Local Indies

By Whitney Pyterek

Cinema East kicked off its third season of outdoor summer screenings last Sunday with a screening of Austin filmmaker Bob Byington’s feature Somebody Up There Likes Me, which had premiered earlier this year at SXSW (Don's review, Jette's interview). Byington and lead actor Nick Offerman (Parks and Recreation) were there with the film.

Just as the sun began to set, Yellow Jacket Stadium filled up with lawn chairs and picnic baskets. I fell in love with the atmosphere almost instantly. People were dancing to the live DJ, and the weather was absolutely perfect. Local vendors like Good Pops and Frank were selling hot dogs, beer and popsicles. It was a large audience for the series -- people seemed excited to kick summer off with an outdoor movie.

As it got dark, the screenings began. There was a surprise short called Mouthful, a crowd-pleasing film about manhood and all boys' insecurities. Mouthful was a good warm up for the feature. Somebody Up There Likes Me was a quirky comedy with just enough cute to go around. It was about beginning relationships, marriage, divorce, parenting, life and growing old ... or not growing old. The mystery of the blue suitcase is never really revealed.

I wasn't at the Los Angeles Film Festival this weekend, sadly for me. However, former Austinite Spencer Parsons screened his locally shot horror-comedy Saturday Morning Massacre here in Austin last week, and I was lucky enough to be there. It's just the kind of horror movie I like -- lots of humor but not enough to dilute genuine scariness, and no prolonged graphic violence. Seeing it accomplished with familiar local talent was a happy bonus.

Saturday Morning Massacre is set in 1994, which seems random until you realize that's right before cell phones became commonplace, thus keeping them out of the picture. Four twentysomething slackers have formed a small business that videotapes and debunks paranormal activities, although it's not especially profitable. It's led by Nancy (Ashley Spillers), the short perky gal in the big pink sweater, and includes the attractive and clean-cut couple Gwen (Josephine Decker) and Chad (Adam Tate) as well as stoner Floyd (Jonny Mars) ... and let's not forget Hamlet the dog. If this sounds to you like a certain long-running popular Saturday morning cartoon, you're right, and at one point an irate detective (Sonny Carl Davis!) comes within an inch of calling them "meddling kids."

The meddling kids finally land a gig that will pay well -- a banker (Chris Doubek) asks them to visit a remote old house that the bank wants to sell but that everyone thinks is haunted. When they arrive at the house, the banker is nowhere to be found, but a local policeman (Paul Gordon) eagerly recounts the many lurid tales surrounding the place. Are they simply local myths, or has the team finally stumbled upon actual supernatural entities? And what happens if the entities aren't pleased to be visited by would-be ghostbusters?

If you watch a lot of Austin indie films, a few of the actors mentioned above will be familiar faces. In addition, Heather Kafka is nearly unrecognizable in her role, and Cyndi Williams shows up briefly in an opening scene with director Parsons and producer Jason Wehling. Ashley Rae Spillers, on the other hand, is at the beginning of her film career (though you might have seen her in the short Magpie or with Mars in the Paul Gordon-directed Slacker 2011 scene) and adds verve and believability to what could have been a ridiculous role.

James Christopher is directing the new Twitchy Dolphin Flix film 3 References. Check Slackerwood for his updates as the shooting continues.

There is really no better place to be a (true) indie filmmaker than Austin, Texas. Period. End of story. It's a community that opens its doors in support for indie film, making it possible for filmmakers to really focus on getting everything right for their movies. In the spirit of that coordination, a big thank you goes out to Dirty Bill's on 6th and the Wurst Tex food truck that both let us shoot in and around their locations.

This was the final big weekend for 3 References. We welcomed Look at Me Again star Vanessa Vayle Perry back to the fold. Of special personal interest to me was the return to the screen of Daniel Cano, a guy I acted with way back in high school. And I'm an old guy, so that's a long time.

Usually, Lone Star Cinema focuses on a movie that you can watch on DVD, VOD and/or online. The idea is in fact to tell you about its availability as well as its local or Texas connections, so you can take another look at the film and perhaps find more enjoyment by noticing that hey, that's the old Governor's Mansion and that's the Astrodome and that's a young Sonny Carl Davis.

