Short Cuts

One of the things which makes Austin the unique place we call home is that The Rocky Horror Picture Show has been playing in town now for 22 consecutive years. (Talk about time warps!) To celebrate the anniversary, Austin Rocky Horror fans will be embellishing the usual weekly activities with a costume contest (dress as your favorite RHPS character) with prizes and other fun. The film and festivities begin at midnight this Friday and Saturday, May 15 & 16, at the Wells Branch Discount Cinema. Admission is $4; for more info visit http://www.kdi.com/~riffraff/queerios... In other anniversary news, the Alamo Drafthouse turns one year old on Thursday, May 28 and to celebrate, the gang over there is hosting a "Dinner and a Movie Party" with Like Water for Chocolate. Food featured in the film will be served while the movie screens. The reservation of advance tickets for the $25 feast and film is recommended. Call 867-1839 or visit http://www.drafthouse.com...The Drafthouse also plays host to two special benefits this week. On Thursday, May 15 (just as this issue hits the streets) there will be two screenings of Robert Redford's The Horse Whisperer to benefit the Save Our Springs Alliance and the Save Barton Creek Association. Then, next Thursday, May 21, the 21st Century Democrats are presenting a fundraising screening of D.A. Pennebaker's The War Room (introduced by Paul Stekler and attended by Congressman Lloyd Doggett, State Representatives Elliott Naishtat and Sherri Greenberg, and other Dems). See this week's "Film Listings" on p.75 for more details on both benefits... Reel Women will hold its monthly meeting on Wednesday, May 20, 7:30pm, at Quackenbush's on the Drag. Representatives from such organizations as the Austin Film Society, Rocket Productions, and the Cinemaker Co-op will discuss their services... To celebrate the release of the new animated feature Quest for Camelot, the Society for Creative Anachronism will present an exhibit of medieval dress, talk, and combat style at the Barton Creek Cinema on Sunday, May 17, from 12:30-5pm. For more info call theatre manager Michael D. Reid at 306-8289... The Art School at Laguna Gloria Austin Museum of Art has announced registration for a film appreciation class taught by UT doctoral candidate Rino Pizzi to begin July 8. Enrollment for the four-week-long Wednesday night class is $60 ($54 for museum members) and includes the tape rental fee. Pizzi, who has taught at UT and in Italy, will use film clips to demonstrate the elements of film language. Call 323-6380 for more info or to register... Extras are needed from dusk 'til dawn to film a sequence in the new untitled Robert Rodriguez movie that's currently shooting around Austin. The overnight shoot will be filmed on Friday, May 29, at Lockhart High School in Lockhart. The sequence consists of a football game and all persons over the age of 10 are welcome, but they must commit to staying for the entire night. The gig doesn't pay, but food and prizes will be provided. Call 448-2246 to sign up... In last week's column, my mention of the "Austin episode" of the Independent Film Channel's original show Split Screen hosted by John Pierson only mentioned three of the four segments included in that episode. Since the show repeats again this weekend (Saturday, May 16 at 6:30pm and Sunday, May 17 at 10:30am & 4:30pm), here's some further incentive to tune in: the "Documation" segment that profiles the work of animator Bob Sabiston and cinematographer Tommy Pallotta, who make short and stunning animated documentary films.