As you might have heard, the Alamo has recently outfitted the Village and South Lamar locations with state-of-the-art 4K Digital Cinema projectors in anticipation of bigger, more expensive, 3D Hollywood Blockbusters, continuing our mission to provide Austin with the best possible theatrical presentation available.

That’s not to say we’ve turned our back on good old 35mm, but if you happened to see AVATAR in 3D, you might understand why it’s important to stay cutting-edge in the industry. AVATAR in 2D on 35mm just isn’t AVATAR. It’s just a shame. And seeing how a crystal clear digital cinema image can enhance the modern movie-going experience, we wondered what it could do for revisiting the classics. Well, thanks to our pals at Universal Entertainment, more and more or our favorite Big Screen Classics are being restored and made available to theaters as DCPs – Digital Cinema Packages – providing the best possible image quality at the highest resolution.

We’ve seen these all before in 35mm and we love every, single frame…but we think our (and your) minds are about to be blown.

For our inaugural dive into the digital past, we’ve programmed three very different but undeniable classics of American Cinema- John Carpenter’s THE THING, ANIMAL HOUSE & SCARFACE.

John Carpenter’s THE THING April 5 – 8 @ The Village

Yep, John Carpenter’s brain-blasting masterpiece of shape-shifting horror on the big screen in super-futuristic digital projection! See Kurt Russell and crew battle a shape-shifting monstrosity like you’ve never seen it before! Though technically a remake of the ’50s classic THE THING FROM ANOTHER WORLD, it’s an entirely different kind of film. The storyline is about a group of researchers at an Antarctic base who accidentally unleash a frozen alien force that can occupy the bodies of living creatures. The constantly metamorphosing creature is shown graphically (very graphically), thanks to the work of effects genius Rob Bottin. It’s a visceral horror movie that punches you in the face with gross-out gore effects and then knees you in the groin with pinpoint suspense timing. Russell is at his badass best as Mac McReady, a Vietnam vet with a shady past who is mankind’s last hope against the invader.

ANIMAL HOUSE April 12 – 15 @ The Village

Great cinema slobbishness existed decades before Seth Rogen and Vince Vaughn adopted it for their own ends, and this late-’70s celebration of low class antics is still the undisputed masterpiece of the form! For the first time in fancy modern 4K projection, see John Belushi and his rampaging roommates turn society on its ass in a hail of offensive insanity! The ultimate party-in-the-shape-of-a-movie, ANIMAL HOUSE tore open enough togas and pissed off enough deans to assure it a permanent place in the heart of every unshaven beer-swiller our fine nation has produced in the last thirty years. And that’s a mighty high number, folks.

SCARFACE April 19 – 22 @ The Village

Watching Brian De Palma’s SCARFACE is like looking down the barrel of a loaded gun and praying that the madman behind it will let you live long enough to finish  watching SCARFACE. This modern-classic gangster movie is celebrated across cultures, from the thugs of hip hop to the art house connoisseurs and everyone in between. Brian De Palma’s masterpiece (written by Oliver Stone) is a high-energy exploration of a Cuban immigrant in Miami who gets to the top much too fast. “Say hello to my little friend!” When Al Pacino puts the bazooka between his thighs and screams those lines, he solidified his role as the Marlon Brando of the 1980s. His Tony Montana is the gangster of the modern era. This film is about his great performance as the ruthless drug slinger who has only got two things in this world, and he doesn’t break them for no one.

Think of it as watching your favorite films on the biggest HDTV in the world!

You missed RED, WHITE AND BLUE didn’t you? It’s not too late.

SXSW is an unrelenting beast of a week for film-goers in Austin. We make our schedules, we see as much as we can, but inevitably miss out on some great screenings. Or, we didn’t get a badge this year for whatever reason, and we missed out on all the great screenings. Either way, we missed out on something great. To give non-badge-holders a taste of what SXSW Film is all about or to give you run-ragged badge-holders a second chance, the Fantastic Fest programming team hand-selected four films for “Taste of SXSW.”

Below is the complete lineup for Taste of SXSW. All screenings are at the Alamo Drafthouse at the Ritz, 320 E. 6th Street, Austin, TX.