But this time I want to write about a movie you can't see, not yet, and have only been able to catch at a few festivals. I caught Satellite of Love at Dallas International Film Festival in March, and I didn't have the time to write fully about it then, and figured a little summary in a dispatch would be sufficient. But it screened again at the Hill Country Film Festival, and by that point I realized the movie was stubbornly stuck in my head and demanded a review, so I got a screener from director Will James Moore to refresh my memory. And it turns out that yes, Satellite of Love was still delightful on a second viewing.

The movie opens at a small carnival, with three friends on a Ferris wheel: Samuel (Nathan Phillips), Blake (Zachary Knighton) and Catherine (Shannon Lucio). It's obvious that all three of them are very close friends -- probably more than just friends -- and what is going to happen to them once they get off that Ferris wheel? The movie then moves into the future, in which Blake and Catherine are newlyweds running a very busy restaurant, with Blake as chef-owner. Samuel has been out of the country, pursuing a musical career, and returns home after finding his friends' wedding invitation.

James Christopher is directing the new Twitchy Dolphin Flix film 3 References. Check Slackerwood for his updates as the shooting continues.

There are so many reasons why this has been one of the best shoots we've had in our five-year history. Driving home after another 14+ hour day last night, it hit me. I think a big part of it is attributed to the new blood. We at Twitchy have always prided ourselves on building a troupe mentality and we are dedicated to growing with the same collaborators, but the influx of new energy and ideas cannot be understated.

What began as a last-minute change in the lead gave us Harper Graham and her performance has been beautiful and vulnerable. Just fantastic. Cassidy Schiltz, Lauren Hayes, Mike Williams, Sasha Aimee, Lacey Hernandez, Alicia Dufour, Andrea Dettling and a slew of others have melded nicely with the old Twitchy guard to really create some memorable performances.

James Christopher is directing the new Twitchy Dolphin Flix film 3 References. Check Slackerwood for his updates as the shooting continues.

When you shoot on the micro level, you really have to rely on the kindness of others. You have to convince the cast and crew that it's a good idea to get involved in a project where their pay might be deferred because the project is worth it or that that they will get some degree of publicity by making the film. And you have to rely on folks opening up their homes to a film crew of 12 people, in addition to cast members, for 12 to 18 hours.

This weekend, we invaded the home of longtime Twitchy fan Anne-Marie Messineo and he awesome dog George. He quickly became a hit with the entire cast and crew. We can't thank her enough for being so cool with letting us use her living room, bedroom, kitchen and yes, shower. A 13-hour day is a long time to put up with folks tracking in and out of the house with gear and such.

The scenes were dynamic in nature and tone. On the one hand, we had some hilarious moments as a pizza delivery guy (Benjamin Jabe) is convinced he's about to end up in a scene from a Penthouse flick. On the other, we have a tender scene in which Michelle (Harper Graham) must ask would-be suitor Nick (Christian Swacker) some unanswerable questions.

James Christopher is directing the new Twitchy Dolphin Flix film 3 References. Check Slackerwood for his updates as the shooting continues.

So, back on set for 3 References with two very different days of shooting. Saturday brought us some broad comedy with Sarah England, playing Donna, breaking into Christian Swacker's apartment wearing nothing but an overcoat and smile, only to find the object of her desire unwilling. It's a scene very indicative of the central theme of the movie -- at some point life moves beyond just the desire for the physical.

The scene, comical in nature, is very counter to one of the emotional low points in the film involving Terissa Kelton as Kelly-the-ex and Christian's character Nick. Terissa did an excellent job of playing a woman on the emotional edge and then slowly sliding off.

I can't say enough about this cast. Through the turmoil of changing personnel, locations and crew, they're remained steadfast and professional. Their talent humbles me at every level. Our crew as well has been nothing short of fantastic. Veterans of Twitchy flix past have welcomed newcomers in and they've done nothing but adapt to the changing landscape that accompanies all indie films with smiles, jokes and above all, a great work ethic.

We have ten days left and each one will be very challenging. But I feel very good about who I'm going into battle with.

