Harry here. With everything that has been going on here at home, I've been slowly but surely assembling a report on the AUSTIN FILM FESTIVAL, the site being down during the fest didn't help matters much, and since it was down the motivation to write was gone, but now that (knock on wood) everything is running smoothly (hahahaha) I've been finding the muse. In the meanwhile here's TOM JOAD's report. Just a bit about Joad, he's a screenwriting wannabe (like a lot of us) that is actually editing up his own short film as we speak. While coming from the red dirt plowed lines of Oklahoma, he now resides in the sunken city of Austin, that city swallowed up as a suburb of Neptune's kingdom. Most everyone likes Joad, whether it be his fellow orange pickers or video junkies. Enough about Joad and on to his report...

Tom Joad here, with a quick note on all things Austin – that’s Austin Film Festival and Heart of Film Screenwriters Conference to ya’ll that ain’t on the wagon.

One advantage to being one of the last in the crew to put in a report is that I’m able to write without being repetitious. Yup, I would be writing on more of my favorite con experiences, but Quint hit on GODS & MONSTERS & THE MIGHTY, Father Geek took you down the path of the many panels, Annette licked THE WONDERFUL ICE CREAM SUIT (which was terrific fun) & Sandra Bullock’s MAKING SANDWICHES (another enjoyable event – good, clean fun). I know that Head Geek has yet to post, he’s still writing away – but he’ll cover whatever the hell he pleases, so here’s a bit of coverage on THE BIG EMPTY, RE-ANIMATOR and BLOOD SIMPLE.

I’ll begin with THE BIG EMPTY, which is among the handful of competition films that I really dug (aside from WICKED and LA CUCARACHA). Actually, since speaking of LA CUCARACHA, a point of interest between it and THE BIG EMPTY is that they are both written by Jim McManus, the mastermind behind both and a film competition standout. Acting in a small, yet integral role in LA CUCARACHA and playing the lead Lloyd Meadows in THE BIG EMPTY, “When the private eye, IS the case.”

Given, he wrote both films, but they are at two completely opposite ends of the spectrum. Where LA CUCARACHA was a quick, darkly funny, quirky tale of revenge, THE BIG EMPTY plays out at a much easier pace. This is a film that will resonate with you for days afterward. Lloyd Meadows is a private dick trying to find his way through the tangled mystery of a beautiful young client who has hired him to spy on her husband. Problem is, Lloyd falls for her in the process and Jim does a great job of portraying Lloyd’s tortured psyche as he discovers more and more of the truth. Truths about both the case and the dame.

Great dialogue – Lloyd’s got some terrific lines as his voice-over provides the perfect narrative for the presentation of the story. If you missed it, too bad - you missed out for now. If this film is on a festival circuit headed your way, check it out. And for the rest of you: keep your fingers crossed that some studio exec with an ounce of intelligence about him will pick up this gem and ship it to your local cineplex.

RE-ANIMATOR with Stuart Gordon at the Alamo Drafthouse.

First of all, let me reiterate the coolness that is the Alamo Drafthouse. I mean, sure, I could (and have been known to) go on and on about the excellent food and drink you can have served to you by gorgeous Austinites, but all that should really have to be mentioned is that you can drink a Guinness Stout (or three) while watching GREAT flicks. I mean, THE RE-ANIMATOR at midnight for Chrissake! It just doesn’t get any cooler!

I honestly love horror flicks, the more splat, the better. Sci-fi films, exploitation and esoteric films are the diet by which I survive. This film being of the splat-variety, was directed by he who also taught many of us what a pineal gland is in FROM BEYOND, gave us Lance Henrickson’s ubercool Torquemada character in THE PIT AND THE PENDULUM, and rocked us last year with SPACE TRUCKERS. Yup, the one and only Stuart Gordon, had an intro before, and a Q&A afterward, also has SFX man, John Naulin, with him to discuss carnage creation. Stuart could not be a cooler, nicer or more grateful guy. A superb crowd for a blast of a film. We were all there: Annette K, Harry, Father Geek, Quint, Brody, Johnny Wad, Copernicus, Robogeek… was Robo there? Nah, I don’t think I remember Robo… he must have been at home oiling his cogs & joints. The gang in attendance all had a rockin’ time.

BLOOD SIMPLE: FOREVER YOUNG WORLD PREMIERE with THE COEN BROTHERS

One of the first films that turned me onto the Coen’s was RAISING ARIZONA. Since then, I’d discovered BLOOD SIMPLE on video and being their first film, it was a treat to have it brought back to the city where it was filmed. A sold out house at the Paramount, my partner in crime, Annette Kellerman and I paired off in a row separate from Harry (down front), Father Geek, up near us in the balcony, and Brody & Quint off toward the center of the balcony. The changes are minor, yet when noticeable, are effective. For instance the scene in the yard where Dan Hedaya, Julian, attempts to strangle his cheating wife Abby, Frances McDormand was longer and more drawn out in the older edit. Here it has been punched up, sped up, and streamlined into more of a kick in the pants type of scene that is overwith in a flurry. Some shots have also been altered. Some dolly shots in the bar scenes, etc have seen minor tweaking. The sound, however, was greatly improved and gave the movie a lot more punch. Great little pic.

Afterward the Coen’s took the stage with John Getz, M. Emmet Walsh, and about a half dozen crew members to field some questions. M. Emmet had some hysterical stories and the Coen’s mentioned that they’ve just completed a script concerning a farmer in the 30’s. Sounds odd, and they were in a joking mood, so I dunno if they’re serious or not. If so, it is sure to be interesting, awfully entertaining & utterly cool! So keep your eyes and ears open… yeah, yeah… ramble, ramble… I get the picture. So I’m off.