Festival Corner

I spent the early part of March in Austin, Texas, at the growing SXSW Film, Music and Interactive Festival. It’s a really fantastic festival and a progressive and entertaining city. More interestingly, I’d call SXSW a “teaching” festival with some unique elements. If you haven’t been, I highly recommend a trip to both SXSW and Austin!
 
This year I took advantage of the seminars/panels and it made the whole experience worthwhile. I primarily attended the distribution and marketing panels. Because of all this technology, media and the internet, the interactive folks are combining more with the film folks and it’s really an amazing collaboration. I don’t know about you, but I’m so not a techno-geek, and I’m amazed at the ideas and abilities. It’s got me thinking about new marketing ideas, and so inspiring in general. I’ll share more  
One highlight of my time there was attending “A Conversation with Billy Bob Thorton” hosted by Elvis Mitchell. As an indie minded filmmaker, how can one not respect Thorton’s true devotion to the artist filmmaker? Billy entered the room with sunglasses on, and quickly informed us it was not because he was trying to “hide” or be “too Hollywood,” but simply because he had partied a bit too hard the night before! Hmmm, Billy, I don’t know WHAT you’re talking about – who parties at a film festival…certainly not a resident film hor like me! But back to Billy…he spoke about his desire to direct again, and the fact that he’s been waiting until he’s out of contracts to be able to do things his way. Go Billy – way to attempt to keep your integrity. He discussed the process of making his early movies, particularly “Slingblade,” and how he used to have more freedom and control, even though it was harder to get the money and the deals. It really is a trade off. He also talked about the importance of doing the big blockbuster films in order to stay on the billboards to have the ability to choose the passion projects. But, most enjoyable were the anecdotes about his early days as a waiter and a naive but headstrong young writer/director in Hollywood. For more about this interview, and excerpts, read the below article…very entertaining!
 
http://www.cinemablend.com/new/SXSW-Billy-Bob-Thornton-On-Where-Movies-And-America-Went-Wrong-8174.html
 
As for movies (after all, it IS a FILM festival…) I attended the premiere of “21.” You’ve probably seen the ads on tv lately. This is the feature, 7 years in the making, based on the book “Bringing Down the House” about the MIT blackjack team. Kevin Spacey’s production company, Trigger Street, bought the rights to the book a while back and it went through many passages in Hollywood before coming to fruition.

I really enjoyed the film, and thought they did a great job interpreting the story and the book. The lead, a young actor named Jim Sturgess (was just in “Across the Universe”) – a British guy playing a Bostonian. He is a charming and talented young actor and played American well. The cast also includes Kate Bosworth and Kevin Spacey. If you liked the book, I recommend the film. Sure, the movie is not mind-blowing, and it is predictable, but it’s a lot of fun.

My favorite part of attending this premiere was the Q&A after. This is absolutely the reason to see films at festivals. The guy the book is based on, Jeff Ma, was there along with Ben Mezrich (the author of the book), Jim Sturgess, and the director, Robert Luketic (Legally Blonde). I read the book years back, particularly because of my involvement in the poker/vegas scene. Mezrich’s a great writer and really genuine person. A little known fact – he was in Fox’s “America’s Sexiest Bachelor” competition back in 2000 with our favorite Mr. Arizona, Reed Randoy. (If you didn’t catch it back then, the “competition” ecently re-aired on Fox Reality, by the way – so funny)! When Jeff was asked what’s the most the team “took Vegas for,” he answered 450k in one weekend – not bad for the times. If you get the chance to catch them on an interview, they were all very funny. “21″ hits theaters the end of this month. While “real” gamblers may have some criticisms, I generally enjoyed the movie. Sure, it’s not brain surgery, but we haven’t seen a good gambling movie for a long time, and I think this one hits the mark better than most that have been made in the last few years…at least since “Rounders.” Check it out and try to just sit back and enjoy the ride.

Rebekah’s scorecard: 8

 
http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/21/

 
I also saw a movie called, “The Promotion” starring Seann William Scott. He plays a grocery store assistant manager in the midwest, vying for the position of Manager at a new store opening near by. Also starring is John C Reilly, a Canadian who moves to town and competes for the same job. It had a lot of comedic moments as these 2 men compete, become friends, sabotage each other, and just try to hold their own lives and families together. This film was somewhat enjoyable. Although I would guess it has less chance of a theatrical release than “21,” It was quirky and fun, with some very clever writing. The pace was a bit slow, but overall I enjoyed the film. I’m going to guess it will have mixed reviews. I generally agree with the review below.
Rebekah’s scorecard: 7
 
http://www.slashfilm.com/2008/03/11/sxsw-movie-review-the-promotion/

 
The only other film I caught was a private screening of the new Public Enemy Documentary, “Welcome to the Terrordome.” My dear friend and director, Maxie Collier, helped organize the filming at a PE reunion concert last March at SXSW, where the crew shot with 16 cameras. The film is produced by Lathan Hodges who came up with Maxie in the DC BET days. This 2007 Austin concert became the center of the documentary, around which the story of the group and its history is told. They did a great job representing the importance of PE on the evolution of RAP music and how progressive and unique they were (and are). It’s sad that most people, in the younger generation, only know Flavor Flav from VH1’s infamous “Flavor of Love,” but don’t know anything about Chuck D and the old days of Flav, and Public Enemy’s contribution to the music scene in the 80’s and 90’s. They were and are strong, political, talented, smart and entertaining and I hope this film will play more in the mainstream and to a younger crowd so they can be exposed to something so special. The film premiered at AFI festival this past fall, but is still making the rounds of the festival circuit and in various stages of a final cut down edit. Keep your eyes and ears open for this one. For another review of the film, check out the below link. Rebekah’s scorecard: 7.5
 
http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=Cannes2007&jump=review&reviewid=VE1117935472

 
Well, that will wrap up this edition of Film Hor Diaries. Stay tuned for further coverage of the panels at SXSW and my recent experience working on the Wu-Tang Clan Video, “While the Heart Gently Weeps.” Keep turning those trix and finding your own resourceful ways to make films!

To contact Rebekah Sindoris email: producer@cornukopia.com
Or visit: http://www.cornukopia.com