James Christopher is directing the new Twitchy Dolphin Flix film 3 References. Check Slackerwood for his updates as the shooting continues.

Shooting an indie film on a micro budget is like no other challenge out there. In movies with large budgets, if a problem arises, you simply toss some money on it. On a micro-budget set, if something goes wrong, you need to think your way out of it. It's part of the challenge, part of the fun and a big reason why you need to have a team of cast and crew you can rely on. As Twitchy Dolphin enters its "Troy Aikman" film (our eighth one, see what we did there?) we certainly have those things in spades.

3 References follows Nick (Christian Swacker), a man who treats women like disposable objects until he meets Michelle (Harper Graham). But Michelle is wary of his sordid past and forces him to confront three women that he treated like crap and earn three letters of recommendation. (Three references, get it?) To complicate matters, Nick's ex Kelly (Terissa Kelton) reenters his life and creates all kinds of turmoil.

When Slackerwood listed all the Texas-connected features that would screen at the Cannes International Film Festival this year, we forgot one aspect of the festival. We didn't mention the local journalists who would travel to the French Riviera to cover the festival's films and celebrity attendees.

But several intrepid Austinites are currently in Cannes, or have been there in the past week:

• Charles Ealy, Austin American-Statesman -- Ealy is a Cannes veteran, and is posting dispatches regularly (sometimes several times in a day) to Austin Movie Blog. He's recently written about the premiere of The Paperboy, in which Austin actor Matthew McConaughey co-stars with Nicole Kidman and Zac Efron; Garland native Caleb Landry Jones starring in Brandon Cronenberg's movie Antiviral, which Ealy thinks would be a good Fantastic Fest selection; and Houston-raised Wes Anderson's latest film Moonrise Kingdom, which opened Cannes.
• Vincent Van Horn, Austin Chronicle -- Van Horn is a local actor who appeared in and provided music for the short Clowns Never Lie, which is screening in the Cannes Short Film Corner this year. He's been writing a column called "Cannes You Dig It?" for the Chronicle's Picture in Picture blog. Unlike Ealy, this is Van Horn's first time attending the festival. So far, he's had to procure last-minute accreditation, had a rough first day of moviegoing (but may or may not have met Ewan McGregor), and partied with (or somewhat near) Adrien Brody and Chris O'Dowd.
• Victor Diaz, YNN -- Diaz spent a few days in Cannes this year, primarily covering Moonrise Kingdom and UT grad/filmmaker Wes Anderson. He attended the opening-night premiere, and interviewed Anderson, Jason Schwartzman and Edward Norton (in which Norton reveals ties between Bottle Rocket and Fight Club).

"Ready, Set, Fund" is a column about crowdfunding and related fundraising endeavors for Austin and Texas independent film projects.

It's only natural that talented acquaintances in the local music scene like Britt Daniel of Spoon or Ian Moore have achieved national recognition for their musical talent. Another success story is that of one of the hardest working bands I've ever known, The Gourds, comprised of Kevin Russell, Keith Langford, Max Johnston, Jimmy Smith and Claude Bernard. In addition to routinely playing at Shady Grove and Threadgill's South, or touring nationally, the Gourds also contributed music to a local short film, Mike Woolf's 2003 documentary Growin' a Beard.

The Gourds themselves are now the subject of All the Labor, a documentary currently funding through Monday, June 11, on Kickstarter. Filmmaker Doug Hawes-Davis is the founder of the annual Big Sky Documentary Film Festival in Missoula, Montana, where he initially met the band in 2001. The Gourds played Missoula nearly a dozen times in the last decade and Hawes-Davis attended every show, allowing him the opportunity to meet and convince the band to participate in a film documenting their story.

Mike Woolf is one of the cinematographers providing support in Austin on the film project. Another interesting local connection is that Hawes-Davis' nonprofit was the fiscal sponsor of Winter in the Blood, a new film by Alex and Andrew Smith (The Slaughter Rule) -- Alex teaches at UT while Andrew teaches at the University of Montana. Winter in the Blood had a successful Kickstarter campaign last year.

Find out about more local film-related crowdfunding efforts after the jump.