Celebrity Sightings

AFF Conversations in Film: Writer Ted Tally and 'Silence of the Lambs'

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Alvaro Rodriguez and Ted Tally at AFF Conversations in Film

My number-one recommendation to anyone interested in screenwriting in Austin is to pay close attention to the Austin Film Festival (AFF) offerings. Not just the mentoring sessions and panels at the festival itself in October, but also throughout the year when AFF hosts "Conversations in Film" screenings and sessions. This series brings veterans of the television and film industry together with fans as well as emerging filmmakers and writers to discuss their works and the medium.

The most recent Conversations in Film session, on Sunday, March 25, at the Harry Ransom Center, featured Academy Award-winning screenwriter Ted Tally (White Palace, The Silence of the Lambs, All the Pretty Horses) and was moderated by Alvaro Rodriguez (From Dusk Til Dawn 3: The Hangman's Daughter, Machete) -- seen above. Tally has received acclaim for his adaptations of the works of bestselling authors including Cormac McCarthy, Thomas Harris, Rosellen Brown and George Dawes Green. Following the conversation, a special screening of an original 35mm print of Silence of the Lambs -- recently listed on the Library of Congress' National Film Registry as a "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" film -- took place at the Bob Bullock Museum theater.

Find out more about Tally and what he revealed about his transition from playwright to screenwriter as well as his thoughts on director Jonathan Demme after the jump.

Cutting the Ribbon at Alamo Drafthouse Slaughter

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Alamo Drafthouse Slaughter Robert Rodriguez and Tim League

The Alamo Drafthouse Cinema had a soft opening of their newest location during SXSW, but the official grand opening ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Slaughter Lane location wasn't held until last Thursday, March 22. Members of the press and special guests enjoyed a morning filled with tasty tacos and coffee ... and Bloody Marias and mimosas. As a bonus, mid-morning screenings were open for attendees to try out the new seating and dining design of the theaters, which allow for easier access to seats for both patrons and staff.

Austin filmmaker Robert Rodriguez (Spy Kids, Machete) was in attendance along with Alamo Drafthouse CEO Tim League, as you can see in the above photo. Rodriguez not only referred as the Alamo Drafthouse concept as being innovative, but he called League the most "innovative exhibitionist in the country, if not the world," and praised the Drafthouse creators saying that despite their growth, it is obvious that they care so much to keep the integrity of a small business that grows organically.

See more photos from the event below including Rodriguez's introduction to the Drafthouse ceremonial sabrage.

SXSW Quick Snap: Geoff Marslett and Friends at Film Opening Party

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Geoff Marslett, Aidens

The number of South by Southwest parties is so staggering that I unplugged from nearly all the SXSW Interactive parties and only attended a few SXSW Film parties this year. The opening and closing-night parties are always "must attend" events, as they provide an opportunity to mingle with festival attendees, filmmakers and actors from near and far.

At the Film Opening Party at Buffalo Billiards, I chatted with Austin filmmaker Geoff Marslett, seen above with actress Laura Aidan (Fright Night 2011) and her husband Chris Aidan. Marslett directed some of the SXSW 2012 Film Festival bumpers this year and starred in one -- I swear by the end of the bumper that he was emulating local film writer C. Robert Cargill.

SXSW 2012 Photos: Music Takes Over

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Sixth Street SXSW 2012

As massive as the crowds may have been during the SXSW Film and Interactive Conferences, the number of people downtown when SXSW Music starts is overwhelming. Even on Wednesday night, which is usually a "soft" opening for SXSW Music, there were massive crowds on Sixth Street as seen above. I braved the crowds to attend screenings at the Alamo Drafthouse Ritz and the Paramount Theatre, both appropriately for music-related screenings.

Music at SXSW isn't just contained within the bars and clubs. Check out some of the other locations where well-known musicians and live music performances are found after the jump.

SXSW Interview: Bob Byington and Nick Offerman, 'Somebody Up There Likes Me'

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Producer Nick Offerman does it all

I don't like interviewing people over the phone, since I can't make eye contact. I don't like interviewing a filmmaker without seeing his or her movie first, in case it turns out to be awful. And I don't usually like two-on-one interviews with a filmmaker and actor, because I'm not confident about questions I have for actors, and always worry I'll lapse into lameness. So I try to avoid these situations.

However, I jumped into a combination of all of them a few weeks ago to talk with Austin filmmaker Bob Byington and actor/producer Nick Offerman about their latest film, Somebody Up There Likes Me, which had its world premiere at SXSW on Sunday night. It was well worth working outside my comfort zone. And yes, I ended up really liking the movie, so I didn't have to hide from Byington afterward.

The original plan was to interview Bob Byington at a local cafe, but he emailed me a day or two beforehand and asked if we could make it a phone interview to include Offerman. Offerman is actually in four films at SXSW this year -- besides Byington's movie, he has a supporting role in Casa de mi Padre, and briefer appearances in 21 Jump Street and Slacker 2011.

