Page Two
The reason that we can even discuss such a thing as the Austin film industry is not limited to names you most often hear associated with it
By Nick Barbaro, Fri., Aug. 6, 2004
It was a great tagline, I thought. We were going to use it at one point as part of the cover copy for this issue's cover story on film-catering businesses in Austin. Well, the art ideas went in a different direction, and the Napoleon quote got left behind – these things happen – but I thought I'd steal it to use here. Because, well ... it's true, for one thing.
Catering is not generally thought of as one of the arts, I suppose. But as anyone who's ever been around a movie set or on location can testify, when you're burning a lot of energy in a long day, and your only break is a half-hour meal, the quality of the catering experience can make a big difference in the atmosphere on the set, and in the quality of the production.
So while we're at it, let's make another change from the original concept and declare this as the third installment in "Crew Stories" – a sporadic series we started this spring to highlight some of the behind-the-scenes folks whose creative talents make up the Austin film industry. The first two were profiles of Todd Smiley, "the gaffer in Austin" (Feb. 27), and Courtney Harrell, Austin's only female second assistant camera (May 28).
It's become realistic just in the past few years to actually talk of such a thing as the Austin film industry. But the names that get talked about – Richard Linklater, Robert Rodriguez, Mike Judge – aren't the industry. They're just its most visible tip. The reason they're choosing to stay in Austin to produce their movies is because of all the rest of the people they can work with here: the gaffers, the second ACs, the grips, the sound recorders, and, yes, the caterers. It takes them all to make a movie. And in this most collaborative of all art forms, where creative input comes from all sorts of directions, a good, experienced crew makes a world of difference; and Austin is blessed with a growing population of creative, experienced crew and support people.
So, who's next in the "sporadic series"? Screens Editor Shawn Badgley won't tell me. Maybe he'll tell you. Call him up and ask. Or call to suggest topics. His private line is [Ed. note: Put Shawn's direct-dial number here].
Louis Black will be back next week; he can fill you in on some of the cool new online forum stuff that's getting added to austinchronicle.com.