REJOICE AND SHOUT, Sunday, March 21 at 1:30pm

Packed with evocative photos, rare audio recordings, stirring film appearances and TV performances, REJOICE AND SHOUT covers the 200 year musical history of African-American Christianity. Culled from hundreds of hours of music REJOICE AND SHOUT features the creme de la creme of Gospel music. With exciting historical performance footage of The Dixie Hummingbirds, Swan Silvertones, Five Blind Boys Of Alabama, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, The Staple Singers, The Rev. Andrae Crouch and many more.

MONSTERS, Sunday, March 21 at 9:35pm

Six years ago NASA discovered the possibility of alien life within our solar system. A probe was launched to collect samples, but crashed upon re-entry over Central America. Soon after new life forms began to appear there and half of Mexico was quarantined as an INFECTED ZONE. Today, the American and Mexican military still struggle to contain “the creatures”… Our story begins when a US journalist agrees to escort a shaken tourist through the infected zone in Mexico to the safety of the US border.

OUTCAST, Monday, March 22 at 10:00pm

Mary and her son Fergal live their lives on the run, hiding from someone or something. When they move to yet another new home, Fergal finds himself caught between the affections of his beautiful and feisty neighbour and his fiercely protective mother who will stop at nothing to protect her precious son. Their hunter is Cathal, a dangerous and terrifying man, intent on tracking down and killing them using a dark form of magic to find them. Mary’s only defense is to use the same ancient form of magic in order to protect her son. When local residents are brutally murdered by an unknown life force, the sense of fear escalates. Is Cathal the beast responsible for the killings? Or is it the beast that he is trying to destroy?

RED, WHITE & BLUE, Tuesday, March 23 at 7:20pm

Erica (Amanda Fuller) spends her nights trawling the bars and beds of Austin. Emotionally withdrawn, sleeping with multiple men is just what she does… until she meets the older and mysterious Nate (Noah Taylor), who claims to have an “honorable discharge” from Iraq. Despite his air of danger, Nate’s the only guy who doesn’t just seem to want to get her into bed, and the two form a hesitant bond. But one of Erica’s casual sexual encounters, Franki (Marc Senter) – a young, hot-headed wannabe rock star trying to make it big – is about to return dramatically into her life… Franki “shared” Erica with his buddies one drunken evening. A cruel twist of fate is all it takes to throw his already crazy world into a spin, and in Franki’s eyes there is only one person to blame.

ABOUT SX FANTASTIC

Now in its second year at SXSW, SX Fantastic is a series of midnight films programmed by the Austin-based Fantastic Fest. The series explores the international take on sci-fi, fantasy, action, and thriller films, hand-picked by Fantastic Fest founder Tim League and his Fantastic colleagues. For more about Fantastic Fest, called “The Geek Telluride” by Variety, visit fantasticfest.com.

An estimated 184,000 films play during the juggernaut that is SXSW (that’s just a guess, we haven’t finished counting yet) and it’s damn near impossible to catch them all.  And for those of you out there who don’t have a film badge, we can say with complete confidence it is in fact impossible to catch them all, or quite possibly any.  And that’s a crying shame, because the SXSW Official Selections are among the best in the world- each film chosen on merits that guarantee an unforgettable experience at the theater.

To offer up a second-chance for badge-holders who missed something great and/or to show the badgeless why they need to get a badge next year, the Alamo programming team has hand-picked a few of their favorites from SXSW 2010 for a mini-series at the Alamo Ritz we’re calling Taste Of SXSW.

Taste of SXSW: REJOICE & SHOUT Sunday, March 21, 1:30p

Packed with evocative photos, rare audio recordings, stirring film appearances and TV performances, REJOICE AND SHOUT covers the 200 year musical history of African-American Christianity. Culled from hundreds of hours of music REJOICE AND SHOUT features the creme de la creme of Gospel music.

More info and tickets here

Taste of SXSW: MONSTERS Sunday, March 21, 9:35p

Six years ago NASA discovered the possibility of alien life within our solar system. A probe was launched to collect samples, but crashed upon re-entry over Central America. Soon after new life forms began to appear there and half of Mexico was quarantined as an INFECTED ZONE. Today, the American and Mexican military still struggle to contain “the creatures.”

