twitter jitters

photo: Stefan Moore

I just started my twitter account today due to all the rave it received at the 2009 SXSW Film, Interactive and Music Festival. It's all Greek to me at this point, but I have a feeling I'll be speaking twitter fluently in a matter of days. I'm a lover of people, their opinions and company. Twitter is just one more way I can stay in technical contact with those who are far far away from me.

I spent more time texting people that were not with me in Austin then talking with the people I was with in Austin. I felt guilty and bizarre by this impulsive behavior. I was unable to stop myself from obsessive texting. I was most definitely not the only person glued to the screen and keypad of their cell phone. I sat at many dinners, attended many parties and stood in several lines with everyone around me on their cell; texting away. Moments would go by before one word was spoken among those of us standing next to one another. A new experience for me for sure; yet one I'm inclined to grow comfortable with.

Alas, I had an amazing time at SXSW 2009. Between text messages I managed to meet new friends, screen great independent films, check out informative panels, eat kick ass cheeseburgers, drink many cocktails and wear my cowgirl boots. Austin is a great city and SXSW is a great festival.

The best part of my experience was, Casino El Camino. This is the best place to get a cheeseburger in Austin. (Maybe on earth.) This is first-come-first-serve seating establishment. Come hungry and patient. There is a back patio complete with small wild birds that poop on your steadicam operator friend while your eating. (yes, this happened and it was awesome.)
The staff is heavily pierced and tattooed as well as extremely nice and efficient. I heart the staff. (Be nice to them and tip them well when you go.) You walk up to the kitchen and order your food through the window. Through the kitchen window you are able to watch the cooks prepare fresh beef by hand. It's amazing. Fresh beef and they build fat patties right before your eyes. Wowee!
I tried 4 of the 6 burgers on the menu during my week in Austin. I shared each time we stopped in for a meal because the servings are huge. (yes, I was sharing with guys and all they could eat was half of a burger.) I tried the L.A. burger, the Pitts burger, the Buffalo burger and the K.C. burger. I ordered all of them MR temp and I liked all of them. My favorite is the Pitts burger.
check the menu out: http://www.casinoelcamino.net/menu.php

I was able to stay for the first day of music and caught a performance by M. Ward. He was brilliant and although a short performance; well worth it. He rocks.
Check these indie films and music videos out when you get a chance:
http://www.trueadolescents.com/ dir. by Craig Johnson
http://www.humpdayishere.com/ dir. by Lynn Shelton
http://www.littledizzlefilm.com/ dir. by David Russo
http://www.bestworstmovie.com/ dir. by Michael Paul Stephenson
http://www.that-go.net/ (Thunderheist; Jerk It) Winner Jury Prize
dir. by Noel Paul and Stefan Moore
http://vimeo.com/1309452 (Fleet Foxes, White Winter Hymnal) Winner Special Jury Award dir. by Sean Pecknold

I'm off to sip wine with friends who have moved to the west side of LA. I'm sure I'll be twittering and texting as much as I'll be chatting with the peeps. Santa Monica and Venice beaches all the way. xoj

Hot Potato

Okay. For those of you who watch Friday Night Lights, I have great news.

NBC is in negotiations with Peter Berg and his production company for two more seasons of this most brilliant television series.



"How are they going to pull this off after letting some of lead characters leave for life after football and high school?" you ask. A table spoon of writing magic, a teaspoon of disbelief and a sprinkle of fans begging to keep the show on the air(or online); that's how.



Needless to say, I am extremely giddy about the news. Please go to NBC.com right now and watch this show if you haven't yet. You have no idea what you are missing out on or how much you suck if you don't.
xoj

SXSW 2009

I've been back from Austin TX and the SXSW Film & Music Festival for 24 hours. I think it's one of the best festivals on the planet. The staff is courteous, knowledgeable and friendly. The panels are informative, interesting and fun. Austin is mellow, eclectic and eccentric.

I screened; True Adolescents; Humpday; The Immaculate Conception of Little Dizzle; Best Worst Movie; Observe and Report and the Music Video block.

My favorite of all the above is Best Worst Movie. My least favorite is Observe and Report. Totally sucked.
I wish I could have seen Alexander the Last, but I was at the premiere party for True Adolescents taking photos and excessively drinking.
The Seattle films are all amazing. I worked on True Adolescents as the production coordinator and feel very proud of the work I did and the final product. I have to admit that David Russo took me to extremely cool places while watching Little Dizzle. His cast is amazing and I'm highly impressed with the lead actor, Marshall Allman.

My favorite place to eat in Austin is El Camino on 6th st. on the 500 block. The best cheeseburgers ever. Try the LA burger when you stop in. My favorite movie theater is the Alamo Ritz which has the best grilled cheese to boot. The best Guacamole is at the Iron Cactus.

My favorite place to cocktail is anywhere on 6th street. Mostly Maggie Mae's. My favorite coffee is the Hideout on Congress close to the Paramount theater.

The weather in Austin is unpredictable and extreme, which made for some wardrobe misery.

My friends Stefan and Noel of That-go.net won the Grand Jury prize for best music video for Thunderheist, Jerk It. Our friend Sean won Special Jury prize for his music video for the Fleet Foxes, White Winter Hymnal.

It felt as if Seattle had taken over Austin. Everyone I knew was from Seattle and everyone I met was affiliated with a Seattle film or music video. Seattle is kicking ass, people. Check it.

I was laid off while in Austin, which was awesome because I was able to stay 3 days longer and I found another job while I was there. I met Paul Rudd, Catherine Hardwicke and John Sloss while out and about. I'm a hustler, baby.

The SXSW Film Festival was life changing for me. It will go down as the best festival ever in my book.

The only bummer about being in Austin for SXSW was not bumping into Taylor Kitsch or Aimee Teegarden of Friday Night Lights. Boo.

xoxoj

When in Doubt; make it red and send it out

Does this movie; with its star studded cast deserve the accolades it received in 2008? DOUBT IT!

Doubt was one of the most overated and over nominated films I've seen recently. I was having flash backs from 2004's, Sideways. From the obnoxious child actors, uneven score and the force fed message in each and every painful scene, Doubt failed on all of its pretentious levels.

I'll call it a piece of shit complete with the stench of over acting from Meryl Streep and little acting from Philip Seymor Hoffman. Did I mention all the kids in the cast sucked? They did. They sucked. John Patrick Shanely lacks subtlety. In his efforts to take the audience on a journey into Doubt in all of its contemporary forms, I found myself laughing or groaning at everything coming my way from this film.

This film was awful. No doubt about it. It sucked. Avoid it if you can. You'll walk away bored, unphased and a little pissed off.

Friday Night Lights is something you should watch on NBC.com. Have I mentioned this? You should. Trust me.

*****Coming Soon*****

Milk, W and Watchmen

QOTD: (text) Baby H

"What are you doing?"

Baby J

"Watching him bake french fries."

Baby H

"Is that a new phrase for something nasty and sexual?"

xoj