Austin Film Festival

If you know me well you know that I would never be considered a film expert or even someone who watches movies often. I grew up in a home where watching anything besides the news was almost illegal. My brother and I would sneak in some quality Jerry Springer before our parents came home and then we were only allowed 1 hour of television which generally consisted of The Simpsons and Home Improvement. When our Dad was out of town I remember going to the video store with my Mom and "sneaking" movie time. Clearly Movies are related more as a guilty pleasure rather than a lifestyle. 

Not surprisingly, I have a dearth of knowledge on anything to do with the film industry. I know when I like a movie, but I probably couldn't tell you all the actors much less who the producer or the writers were. I do however, have y friend, Trever, who knows a lot more that I could ever care to know about films. I only enjoy about 10% of the movies Trever presents me, but that's not surprising since we have two totally different lifestyles. 

The only photo I took... I was watching movies!

When my brother Harlan was offered two producer badges to the Austin Film Festival for Parkside's involvment in the Film and Food Gala he naturally asked his wonderful sister and her movie fanantic friend Trever if they wanted the badges. Little did Harlan know these badges were worth about $700 a piece, because surely he would have tried to sell them. The Producer badge granted priority access to the week of movies, the conference, and of course parties. 


While I didn't partake in the conference nor did I take the week off of from work to spend to go to movies, I did see quite a few unique films and rub shoulders with famous writers and producers at various free parties around Austin. To be honest, I didn't quite know who I was rubbing shoulders seeing that I don't know who famous screenwriters and producers are, much less what they look like. I'm not complaining, because I still go my free drinks and shwag. :-)


The word on the street is the Austin Film Festival is unique because it focuses on the writers. It is also unique because it is in Austin. Luckily, Austin has the wonderful Alamo Drafthouses, an IMAX, the historic Paramount, and numerous other movie watching venues to host dozens of movies throughout the city. While the Austin Film Festival is less glitzy and well known as other film festivals such as Sundance or Cannes it is close to home and suitable to the Austin culture. And for me, it was an affordable fun new experience. I love the fact that I was able to    take part in some of the arts and culture Austin has to offer for free! 


The films I saw: I Love You Philip Morris (feature film), Dog Sweat (documentary), Treme (HBO series premier), Burned: Life in and Out of Texas Youth Prisons (documentary), Paradise Recovered (feature film), Weakness (feature film), and Black Swan (feature film, and my fave!).  

http://www.austinfilmfestival.com/new/mission

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austin_Film_Festival

Indiana Jones Adventure

In keeping with the Alamo Drafthouse theme... I would like to recall my favorite adventure with my good friend Trever. Up until now all the events have been current but I cannot neglect to recount the Indiana Jones Adventure. I am no Indiana Jones movie buff nor do I really care to be the first person to see any movie but yet again I was convinced by Trever to tag along for something different. 

By tag along I mean Trever needed me to purchase tickets to the said adventure as I was the only one willing to put both tickets on my credit card knowing full well it would take a month to get paid back. (I love you trev! :-))

In 2008, when Indiana Jones Kingdom of the Crystal Skull opened we joined about 60 mega fans on a tour bus around Austin for "one-of-a-kind danger flavored excursion." No lie, that's what their blog said. http://blog.originalalamo.com/category/uncategorized/page/17/. With that kind of marketing how could I pass it up?

Our excursion began on a Wednesday afternoon and provided an "Indy Fedora" and an unlimited supply of Tecate (cause that's what Indiana Jones drinks when he drinks beer, obvi) for the bus ride to Cypress Valley Canopy Tours. If we could hear it over the excitement of the crowd, Indiana Jones movies played on repeat for our entertainment.   A short ride later we arrived and were asked to secure our fedoras for some zip-lining through the forest. It's like a roller coaster in the woods! I have some pretty quality pictures from this. I don't recall but I believe we were then to search for artifacts throughout the forest. I'm thinking I missed this to zip line a second time or chat it up with the new friend Trever and I made, Zach, who happened to be the guy who organizes special events for the Alamo Drafthouse. 