Our story begins when a US journalist agrees to escort a shaken tourist through the infected zone in Mexico to the safety of the US border.

More info and tickets here

Taste of SXSW: OUTCAST Monday, March 22, 10:00p

Mary and her son Fergal live their lives on the run, hiding from someone or something. When they move to yet another new home, Fergal finds himself caught between the affections of his beautiful and feisty neighbour and his fiercely protective mother who will stop at nothing to protect her precious son. Their hunter is Cathal, a dangerous and terrifying man, intent on tracking down and killing them using a dark form of magic to find them. Mary’s only defense is to use the same ancient form of magic in order to protect her son. When local residents are brutally murdered by an unknown life force, the sense of fear escalates. Is Cathal the beast responsible for the killings? Or is it the beast that he is trying to destroy?

More info and tickets here

Taste of SXSW: RED, WHITE & BLUE Tuesday, March 23, 7:20p

Erica (Amanda Fuller) spends her nights trawling the bars and beds of Austin. Emotionally withdrawn, sleeping with multiple men is just what she does… until she meets the older and mysterious Nate (Noah Taylor), who claims to have an “honorable discharge” from Iraq. Despite his air of danger, Nate’s the only guy who doesn’t just seem to want to get her into bed, and the two form a hesitant bond. But one of Erica’s casual sexual encounters, Franki (Marc Senter) – a young, hot-headed wannabe rock star trying to make it big – is about to return dramatically into her life… Franki “shared” Erica with his buddies one drunken evening. A cruel twist of fate is all it takes to throw his already crazy world into a spin, and in Franki’s eyes there is only one person to blame.

More info and tickets here

All these screenings are open to the general public.  Collect ‘em all!

If you’ve been to the Alamo S. Lamar this week and you’re not a part of SXSW, you probably thought to yourself, “WTF are all of these people doing here?!” Well, they’re watching a lot of movies! Now that the opening weekend of the festival has passed, the crowds will be dying down a bit and you, yes you, non-badgeholder, will be able to see these great SXSW films that are surely generating lots of buzz.

Individual tickets will be available for purchase in the box office throughout the week. Films will be screening until next Saturday and as each day passes, it will be easier to get into these screenings.

Also, be sure to check out the SX Fantastic Fest screenings. All at midnight at S. Lamar, these screenings will totally give you the heebie jeebies (in the best way possible). Here’s a few screenings you might be interested in:

A NY THING (Narrative Feature) - Tuesday, March 16th @ 9:45

A comic and melancholy tale following a French dreamer as he spends three days in NYC attempting to convince the object of his desire that his love is indeed authentic. A loving ode to NYC and the things we find peculiar in love and the big city. Starring Greta Gerwig, Jonathan Zaccai, Fanny Valette and Ebon Moss-Bachrach.  French/USA co- production in association with ARTE. One of the small gems at SXSW.

SERBIAN FILM (SX Fantastic Fest) - Monday, March 15th at Midnight

Facing financial difficulties, a retired porn star is lured back for one final film by a wealthy, eccentric producer. This experience, however, will be vastly more taxing than his previous shoots.

MONSTERS (SX Fantastic Fest) – Thursday, March 18th at Midnight

Six years after a NASA probe crashes, bringing alien life forms to Earth, a journalist agrees to escort a shaken American tourist through an infected zone in Mexico to the safety of the US border.

HIGANJIMA (SX Fantastic Fest) – Friday, March 19th at Midnight

Two years after losing contact, Akira discovers that his long-lost brother may be found on Higanjima Island. He may also find on Higanjima an army of blood-sucking vampires.

COLD WEATHER (Narrative Feature) - Thursday, March 18th at 9pm

A former forensic science major and avid reader of detective fiction, who, after making a mess of his life in Chicago, returns to his hometown of Portland, Oregon. There, he, his sister Gail, and new friend Carlos become embroiled in something unexpected.

