Fantastic Fest Daily Dispatch #0: An Early Start

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Highball, deer

You didn't think Fantastic Fest really wouldn't start until today, did you? 

Not only was badge pickup at the Highball on Wednesday night, the Highball ended up serving drinks to a crowd that just wouldn't leave.  Oh, are you in for a good time this year.

Some folks were going to a special pre-FF Austin School of Film fundraiser with Cabin Fever 2 with some of the cast, and others to a press/sneak of Zombieland. I can't tell you too much about Zombieland yet, but if you like zombies, you'll probably enjoy it, and a raucous Paramount crowd with cast and crew in attendance? I suspect it will be a blast.

After Zombieland, a bunch of us wandered back over the Highball. Why? Because it wasn't 10 pm yet, and it's transformed incredibly. All the couches are in. They were installing all the tables and chairs. 

But what's this? A fire alarm? Apparently when setting up the lasers with a smoke machine, the fire alarm went off, and the sophisticated system was being stubborn about turning off. You can see a bit of the smoke in the above picture of the speaker stag. Yeah. A stag. With speakers.  It was a bit trippy; where you were standing and how you moved your head determined how loud the alarm was. When it finally stopped, the cheers were louder than the alarm had been. 

Devin at HighballPeople didn't mind the alarm noises so much, because of the festive beverages available at the Highball. They have six infused liquors to mix with drinks; I had a sample of the pepper-infused tomato water, I think -- they're pretty complicated, but it's apparently a deconstructed bloody mary. It was tasty and unusual.

The bowling isn't open yet, and even Tim hasn't thrown a ball down those lanes.  That should hopefully happen today. Skeeball was being "tested" by Tim League, Caitlin Stevens, and a couple of festival guests last night ... Caitlin blew away the top score.

So today is the official start of Fantastic Fest. Art and music will happen in front of the theater, Gentlemen Broncos will premiere with many guests, and don't forget the other films. If you can't make it, you can watch a live stream of the Gentlemen Broncos red carpet.

The Highball, unfortunately, will not be open tonight until the Brutus and Balzaak Bash, also known as the Opening Night Party, starting around 10 pm.