Film Feature Stories
Backstage: “Legendary film performances can emerge from humble places. Big budget? Major studio backing? They’re nice things to have, sure. But many of cinema’s greatest performances were immortalized through the blood, sweat, and tears of independent filmmaking.” Read the full story.
13 breakthrough stars to watch this Emmy season
Backstage: “From fresh faces to established talent, many of this year’s most exciting TV performances came from actors who have never received an Emmy nod. Awards aren’t everything, of course—but they sure are nice; they can transform careers and push the craft forward.” Read the full story.
The founders of Hyperreal Film Club, from a 2022 story for the Austin American-Statesman. Photo by Dave Creaney.
Hyperreal Film Club runs the coolest, weirdest movie night in Austin
Austin American-Statesman: “The creators of Austin’s coolest movie night don’t really do ‘impossible.’ Since 2016, Hyperreal Film Club founders David McMichael, Jenni Kaye and Tanner Hadfield have gone from throwing one scrappy screening in a now-demolished basement downtown to creating a bona fide scene all their own.” Read the full story.
Alamo Drafthouse at 25 years: A history of cult classics and queso
Austin American-Statesman: “Don’t talk. Don’t text. Enjoy this story about how the weirdest little theater in town changed movie history on May 24, 1997.” Read the full story.
As I Luv Video closes, owner tries to keep film library alive
Austin American-Statesman: “As far as Conrad Bejarano knows, I Luv Video was the last of its kind in Austin. On Sept. 1, Bejarano announced that the indie movie rental store at 4803 Airport Blvd. was closing for good, just like several cultural landmarks already claimed by the coronavirus pandemic and its economic pressure. After almost four decades, I Luv Video takes with it a certain Jiffy Pop-friendly avenue of keep-Austin-weird-ism.” Read the full story.
Alamo Drafthouse celebrates 50 years of Village theater, revives Austin’s lost video store
Austin American-Statesman: “‘When I moved to Austin in 1994, there were a few landmarks for film people like myself who were interested in both the contemporary arthouse scene and repertory cinema,’ says Lars Nilsen, lead film programmer for Austin Film Society and its AFS Cinema. ‘Most everything was on or near the Drag.’ Films that didn’t make it into that bubble, he says, could often be found over at Village. Read the story.
An Austin movie theater owner's family fled Ukraine. Now he's keeping vigil onscreen.
Austin American-Statesman: “When tragedy strikes, some people hold vigil with a candle in their window. Blue Starlite Mini Urban Drive-In owner Josh Frank is keeping a light on for the people of Ukraine. His window just happens to be an outdoor movie screen.” Read the full story.