SAGIndie

SAG Low Budget Contract Signatory Workshop in Los Angeles and New York.

Click here for more info and to RSVP.

Blogging from the trade show floor today, spotty wi-fi coverage permitting. Linda Dowell of SAG is now here with us, and we are busy spreading the word about the Low Budget Agreements. At least, Darrien and LInda are – I’ve spent my morning thus far robbing the Mozilla booth of Firefox swag.

This place is geek heaven: in addition to Mozilla, Google, Opera, Creative Commons, and topix.net, among others, are in attendance. Second Life is also here, though they’re not as mobbed as I would have thought. I guess everybody is visiting their virtual SXSW booth instead.

Kay Schaber of the WGA has dropped by and Darrien is admiring her engagement ring. Congrats Kay!

Just met one of the local volunteers. His name is Killer, he has a huge chrome “K” dangling from a chain around his neck, and he seemed pretty friendly for a guy with that fearsome appellation. I don’t think Austin will have any problem keeping it weird.

I’m going to walk around a bit more. I’ve got my eye on one of those Google mouse pads.

It’s Darrien. With a Pickle.

‘Nuff said.

Actually, this is more like Day .5 for us. Or .33. Or something like that.

See, the SXSW exhibitor hall opens on Sunday, but we need to be here to “load in” our “gear” tomorrow – in other words, we need to roll into the convention center around 11 a.m. tomorrow to watch the convention staff load in our couch and chairs. Should be a grueling half hour for us.

But not as grueling as my flight in, a 5 hour journey from Burbank to Dallas to Austin on two different (though equally cramped) American Airlines Super-80′s, the final leg of which I spent sandwiched between two huge dudes with shaved heads and and a tendency to park their meaty elbows in my ribs.

Cramped though it was, I made it in one piece, and I believe (though I have no proof) that the leg exercises that I found in the back of the American in-flight magazine helped stave off an attack of DVT. Don’t laugh – DVT is for reals. Just ask Dick Cheney, ticking cardiac time-bomb and recent DVT survivor.

Anyway, SXSW: since it hasn’t really started, I’m just going to fill this space with some of my first impressions of the Lone Star State in general, and Austin in particular.

- Texas is big.

- Texas is flat.

- People in Texas do wear cowboy hats – some of them, anyway. Of course, so did that dude in the Village People…

- Dallas has a nice airport.

- Austin has small taxis.

- Austin’s 6th Street has a lot of bars.

- 6th Street has a lot of cover bands.

- 6th Street features a ridiculously high ATM-to-drunk-frat-boy ratio.

- 6th Street is pretty fun.

- Did I mention I’ve spent some time on 6th Street?

More later… Must rest now.

The Boss and I are headed to SXSW this weekend, so keep an eye on this space for news, party reports, and pictures from deep in the heart of Texas. If any of you are heading to Austin as well, make sure to drop by our booth at the festival and say “hi.” Darrien promises to buy anyone who says the secret password (“SAGIndie Blog”) a beer.

Really. She did.

It’s true.

SAG Theatrical Business Representatives will walk you through signing SAG Low Budget Agreements from start to finish.

Workshops are held the 2nd Thursday of every month from 6 to 8pm, and are absolutely FREE.

Workshops fill up quickly! Click here for more info and to RSVP.

The SXSW FILM CONFERENCE AND FESTIVAL emphasizes on all aspects of the art and business of independent filmmaking. The Festival has gained international acclaim for the quality of its programming with a special focus on emerging talents who bask in being included in the company of the cinematic greats whose work is regularly presented. The SXSW Film Conference will take place March 9 – 13, 2007. The SXSW Film Festival runs from March 9 – 17, 2007.

Festival Details: http://2007.sxsw.com/

From the MIFF site:
The MIAMI INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (MIFF) brings the best of world cinema to South Florida and plays a leading role in maintaining and further enriching its film culture. MIFF uses the unique geographical and cultural position of Miami to be a premiere venue for the exhibition of international and US films, with a special focus on Ibero-American cinema. Both juried and audience awards are given in Documentary and Dramatic categories.

More than 67,000 people attended the Festival in 2006. In addition, more than 300 filmmakers, producers, talent, and industry representatives from around the world attended the 2006 Festival to introduce their work to Miami audiences and industry professionals. During the last four years, under the direction of Nicole Guillemet, the Festival has presented films from more than 50 countries, including 200 East Coast, US, and world premieres, scores of Oscar winners and nominees, and many international prizewinners.

Festival Information: http://www.miamifilmfestival.com/