Ready, Set, Fund is a column about crowdfunding and related fundraising endeavors for Austin and Texas independent film projects.
It's not often that biographical documentaries portray lesser-known behind-the-scenes movie professionals, but novelist and film journalist Joe O'Connell is capturing key player Gary Kent in his film project Love & Other Stunts, which is currently funding on Indiegogo through Wednesday, February 27. Kent has contributed to over 100 films in his 50-plus years in the film industry as a stuntman, actor, director, and writer. He's been a stunt double for Jack Nicholson and Robert Vaughan and was stunt coordinator for Richard Rush's Hell’s Angels On Wheels and Don Coscarelli's Bubba Ho-tep, as well as acting in noir Westerns such as The Shooting and Ride in the Whirlwind.
Love & Other Stunts covers not only Kent's film career, but his personal life from the release of his memoir Shadows and Light: Journeys...
It's not often that biographical documentaries portray lesser-known behind-the-scenes movie professionals, but novelist and film journalist Joe O'Connell is capturing key player Gary Kent in his film project Love & Other Stunts, which is currently funding on Indiegogo through Wednesday, February 27. Kent has contributed to over 100 films in his 50-plus years in the film industry as a stuntman, actor, director, and writer. He's been a stunt double for Jack Nicholson and Robert Vaughan and was stunt coordinator for Richard Rush's Hell’s Angels On Wheels and Don Coscarelli's Bubba Ho-tep, as well as acting in noir Westerns such as The Shooting and Ride in the Whirlwind.
Love & Other Stunts covers not only Kent's film career, but his personal life from the release of his memoir Shadows and Light: Journeys...
- 2/12/2013
- by Debbie Cerda
- Slackerwood
Here's the latest in Austin and Texas film news.
Former Austinite Elizabeth Mims' film Only the Young made the National Board of Review's Top 5 Documentaries, IndieWire reports. Austinite Richard Linklater's Bernie and Texas native Wes Anderson's Moonrise Kingdom were on the group's Top 10 Independent Films.In distribution news, Tribeca Films has acquired the North American rights to sometimes-Austinite actor/filmmaker Alex Karpovsky's films Rubberneck and Red Flag, with plans to release both in select theatrical and VOD platforms this February.Following the success of Boneboys, Texas filmmakers Duane Graves and Justin Meeks are back in the saddle again with a dark Western, Red on Yella, Kill a Fella, according to The Austin Chronicle. Joe O'Connell visited and took photos on the film's set. The six-week shoot took place at various locations in Texas, including the Northeast Austin living history site Pioneer Farms. Inspired by true events,...
Former Austinite Elizabeth Mims' film Only the Young made the National Board of Review's Top 5 Documentaries, IndieWire reports. Austinite Richard Linklater's Bernie and Texas native Wes Anderson's Moonrise Kingdom were on the group's Top 10 Independent Films.In distribution news, Tribeca Films has acquired the North American rights to sometimes-Austinite actor/filmmaker Alex Karpovsky's films Rubberneck and Red Flag, with plans to release both in select theatrical and VOD platforms this February.Following the success of Boneboys, Texas filmmakers Duane Graves and Justin Meeks are back in the saddle again with a dark Western, Red on Yella, Kill a Fella, according to The Austin Chronicle. Joe O'Connell visited and took photos on the film's set. The six-week shoot took place at various locations in Texas, including the Northeast Austin living history site Pioneer Farms. Inspired by true events,...
- 12/10/2012
- by Jordan Gass-Poore'
- Slackerwood
The History Channel has ordered a full-series of 'Vikings', the Irish co-produced 10-part series which is due to begin pre-production next month. The series, which will chronicle the world of the Norsemen during medieval times, will be the first scripted drama to air on the cable network TV channel and will also be the first to make use of Joe O'Connell's newly-built Ballyhenry Studios in Ashford, Co Wicklow, which has been constructed for a reported cost of €22m.
