deadCENTER Film

Coffee. Mexican Food. Lots of Films. Arguments. Programming Day is Tomorrow.

Tomorrow is my favorite deadCENTER-related day outside of the festival itself: programming day. Yup, tomorrow is the day we program the entire festival, setting the schedule and venue selections for features and panels. The really fun part, though, is putting together the shorts programs. We get so many quality shorts of all different kinds and lengths that it becomes a struggle to slot them all into related sections. And it’s not just that putting this stuff together is logistically difficult – we all have our personal favorites, and since we’re all passionate about film, things can get heated. It’s like Christmas morning for people who like to argue a lot.

Personally, I’ve got a few films I’m ready to defend to the death tomorrow. One of them, a feature, I know I’m going to have a hard time convincing the others to program. But that’s the fun/point of programming day. It’s your chance to make deadCENTER your own. Winning an argument over whether or not a short makes it in to the festival means you’ve just put your own personal stamp on the festival. Cooler than that, it means that an independent film you saw at random during bag swap will now be up on a screen and thousands of people will now have the opportunity to see it. Very cool.

This will be my fourth programming day, and like the first three times, I’m going to lose some battles (ask me sometime about the fight I lost last year. I loved the film so much I stole the only screener copy we had after it was decided it wouldn’t make it), but hopefully I’ll win one or two as well. Whatever happens, though, we’ll all go get lunch at La Luna, enjoy the films we watch, and, at the end of the day, feel really excited about the great films we get to show to all you lovely people.

And that’s programming day.

-Ian

P.S. – We’ll be tweeting about all of this tomorrow. Follow us @deadcenter

deadCENTER at SXSW: Scaramucci Out.

In an amazing feat of strength and dedication, Scaramucci and Poarch got up, got dressed, packed and into a movie by 11am. I will start petitioning the Olympic committee for a new category of competition – film festival attendance.  Scored on numbers of hours awake, films/drinks consumed, and material collection (postcards, DVDs, business cards, etc.) Ohno’s got nothing on me.

The film was Life 2.0, about the crazy world of people obsessed with the online ‘game’ Second Life. I feel much, much better about my Facebook addiction now, that’s for sure. I’m sure of the 15 million or so people that ‘play’ there are some that don’t fit the caricature of gamers, but none of those people were cast in the film. Socially awkward, lonely, etc…, these are the folks we met. Like all good docs that showcase weirdos doing weird shit, this one was great and opened our eyes to a world neither Cacky or I know much about. And the filmmaker interviewed and followed his subjects as an avatar in second life, which was very, very cool element in the film.

I missed the Q&A because I wanted to make sure and get into the Talking Heads concert film Ride, Rise, Roar. And I’m so glad I did. I had it flagged in my schedule, but it got a bullet after meeting the DP, Ben Wolf. I truly hope everyone gets to see this beautiful, interesting, innovative film. David Byrne, an artist in many mediums in addition to music, wanted to showcase the talents of several modern dance choreographers during his latest tour. The result is a gorgeous blend of ethereal, tribal, deft and lyrical dances that enhance some Talking Heads standards and several tracks from his most recent collection with Brian Eno.

I’m so glad this is the note on which I leave SXSW.  Each year, this festival grows and adapts – perhaps most notably in the corporate presence – which isn’t exactly a bad thing. I don’t mind getting a Clif bar as I stand in line and see Chevy drive the main movie folks around. If it makes it possible to see groovy films and film folks on the most innovative technology available, slide me a Pepsi, sir. The consistent offerings of excellent music films, engaging documentaries, and expressive narrative features keep me coming back. SXSW is the gold standard of film festivals – and you really have to be a gold medal finalist to experience it fully. SXSW, see ya next year! Everyone else, see you at deadCENTER in June!

deadCENTER at SXSW: A Bad Movie, A Broken Movie

When you make a pal at a festival and promise to see their movie, you have to be ready for the awkward conversation that will inevitably follow once the film gets out.  Now if you are a rock-star publicist, you apparently understand that you won’t ask people what they thought of the movie you’re promoting.  Which is good, because Lebanon, PA. was ass.

After running from that theater as soon as the credits started, Cacky and I booked it back to the Paramount to catch Electra Luxx.  We met up with Chris Martin and his buddy Shawn in line – the Oklahomies are truly out and about this weekend.

