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Film, Pop Culture, Writing

How to Make the Best Kickstarter Campaign There Ever Was

Last year I co-wrote and co-produced a film called Loves Her Gun.

Hallelujahohmygod, the film is finally finished minus a few sound and color correct tweaks.

Making a movie is both an exhilarating and diarrhea-inducing experience. Everything from writing the script, shooting the film, editing and submitting to festivals is one giant roller coaster of hair loss, laughter, tears and wide-eyed stares.

Geoff and I are currently creating an Indieagogo campaign for post-production costs because we loooooove asking people for money. LOVE IT! There is nothing better than sharing the living shit out of our crowdfuding page asking people to donate to our poor asses. Nothing. It makes us feel the opposite of desperate.

Wanting to make the BEST CROWDFUNDING CAMPAIGN THERE EVER WAS, I researched articles that recommend the best steps in earning your friends’ dough.

Articles will tell you that these steps are most important when creating a crowdfunding page:

1.) Set your goal at $10,000 (more…)

October 22, 2012 by
Austin, Film, Music, Pop Culture

The Ultimate List of Celebrities Who Live In Or Frequent Austin

A few days back, the Facebooks was a’flitter with news that Nicolas Cage was chowing down at East Austin’s french bistro Justine’s Brasserie. I contemplated heading down there to get a glimpse of the Dazzling One, but figured I would look as creepy as his hairline by doing so. In fact, there was a small part of that was afraid he’d go all Bad Lieutenant 2-style on me if I said hello.

I still haven’t figured out why Nic Cage was in Austin or if he is even still here, hiding behind a dumpster and shouting unintelligible words at homeless people for fun. Theory is he’s in the new Terrence Malick film shooting here (that is every Austinite’s answer for when they spot a celebrity), but I can’t imagine Malick casting someone like Cage for his highly intellectualized dramas. Cage is way too good of an actor for that stuff.

The Cage spotting got me thinking about all the celebrities that live in Austin or enjoy frequenting Austin. There are a slew of them. Some are from the great state of (more…)

October 10, 2012 by
Austin, Film, Pop Culture

Billy Bob Thornton, Won’t You Come Out to Sing?

There are so many reasons why I love Austin and now I have two more to add to the list: 1.) Billy Bob Thornton reportedly moved here and 2.) Club de Ville is trying to coax him out with a Billy Bob Thornton Welcome to ATX Karaoke/Costume Party tonight from 8PM to 2AM.

Not only is Club de Ville trying to bring out the Billy Bob, they’re also going to project his image on a giant wall and hand out BBT masks.

Heart!

Which Billy Bob are you going to dress up as?

Karl from Sling Blade?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Willie from Bad Santa?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ed from The Man Who Wasn’t There?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Davy Crockett from The Alamo?

Or just plain ol’ Billy Bob?

 

September 17, 2012 by
Fashion/Design, Film, Music, Pop Culture

Inspiring Late Bloomer Success Stories to Keep You From Giving Up

Inspired! Mesmerized! This is how I felt after putting down Steve Martin’s autobiography Born Standing Up.

I knew it was going to be a good book because Martin is a fantastic writer. Every creative medium he’s ever touched has turned into a golden product. Stand-up, acting, banjo-playing…you name it!

One of my top five favorite books of all time is Martin’s Shopgirl, which for me, perfectly summed up my experiences in Los Angeles. Martin’s uncanny ability to voice the thoughts, feelings and actions of a twenty-something living in LA astounded me. He’s good. Very good.

Born Standing Up is about Martin’s first 30 years on this planet as an adolescent, then as a struggling comedian. He details the painstaking energy and determination it took to break into the scene. He acted at Knott’s Berry Farm, performed stand up at small folks clubs in Southern California and elsewhere, wrote for the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour and even appeared on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson several (more…)

September 7, 2012 by
Film, Pop Culture

A Letter to Michael Keaton

Dear Michael,

Where did you go?

I mean, I know you’re still acting and all, but where did you go?

You’re no longer nestled in a comfy nook of the hearts of millions adoring fans, that’s for sure. You packed up, moved out and headed to Randomland. We’ve seen you pop up in Cars, Lost and various independent films and tv movies over the past twelve years that left us scratching our heads.

Why, Michael Keaton, why?

You were on top, man. At one point, you could have been the POTUS. I would have voted for you. You seemed to make a pretty good one in First Daughter.

I blame your agent. A man like Michael Keaton wouldn’t have willingly acted in films such as Jack Frost or Herbie:  Fully Reloaded. He held a gun to your head and told you that you HAD to take those films, right? RIGHT?! Please lie to me, Michael Keaton. I can’t bear to think that you happily chose to act in such rubbish.