MARWENCOL (Documentary Feature) - Friday, March 19th at 1:15pm

After a vicious attack leaves him brain damaged and broke, Mark Hogancamp seeks recovery in “Marwencol,” a 1/6th-scale World War II-era town he creates in his backyard.

Saw a movie at SXSW that you absolutely loved? Put it in the comments here and recommend it to others! We’ll see you at the theater!

Last year, we got a hold of a documentary called REFORMAT THE PLANET and caught wind of the 8-Bit music craze. Because of that documentary, and friends of ours who were part of this movement, we put together a showcase of great 8-Bit musicians in the abandoned Salvation Army space that was later converted into The Highball. We’re doing another screening of this fantastic documentary to prep our minds for another Datapop show. A show that is bigger, better and has twenty different artists performing for two nights! It’s going to be an epic party, and we would love for you to join us! We’re doing a FREE SCREENING of REFORMAT THE PLANET on Monday, and then the Alamo, along with New York City’s 8bitpeoples, 2 Player productions, and the people behind the Blip Festival have joined forces to create DATAPOP 3.0!

ABOUT REFORMAT THE PLANET: Monday, March 15 at Alamo S. Lamar

“…one of the best music documentaries I have seen in years.”
Brian C. Gibson, Filmschoolrejects.com

“…if you’re a fan of the music or a videogame enthusiast in general, than this movie is a must see.”
Eric Moro, IGN.com

“…a perfectly entertaining and legitimate look at a new musical trend…”
Scott Weinberg, Cinematical.com

BLIP FESTIVAL: REFORMAT THE PLANET is a feature length documentary which delves into the movement known as chiptunes, a vibrant underground scene based around creating new, original music using old video game hardware. Familiar devices such as the Nintendo Game Boy and Nintendo Entertainment System are pushed in new directions with startling results.

Using New York as a microcosm for a larger global movement, “…Reformat the Planet” maps out the genesis of the first annual Blip Festival, a four day celebration of over 30 international artists exploring the untapped potential of low-bit video game consoles. With floor-stomping rhythms and fist-waving melodies, trailblazers of the chiptune idiom descend upon Manhattan to pen a new chapter in the history of electronic music.

Check out the artists that will be joining us for this craziness! Keep in mind, this show is FREE so it will get crowded quickly each night! Be sure to get there early to catch all the awesome. Tuesday & Wednesday, March 16 & 17 at The Highball.

TUESDAY, MARCH 16 :: HIGHBALL BALLROOM

8PM :: The Mysterious H :: Austin, TX :: Website
The Mysterious H hails from Austin. He plays the keytar and rocks as hard as possible. Little else is known.

8:45PM :: Sievert :: Houston, TX :: Website
Space Captain Sievert is optimistic, epic, in-your-face space adventure on a deadly collision course with upbeat, fast-paced punk-ska! Equipped only with space goggles, dual gameboys, and a heroic sense of justice, Captain Sievert dives into danger headfirst for the good of mankind!  In the first installation of Earth’s Data Pop Party, Captain Sievert fought off the Communist cosmonaut Vlad Vidmar, whose insane plot to play Tetris on loop and ruin the show was utterly defeated.  What vile villainy lies in store for our hero this year?  Stay tuned, cadets!

9:30PM :: Nullsleep:: New York, NY :: Website
Nullsleep creates powerful romantic pop using repurposed low-bit electronics in a relentless search for new ways to circumvent their limitations. Bittersweet melodies and driving, rhythmic pulses are coaxed out of small plastic devices to produce a surprisingly intense sound. In 1999 Nullsleep cofounded 8bitpeoples, a collective of artists interested in the audio-visual aesthetics of early home computers and video game consoles. He has since released a number of recordings through 8bitpeoples, Astralwerks, Aniplex and others.

10:15PM :: IAYD :: Corpus Christi, TX :: Website
Corpus Christi’s IAYD (I Am Your Destruction) uses the Nintendo Game Boy and the Nintendo Famicom to smash his way through space and the confines of classical training. Since 2007, he has been living vicariously through his handheld arsenal; making loud, powerful, and hard hitting electronic music, befitting his moniker.