- 3/20/2012
- IFTN
Here's the latest Austin movie news:
Freestyle Releasing has announced that the SXSW 2010 movie Skateland will hit theaters in Austin, Houston and Dallas on April 1. The movie is set in a small Texas town in the 1980s, and although shot in Louisiana, the director, writers and producer all have Austin ties. Read Debbie's SXSW review or check out her photos from the fest of the movie's star, Ashley Greene.Joe O'Connell has news about an adaptation of Turk Pipkin's story When Angels Sing, which will start filming in Bastrop shortly. The movie is being directed by Tim McCanlies with Elizabeth Avellan producing, and stars a variety of local and national well-known faces -- nearly all musicians, it seems. It looks like it could be one of those warm-hearted holiday films, but hopefully the excellent local production team will steer it away from potential treacle and sap.The Long Center...
Freestyle Releasing has announced that the SXSW 2010 movie Skateland will hit theaters in Austin, Houston and Dallas on April 1. The movie is set in a small Texas town in the 1980s, and although shot in Louisiana, the director, writers and producer all have Austin ties. Read Debbie's SXSW review or check out her photos from the fest of the movie's star, Ashley Greene.Joe O'Connell has news about an adaptation of Turk Pipkin's story When Angels Sing, which will start filming in Bastrop shortly. The movie is being directed by Tim McCanlies with Elizabeth Avellan producing, and stars a variety of local and national well-known faces -- nearly all musicians, it seems. It looks like it could be one of those warm-hearted holiday films, but hopefully the excellent local production team will steer it away from potential treacle and sap.The Long Center...
- 1/28/2011
- by Jette Kernion
- Slackerwood
Here's a roundup of all the Austin film news you might have missed during the recent holidays:
The Texas Tribune has a sneak peek of about 8 minutes of footage from Incendiary, the upcoming documentary about Cameron Todd Willingham from local filmmakers Steve Mims and Joe Bailey Jr. Along with the footage, Evan Smith interviews Mims and Bailey about the film.In the Dallas Morning News, Joe O'Connell's column focuses on the state of the Texas film incentives law and how it might affect film and TV productions next year.Speaking of film incentives, the Austin American-Statesman reports that state comptroller Susan Coombs released a report about Texas incentive and tax-break programs, which included the film-incentives law, with notes on the program's weaknesses and suggestions for improvement.And while we're thinking about productions that did not receive film incentives from Texas -- Cinematical has posted a deleted scene online from Machete.
The Texas Tribune has a sneak peek of about 8 minutes of footage from Incendiary, the upcoming documentary about Cameron Todd Willingham from local filmmakers Steve Mims and Joe Bailey Jr. Along with the footage, Evan Smith interviews Mims and Bailey about the film.In the Dallas Morning News, Joe O'Connell's column focuses on the state of the Texas film incentives law and how it might affect film and TV productions next year.Speaking of film incentives, the Austin American-Statesman reports that state comptroller Susan Coombs released a report about Texas incentive and tax-break programs, which included the film-incentives law, with notes on the program's weaknesses and suggestions for improvement.And while we're thinking about productions that did not receive film incentives from Texas -- Cinematical has posted a deleted scene online from Machete.
- 12/28/2010
- by Jette Kernion
- Slackerwood
If you've been too busy thinking about turkey and football to pay attention to Austin film news, here's a roundup:
The Austin American-Statesman reports that before Texas Film Commission head Bob Hudgins turned in his resignation earlier this month, he had been disciplined for sexual harassment. Hudgins cannot speak on these matters until he officially leaves his job Nov. 30. So keep an eye out later this week for potential comments from him on the situation.Over at the Dallas Morning News, Joe O'Connell enjoys a set visit on the latest film written by Kim Henkel, Boneboys, which has been filming around Austin. Directors Duane Graves and Justin Meeks previously brought us The Wild Man of the Navidad. O'Connell also posted some photos from the Boneboys production to his blog. (My neighbor has a role in the film. I think I saw a set photo of him in drag.)Alamo Drafthouse...
The Austin American-Statesman reports that before Texas Film Commission head Bob Hudgins turned in his resignation earlier this month, he had been disciplined for sexual harassment. Hudgins cannot speak on these matters until he officially leaves his job Nov. 30. So keep an eye out later this week for potential comments from him on the situation.Over at the Dallas Morning News, Joe O'Connell enjoys a set visit on the latest film written by Kim Henkel, Boneboys, which has been filming around Austin. Directors Duane Graves and Justin Meeks previously brought us The Wild Man of the Navidad. O'Connell also posted some photos from the Boneboys production to his blog. (My neighbor has a role in the film. I think I saw a set photo of him in drag.)Alamo Drafthouse...