I grew up with you. I saw you as my other Dad. Albeit, a dad with greasy hair, rotten (more…)

July 23, 2012 by
Film, Pop Culture

Sorry Anne Hathaway, Michelle Pfeiffer is Still The Hottest Catwoman

So, last night I saw The Dark Knight Rises.

Look, the movie is good, but it’s no The Dark Knight.

The Dark Knight has the perfect mix of emotional power, smarts and chemistry. The Dark Knight Rises movie feels like a weaker rehashing of the first two Nolan movies combined.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s still good. Nolan could crap on a piece of paper and it would have more character and depth than the majority of films Hollywood is making these days.

One of my small disappointments with the film is Anne Hathaway as Catwoman. That poor girl had some pretty big stilettos to fill and I don’t think she has what it takes to be the fragile, beautiful Selina Kyle, yet.

Anna Hathaway is adorable. ADORABLE. Not sexy or vixeny or sireny. Watching her flirty talk with Batman is like uncomfortably watching your little sister unsuccessfully hit on a dude at the bar. It doesn’t work. There is hotter chemistry between Christian Bale and Joseph Gordon Levitt than Bale and Hathaway.

Having (more…)

July 20, 2012 by
Austin, Film, Pop Culture

Ten Best Pop-Up Movie Theaters Around the World

Pop-up movie theaters seem to be the craze as of late. Austin is no stranger to the format; the city’s beloved independent theater chain, Alamo Drafthouse, has been showcasing their Rolling Roadshow screenings for years. All over the U.S., movie fans have had the pleasure of seeing films such as Blue Brothers at the Old Joliet Prison, Rocky at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Goonies in Astoria, Oregon and Texas Chainsaw Massacre at the original house of slaughter in Kingsland, Texas courtesy of the Rolling Roadshow.

It appears that another pop-up movie theater might make a guest appearance in the Capital City soon. Bike-In-Theater debuted on an abandoned riverside street in Brooklyn last summer to much fanfare. The gang behind the bike-friendly screenings are looking to expand and Austin is on their list! Read more about the project here or donate to the cause here.

Below are some of the best pop-up movie theaters from around the globe. What is your favorite?

photo via Alamo Drafthouse

Pop-up (more…)

July 16, 2012 by
Film, Hipstercrite Life

Remembering the Past In Order to Truly Appreciate the Present

I wrote this last month while visiting home. It was a difficult one to write. Did a lot of reflecting…

As the plane descended over the familiar lush landscape that is my hometown, several emotions reacquainted themselves with me. Feelings of joy, sadness, fear and optimism alternated dance steps in my brain.

“Where has all the time gone?”
“What will the future hold?”
“What happened to all the people I loved who have passed?”
“How can I keep moving forward?”

These are questions I don’t ask myself anymore. They’re only questions raised when provoked by the sight of my past, which is something that happens irregularly since I moved away from my home and family eight years ago.

In our attempt to live a fulfilling adult life, it’s often easy to get caught up in the minutia and forget what you’re thinking, feeling. To forget where you came from.

This last trip home wouldn’t let me walk past the flowers without perking my senses.

I was picked up by my beautiful and cheerful (more…)

July 9, 2012 by
Film, Pop Culture

Six Best Christopher Guest Characters

Vulture recently announced that filmmaker/actor Christopher Guest is working on a new sitcom in the same improvised-vein as his previous films. The show, titled Family Tree, stars Chris O’Dowd (Bridesmaids) as he “attempts to track down his real family”. Actor and regular Guest player Jim Piddock will be helping the funny man with this project.

I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty excited to hear the news. Christopher Guest has been a creative icon of mine since first seeing Waiting for Guffman as a teenager and Chris O’Dowd did a knockout performance in Bridesmaids. Though Guest’s last film, For Your Consideration, seemed to be rock bottom, he can only work his way up from there, right? RIGHT?!

I wanted to take this moment to reflect on some of my favorite Guest characters. The beauty of every Guest character is that you can see a little bit of yourself in all of them. From the blissfully ignorant Libby Mae Brown in Waiting for Guffman to the misunderstood genius-stoner Mitch (more…)

June 22, 2012 by
Film, Pop Culture

The Great Gatsby Trailer Is Private Parts-Tinglingly Beautiful

But I hope to God the musical choices are not a sampling of things to come…

Can we discuss how handsome Leonardo DiCaprio has gotten? Never been a fan of his dreamy boy looks, but he’s looking gooood with age.

Having been a Fitzgerald nut since I was a teenager, I, and everyone else in the world, have been disappointed with Fitzgerald film adaptations. This trailer looks pretty promising!

May 23, 2012 by