SQUATCH

Went to Arkie's Grille this a.m. for a shoot of an indie film SQUATCH.  A terrific diner scene, many extras and actors and as always learned so much from watching crew, A.D.s and producer, sound and camera.  While you wait a lot you also meet some of the most interesting people imaginable.

Met up with Liz on S. Congress where we bought props for her photo booth for "Tiny Tails To You" petting zoo and then on to 2nd Street for shoes at URBAN OUTFITTERS.  She shopped while I chilled with a glass of wine.  Tonight we all 3 finally used my coupon at Hyde Park Grill.  

I was able to get  45 minutes of cycling at the gym this afternoon while I watched THE HELP.   What could be better?

Farewell Party at Trudy's

Tonight we wished Lucrece Pierre-Carr the very best as she moves on from Foundation Communities to a new residential program where she will be program manager.  Lucrece is a social worker who worked with both Liz and Abe at Foundation Communities Skyline Residence.  I can't say enough good things about this intelligent, beautiful, hard working social worker who is always like a ray of sunshine.  I know Abe will miss her.

Never been to Trudy's before.  Good drinks and nachos.

THEY CALL IT MYANMAR/Austin Film Society

Once again AFS brings to the Alamo S. Lamar a documentary that opens our eyes to a country that is one of the most isolated in the world (second to North Korea).  Robert Lieberman, a physics professor, documentary filmmaker, world wide traveler, and based on the Skype Q&A a really nice guy, has traveled to Myanmar numerous times and brought us a view of a culturally rich yet impoverished country with resilient and smiling people, glorious temples,  religious monks, devout Buddhists, and a military regime that rules it's country with a clenched fist.  I remember so well that after a devastating storm with typhoon winds that killed 100,000 and left thousands of kids orphaned the military refused to allow aid into the country.  But there is a possibility of some loosening of the reins more recently.  And a visit by Hillary Clinton last year is encouraging.

The house was packed, there were numerous questions (all intelligent) and the producer, Deborah Hoard was present to answer and pitch this film.  We walked out better informed, and hopeful that in the face of such hardship there is some hope that an improved life providing education, healthcare, and basic human services is a possibility.  Once again a thank-you to AFS and it's Program Director, Chale Nafus for bringing this film to Austin.

QARANTINA/Austin Film Society

Back to Essential Cinemas and tonight I don't know what's better: this beautifully shot complex story about contemporary Iraq (depressing) or Chale's notes which provide the best socio-political-cultural view of life in modern day Iraq (complex and depressing). The film is about an assassin who lives with a blended family: husband and wife, pregnant step-daughter and a young son who yearns to be in school but spends his day shining shoes. The family has stresses and strains, there are illicit affairs and incest and the assassin functions as a hit man for an Iraqi mafia type boss.  And then goes on to kill whomever.  While confusing at times I've learned to sit back and watch and ask questions when it's over.  Now I'm comfortable to turn to the young man sitting next to Abe at the end of the film and ask him what I didn't quite get.  And in the hallway the discussion continues with other AFS attendees.  Happy to be back to the Alamo and Chale's notes.

Class with CK McFarland today.  God she is a great acting teacher!  Lucky me!

Trustafarians

Whit Stillman has written a new screenplay about the upper class urban bourgeoisie.  DAMSELS IN DISTRESS is being shot in Staten Island New York (the most working class borough in New York City) where these damsels would not step foot in.  The filmmaker of METROPOLITAN, BARCELONA, and THE LAST DAYS OF DISCO is once again bringing us the voice of preppies, urban bourgeoisie, angsting college age girls.  His characters are the polar opposite of young people that come to Austin.  While in the past I have always referred to this group as trust fund kids he nailed it for me when he described them as "trustafarians."  I like that "trustafarians"....perfect!

BIG FOOT

Received a call today from a filmmaker I met at Austin Film Meet.  Asked me if I was available to be in a shoot on Saturday at ARKIE'S on East Ceasar Chavez.  A waitress with no lines.  I'll be there and thank-you Anthony Caruso for thinking of me for this role.  Brooklyn's in the house.

TRASH DANCE/SXSW

Final night of SXSW for films and Abe and I were fortunate to see Andrew Garrison's documentary TRASH DANCE.  Some time last year Abe and I were sold out of the Trash Dance Project performance of city sanitation workers in a choreographed dance by Allison Orr.  It poured the day of the performance so I did not feel so badly.  This movie brought it all to us: the choreographer's process, the personal tributes told by the sanitation workers, the evolution of a dance and most importantly the building of relationships.  This film could be renamed DIGNITY.  Allison Orr brings to us her dignified presentation of the men and women who pick up trash in the city of Austin.  Her pure interest in these workers is evident throughout the film. We learn of their lives, their hard work, their talents and other interests, and how they feel about their work.  All of this is done by her riding their trucks with them, learning how to haul trash, pick up dead animals, on and on.  And then she gains their trust and has them collaborate on a dance performance with the best original music created by Graham Reynolds.  Is there anything in Austin Graham doesn't create music for?  He is so talented and generous in sharing his musical wisdom.

After the film a Q&A with the filmmaker, choreographer and some of the sanitation workers.  The audience couldn't clap long enough and hard enough to show how much we LOVED this film.  The most telling feature of this film was watching the hundreds of Austinites who came to this performance in the pouring rain and applauded these workers, their trucks and the creative artists who brought us this ray of sunshine.  If you can see this film don't miss it.  It is inspirational.