11PM :: Hally :: Tokyo, JP :: Website
Often called the Japanese godfather of chiptune, as he is the first person to introduce this kind of music to Japan. He started the legendary chiptune portal site “VORC” in 2001, and nowadays is also active as a chip musician. His rock’n rolling heavy NES sound was often mentioned as one of the best acts of Blip Festival 2006/2007.

11:45PM :: Random :: Stockholm, SE :: Website
William Rickman (Stockholm, Sweden) started his chipmusic career in 2002 with the joke-band randomshitmotherburger, but quickly discovered that his interest in chip-style sounds was no joke. Branching off as Random, he started making music with the Nintendo Game Boy in 2004, quickly getting global recognition for his melodic and emotional compositions, expressed using minimal technical electronic gear. Since then, Random has performed live in thirteen countries across three continents, and he used to be a co-organizer of one of Europe’s finest chip clubs, Microdisko.

12:30AM :: Bit Shifter :: New York, NY :: Website
Armed only with two 20-year-old handhelds, New York City’s Bit Shifter leaves high-end computer music choking on his exhaust, bringing twice the rock with 0.002% of the processing power. Bit Shifter co-administrates the 8bitpeoples label,  co-curates the annual Blip Festival, has released music on Hymen, 555, Mirex, and Astralwerks, and has performed over 150 shows worldwide.

1:15AM :: nordloef :: Karishamn, SE :: Website
nordloef takes his background in punk rock bands and his love for electronic music to create melodic, upbeat pop songs while at the same time squeezing out as much music as possible from the limited hardware of the Game Boy.

VISUALS :: Jean Y. Kim :: New York, NY :: Website
Jean Y. Kim makes low-bit visuals that try to integrate digital textures and conceptual daydreams using ‘laptop-alternative’ hardwares like the GP2X, Gameboy Advance, and PS2. Her influences include Bas Jan Ader, Clone High, and her VJ ‘big brother’ Paris. She is from Vancouver, BC but is currently based out of New York City.

VISUALS :: Omeros :: Portland, OR :: No Website
A new challenger appears.

—————————————-

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17 :: HIGHBALL BALLROOM

8PM :: Talk to Animals :: Baltimore, MD :: Website
Talk to Animals compliments her moody, beat-driven 8-bit & lo-fi soundscapes with a range of vocal styles. The resulting music is alternately frenzied, melodic, fierce and serene, always with an unstoppable energy, as precise as it is punk.

8:45PM :: Starscream:: New York, NY :: Website
Starscream is a two-piece, just-graduated-high-school, hurricane of Game Boy and drums. They make anthems for space, with drums like crushing black holes. They’ve just self-released their latest work, The Space Years and are currently exploring the Commodore 64.

9:30PM :: Henry Homesweet :: Ipswich/Lincoln, UK :: Website
Henry Homesweet takes Nintendo gameboys and drops them straight into a modern context, performing crunchy lo-fi techno and electro straight from the consoles, synced and mixed into one constant assult of mind candy. The listener is invited on a journey through time and space, to a musical void where styles and genres are not seperate entities confined by the performer, they are one. His live sets are assembled on the spot, directionless, unpredictable and effing bonkers.

10:15PM :: 8BK-ok :: New York, NY :: Website
8BK-ok (pronounced 8Bit Karaoke) is a power trio from NYC that blends catchy, pulse-pounding beats with songwriting from popular musicals. Raised on a steady diet of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Bit Shifter, Gameboy musician Fuckjazzforaminute and vocalists Leah Goldstein and Chris Blessitt have rocked sweaty dance parties all the way from New York to Nice. Joined here by talented vocalist Mr. F, 8BK-ok will raise the roof, lower the floors, and blow the doors off the mother of your puny minds.

11PM :: Sabrepulse :: London, UK :: Website
Sabrepulse is the undisputed godfather of the current 8-bit scene in the UK. Every year he organizes and performs at the Chiptune Alliance Tour where his breakbeats and sugar-coated melodies force kids into a frenzy at every stop.