Next, we were on to a studio on the East Side to watch "Texas Snake Man" Jackie Bibby charm snakes. Jackie Bibby is not your average snake charmer... this man is a world record holder for some pretty safe choices in life. He played with the snakes, sat in a tub full of snakes (87 is his record) and put 10 rattlesnakes in his mouth and swung them around like it was no big deal. We watched him do the latter while we were provided the fine cuisine of alligator and naturally... rattlesnake. It tasted like chicken! With a little more beer we left the studio and returned to the Alamo Drafthouse to return to our strategically reserved seats for the midnight showing of Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. 

The movie was ridiculous.... aliens... really? I won't be watching that again anytime soon. The adventure was also ridiculous, in a good way though. I loved it and I obviously have not forgotten how an average movie can be awesome at the Alamo, even if it is just for one night. 

http://www.texsnakeman.com/

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0367882/

Movies to the Max

When I moved to Austin I knew music was big deal, but I had no idea about the film culture that thrives here. One of my first roommates, Trever, moved to Austin because he was so obsessed with film and movie scene. He enlightened me to the likes of independent film, horror flicks, actors and directors from Austin, movies filmed in Austin, and of course, the Alamo Drafthouse. Supposedly, one of the main reasons why Trever moved to Austin was for this unique movie theater. At first it seemed a little strange to me that someone would move to a city for a movie theater. However, I have since learned that various publications such as Entertainment Weekly have named the Alamo Drafthouse as the best movie theater in the U.S.!

What's so great about a movie theater that you move to a city for it? For one thing, this movie theater serves alcohol. Need I say more? Probably not, but allow me to elaborate.

To accompany your beverages of choice you can also order food - and not just bar food, but chef prepared originals related to classic movies or specific to movies opening that month. For example you can get the "Godfather" pizza, obviously loaded with marinara and other Italian toppings; or right now you can get "The Carrie" a classic cosmopolitan. The food is always changing and always a treat.

Beyond the promotion of local food and beer choices the Alamo Drafthouse expands the movie going experience by offering unique movie openings and events to the extreme. Recently the Back to the Future Trilogy was presented with 4 actual Delorians and an appearance by Christoper Lloyd - Doc Brown in the flesh! For the opening of Transformers a car crushing machine/transformer entertained in . Sex in the City openings have included prizes to local boutiques, a pair of Manolo Blahnick shoes, character related furniture, and of course signature drinks. Trever convinced me to go to the Indiana Jones premier that included a bus ride to zip line in the woods, tasting rattlesnake, and of course snake charmers. For July 4th weekend I am sad I will miss the sold out Jaws event held on Lake Travis. The rolling road show is projecting Jaws while guests float in the water with surprise "shark attacks" and "killer prizes".

The events of the Alamo don't end at new movies. There are weekly events such as Weird Wednesday  and Terror Tuesday - late night screenings of exploitation movies from the '70s and horror flicks from the '80s. It is a blast from the past for only a dollar! I have never been, but they also have Master Pancake theater where comedians make light of various movies, sing-a-longs and quote-a-longs to classic movies, and special screenings of big games or finales of TV shows. Any night of the week you will find an original event held at one of the 3 original Austin Alamo locations.

The owners of the Alamo have allowed their business to expand out of Austin to other towns such as Houston and San Antonio with hopes to open more than 200 other Alamo Drafthouse locations throughout the country. These other locations will be franchised so it is unlikely they will be able to compare to the original Alamo in the heart of downtown Austin on 6th street. I suppose Austin can share its gem of a movie theater with other cities, but let's not forget where the original began!

http://www.drafthouse.com/
http://blog.originalalamo.com/
The awesome pictures are from my friend Andrew's website http://www.requiemamericana.com/