courtney Davis and John Merriman, in a Funny or Die video called JPBF: Butts for Hire. The short may be set in an office, but the dialogue is probably unsuitable for most offices, so wear headphones. Check it out, and then check out Collins' first short -- made in Austin 10 years ago with Davis and Merriman -- The Ballad of Courtney & James, available online courtesy of the Los Angeles Film Festival and embedded below.