With all the turmoil caused by Hurricane Ike and the collapse of too many financial institutions, it’s been difficult to keep up with the things I’d like to concentrate on…like getting the next film acting job and talking about the local filmmaking scene.

Not much to report right now but WHIP IT!, the Drew Barrymore directed film about roller derby, starring Ellen Page has apparently wrapped in Michigan and is shooting some exteriors here in our fair city. Exteriors and second unit work…that’s what you get for a 5% film inventive package vs the 40% offered by Michigan. Just a little reminder that Texas legislators have a lot of work to do to help bring film production back to the state.

Screenings:

John Bryant’s currently untitled feature based on his highly regarded short film BROTHERLY LOVE screened last week to an enthusiastic crowd. Sponsored by the Austin Film Society, the film delivered with solid performances across the board resulting in a lot of laughter in the room…always a good thing for a comedy. Looking forward to seeing the final cut on this film which shot on location in Colorado this summer.

Writer/Director Tim McCanlies’ comedy THE TWO BOBS screened this week as well….no reports yet on how this indie comedy fared in this early test.

McCanlies is moving back to more family friendly territory with his next project, directing ALABAMA MOON, based on the fine teen novel of the same name by Watt Key.

From PRODUCTION WEEKLY:

STATUS – October 27 LOCATION – Covington, Louisiana
PRODUCER: Lee Faulkner WRITER: Watt Key – James Whittaker DIRECTOR: Tim McCanlies PM: Rob Ortiz

For as long as ten-year-old Moon can remember, he has lived out in the forest in a shelter with his father. They keep to themselves, their only contact with other human beings an occasional trip to the nearest general store. When Moon’s father dies, Moon follows his father’s last instructions: to travel to Alaska to find others like themselves. But Moon is soon caught and entangled in a world he doesn’t know or understand, apparent property of the government he has been avoiding all his life. As the spirited and resourceful Moon encounters constables, jails, institutions, lawyers, true friends, and true enemies, he adapts his wilderness survival skills and learns to survive in the outside world, and even, perhaps, make his home there.