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Back in Kansas
Oct. 28th, 2012 02:11 pmI think I've finally recovered from my trip to Austin.
( About my time at the Austin Film Festival. )
( About my time at the Austin Film Festival. )
I had to take a bit of an internet sabbatical the last few weeks, for reasons that are pretty boring so I won't elaborate on the details - suffice it to say, I've been busy. I started checking my flist for the first time in forever and became promptly overwhelmed, so. I think I'm going to catch up by user/comm rather than try to do everything at once.
Some of you may remember my vampire screenplay The House of Bathory from last year. Good news! It made it to the semifinals of Austin Film Festival in both the drama and sci-fi categories. I was absolutely flabbergasted when I got the call. That means I was in the top 20-25 in drama and the top 10-12 in sci-fi. I'm pretty excited. I am nursing absolutely zero expectations I'll make it to the finals, so I'm just very happy with how it turned out. I had also been reading scripts as a first-round judge this year for AFF, so my conference and festival badge is free. So I'll be going down to Austin in October, and I'm very much looking forward to it. I'm taking on some extra proofing jobs to be able to afford going out to eat and such while I'm down there. (Last time we ate a lot of stolen hotel breakfast foods for lunch and dinner, and cheap dollar menu fast food stuff. Which is fine, but I'd like to occasionally travel like a real grown-up.)
So again, eighteen months after the fact, I want to thank all of you who read both drafts of that screenplay, who gave me advice and critiques and sometimes even told me what worked. I know for a fact that screenplay would not have made it as far as it did without all of your help. ♥
Some of you may remember my vampire screenplay The House of Bathory from last year. Good news! It made it to the semifinals of Austin Film Festival in both the drama and sci-fi categories. I was absolutely flabbergasted when I got the call. That means I was in the top 20-25 in drama and the top 10-12 in sci-fi. I'm pretty excited. I am nursing absolutely zero expectations I'll make it to the finals, so I'm just very happy with how it turned out. I had also been reading scripts as a first-round judge this year for AFF, so my conference and festival badge is free. So I'll be going down to Austin in October, and I'm very much looking forward to it. I'm taking on some extra proofing jobs to be able to afford going out to eat and such while I'm down there. (Last time we ate a lot of stolen hotel breakfast foods for lunch and dinner, and cheap dollar menu fast food stuff. Which is fine, but I'd like to occasionally travel like a real grown-up.)
So again, eighteen months after the fact, I want to thank all of you who read both drafts of that screenplay, who gave me advice and critiques and sometimes even told me what worked. I know for a fact that screenplay would not have made it as far as it did without all of your help. ♥
You know how some people proselytize about their religion? And they're super into it and you can tell it's really important to them and maybe you even think once in a while "hmm, maybe I should try it out if it makes you feel that good"? And they just keep doggedly bringing whatever up over and over because to not preach is just unthinkable?
I'm like that about the Alamo Drafthouse theaters in Austin, Texas.
These are the BEST MOVIE THEATERS EVER. They are THE BEST. Every other movie theater pales in comparison. Full menu of really fantastic food, alcohol, very cool special presentations (a sample: Shaun of the Dead with blow-up bats to smack your neighbors during the zombie fighting scenes; Buffy the Vampire Slayer musical sing-a-long; Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles with all-you-can-eat pizza; all three Lord of the Rings movies lasting all day, served with a "hobbit feast" that is, like, eight separate meals). Best of all, though, they have a very strict no talking/texting/being annoying policy. Before every single movie, there's a short reminder that tells you that if you talk or text or annoy your neighbors during the film, they will, and I quote, take your ass out. They're very creative with this message. There was one featuring Ann Richards, former governor of Texas, for instance. Here's a bunch of others.
This is the best one ever, though. How could you not have the best time ever watching movies at a theater like this?
I'm like that about the Alamo Drafthouse theaters in Austin, Texas.