- 11/29/2010
- by Jette Kernion
- Slackerwood
The news spread quickly around Austin film circles today via a casting call notice on the Short Film Texas website: Richard Linklater was starting casting for his new feature film Bernie, which will be shot in East Texas and Austin this fall. The film will reunite him with actor Jack Black, who co-starred in Linklater's School of Rock back in 2003. Bernie will also star Shirley MacLaine. Variety confirmed the news this afternoon. Castle Rock and Mandalay Pictures are producing the film.
Bernie's storyline is a far cry from School of Rock or Linklater's most recent film, Me and Orson Welles. It's based on a 1998 Texas Monthly article by Skip Hollandsworth, "MIdnight in the Garden of East Texas," about Bernie Tiede and the Texas town of Carthage. Small-town undertaker Tiede, whom I assume will be played by Black in the movie, confessed in 1997 to murdering his companion, Marjorie Nugent, "the richest...
Bernie's storyline is a far cry from School of Rock or Linklater's most recent film, Me and Orson Welles. It's based on a 1998 Texas Monthly article by Skip Hollandsworth, "MIdnight in the Garden of East Texas," about Bernie Tiede and the Texas town of Carthage. Small-town undertaker Tiede, whom I assume will be played by Black in the movie, confessed in 1997 to murdering his companion, Marjorie Nugent, "the richest...
- 8/7/2010
- by Jette Kernion
- Cinematical
A note from Jette: I'd like to introduce you all to our newest Slackerwood contributor, Paul Gandersman. Paul is an amazing photographer who attended the Predators red carpet and world premiere. My own red-carpet photography skills have come a long way since my first experience with them, but Paul's photos leave mine in the shade. He captured some great photos of Predators producers Robert Rodriguez and Elizabeth Avellan, director Nimrod Antal and star Adrien Brody. In addition, red carpet appearances included a couple of actors from previous Troublemaker Studios films who Joe O'Connell tells us are about to star in blacktino, a movie produced by Avellan (that I'd love to hear more about): Daryl Sabara (Spy Kids, World's Greatest Dad) and Jeff Fahey (Planet Terror).
I'm posting these photos without any descriptions in between them -- I think they stand on their own very well. For those of you needing a hint,...
I'm posting these photos without any descriptions in between them -- I think they stand on their own very well. For those of you needing a hint,...
- 7/12/2010
- by Contributors
- Slackerwood
One of the films currently shooting here in Austin is a self-proclaimed "irreverent stoner comedy" called Austin High. I hadn't heard about this film until the man who knows everything about Austin movie news, Joe O'Connell, posted on his blog that Dog the Bounty Hunter had been cast in the movie. Turns out the film's director, Alan Deutsch, worked on the TV show Dog the Bounty Hunter, so that makes sense.
Further investigation led me to an Austin American-Statesman article about the production as well as the film's website, which has some entertaining stills from the shoot so far. The movie appears to be about a high school (not the actual Austin High here in town) with a stoner principal who is pressured to reform the school and mend his lazy ways.
This weekend, the Austin High production moves to Waterloo Park, and they are in desperate need of extras.
Further investigation led me to an Austin American-Statesman article about the production as well as the film's website, which has some entertaining stills from the shoot so far. The movie appears to be about a high school (not the actual Austin High here in town) with a stoner principal who is pressured to reform the school and mend his lazy ways.
This weekend, the Austin High production moves to Waterloo Park, and they are in desperate need of extras.