11:45PM :: Je Deviens DJ en 3 Jours :: Nice, FR :: Website
Je Deviens DJ en 3 Jours (I become a dj in 3 days) gives a french touch approach of the Nintendo Gameboy consisted of heavy beats, distorted basses and girls dancing all over the night. He’s still virgin.

12:35AM :: Anamanaguchi :: New York, NY :: Website
Anamanaguchi is a four-piece melodic, chiptune punk band from New York City. Combining 8-bit synthesized sounds into a soundscape of raw guitars and live drums, they create a powerful, energetic sound that rests somewhere between organic and robotic. The band, started in 2003 by then 15 year old Peter Berkman, released their debut on New York net-label 8bitpeoples in 2006. Anamanaguchi’s new album, Dawn Metropolis was released in March ‘09 by Normative Music Company.

1:20 AM :: Trash80 :: Los Angeles, CA :: Website
Trash80 is a micromusic/bitpop project from Timothy Lamb (born on March 5, 1979), a pioneer of independent Game Boy music. He has published several songs online under the Creative Commons License (Attribution, NoDerivs, NonCommercial) under the Trash80 and Tresk banners. Whereas many Trash80 songs are ambient soundscapes featuring the use of Game Boy sounds, Tresk songs feature simple piano lines. Most prominently, Lamb’s music has been featured on the soundtrack of the Real-time strategy game Darwinia.

VISUALS :: Outpt :: New York, NY :: Website
outpt is Mary Ann Benedetto, a visual savage of the pixel variety. Performing live visuals in and around New York City, she has built a reputation for vibrant graphics and energetic sets. Her weapons of choice are the Game Boy Advance, GP2X, Processing, and her custom app Orbitr.

VISUALS :: Paris :: New York, NY :: Website
Paris (previously known as Voltage Controlled) writes custom software to transform hand held game systems such as the Game Boy Advance and the GP2X into visual performance instruments. His visuals are abstract and influenced by his background and continued interest in mathematics and theoretical physics. He has been creating live visuals for the chip music scene since 2005. During that time he has performed at Blip Festival 06, 07, 08, Blip Europe, at many Pulsewave NYC events, 8Static events in Philadelphia, SxSW, PAX, chip shows across the country and his visuals are featured in the documentary, Reformat the Planet. In addition, he was awarded a residency at the Experimental Television Center and has given talks in the US and Europe (Pixsel Festival) on Open Source Software development for the arts.

Admission to this party is free, but be warned, it will get VERY ROWDY AND CROWDED so we recommend getting there early. Forget wristbands, this is going to be the party you really want to attend! A film and music in one. You can’t go wrong! REFORMAT THE PLANET screens Monday, March 15th at the Alamo South Lamar, and DATAPOP 3.0 is going on Tuesday and Wednesday, March 16th & 17th at The Highball. Be there or be square.

SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN – Saturday 3/6 and Sunday 3/7 at the Ritz
Advance tickets available here

There are two types of people in the world:
1. Those who love the classic musical extravaganza SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN
2. and those who haven’t got around to seeing it yet.

Hollywood’s last great masterpiece of entertainment, SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN is a heartwarming love story, a fabulous comedy, and a loving tribute to Hollywood history that is at once educational and hilarious.

And the songs. You cannot forget about the songs. Even the unlucky few who haven’t been graced with the film know the iconic “Good Morning,” “Broadway Melody,” and “Make ‘Em Laugh.” Even more so, the title song “Singin’ in the Rain” is engraved so deeply in our culture’s musical heritage that I bet you’re singin’ it in your head as you read these words. I know I am.

The dancing sensation Gene Kelly co-directs (with musical legend Stanley Donen) and stars alongside the energetic comic genius Donald O’Connor and the beautiful and talented Debbie Reynolds in this beloved and epic, glorious motion picture.

This Saturday and Sunday March 6 and 7, we’ll be having special brunch screenings of this movie in 35mm, the way the film was meant to be seen, on our biggest screen at the downtown Ritz theatre. In addition to the normal brunch menu, chef John Bullington has prepared some special delights available only at these shows!