These are the BEST MOVIE THEATERS EVER. They are THE BEST. Every other movie theater pales in comparison. Full menu of really fantastic food, alcohol, very cool special presentations (a sample: Shaun of the Dead with blow-up bats to smack your neighbors during the zombie fighting scenes; Buffy the Vampire Slayer musical sing-a-long; Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles with all-you-can-eat pizza; all three Lord of the Rings movies lasting all day, served with a "hobbit feast" that is, like, eight separate meals). Best of all, though, they have a very strict no talking/texting/being annoying policy. Before every single movie, there's a short reminder that tells you that if you talk or text or annoy your neighbors during the film, they will, and I quote, take your ass out. They're very creative with this message. There was one featuring Ann Richards, former governor of Texas, for instance. Here's a bunch of others.
This is the best one ever, though. How could you not have the best time ever watching movies at a theater like this?
Tiiiiiiiiiired.
Oct. 25th, 2010 03:31 pmBack home! I knew I would be busy, but I didn't realize I would be that busy.
( AFF - Panels, Meeting Folk, Etc. )
( Everything else - "We're coming for you, Barbara!" )
( AFF - Panels, Meeting Folk, Etc. )
( Everything else - "We're coming for you, Barbara!" )
Busy Busy Busy
Oct. 20th, 2010 06:24 pmI realized I was perhaps a little stressed over packing and heading down for the Festival when I couldn't find the power cord to my portable DVD player and ended up crying, half underneath my bed, head resting against a dusty board game box. (I finally found it! It was downstairs.) But I think I needed a little cry; I'm big on catharsis, so it worked out.
I hate packing, though. All my shit's strewn all over the house and I can never remember where I put that one thing that I will definitely need even though I secretly know I will never get it out of my suitcase. This afternoon, for ten minutes, that thing was my book light. What if I want to read in the hotel room! But my eyes hurt and I don't want the lamp on! What then! Speaking of books, I had this kind of existential crisis over which book I'd bring with me to read on the plane. The book I'm currently reading is a hardcover and will take up a lot of room in my purse. Should I bring a paperback then? I don't have any paperbacks checked out from the library. Should I make a special trip to the library? No, I'll read an old one. Which one? JESUS BRAIN JUST SHUT UP IT DOESN'T MATTER DON'T MAKE ME COME UP THERE. Turns out I should have made a special trip to the library because the Farscape disc I checked out? They didn't unlock the case so I can't watch it. Sheesh.
I'm just glad that I lived in Austin for two years, so if I end up forgetting something I won't have to worry about finding a Walmart or a CVS or whatever. I hate driving around strange cities looking for a place to buy, say, contact solution or PJs or Advil or a pair of shoes. (None of these would be things I've forgotten to pack in the past, nosiree.)
I think when I finish up tonight, I will make myself a Scotch.
I hate packing, though. All my shit's strewn all over the house and I can never remember where I put that one thing that I will definitely need even though I secretly know I will never get it out of my suitcase. This afternoon, for ten minutes, that thing was my book light. What if I want to read in the hotel room! But my eyes hurt and I don't want the lamp on! What then! Speaking of books, I had this kind of existential crisis over which book I'd bring with me to read on the plane. The book I'm currently reading is a hardcover and will take up a lot of room in my purse. Should I bring a paperback then? I don't have any paperbacks checked out from the library. Should I make a special trip to the library? No, I'll read an old one. Which one? JESUS BRAIN JUST SHUT UP IT DOESN'T MATTER DON'T MAKE ME COME UP THERE. Turns out I should have made a special trip to the library because the Farscape disc I checked out? They didn't unlock the case so I can't watch it. Sheesh.
I'm just glad that I lived in Austin for two years, so if I end up forgetting something I won't have to worry about finding a Walmart or a CVS or whatever. I hate driving around strange cities looking for a place to buy, say, contact solution or PJs or Advil or a pair of shoes. (None of these would be things I've forgotten to pack in the past, nosiree.)
I think when I finish up tonight, I will make myself a Scotch.
