Short Cuts

If you need some incentive to finish up that screenplay you've been working on, try this: The postmark deadline for submitting screenplays to the 1998 Austin Heart of Film Screenplay Competition and Conference is May 15. Scripts are eligible in two categories: adult/drama (feature-length) and children/family (feature-length). For complete submission rules for the October 1-4 conference see http://www.austinfilmfestival.org, call 800/310-FEST, or e-mail [email protected]. May 15 is also the closing date for early registration at the best rates ($275 or $175/students). Now in its fifth successful year, Heart of Film was the first festival in the country to dedicate itself to the writer's contribution to film and television...

The first annual Grassroots Film and Video Festival (GFVF) has issued a reminder of the April 17 deadline for submission of film and video works for inclusion in the June 19-21 event planned as part of the Grassroots News and Media Conference here in Austin. The festival's purpose is to showcase progressive film and video works that focus on issues not recognized by mainstream media or works that tackle issues in ways that are different from the mainstream; the emphasis is on content. 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 GFVF, 4522 S. Second, Austin, TX, 78745. The Grassroots News Network is also seeking contributions to establish a Travel Fund to help get people to the conference and is also looking for the donation of film and video projectors of all gauges (except, curiously, Super-8). For more info call 441-4701...

Wednesday night, April 15, is shaping up to be a busy night around town. All three of the next events will be taking place while other last-minute types will be home figuring their taxes. The monthly meeting of Reel Women is scheduled for Wednesday at 7:30pm. The speaker will be filmmaker Susan Kirr (Only in America), who will address post-production for independents and demonstrate the AVID editing system. The meeting will be at her facility (403 Lisa). Call 280-8706 for directions or other info...

Local band Ursa Major will premiere their first ever music video for the song, "Finger," Wednesday at the Ritz at 7pm. Guiding the shoot was local music video production team The Administration, a director's group who has assisted such bands as Sixteen Deluxe, Dash Rip Rock, and Sons of Hercules with making videos of their own...

Also on Wednesday at the Hole in the Wall, the Texas Poor Man's Cinema Fund presents Hollywood Hoot Night, the second in a series rock & roll fundraisers designed to raise money to help finance the projects of local independent filmmakers and also bring together the Austin music and independent film scenes. Scheduled to play at the benefit are Brown Whorenet, Voltage, Handful, El Kabong, the Peenbeets, the Indestructibles (featuring members of Gomez), plus special guests. For more info contact Kurtis D. Machler at 346-6479...

The debut episode of the new season of Split Screen, John Pierson's magazine-style "wild ride through the indie film world" (which is regularly featured every Monday night on the Independent Film Channel) will be reprised this Friday, April 10, 8:40pm, on the IFC's sister channel, Bravo. You may have seen Pierson's "wild ride" RV parked outside the Convention Center during SXSW while consulting with several local filmmakers who are shooting segments for the show. Lots more info (as well as an increasingly interesting bulletin board) can be found on Pierson's website: http://www.grainypictures.com