Austin Film Society snaps up 'Slackerwood'

This is a fascinating development. I'm a fan of Jette Kernion's blog Slackerwood. Here's the scoop in a press release from the Austin Film Society (which was founder fittingly by Slacker director Richard Linklater):

The Austin Film Society is excited to announce that it will become the publisher of Slackerwood, Critic's Pick for "Best Austin Movie Blog" in The Austin Chronicle's 2011 Best of Austin. Supplanting AFS's longtime journal, Persistence of Vision, Slackerwood will continue to cover the Texas movie scene with Founder and Editor-In-Chief Jette Kernion remaining at the helm.

"Jette has built a great resource for our regional film community, we all read Slackerwood every day," said AFS Executive Director Rebecca Campbell. "This partnership will allow us to promote our community in new, dynamic ways." AFS Director of Marketing Agnes Varnum will serve as Managing Editor and the publication will host an editorial committee comprised of local filmmakers, journalists, and AFS Board Members. In addition, AFS staff and interns will contribute to the website.

"Over the last 5 years, Slackerwood has grown from a personal blog to a dedicated group of volunteer contributors," said Kernion. "Being published by AFS will mean a home for Slackerwood long into the future and exciting new ways for us to reach out into the community we serve."

Slackerwood and AFS will host a party on February 1, 2012 at 6 PM at Red's Porch (3508 S. Lamar Blvd.) to celebrate the transition. All media are invited to attend. Snacks and beer provided by Red's Porch and NXNW.

Slackerwood began 5 years ago as the personal movie blog of Jette Kernion, focusing specifically on the Austin film scene. Today, Slackerwood has an 10-person staff of writers devoted to reporting and reviewing all aspects of the Austin film scene. Slackerwood provides coverage of all the local film festivals, promotes upcoming special screenings and reviews movies made in Austin or by Austin filmmakers, and strives to share the latest news about films in production in Austin and Central Texas. The name "Slackerwood" was chosen to emphasize the independent DIY spirit of Austin and local filmmakers' tendencies to follow their own path.

Duplass sez help send 'Kevin' namesake out to world

Jay Duplass's doc Kevin is about Kevin Gant, an Austin musician in the '90s who vanished without a trace until the filmmaker tracked him down and set out to tell his story. The film premiered at SXSW and is on the film festival circuit. Duplass wants your help making sure Gant can make the journey as well since most festivals can't afford the expenses. Go to Kickstarter to see how you can donate and receive cool prizes like signed CDs and a DVD of the film.

This is what Duplass says about his doc:

"In Austin, TX in the early '90s, Kevin was my hero. He was the purest, most inspired artist I had ever seen. His fusion of all-American folk-poetry with a wild flamenco guitar style was completely original, and I went to every show of his I could.

But in 1995, Kevin disappeared completely from the music scene, and I had no idea why.

Two years ago I finally tracked him down, and we began a friendship. I learned about the painful events back in ’95 that shattered his lifelong dream of making and sharing music. I learned he had barely touched his guitar ever since, and had forgotten how to play almost all of his songs.

But then, thanks to a magical twist of fate I could never have imagined, Kevin and I found ourselves traveling halfway around the globe and back. And along the way, I watched as Kevin’s dream reignited right before my eyes.

KEVIN, my documentary debut, is that story."

By the way, Dan Eggleston reports that Duplass has asked him to portray a homeless man in a scene from the upcoming group-effort recreation of Richard Linklater's Slacker.

A 'Slacker' remake?

Well, sort of. More like an homage 20 years later from filmmakers:

Miguel Alvarez
Bradley Beesley
John Bryant
Bob Byington
Mike Dolan
Sam Wainwright Douglas
Jay Duplass
Chris Eska
Paul Gordon
Amy Grappell
Duane Graves
Berndt Mader
Geoff Marslett
Spencer Parsons
PJ Raval
Bob Ray
Elisabeth Sikes
Karen Skloss
Ben Steinbauer
David & Nathan Zellner.

The sad thing is it can't premiere at the late Dobie Theater where I saw Richard Linklater's original Slacker all those years ago (yikes!).

Confused? Here's the skinny from the Austin Film Society:

The Austin Film Society and The Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas are excited to announce that 23 of the most celebrated Austin filmmakers will remake vignettes from AFS Founder & Artistic Director Richard Linklater’s seminal film SLACKER. This homage project was conceived by The Alamo Drafthouse team to celebrate SLACKER's 20th anniversary year by bringing the film community together to honor one of Texas' best homegrown films. AFS came aboard with a stellar group of filmmakers and a Kickstarter-like campaign to raise an additional $60,000 toward the 2011 Texas Filmmakers Production Fund (accepting applications until June 1).

Each scene will be recreated, using the original dialogue and locations (whenever possible), and individual scenes will then be compiled to create the remake, presenting the city’s changing face while showcasing some of its most exciting talent. Donations of $50 or higher to SLACKER 2011 will receive a ticket to the World Premiere on August 31st with the remake filmmakers and Richard Linklater in attendance for Q&A. More details on the event will be released when finalized. Project details and updates can be found at austinfilm.org/slacker2011

The levels of support for SLACKER 2011:
$25,000 – Executive Producer credit on SLACKER 2011, the option for an walk-on speaking role, an autographed DVD of SLACKER & the remake, and VIP seating for 10 at the World Premiere screening.

$10,000 – Producer credit on SLACKER 2011, the option for a featured extra role, an autographed DVD of SLACKER & the remake, and VIP seating for 6 at the World Premiere screening.

$5,000 – Get a walk-on speaking role in SLACKER 2011, Special Thanks on the finished film, an autographed DVD of SLACKER & the remake, and 4 VIP tickets to the World Premiere screening.

$1,000 – Be a background extra in SLACKER 2011, get Special Thanks credit on the finished remake film, an autographed DVD of SLACKER & the remake, and 2 VIP tickets to the World Premiere screening.

$500 - Get Special Thanks credit on the finished remake film, an autographed DVD of SLACKER & the remake, and 2 VIP tickets to the World Premiere screening.

$100 - Thanks credit on the finished remake film, a DVD copy and 2 tickets to the World Premiere screening.

$50 - $99 – One ticket to the World Premiere screening and thanks on our website as a valuable donor to the Texas Filmmakers’ Production Fund.