Irving based 1820 Productions held a special screening of their new Veria TV show, Sports Dads starring Deion Sanders.  Deion along with series Directors Daniel Piatt, Korey Miller, Editor Edwin Harris and Executive Producer Sara Madsen Miller took part in a post screening Q & A.  Click thru for a portion of the interview as well as information on the show.

Prime Time has been electrifying sports fans ever since he graced a football field and baseball diamond.  The NFL Hall of Famer is the heart of the series, Sports Dads.  The show takes a look at the parents behind stellar youth athletes.  In particular, the show concentrates on how some parents can take their love and admiration to a dangerous level.  Deion Sanders meets these families and helps to figure out how the overbearing parents can best help their children succeed without causing a rift in the families themselves.  1820 Productions showcased two episodes of the series to a packed house of friends, fans and media.  The creative team along with Deion Sanders took part in a post screening Q & A.  Here is a portion of what happened.

You can find out more about 1820 productions, here.

Also Veria TV information can be found, here.

This Friday, Sundance 2012 will start up with an incredible group of films.  Continuing our “Sundance Bound” series we checked in with 3 short films heading to Park City and 1 Slamdance bound short!  Click thru to find out about these shorts heading to Utah.

Darn RIGHT!  In fact, that Texas flag is freaking huge!

That ain’t a little matchbox truck, that’s a freaking 18-wheeler on I-35!  Speaking of big deals in Texas, how about we chitchat about some of Texas’ finest short filmmakers?  First up, I was able to chat with animator Kelly Sears about her latest short film to make it to Sundance.

Kelly Sears is a Galveston based writer, director and animator who is heading back to Sundance for the 4th time with her latest short animated film, “Once It Started It Could Not End Otherwise“.

*To clarify the short film already held its premiere and is just showing at Sundance.

Here is the trailer to Kelly’s short.

Earlier in our Sundance Bound series we chatted with Writer/Director  Kat Candler about her short, Hellion.  You can check out that chat, here.  Kat and star Jonny Mars were both at the press screening this past week in Austin and are quite excited to finally showcase Hellion to Park City audiences! Here is Hellion’s trailer.

Of all the four shorts shown at the Austin Film Society sneak peak, FOURPLAY: TAMPA by Kyle Henry was the most jarring.  Producer Jason Wehling gave a much needed disclaimer prior to the screening!  Gotta love a director who is this bold and ballsy with the material.   I don’t want to spoil this one for you, so here is a very short snippet from FOURPLAY: TAMPA.

From the vimeo:

FOURPLAY is an anthology-of-shorts feature film about sexual intimacy. In TAMPA, a man attempts to find satisfaction in a Florida mall bathroom. See for more info – fourplayfilm.com/

And now for a special Slamdance shout out.

“33 Teeth” will screen at Slamdance on Friday, January 20th at 3pm and Monday, January 23rd at 1pm.  I truly loved the ending to this short and its funny humorous take on the old adage, “don’t judge a book by its cover”.   We’ll check in with Writer Director Evan Roberts and Producer Kelsey Coggin when they return from Utah.  Here is the trailer to 33 Teeth.

Randomness seems most fitting with this being the year that the world ends (thanks MAYANS!!).  I figure a random photo of a “Truck-on-Fire” and that has just as much importance to opening the new year then anything!  So instead of worrying about fires or the end of the world how about we live up to the song, “And I Feel Fine” (Aw crap REM broke up last year didn’t they – geez we’re SCREWED).  Well, in the mean time why not have a fun year?  Click thru for some events around town that can make your new year start off with a proper kick ass January bang!

Today, (January 6th) make your way over to the Magnolia Theater to catch one of our top 11 films of 2011, the moving PARIAH.  The debut feature film from writer/director Dee Rees is a film about overcoming and standing up, even if you have to stand up to the ones you love.

This weekend marks the end of the incredible Tony Cragg exhibit at the Nasher!  We reviewed the amazing exhibit last year and the exhibit is well worth your time, free up your weekend.  Don’t believe me, well how about Kevin Bacon?

See ‘?’ Kevin APPROVES – so hurry up and GO!

Speaking of ATTPAC places, the ol’ big red Winspear has some Fantastic shows planned for January!! First up how about MAGIC!!!

