Slackery News Tidbits

Here's the latest Austin and Central Texas movie news.

• Drafthouse Films, the distribution arm of the Alamo Drafthouse franchise, recently announced the company has entered a U.S. distribution deal with Image Entertainment, Inc. This will make it easier for Drafthouse Films to release new movies and repertory films via a number of platforms (home video, TV, etc.). The California-based company is considered a leading licensee and distributor of North American independent entertainment programming. Image Entertainment's library of licensed movie titles includes the Criterion Collection, various horror movies (they're releasing SXSW 2011 selection Little Deaths soon) and classic films like 12 Angry Men and Design for Living.
• In addition, Drafthouse Films has acquired the North American rights to a pair of movies that played Fantastic Fest this year: the Oscar-nominated Belgian drama, Bullhead (Debbie's review), and the international hit comedy, Clown: The Movie. While Bullhead concerns itself with a shady deal between a young cattle farmer and a West Flemish beef trader, Clown is about two relatives and their wild adventure through the Danish countryside. Drafthouse Films' acquisition of the North American rights for the 1980s 3D cult film Comin' At Ya is a third Fantastic Fest 2011 selection the company will release next year.
• The Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum will host a Les Blank retrospective from 6-10 pm on Friday, Nov. 18 and Sunday, Nov. 20 at the museum's Texas Spirit Theater. The event, co-sponsored by the Austin Music Film Festival, will showcase award-winning documentarian Blank's films about music and musicians. Live music performances will be held each evening
• The latest issue of Wholphin, a quarterly DVD magazine published by McSweeney's, features short films by several Texas directors: Amy Grappell, David Lowery, and David and Nathan Zellner. The DVD includes Grappell's Quadrangle, a documentary about her parents' relationship with the couple next door; Lowery's Pioneer, about a father's epic bedtime story told to his son (starring Will Oldham), and the Zellner brothers' short but unforgettable Sasquatch Birth Journal 2.

Here's the latest Austin and Central Texas movie news.

• Former Austinite and Fantastic Fest Programmer Coordinator Blake Ethridge will consult on programming and acquisition efforts for the inaugural Oak Cliff Film Festival, which will take place June 14-17 in the Dallas neighborhood. (Ethridge co-hosted Slackerwood's Alamo Downtown Blog-a-Thon in 2007.) OCFF will focus on screening movies previously shown at prestigious film festivals, from Sundance to SXSW to Cannes. Movies will play at the Texas Theatre  -- whose owners are also the fest coordinators -- as well as the Kessler Theater, the Bishop Arts "TeCo" Theater (formerly the Bluebird Theater) and the Belmont Hotel in Dallas. Festival submissions open November 7.
• The Austin Polish Film Festival starts today. Anne Lewis at the Austin Chronicle has written an excellent preview.
• Actor Johnny Depp and director Bruce Robinson didn't just visit Austin Film Festival last month, but also spoke with and answered questions from UT RTF and journalism students about their movie The Rum Diary, currently in theaters. RTF instructor John Pierson moderated the panel event. Austinite Amber Heard stars alongside Depp in this action/comedy about an American journalist's exploits in Puerto Rico, based on the book by Hunter S. Thompson. 
• Another AFF 2011 selection opens in theaters today: winner of the 2011 Sundance Film Festival Directing Award for Best Drama, Martha Marcy May Marlene (Elizabeth's review). Former Austinite John Hawkes stars alongside Elizabeth Olsen in this drama about a woman trying to re-connect with her family after fleeing an abusive cult. Hawkes spoke with Austin360 last week about his time in Austin and his acting experiences.

Here's the latest Austin film news and info on upcoming screenings.

• Andrew Bujalski's new film will put you in check. The critically acclaimed local filmmaker announced on the United States Artists website that his movie Computer Chess is expected for a TBA festival release in the first half of next year. Computer Chess revolves around chess players and computer programmers at a computer chess tournament in the 1980s. Bujalski scoured Austin not only for nerd look-alikes to cast, but also vintage computers. Omar Gallaga has a great story on Austin360 about finding equipment from the appropriate era. Computer Chess. The Austin film is a 2011 Texas Filmmakers Production Fund recipient and also raised more than $50,000 in crowdfunded donations through United States Artists.
• Not attending AFF this weekend? Cinema East is kicking off its fall series at 8 pm Saturday with the indie movie Vacation!. Vacation! is the story of four friends from college who reunite for a week of sun, sand and murder. Brooklyn-based director Zach Clark will be in attendance.
• Get ready to get your scream on, October 28-30 at the Paramount Theatre. Classic horror movies, such as, The Wolfman, Bride of Frankenstein, Night of the Living Dead and Re-Animator will be shown in all of their 35mm gory glory. Double the fright factor by visiting the Paramount's haunted house. Bagged candy donations for Austin children and/or attending incognito will score you a free macabre martini.

Here's the latest Austin and Central Texas film news, as well as some special screening information.

