Browsing Tag

SXSW 2012

Austin, Pop Culture

Chaos Reigns in Austin

A couple of weeks ago, I posted Joe Nicolosi’s hysterical SXSW bumper that starred Geoff as a douchey Angeleno-turned-Austinite (“Have You Been to Austin? I Can’t Tell if the Locals are Rednecks or Junkies”). SXSW has since posted one of the SXSW bumpers that Geoff and I co-wrote/produced and Geoff directed about some more douchey Angelenos using their platinum badges for evil. They get their comeuppance in the end in the form of angry furries beating the shit out of them.

The bumpers star the very talented and funny actors John Merriman, Chris Doubek and Julie Holland. We had a blast shooting the bumpers and appreciate SXSW for giving us the opportunity.

The video got broken up into two separate bumpers, so just imagine you’re watching both as one piece!

 

April 7, 2012 by
Fashion/Design

Rachel Roy SXSW Street Style

During SXSW I was invited to partake in a Rachel Roy photo shoot with other creatives in Austin. I was slightly familiar with the brand, but by the end of the shoot, I fell in love! Roy’s clothing is not only unique, colorful and beautiful, but super comfy too! I got to meet so many wonderful ladies and gentlemen from NYC, Austin and Houston and made some terrific new friends!

Below is the SXSW Street Style shoot we did. We also shot a fun summer collection pictorial that should be available through the mailing list soon at www.rachelroy.com!

In my photo, I joked about doing the classic Lookbook stance of pigeon-toeing yourself. Looks like they chose that photo! Maybe there is something to the pigeon toe stance after all!

I’m wearing the Angel Dress $129. Femme, charming and has pockets to boot! I also got to include my Great Aunt Stella’s 90 year-old locket in my outfit.

 

 

 

March 30, 2012 by
Austin, Pop Culture

Have You Been to Austin? I Can’t Tell if the Locals are Rednecks or Junkies (Video)

This year, Geoff and I got to be a part of making official bumpers for SXSW. He directed them and I helped produce them (I also co-wrote one about furries beating up annoying badge holders). They played before screenings at SXSW Film along with bumpers made by local filmmaker Joe Nicolosi (you might remember him from last year’s mega hit  “Mario”), Zach Anner and New York-based filmmaker Lauren Wolkstein.

SXSW just made one of the bumpers by Nicolosi available on Youtube. It happens to star a favorite someone of mine (Geoff) and putting favoritism aside, I do think it’s pretty f’ing funny. Nicolosi has a real talent for comedy. Check out his Youtube channel here. The bumper pokes fun at a subject matter I talk frequently about- people from LA moving to Austin. I swear I didn’t grow a beard that long when I first moved here.

 

March 23, 2012 by
Austin, Hipstercrite Life

The Death of Austin, Texas

source

A scary realization came to me the other night while I was driving around looking for parking east of Interstate 35 to catch a screening downtown. East of I-35 (East Austin) is typically where I park if I go anywhere downtown; it’s much easier than fighting for or paying for parking.

As I parked deeper than I normally would on the eastside due to the chaos that is SXSW, the realization that parking on the eastside could one day no longer be free hit me like a ton of bricks. Flashbacks of paying hundreds of dollars a year in parking meters, permits and parking tickets in Los Angeles came flooding back.

This may sound like a trivial concern, but it lead to the larger question that had been dancing in my brain while I battled thousands of people through the streets, sidewalks, events and stores as I wandered through SXSW- how much is Austin changing and is it for the better or worse?

I overheard a few rumblings from locals during the film and interactive portion of SXSW that (more…)

March 15, 2012 by
Austin, Film, Hipstercrite Life, Pop Culture

Does SXSW Give You Anxiety?!

Does SXSW give you ragin’ anxiety like it does for me?

I have something to clear off my flat chest.

After all this talk of blogging about SXSW- I can’t do it.

You know why?

Because I’ve already fizzled out.