Lockwood and Lamont 13.99
Seared T Bone topped with two fried eggs on a quarter Belgian waffle with fresh strawberries

Good Mornin’ 9.99
Strata of sourdough, fresh spinach, sundried tomatoes, wild mushrooms, manchego and asiago soaked in herbed egg cream and baked and a side of strawberries

So, if this film is one of your best loved Hollywood memories and you want to relive it in all of its splendor, or if you have always been meaning to see it but just never found the right chance, come out this weekend for a wonderful early-afternoon at the movies.

Get your tickets for this great show now

Bob Ray needs dough to fund his newest documentary TOTAL BADASS! Help an Austinite out and take a look at his KICKSTARTER campaign to donate!

Also, check out their fundraiser screening of the film, Thursday, March 18th at Alamo South Lamar. You can purchase tickets HERE!

We celebrate a lot of things at the Alamo Drafthouse. Exploitation cinema, good food, great beer, dance parties, film festivals, but most importantly independent film. We’ve helped a lot of baby films (and I mean that in a very non-patronizing way – I’m talking “baby” versus “gigantor studio films”) get off the ground with screenings, and with our amazing customers and film-junkies spreading news via word-of-mouth. Right now, we’ve got a filmmaker that needs a boost so he can get his documentary off the ground, and we though you’d be the perfect audience to direct this call too.

Bob Ray is trying to launch his newest film, a documentary titled TOTAL BADASS that chronicles the hilarious, crazy-ass writer/publisher/singer/weed-dealer/sex addict/Guinea pig enthusiast/dad/pirate radio host/raconteur and general man-about-town, Chad Holt, as he rides out the last six months of felony probation and subsequently must change his ways when a financial crisis befalls his estranged family.

Here’s the skinny, Bob’s trying to raise $5,000 IN THREE DAYS! He sure as hell can’t do it alone. Take a look at his KICKSTARTER campaign where you can donate, receiver perks, and spread the word. Hell, if you throw in enough cash, you’ll be Bob’s new executive producer!

About the filmmaker: Austin-based filmmaker Bob Ray’s previous work includes the award winning stoner-comedy feature ROCK OPERA, the critically acclaimed roller derby documentary HELL ON WHEELS, music videos for Grammy™ nominees Nashville Pussy, Riverboat Gamblers, Golden Arm Trio, and many more, as well as short films and ‘toons for Playboy and Turner Networks.

About the funding: “At this point, I have received no outside funding for this documentary. I am doing all I can to keep the budget as low as possible and I have a strong history of completing films with limited funds. However, the biggest logistical hurdle in filmmaking is still the cost.

Funding for this type of film is scarce to non-existent. The money-baggers of the filmmaking world show little interest in funding stories off the beaten path, particularly stories about the subculture, the underground and the weirdoes and freaks that keep life interesting.

Over the course of the past two years, we have managed to shoot and edit the film and have spent $7,293 in doing so. We have locked the picture and are now approaching the unavoidable expenses related to finishing the film. We’re currently raising funds to foot the bill for the expenses necessary for preparing a film for exhibition and broadcast, including: color correction, music licensing, audio mixing, printing, shipping, promotion, master to tape and related tasks.”

At Fantastic Fest this past year, only one film kicked our heads right off our shoulders only to then leap from the top of a 15 story building just in time to catch our heads before they hit the ground and then reattach them to our bodies with such ease and tenderness we never knew what hit us- DISTRICT 13: mother-f@#king ULTIMATUM!

Like it’s now cult-legendary predecessor DISTRICT B13, this reunion of writer Luc Besson (THE PROFESSIONAL, FIFTH ELEMENT) and on-screen ass-kickers Leito (David Belle) and Damien (Cyril Raffaelli), DISTRICT 13 ULTIMATUM serves up an endless display of some of the most impossible parkour action ever committed to film. A jaw-dropping spectacle that will leave you finding new, potentially deadly ways to go about your daily routine.

Films this volatile can’t be contained by the festival circuit, otherwise they just get angrier and angrier until they lash out in a violent cultural rage.  So we’re doing out part to keep the beast at bay by releasing the film this Friday at the Alamo Ritz.  See it or parish.

Get tickets here

If you saw it Fantastic Fest fans, tell your friends!