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TMB Heading To SXSW
For those of you who are regulars to The Movie Blog, you know I’m not a big film festival person. Don’t get me wrong, I have fun at film festivals, but for the most part that’s because of the parties. Truth be told, whenever I go to conventions or film festivals, I usually skip out on the interviews, the press conferences, the round tables and even the screenings… I usually just end up at the parties… because reading interviews is generally boring, doing reviews of movies most people will never have the opportunity to see… or see it even if they had the opportunity is boring, and press conferences are a total waste of time to me.
But as a blog, my golden rule is always do what interests ME. And for some time now, SXSW is something that has interested me a whole lot. On top of that, the film line up this year is FILLED with movies I’m genuinely interested in. Add to that the fact that I hear Austin is one hell of a party town, and I’m hooked. So next Friday both Doug and I are going to fly out to Austin for a week and experience (notice I didn’t say “cover”) the 2008 SXSW festival.
We’re going to podcast from down there daily with as many special guests (including other movie web geeks we can bribe into joining us… we bribe with beer or the promise of pretty girls) as we can, daily video reports, updates on all the movies… but most importantly we’re just going to share our experiences there with you guys. It should be much fun.
The movies I’m most excited about seeing are:
- Harold and Kumar 2
- Second Life
- Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden
- Assassination of a High School President
- Run Fat Boy Run
- 21
- Body of War
- Stop-Loss
- Shine a Light
- The Promotion
We’ll be staying at the Crown Plaza, so if any of you guys are down in Austin, or are traveling there for the festival, make sure to look us up… we’re always open to people paying for our drinks :P
Have any of you guys been to SXSW before? What should be expect? Anything in Austin we absolutely have to hit while we’re there?
harold and kumar 2??!!??
that is one of the films you are excited to see???
to each their own but sheesh…..if ever there was a film that didn’t need to have a first part let alone a second its harold and kumar.
hey john
I live in Austin, and would be psyched to hang out with you guys if possible. Absolute Austin must-sees include: Zilker park, the Alamo Drafthouse theaters (which you’ll probably see by default), and Sixth Street – not only for drinking, but for the music. Doug, Redrum is an awesome metal bar within walking distance of your hotel. There are tons of great restaurants and shops, and it’s not at all what you’d expect stereotypical “Texas” to be. I guess shoot me an email for more info. Hope this helps!
“Driskill Bar”- located in the Driskill hotel. Seeler drank there.
“Jazz”- serves up Cajun type food. Seeler are there one evening.
Those are off the top of my head
I haven’t beed to SWXS before, I usually attend the Austin Film Fest and writers confrences in October when I can. And film fests are only “boring” if you make it that way.
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I also note you say you won’t ‘cover’ the fest, but will take in the above films in/when you can and will ‘hopefully’ talk to some of the participants of those films as well as a podcast. Which is it?
Sounds like the same thing to me.
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Ive never been to a film festival, it sounds like it could be a really cool time.
Now Harold and Kumar 2 I can totally understand, but “21″? Hasn’t that movie been made at least a half-dozen times?
No accounting for taste ;)
I would love to hear about “Run, Fatboy, Run” though.
I saw Run Fat Boy Run and it was fucking great 8 of 10 for me. Also happy Birthday John hope you guys have a great time in Austin. I can’t wait to her what you guys think of Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden.
Austin is fucking AWESOME, its my home town unfortuantly will be in NY during this festival. Listen to ADAM he knows, you two are going to LOVE the Alamo Draft house theatres. EVERY ROW HAS A BAR. You will se what I mean. And like adam said 6th street 6th street 6th street. Thats where its at. He down there the first two nights and you’ will meet plenty of ppl and they will take you to their local hideout. OH and just because of Batman, Austin has one of the largest BAT colonies under one of its bridges. I forget which one if your into seeing swarms of bats fly out at dusk
I’d be more interested in interviewing the “other” movie sites people. Like Aint it cool news or whatever.
I’m most excited about “Choke,” Chuck Palahniuk’s the man!
Unfortunately however, I will not be able to attend.
Palahniuk does indeed rule
Definitely head to Trudy’s for a Mexican Martini. Go to the County Line for BBQ. 6th Street will be hoping but check out 4th for some cool bars too.
Ah how I miss Austin now that I’m living in L.A.
The Twilight Zone moment: if Micheal or Alex attended the Austin Film Festival in 2001 or 2002, I may have had a drink with one of them and not have even known it….