SLACKER 2011

What fun!!!!  A quintessential Austin made film remade 20 years later.  All 24 Austin filmmakers present afterwards to answer questions, take credit and just be spectacularly Austin!  Each filmmaker spent $500 on their bit, the acting was refreshing, unique, creative.  The characters are clearly smart, but boy do they slack!  Hats off to Austin Film Society for bringing this film back to life in a post-Slacker Austin.

It was clear that this energetic audience loved this remake.  Bravo!!!!

THE DEBT

Tonight Abe and I headed up to Westgate with complimentary tickets from Austin Film Festival to see THE DEBT with Helen Mirren, Jessica Chastain, Tom Wilkinson, Ciaran Hinds.  We both thought this was a very good film and of course the subject matter spoke so personally to us:  Mossad agents in 1966 tracking down a Nazi butcher surgeon who brutalized Jews in the concentration camps.  The movie flips back and forth between 1997 and 1966.  The agents are asked to once again return to work to finish their  assignment.  What I enjoyed about this film was the era and the presentation of the Israeli agents:  smart, tough, sexy,  and  selfless in their desire to hunt evil Nazis and bring them to justice.   That was the image of Israel I grew up with.  The Mossad were the epitome of tough smart super spies. I realized throughout the film  I have missed seeing Israel as the good guys. The current situation does not allow for that.  We'll keep trying.

Came home to learn that AFS Essential Cinemas are back in business and learned from Chale and Agnes that Abe and I have complimentary season passes.  The first series of films are from Hong Kong filmmakers.  Thank-you AFS for your generosity, bringing us these films, Chale's humor and Slacker 2011 tomorrow night!

Came home to another request from  a  UT film student to be in a film.    The mother Sara in REQUIEM FOR A DREAM.  A Brooklyn Mom playing a Brooklyn Mom. What could be better?   I'm delighted!
Night y'all.

THE APARTMENT at the Paramount

What could be better than seeing this brilliant Billy Wilder film in an old landmark theater with Abe when it's 105 degrees?  This black and white film with Shirley MacLaine, Jack Lemmon and a very creepy Fred MacMurray is a reminder of films that just grabbed us, told stories of  common men and women, and were set in a time where the office Christmas party was the one opportune time to get crazy and get sexy.  Billy Wilder is not afraid to show corporate men as jerks, the endless supply of women at their beck and call, a nebbish loner who's not creepy and cute in his own way, great quintessential Jewish next door neighbors, and the world like it was in the late 50's and early sixties.  This is a terrific film and deserved all of it's Academy Awards.  Every film student should be required to see this film.  It's a classic.

AUDITION

Today I auditioned for a live theater performance.  Everything I've learned in acting classes was ignored by the director and kept me careful and confident.  The play seems lovely (everything will remain obscure because I am committed to no bad mouthing except for Rick Perry).  I felt badly for the playwright who was present.  The director gave me sides to read and then proceeded to talk, talk, talk.  I excused myself so I could study the part.  I was then coupled with a Brit to read who spoke like a leprechaun when his character spoke in voices.  He also mimed his actions which is something I've been taught NEVER to do.  I remembered and relied on  my teachers' instructions about not over acting, felt comfortable about sticking to what I know to be true and was happy for the experience.  And I do not think I would work with this director if chosen. You need to feel proud about your work.  On a happier note, I was cast in the UT film I auditioned for last night.  My pleasure!

IRENE

School's back on and the students are back to making films.  I just got back from an audition at the communications bldg.  While it was fun and energizing I can't get this damned hurricane off my own radar.  I came home to  photos of a desolate NYC on the internet.  SHUT DOWN.  In all the 60 years I lived in NYC the transit system was NEVER shut down. I NEVER missed a day of work at the hospital I worked at for 33 years because of weather.  I'd walk, subway, bus, anything to get in.  It was a hospital, there were babies, and the elderly and I had two more hands to offer. NYU Medical Center and  Coney Island Hospital and Staten Island Hospital are evacuated!!There's no internet service in Brooklyn and my last conversation with Pam reported rain, rain, and rain.   Josh has not made contact since this a.m. from D.C. so I called and he reports heavy rain, wobbly windows and 40mph wind...not as bad as what's expected in NY.   I'm looking forward to Monday. 

I'd love to think this is media hoopla.  I hope it is.

THE GUARD

Some time ago I read an article about the talented Mc Donagh brothers, screenwriters and playwrights.  It seems their parents left them in a flat in London alone when they were adolescents and the father had to return to Ireland for work.  They spent the next few years watching movies round the clock in their flat.  They did not go to school and began writing their own screenplays.And ya know what?  The world is much better for it.  Abe and I saw brilliant plays at the Public Theater and small east Village venues written by Martin.  And tonight we saw THE GUARD John's first film that he wrote and directed.  This Irish cops and  drug smugglers film is so unique and witty and filled with good fun dialogue.  Brendan Gleeson is brilliant as a fleshy local Irish cop and Don Cheadle plays an FBI agent with an upper class pedigree very believably.  What a talented cast!  I loved this film, Abe really liked it as well.

After, we ate at Polvo's.  As always delicious, fresh and inexpensive.  The students are back in town.  Yay!  I came home to an invite to be in a students film.  It is my pleasure!

Fashion in Austin?????? PHOTOS

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150350538271477&set=a.10150350538221477.398863.606101476&type=1&ref=nf