SXSW Part 1

The quantity of festivities and people involved in the South by Southwest film and music festival is astonishing and overwhelming. It feels crazy to me, and makes me feel crazy too, at times. But it's lots of fun. Want to take a brief respite to make some notes on the fest. The first installment is basically a film festival report, the second will be more entertainment.

3/16/09
The film fest started three days ago, and, still getting my feet wet in this fine city, I haven't seen anything yet. But that must change... film is one of the reasons I'm here. So over to the Alamo Lamar for a week-long film pass. Wait in line for The Slammin' Salmon, the new one from the Broken Lizard team (Super Troopers, Beerfest), but four people away from the entrance, they reach capacity. Ugh... well then, over to the Alamo Ritz for For the Love of Movies, a documentary on film criticism made by Gerald Peary of The Boston Phoenix. I recommend it to people interested in film crit, straight up, and probably some other buffs. Good hummus plates at the Alamo too. I need a small pocket-sized book to read while I wait in these damn lines, so over to Book People for... a Rimbaud anthology. Back to the Ritz for - oh my, I will have to share some of this Rimbaud with people; marvelous! - Trailers From Hell. Presented by Joe Dante, from his website, a compilation of obscure and exploitation trailers as presented by some really cool filmmakers - people like Edgar Wright and Jack Hill showing everything from The Big Doll House to The Human Tornado. Very entertaining.

3/17/09
Up for It was great, but I was ready to come home, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Director Kris Swanberg went with three other people to Costa Rica with only a plan to make a movie about female friendship. The result is tender and real, a very good experience from both sides of the screen. Spent the daytime portion of St. Patty's Day talking to the fine folks at Earthlink and taking a bus to Target to buy a desk lamp and a softer pillow. Ah, this is living.... Night time, met up with Phil, who'd also had an exhilarating St. Patty's Day, and decided to capitalize on the second portion of the day. Up South First, to the gas station for Sparks, which are good beverages to consume on the streets, since they look like energy drinks (Boddingtons work in this respect too, but we wanted energy, in whatever form). Over the bridge, still working on the beverages, so... under the bridge. We hit upon a fantastic spot... under the S 1st bridge, you will find a wide open space, dirt on the ground, populated by a construction vehicle or two, with a beautiful view of the river and the underside of the bridge. Strange symmetry of bridge columns, city lights reflected in lake water... great place to finish a Sparks. Up to 6th street, green everywhere, celebration in full. The grim reaper stands in the middle of the street to pose for pictures. Walk up Red River, and a-ha, it's Jaime's Spanish Village, the site of one of my favorite experiences in Austin from my initial visit. The hostess, first night back in Austin after months away, remembers me, and I am very happy to see her. Pitcher and frosty mugs, chips and piercingly spicy salsa, settle in for some good conversation. Then to Headhunters - this place is much bigger and more interesting than you can imagine looking at it from the outside - for some great punk bands from New York and Austin, including Born to Lose and the Krum Bums. End the night next door at Hoboken Pie, slice of Hawaiian.

3/18/09
Did not get in to see the Winnebago Man doc, so over to Emo's to catch the tail end of King Khan and BBQ's set. This garage doo-wop duo is great, and I realize I should've gone there earlier to see their whole set. Over to Phil and Laura's for pesto pasta, good times, and Tina Turner on vinyl. To the Alamo Lamar to try to get in to The Slammin' Salmon - again, unsuccessful. Damn again. So instead, Creative Nonfiction - a pretty interesting student (I think) feature, with real relationships and characters, funny, and cringe-worthy at times too. Then the midnight show - Black - a very exciting and fun French nouveau Blaxploitation flick, with mysticism, voodoo, and lots and lots of fight scenes. Quite tired, blisters on me feet, up in five hours for more.