• Austin-based director Michael Dolan will be present at two area screenings of his 2010 feature film Dance With The One, as part of a tour sponsored by the Texas Independent Film Network. The San Marcos premiere of the movie will take place on 7 pm this Wednesday, Oct. 12, in room 206 of the Texas State University-San Marcos Department of Theatre and Dance. In addition, Dolan and actress Dana Wheeler-Nicholson will be at the Austin Film Society screening room on Friday, Oct. 14 to show the film. Dance with the One (Debbie's review) is about a small-time Texas pot dealer who gets in over his head when the million dollars' worth of hash his boss has given him suddenly goes missing. The movie stars Austinite Gabriel Luna and is the first film made by the University of Texas Film Institute, a non-profit organization in the UT College of Communication.
• The Austin School of Film and the Texas Archive of the Moving Image will host a free Home Movie Day at 7 pm on Saturday, Oct. 15 at Austin School of Film. People are encouraged to bring their 8mm, Super 8 and 16mm home movies to screen during the event. The Texas Archive of the Moving Image will also screen selected movies from the organization's travels around Texas.
• Podcasts are now available for free from John Pierson's UT RTF master class. Guests from the film and television industry, such as Fight Club producer Art Linson, Sin City producer Elizabeth Avellan and actor Steve Buscemi (Fargo) have spoken with RTF students through the department's visiting guest program. The 30-minute master class sessions can also be heard monthly on KUT FM.
• Alamo Drafthouse Village will be closed for about 10 days this month (Oct. 17-27) due to construction. They're expanding their lobby area, and should be open just in time for a pre-Halloween screening on The Rocky Horror Picture Show on Oct. 29.

Here's a roundup of Austin film news over the past week as well as some details on upcoming screenings and film-related events.

• Renowned recluses Terrence Malick and Christian Bale were spotted last week at the Austin City Limits Music Festival. Christian Bale has signed on to star in one of Malick's three active projects. The untitled film is scheduled to begin production sometime next summer.
• In celebration of the Austin Teen Book Festival on October 1, David Levithan, author of Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, will be in attendance for the screening of the movie version at 10 pm on Friday, September 30 at the Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar. A Q&A with the author will follow the screening. Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, starring Michael Cera (Superbad) and Kat Dennings (Charlie Bartlett), is a comedy about two people thrown together by their love of music.
• Fantastic Fest and the Austin Film Society Present: Ti West's Fantastic Fest Hangover. The horror writer/director will be in attendance for screenings of all three of his films (The Roost, The House of the Devil), including his latest, The Innkeepers, at 7 pm on October 2 at the Alamo Drafthouse Village. The Innkeepers, starring Sara Paxton (The Last House on the Left), tells the story of the last two employees at a haunted hotel that is scheduled to close. The film premiered at SXSW 2011. Check out Jenn's Fantastic Fest preview for Ti West movie details.

[Editor's Note: Please welcome our newest contributor, Jordan Gass-Poore'!]

Here's the latest in Austin film news:

• On the heels of its world premiere, the 10th anniversary reimagining of Richard Linklater's cult classic Slacker, Slacker 2011, joins Harris County native Robbie Pickering's Natural Selection and three other films at the 2011 Lone Star International Film Festival Nov. 9-13 in Fort Worth. Natural Selection, which premiered at SXSW 2011, is about a woman (Rachael Harris) who goes in search of her recently deceased husband's eldest biological son. Read Debbie Cerda's SXSW review for more details.
• Austin filmmaker Richard Linklater is set to direct the 1970s Karl Rove biopic, College Republicans. Paul Dano (Little Miss Sunshine) will star as a young Rove as he navigates his way to the top of the College Republican National Committee, under the guidance of Lee Atwater. According to TheWrap, filming begins in November in Austin.
• Fantastic Fest badgeholders can stop by the Alamo Drafthouse Ritz at 7 pm tonight (Sept. 19) to catch a free Hideo Gosha classic, Bandits vs. Samurai Squadron. The 1978 Japanese action epic is about a vengeful ex-samurai who becomes the leader of a gang of outlaws, and sets out to destroy his former master. The movie is making its appearance at the Ritz in rare 35 mm form, thanks to The Criterion Collection and Janus Films.

Here's the latest Austin film news.

• The SXSW Panel Picker is now open for voting. You can give a thumbs-up on any panel suggestions you'd like to see at the SXSW Film Festival next March. A number of the 177 SXSW Film proposals are from Austin folks or feature Austinites in the panel. Of course I'll naturally suggest you take a look at Jenn Brown's panel proposal: "Removing Barriers Between Press, PR and Producers" (and vote for it!). If you'd like to promote a panel, feel free to do so in the comments.
• In case you hadn't noticed, aGLIFF has been slowly releasing their 2011 film festival lineup, with lots of posters and previews available through their Facebook page. We'll have more details on the lineup soon, but in the meantime check out their full schedule. The fest takes place from Sept. 6-11 this year at three venues: Alamo Drafthouse on South Lamar, Violet Crown Cinema and the Paramount. Not to mention the party venues, and you know aGLIFF has some of the best fest parties in Austin.
• Speaking of local film festivals, Fantastic Fest is gearing up and their notorious annual bumper contest is now underway. You have until September 5 to submit a very short film with the theme "Altered States" that ends with the fest's traditional "That's fantastic!" phrase. These bumpers always make me wish I had any filmmaking talent (and more time) to try one myself.
• Another filmmaking opportunity: Drafthouse Films is seeking a 26th short film for their The ABC's of Death anthology. They're accepting submissions for the "T is for ..." slot through October 1. You can see and vote on the current submissions. Let's get some Austin filmmakers in there, please ... better yet, some female Austin filmmakers. You know who you are. Go for it!