The 2012 Texas Film Hall of Fame Awards

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Richard Linklater and Angie Dickinson

Hundreds of people braved the chilly wet weather on Thursday night to attend the Austin Film Society's annual Texas Film Hall of Fame Awards ceremony. This year was the first time the event was held downtown at ACL Live at Moody Theatre, but it seemed a perfect venue for the celebration. It was a bit of a crush outside the floor level as my friend and I wove our way to the stairs up to the balcony. We spotted Austin filmmaker Turk Pipkin, who started up a chat with a photographer about his equipment, and I ran into Matthew Odam, formerly of Austinist and currently with Austin360.

We sat in an angled section of the balcony, and struck up a conversation with a pleasant woman who works as a lawyer but works on adoption videos for Austin Pets Alive as a hobby. Then Matthew McConaughey walked on stage to kick off the festivities. The actor, sporting a new haircut, spent a few minutes asking folks on the floor to take their seats. He then ruminated on what makes Austin a special place. He mentioned his run-in with the law in town years ago, and announced that he is moving back to Austin, saying it is an "identity town" versus the industry town that is Los Angeles. The actor introduced John Paul Dejoria, co-chair of the ceremony, and then it was auction time.

Opening Night in the 'Woods' at SXSW 2012

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The Cabin in the Woods cast

A capacity crowd waited hours in the rain on Friday for the SXSW 2012 opening-night film, The Cabin in the Woods. This waterlogged crowd soon found out that the wait was definitely worth it. The evening's festivities began with an introduction of the movie by director and co-writer Drew Goddard and producer and co-writer Joss Whedon. The house lights were lowered and 90 minutes of sweet joy were unspooled before a capacity crowd of 1200 at the Paramount Theatre. 

After voraciously devouring this delectable meal of a movie, we were re-greeted by Whedon and Goddard, who quickly brought out four members of the film's cast: Bradley Whitford, Richard Jenkins, Kristen Connolly and Anna Hutchison. The Q&A was a riot with Whitford and Jenkins providing tons of laughs. You can tell these two gentlemen had a great time working on this film. 

SXSW 2012, Day Three: Sinister, Still Alive, Redemption

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Scott Derickson, Jason Blum, Ethan Hawke, Brian Kavanaugh-Jones, and C. Robert Cargill

Day three of SXSW actually began with the end of day two. Thanks to earlier screenings delaying the start of the super-secret screening of the Scott Derrickson/ C. Robert Cargill movie Sinister, Sunday was under way before the audience was admitted. The screening took place at Alamo Drafthouse on South Lamar.

Sinister, conceived and written by Austin film critic Cargill, was universally well received, spawning a number of reviews that all contain the phrase, "I must disclose that I'm friends with Cargill ..." The no-nonsense ghost story was described by many as the scariest movie they've ever seen. Cargill was joined after the film by director and writing partner Scott Derrickson, producer Jason Blum, star Ethan Hawke and producer Brian Kavanaugh-Jones for a Q&A.

SXSW 2012, Day Two: Sinister Fog

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Dominic Bogart, Nir Paniry, Sasha Roiz at SXSW 2012 for Extracted premiere

Day two of SXSW, and I'm already exhausted. I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels like the rain has sapped a lot of their energy. And the spring ahead to Daylight Savings Time certainly doesn't help.

Despite all that, I made it to five movies on Saturday. I didn't think I'd make it to Eating Alabama, but it seems every screening I went to was about a half-hour late starting. This very personal approach to the locavore phenomenon was an interesting meditation on the lost art of farming, even in a rural state. The documentary would make a great companion piece to King Korn.

Next up was the provocative and disturbing film Girl Model, but I have to disagree with co-director Dave Redmon, who said in the intro that the documentary wasn't an expose. I think it is, in the sense of holding back the curtain on something of which we're already aware: young girls are exploited in the model industry. But what Redmon and co-director Ashley Sabin do is make it personal, focusing on a young Siberian and her struggling family, and on the model scout (and former model) who discovers her. Girl Model is powerful stuff.

Interview: Lev Anderson and Chris Metzler, 'Everyday Sunshine'

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Everyday Sunshine: The Story of Fishbone Filmmakers with Norwood Fisher and Angelo Moore of Fishbone, all rights reserved

Everyday Sunshine: The Story of Fishbone originally screened at SXSW in 2011, and the filmmakers and the band were back in town last October to support Austin Film Society with a special screening and Q&A, as well as a sold-out show at Emo's Austin. I thoroughly enjoyed this compelling and dynamic tale of punk rock pioneers Fishbone and their rise, fall and subsequent revival -- read my review. The documentary was released on DVD this week, and is available for purchase on the Everyday Sunshine: The Story of Fishbone website. Bonus features include deleted scenes, band commentary, interview outtakes, and rare concert footage sure to please any Fishbone fan. 

During their October movie-and-music tour, I spoke with band members and frontmen Norwood Fisher and Angelo Moore -- listen to the podcast interview -- as well as filmmakers Chris Metzler and Lev Anderson. Find out how Metzler and Anderson used a variety of visual storytelling techniques to portray the story of one of the most influential punk rock bands of the last 20 years and the social and personal issues surrounding them after the jump.

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