My little motor has died and I already buried it in the backyard along with the feral cats of East Austin.

I don’t care enough about the hottest app, movie, party or show and scrambling back to regurgitate it all to you. I pretended like I cared a lot, but I’m realizing I don’t. Maybe that makes me a bad blogger, journalist or social media whore, but so be it.

When you live in Austin and work in or around the creative industries, you feel as though you’re supposed to squeeze SXSW by the nuts and get every last drop out of ’em. As a writer, screenwriter and social media nerd, it would be silly for me not to take full advantage of the festival, right? To go on 3 hours sleep every night, be drunk most of the time and trying to nudge my way into the hottest parties, (more…)

March 12, 2012 by
Austin, Film, Pop Culture

SXSW Film Begins! What to Watch Friday, March 9th

SXSW is here…and it’s rainy as shit! Unfortunately, I have to work tonight so I won’t be seeing any films, but Geoff got up early to get his express passes for Josh Whedon’s Cabin the Woods at the Paramount. If I were able to see films tonight, I’d skip out on Cabin in the Woods and check out the narrative Electrick Children (State Theater) by New York filmmaker Rebecca Thomas.

If you’re attending SXSW Film this year, I’ll be at the opening party at Buffalo Billiard’s tonight. Hope to see you there!

Here are my list of go-to screenings tonight. I starred the ones you should make priority.

Cabin in the Woods– 7PM @ Paramount

Five friends go to a remote cabin in the woods. Bad things happen. If you think you know this story, think again. From fan favorites Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard comes THE CABIN IN THE WOODS, a mind blowing horror film that turns the genre inside out.

Produced by Whedon and directed by Goddard from a script by both, the film stars Kristen Connolly, (more…)

March 9, 2012 by
Austin, Film, Music, Pop Culture, Writing

The #1 Thing Austinites Want To Achieve At SXSW 2012

SXSW kicks off tomorrow and it got me thinking, “What is the #1 thing I want to achieve at the festival this year?”

My goal is to watch Dave Foley piss on the side of a building again. Or if I’m really lucky, it will be a tag-team of Dave Foley AND Willem Dafoe peeing all over 6th Street.

I asked some of my fave Austin bloggers and movers & shakers what their goals are for this year’s SXSW.

Take a look at their tips below!

Cathy Benavides/Found of Austin Slave to Fashion: “I am most looking forward to meeting and chatting with people in the fashion community for Style X. Last year was a great kick off for Style X and they have lined up some great speakers and designers for this year. Fashion is invading SXSW and it warms my cold black heart!”

Chris Apollo Lynn/Founder of Republic of Austin: “During SX, people want to achieve everything from seeing a set number of bands to imbibing hella free booze. I’ve found that setting expectations can either lead to long lines or (more…)

March 8, 2012 by
Austin, Film, Pop Culture

SXSW Official 2012 Film Line-Up

SXSW just released their official 2012 film line-up yesterday and there are a lot of goodies.

Over the next weeks, I will be posting about some  of the must-see films of the year.

In the meantime, check out the list of films below.
Narrative Feature Competition:

Booster

  • Director & Screenwriter: Matt Ruskin
  • When Simon’s brother is arrested for armed robbery, he is asked to commit a string of similar crimes in an attempt to get his brother acquitted.
  • Cast: Nico Stone, Adam DuPaul, Seymour Cassel, Kristin Dougherty, Brian McGrail
  • (World Premiere)

Eden

  • Director: Megan Griffiths | Screenwriters: Richard B. Phillips & Megan Griffiths | Story by: Richard B. Phillips & Chong Kim
  • A young Korean-American girl, abducted and forced into prostitution by domestic human traffickers, joins forces with her captors in a desperate plea to survive.
  • Cast: Jamie Chung, Matt O’Leary, Beau Bridges, Jeanine Monterroza, Scott Mechlowicz
  • (World Premiere)

Gayby

February 2, 2012 by