- 6/24/2010
- by Jette Kernion
- Slackerwood
Here's the latest Austin film news:
Joe O'Connell has the scoop on Richard Linklater's intended next film: Bernie, set in East Texas, perhaps starring Jack Black. Linklater referred to it as his "Fargo in East Texas."O'Connell also has some photos to share from the set of Doonby, the John Schneider-starring film currently shooting at local Spiderwood Studios.Local teenage filmmaker Emily Hagins (Pathogen, The Retelling), the subject of the documentary Zombie Girl, is trying to raise funds to finish her third feature, My Sucky Teen Romance (it's a vampire movie).Speaking of Hagins (and funding), Austin Film Society has just published a video promoting the Texas Filmmakers Production Fund, and Hagins is one of the filmmakers interviewed. You also might see Tfpf recipients Kyle Henry, Sandra Guardado, Kat Candler, and David and Nathan Zellner, among others. You can find it on YouTube.
read more...
Joe O'Connell has the scoop on Richard Linklater's intended next film: Bernie, set in East Texas, perhaps starring Jack Black. Linklater referred to it as his "Fargo in East Texas."O'Connell also has some photos to share from the set of Doonby, the John Schneider-starring film currently shooting at local Spiderwood Studios.Local teenage filmmaker Emily Hagins (Pathogen, The Retelling), the subject of the documentary Zombie Girl, is trying to raise funds to finish her third feature, My Sucky Teen Romance (it's a vampire movie).Speaking of Hagins (and funding), Austin Film Society has just published a video promoting the Texas Filmmakers Production Fund, and Hagins is one of the filmmakers interviewed. You also might see Tfpf recipients Kyle Henry, Sandra Guardado, Kat Candler, and David and Nathan Zellner, among others. You can find it on YouTube.
read more...
- 6/21/2010
- by Jette Kernion
- Slackerwood
It's Memorial Day, and I suppose everyone is outdoors today, grilling or having picnics and/or dealing with relatives. But for those of you sitting at home, eager for Austin film news (I have no idea who this would be, besides myself), here are a few updates.
For some reason, Willie Nelson was all over the news last week. He cut off his signature pigtails, which led a lot of people to quail in fear as though he were Samson. The Austin City Council voted to rename part of Second Street after the musician. And there's some movie-related news: Nelson's currently producing the feature The Dry Gulch Kid, scheduled to shoot somewhere in Texas this summer, and casting is in progress. Johnny Knoxville will star, but the news that got media outlets astir was that Lindsay Lohan is in talks to appear in the film. Lohan was in town last year for the Machete shoot.
For some reason, Willie Nelson was all over the news last week. He cut off his signature pigtails, which led a lot of people to quail in fear as though he were Samson. The Austin City Council voted to rename part of Second Street after the musician. And there's some movie-related news: Nelson's currently producing the feature The Dry Gulch Kid, scheduled to shoot somewhere in Texas this summer, and casting is in progress. Johnny Knoxville will star, but the news that got media outlets astir was that Lindsay Lohan is in talks to appear in the film. Lohan was in town last year for the Machete shoot.
- 5/31/2010
- by Jette Kernion
- Slackerwood
Mmm, Austin movie news tidbits. So delicious. So hard to resist. Here they are, fresh off the -- yeah, I'm tired of this metaphor too. Just check out the news below.
Filming on the Coen brothers' True Grit moves from small Central Texas towns to downtown Austin this week, and will be shooting at the Austin Club and part of the State Capitol on Thursday and Friday nights. Austin Movie Blog has the details, including street closures. If anyone manages to get some pictures, let us know.Joe O'Connell, who has been posting photos from nearly every location of the True Grit filming (Jeff Bridges with an eye patch!), also has had time to keep track of the myriad TV pilots shot in Central Texas that are in development and/or being picked up by the networks. Latest count appears to be four TV shows shooting in Dallas, plus one new Austin-set TV show,...
Filming on the Coen brothers' True Grit moves from small Central Texas towns to downtown Austin this week, and will be shooting at the Austin Club and part of the State Capitol on Thursday and Friday nights. Austin Movie Blog has the details, including street closures. If anyone manages to get some pictures, let us know.Joe O'Connell, who has been posting photos from nearly every location of the True Grit filming (Jeff Bridges with an eye patch!), also has had time to keep track of the myriad TV pilots shot in Central Texas that are in development and/or being picked up by the networks. Latest count appears to be four TV shows shooting in Dallas, plus one new Austin-set TV show,...
