Quick SXSW Update

There is a lot to write about and I'll need to update the blog in great detail, but some general points to remember (I guess) about big film festivals...

1. There is WAAAAY too much to do. It is physically impossible to everything, or even half of everything you want to do between screenings, taking in the city, panels, parties, events. This is awesome at first, then a bit frustrating, and then awesome again. You get into this flow of movement and experience while navigating the event.

2. Basically every screening is sold out. Even the crappy movies get filled because of the overflow from the other movies. We got filmmaker passes which are basically the best pass one can have - first priority on everything, but if you're a little late, they've already filled the theaters and the place is such madness that some of the employees and people making spur of the minute decisions don't really know priority and you are basically at the whim of the moment. Can be frustrating, but is also kind of crazy.

3. There is a whole different energy about movies. Most of these films won't ever get seen, but certain movies gain a certain buzz on the day of - and this is just amongst the people you talk to and are around. The reasons are rather arbitrary - some random person said XYZ was good and worth checking out, or the idea sounds interesting, or it just happens to be in a theater you want to check out, or someone you know was involved with the movie or someone who you're with knows someone involved in the movie. But regardless, a huge amount of energy and build surrounds a certain movie for a moment and it's odd...because you know from real world experience, this buzz doesn't translate to much other than the buzz in the moment. But it's still rather exhilirating.

4. The panels thus far are out performing the movies. Saw Linklater yesterday. Rodriguez today talked about Grindhouse. Harry Knowles from Ain't It Cool was there in a wheelchair looking like Jabba the Hut. This guy has seriously buddied up with the filmmakers.

5. Promotional materials are everywhere and costly. Naveen predicts a 10,000 budget per big festival per big feature. Something to remember.

6. "The dirty secret of the Independent Film Business is that it's not a business."

7. Got interviewed for a documentary film about film festivals this morning. Doesn't seem like the greatest idea for a movie, but it got me to articulate what film festivals are - on the one hand a market for films and filmmakers to get notice, on the other hand, a great event for a community to celebrate filmmaking and get excited about work for the sake of the work - versus the box office, etc, etc. Now that I wrote it, it doesn't sound that smart. Probably end up on the editing floor.

8. List of movies seens thus far: Flakes, American Zombie, Sisters, Hell on Wheels. Follow up later.

Movies I missed: All the Boys Love Mandy Lane, Big Rig, Manufacturing Dissent.