Keep Reading

deadCENTER at SXSW: Sunny Sunday

Against all odds, we made it to the last ten minutes of the Austin Film Festival brunch. Shocking, I know. The awesome Kelly Williams put on a sweet event, and we met the director of a film that was submitted to deadCENTER. A film I saw last week and loved so no awkwardness, thank goodness.

Brushing the crumbs of breakfast burrito off in the cab, Cacky and I raced to the 1:30 screening of Richard Garriott: Man on A Mission.

Keep Reading

deadCENTER at SXSW: SXSaturday Wrap-up

The good thing about SXSW is that it is non-stop action … which leaves little time for blogging. But here what happened from 1pm-1am yesterday:

Barry Munday: Charming movie staring Patrick Wilson and Judy Greer (both in attendance – no calling in sick for them!). Check out the synopsis and remember this title for when it shows up on VOD. I wish this was the kind of film that would open in theaters everywhere – it’s a much better date movie than anything Jennifer Aniston has been in lately – but who knows? That kind of jackpot doesn’t happen very often.

Keep Reading

deadCENTER at SXSW: Another quickie

First of all- apologies to the Don(s)- hung with Lewis, not Swaynos last night. I was a bleary blogger this morning.

Cacky and I stumbled into the back of the Paramount Theater to catch the first 30minutes of Thunder Soul. Our plan was to sneak out and catch the Tarantino/Eli Roth panel at 12:30. Luckily, we found out those losers canceled so we stayed for the whole film.

Thunder Soul is so amazing, not even the lure of listening to a living master could have drug me out of this theater so I’m glad I wasn’t forced to make a Sophie’s Choice. I’m on a mission now – I love this film.

Cacky and I got right back in line for the next showing at the Paramount- Barry Munday. Loads of movie stars and red carpet is out. We’ll see who actually makes it and who is having breakfast with Tarantino.

Opening Night Schmooze-a-thon

Where’s my sunglasses? My laptop screen is too bright… standby.

OK, much better. The party.

This is my very favorite party during SXSW because EVERYONE goes. It’s at Buffalo Billiards, and both levels are packed. I know the tons of people who didn’t get in don’t feel this way (HEY! Chris! You’re awesome! Hope your screening went well!), but this party is so inclusive. The stars of the big opening attend (the film was Kick-Ass and everyone said it was great), along with all the pals we’ve accumulated over the years. It’s the touchstone party of the weekend. And here’s who we schmoozed with in chronological order, starting with the upstairs:

Keep Reading

deadCENTER at SXSW: Wow.

It’s 1:14am and Cacky and I are enjoying the ‘Baby Jesus’ scene from the Ricky Bobby film – AKA Talladega Nights – on TBS.

Yes. We’re whooped. We’ve been up since 5am – met with filmmakers, seen half of one film, all of another, denied a third, and hobnobbed at the Opening Night Party for a good three hours. If that doesn’t earn us a Will Ferrell vanity project, I don’t know what does.

Keep Reading

deadCENTER at SXSW: Mel Gets a Quickie in Before a Screening

Blogging from iPhone in between screenings is not ideal – but!

Saw the first 30 minutes of No One Knows Persian Cats. It’s a very interesting narrative about the underground music scene in Iran. If I didn’t have to scoot to see Rejoice and Shout, I totally would have stayed and enjoyed the Persian film. The best and worst part of festivals is that you can’t be two places at once.

Rejoice’s program description reads like it could be perfect for an outdoor screening. Crossed fingers – I love a rockin’ music doc.

I also love the Alamo Drafthouse. Truly the best theater in the USA. However! We did see the first outing of the sponsor openers and … Not impressed. Lame. Our peeps Matt Brown, Mark Potts, Alan Novey, etc… Would blow this town away. deadCENTER 1. SXSW 0.

Lights going down… More later, dear readers…

deadCENTER at SXSW: Buckle Up.

Our very own Cacky Poarch and Melissa Scaramucci are in SXSW, looking for great films, spreading the word about deadCENTER and generally being awesome. Stay tuned to this space for their dispatches.

Cacky and I can’t remember how many times we’ve made the pilgrimage south together – maybe 7 years? 8? Known universally at SXSW as “Those fun girls from Oklahoma”, we work to pile on the magic in our brief time at the fest. Seriously. One year we extended our trip to Tuesday (instead of leaving on our usual Monday) and that extra day almost left us hospitalized. These are the sacrifices we make for deadCENTER.

Keep Reading