- 5/26/2010
- by Jette Kernion
- Slackerwood
Okay, what happened here in Austin while I was out of town? Some interesting stuff:
First of all, some great distribution deals for SXSW films. Marwencol, my favorite film of SXSW this year, has been picked up for U.S. distribution by Cinema Guild (which has also recently released Beeswax on DVD). Cinema Guild plans a theatrical release for this fall, which I hope includes Austin and other non-ny/La cities. Read my review for more details about the film itself. In addition, IFC has made a deal for the North American distribution rights to Aaron Katz's low-key detective movie Cold Weather, which also premiered at SXSW this year. IFC plans a simultaneous theatrical release (ahem, Austin please) and IFC On Demand release. This is another movie I enjoyed at SXSW this year, as you can see from my review.If you are at all interested in the Coen brothers' next movie,...
First of all, some great distribution deals for SXSW films. Marwencol, my favorite film of SXSW this year, has been picked up for U.S. distribution by Cinema Guild (which has also recently released Beeswax on DVD). Cinema Guild plans a theatrical release for this fall, which I hope includes Austin and other non-ny/La cities. Read my review for more details about the film itself. In addition, IFC has made a deal for the North American distribution rights to Aaron Katz's low-key detective movie Cold Weather, which also premiered at SXSW this year. IFC plans a simultaneous theatrical release (ahem, Austin please) and IFC On Demand release. This is another movie I enjoyed at SXSW this year, as you can see from my review.If you are at all interested in the Coen brothers' next movie,...
- 5/10/2010
- by Jette Kernion
- Slackerwood
On Saturday, Jenn Brown and I headed out to the wilds of Round Rock -- or at least the former wilds -- to see local author Alison Macor discuss her new book, Chainsaws, Slackers, and Spy Kids. I noted on the drive out there that the La Frontera strip mall, where the Barnes and Noble was located, had been little more than woods back in the 1970s and is allegedly where part of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre was shot. So if you think about it, it was an ideal location for the event.
Author and freelance film writer Joe O'Connell led a discussion with Macor about a wide range of local film-related topics. Appropriately, they started with The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, then worked their way over to Slacker, The Whole Shootin' Match, the numerous interviews Macor held as part of her extensive research for the book, the publishing process with Ut Press,...
Author and freelance film writer Joe O'Connell led a discussion with Macor about a wide range of local film-related topics. Appropriately, they started with The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, then worked their way over to Slacker, The Whole Shootin' Match, the numerous interviews Macor held as part of her extensive research for the book, the publishing process with Ut Press,...
- 4/20/2010
- by Jette Kernion
- Slackerwood
Here's the latest Austin-related film news this week:
Cinematical has posted a teaser trailer for Simon Rumley's Austin-shot horror film Red White & Blue, which is playing SXSW next month. I do believe a great deal of that trailer is set at the Broken Spoke. And Debbie, is that your house where all the, er, shenanigans are occurring? (Speaking of shenanigans, this is not a G-rated trailer by any means.)Over at The Dallas Morning News, Joe O'Connell tells us that a new TV pilot is shooting in Austin next month called Gen Y. Two other pilots will be shooting soon in Dallas, too.On the other hand, Chris Garcia reports that Waxahachie native and Ut alumnus Robert Benton's biopic of Lyndon B. Johnson may not get to shoot in Texas. Apparently HBO prefers the film incentives in Georgia or Louisiana over the Lone Star State. (What would Lbj think?...
Cinematical has posted a teaser trailer for Simon Rumley's Austin-shot horror film Red White & Blue, which is playing SXSW next month. I do believe a great deal of that trailer is set at the Broken Spoke. And Debbie, is that your house where all the, er, shenanigans are occurring? (Speaking of shenanigans, this is not a G-rated trailer by any means.)Over at The Dallas Morning News, Joe O'Connell tells us that a new TV pilot is shooting in Austin next month called Gen Y. Two other pilots will be shooting soon in Dallas, too.On the other hand, Chris Garcia reports that Waxahachie native and Ut alumnus Robert Benton's biopic of Lyndon B. Johnson may not get to shoot in Texas. Apparently HBO prefers the film incentives in Georgia or Louisiana over the Lone Star State. (What would Lbj think?...
- 2/11/2010
- by Jette Kernion
- Slackerwood
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