Short Cuts

SXSW Film (March 13-21) and SXSW Interactive (March 14-17) beckon ever closer. Passes for the Film Festival are now on sale at Waterloo Records. The cost is $45 (which includes tax and service charge). Look for the festival listings on p.55 of this issue (pull-out supplements to come next issue). One exciting film that has been newly added to the line-up this week is Michael Moore's latest, The Big One...

A general meeting of the Film Alliance of Austin, an organization dedicated to growing and expanding the local film industry, is scheduled for Saturday, February 28, 10am-noon, at the Austin History Center (Ninth & Guadalupe). Two speakers, attorney Walter Bissex and C.P.A. Laura Cannon, will address legal and accounting matters as they pertain to independent filmmaking...

Crosswalk, a 30-minute short film being shot in Dallas and Austin, is looking for unpaid male extras during the Austin leg of the shoot on Tuesday, March 3 and Friday, March 6. The film is co-written by Lance Larson and Leslie Martin and directed by Larson. Jas Shelton (Beyond Babylon) is the DP, and Jonathan Scarfe, Mary-Dixie Carter, and Joe Stevens co-star. Call the production office at 416-0149 if interested...

The first annual Grassroots Film and Video Festival (GFVF), scheduled for June 19-21 in Austin has issued a call for entries. The festival's purpose is to showcase progressive film and video works that focus on issues that are not recognized by mainstream media or works that tackle issues in ways that are different from the mainstream. The emphasis is on content, but style is also esteemed highly. The GFVF is part of the Culture Jam associated with the Grassroots News and Media Conference hosted by the Grassroots News Network. Entries must be no longer than 30 minutes in length, submitted on 1/2" VHS by April 15, and be accompanied by a $10 registration fee. Submissions should be sent to Thuyet An Truong, GFVF, 4522 S. Second, Austin, TX, 78745...

The 11th annual Dallas Video Festival gets underway this week (March 5-8) at the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Kalita Humphreys Theater (3636 Turtle Creek Boulevard). Among this year's highlights are a new children's video by photographer William Wegman, a live performance utilizing video transmitted over a cellular phone, and the juried showcase of works by Texans, "The Texas Show," which this year includes short films by Austin filmmakers Kris DeForest, Elizabeth Sikes, and Heyd Fontenot. In addition to full weekend passes, day passes are also available; call 800/494-TIXS to purchase. The entire festival schedule and other highlights can be viewed at http://www.videofest.org...

We all know about Austin Stories, but how many of you have checked out the online soap opera Austin, available for viewing at InterneTV (http://www.internetv.com). The entire 15-episode series is now posted, although viewing requires RealVideo, Vivo, or VDO plug-ins. And also coming soon on the site is PLUR, a rave culture documentary...

A film discussion group is forming that will meet the fourth Thursday of each month, 7:30pm, in the Barnes & Noble Cafe, beginning March 26. This will be a book-based discussion group; films will be selected by group members based on availability. So far the lineup includes Oscar and Lucinda in March and The Big Lebowski in April. We know these meetings are still a little way away, but since it's the kind of gathering that requires preparation, we thought we'd give readers/viewers a little lead time. Call Stacie Herndon or Chris Barsanti at the Arboretum store: 418-8985.