Here's the latest Austin film news.

• Drafthouse Films, the distribution company associated with Alamo Drafthouse, has announced its latest acquisition: The FP, which premiered at SXSW 2011 in the Midnighters section. It's about gang wars that take place using a dance-fight video game. Film critic Scott Weinberg reviewed the movie for Twitch and essentially says it's a one-joke movie, but a good joke it manages to sustain throughout its 78-minute running time. Drafthouse Films plans a limited theatrical release in the first quarter of 2012. In addition, Drafthouse Films now has a new company director, Evan Husney.
• More distribution news, Richard Garriott: Man on a Mission has landed a distribution deal with First Run Features. According to the film's director, Mike Woolf, the locally made documentary has an expected theatrical release date in January 2012. Read Debbie's SXSW 2010 review for more info about the film.
• The winner of an Austin Film Festival audience award for comedies in 2009, Herpes Boy, is finally available for us to see again. You can stream it on Netflix Watch Instantly, Amazon or iTunes, or check your cable VOD listings. Debbie reviewed it at AFF and found it funny and poignant; I believe my comment was that it was like Napoleon Dynamite, except actually funny and not annoying. Definitely a must if you're a fan of Beth Grant.
• Traverse City Film Festival really does love Austin filmmakers -- local films seem to win awards there every year and Austin may need its own category in 2012. This time, the winner was Heather Courtney's documentary Where Soldiers Come From, which took home the Founders Prize for Best U.S. Documentary Film. Read my review from SXSW. Drafthouse Films' previous acquisition, Four Lions, won Best Screenplay in a Foreign Narrative Film.

Here's the latest Austin film news.

• Filmmaker Magazine has named this year's "25 New Faces of Independent Film," and a couple of those faces are very familiar here in Austin. Local filmmaker Joe Nicolosi is the mastermind behind the very funny bumpers at this year's SXSW Film Festival, and DFW-area filmmaker David Lowery was also at SXSW 2011 this year with his short film Pioneer.
• Speaking of SXSW 2011, local feature Natural Selection (Debbie's review), which won several awards at the fest, has been picked up for U.S. theatrical and DVD distribution by Cinema Guild. The release date is set as "this fall," and I'll let you know when more info is available about an Austin release date.
• And have we mentioned yet that Richard Linklater's latest film, Bernie, has found distribution? Millenium Films picked up the dark comedy, which was shot in Central Texas and stars Jack Black and Shirley MacLaine. No word yet on a release date -- so far, the film has only officially screened at the Los Angeles Film Festival.
• If you're fond of chess and want to see it on the big screen, you'll be happy to hear that filmmaker Andrew Bujalski (SXSW 2010 selection Beeswax) is working on a feature called Computer Chess, which he wants to start shooting in Austin next month. It's about chess players and computer programmers in the 1980s. Bujalski still needs money to use for equipment rental and post-production costs, and has set up a fundraising project. The accompanying video is amusing, especially if you know which local filmmaker is playing the "Hollywood executive."

Here's the latest Austin film news, as well as some other bits of news you might have missed earlier.

• Rolling Roadshow has added one last Texas movie to its summer tour: Bottle Rocket. The Wes Anderson movie will be shown on Saturday night at the hotel in which it was partially filmed: the Days Inn in Hillsboro. It's part of an event to save the hotel from being closed down. Road trip, anyone?
• For an excellent and thorough summary of many upcoming Austin films, check out Matthew Odam's write-up for the Austin American-Statesman ... as well as his follow-up on Paul Stekler's latest project.
• The latest local filmmaker running a fundraising campaign for his film project is Paul Gordon, whose film The Happy Poet premiered at SXSW last year and has been making the festival rounds. Gordon is looking for pre-production research funding for Mexico Carpenter, a feature film he plans to shoot in Mexico later this year. Visit his page on the United States Artists website for more information and to chip in -- matching funds are available right now, and there are various thank-you gifts for different donation levels.
• I'm worried about what's happening to the old Varsity Theater mural on the side of what I always think of as the Tower Records building (since that's what it was when I started UT in 1991). The Austin Chronicle reports that the mural has been damaged and partially removed to make room for some national fast-food chains that will occupy the space, which The Drag certainly needs more of, right? The architect says they're not going to renovate the mural but will instead provide "a reasonable facsimile." If we were promised a reasonable facsimile of the Daniel Johnston frog on The Drag, people would have been outraged. This is at least as iconic if not more so.