I wonder if he’ll make an elephant disappear? Guess you’ll just have to join me that night at the Opera House to find out!!  Hmmmm, speaking of African treasures, how about something truly worldly at the Winspear?

I’m sure with such a large South African community right here in North Texas, I must not be the only one stoked about seeing this amazing group.

January 16 = Martin Luther King Jr. Day and our friends over at The Dallas Institute of Humanities and Culture easily have the event for you to attend!!

Later that week the folks at the Dallas Theater Center will put on GIANT!

The play will of course be at the ATTPAC’s Wyly Theater!

Time to head south of town to our buddies at the Texas.

Come figure out “The Mystery of the Toynbee Tiles” and also experience a great trio of films that evening at the Texas.  January 20th the Texas will be showing FULL METAL ALCHEMIST – The Sacred Star of Milos, WHERE SOLDIERS COME FROM, and RESURRECT DEAD: The Mystery of the Toynbee Tiles.

That following Sunday January 22nd a true country music icon will be at the Winspear!

O, we weren’t done talking about that OLD theater where Oswald was caught!!  Them fellas have done such an amazing job showcasing the beauty of 35mm prints shown on the BIG screen, I couldn’t help but tell ya about a real WINNER!!

If you don’t know Truffaut, then for gawd’s sake GET OUT TO THE TEXAS THEATER!!  January 26th they’ll be showing THE BRIDE WORE BLACK – Truffaut – 35mm Print!.

I did want to leave you with a special shout out to my alma mater and the AMAZING gents they are bringing to ol’ Denton next month!!

is bringing none other then John Legend!

Both John and Activist, Columnist, All-Around Voice of his Community, and just a Bad Ass – Dan Savage will be at UNT in February.

Check back early next month for the full details, or I’m sure you can do a few Google searches and figure it all out.

Till then have a great rest of the month and remember Mayan’s didn’t have computers so what the heck do they know?  I mean we all survived the DREADED Y2K, I’m sure we’ll make it to 2013.  In the mean time have fun!

The first Friday of ever month the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth  (along with friends) extends the hours of its exhibits and plays a tune or three.  Perfect for a solid date night or even for those art lovers that just want to experience the Modern in the evening.

O hey wuzup Andy! Its all about the amazing art at the Modern!  Well that and the Cafe, The Magnolia Movies, and the lovely little lake/pool/body of water.

First Fridays extends throughout the rest of the Spring time with these fun artists applying the tunes.

January 6
Outer Circles
Special cocktail: Arctic Blast

February 3
Kevin Townson Trio
Special cocktail: Love Potion # 9

March 2
Three if by Sea
Special cocktail: 4 Leaf Clover

April 6
Tom Reynolds Trio
Special cocktail: Hippity Hop

May 4
St. Frinatra
Special cocktail: May Day

Now the real treat on top of the fine music, Cafe cocktails, and the fun films that are played as part of the Magnolia at The Modern, is the incredible artwork. There’s the usual permanent pieces.

This guy could even attempt a ride on a donkey if he wanted.

Daisy Youngblood’s DONKEY could get lost in a box.

Or if the Donkey wanted to it could try and “see” the Dead Plant in this epic painting.

On top of the many paintings and art on exhibit at The Modern, there are two quality exhibits still being showcased.  You still have just over two weeks to check out the massive collection of Richard Diebenkorn, specifically his “The Ocean Park Series“.

Ok, so that may be hard to read.

From The Modern website:

“Richard Diebenkorn: The Ocean Park Series is the most comprehensive show to date of Diebenkorn’s most celebrated works. Coorganized by Orange County Museum of Art in Newport Beach, California, and the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, the exhibition is curated by OCMA curator Sarah C. Bancroft. Featuring more than 75 paintings, prints, and drawings, spanning two decades—the largest selection ever on view together—this unprecedented project offers visitors the opportunity to explore in-depth the complexity of Diebenkorn’s artistic and aesthetic achievements within the Ocean Park series. By presenting works in various media, this exhibition presents a long-overdue opportunity to explore the breadth and depth of the series as never before possible, showing conclusively the variety, subtlety, and intricacy of the artist’s practice. Many of the works have been borrowed from museum and private collections and are rarely seen by the public.

This exhibition is supported by an indemnity from the Federal Council on the Arts and the Humanities.”

You’ll have a chance to witness such great pieces as these:

Obviously these pieces are much more vibrant in person, and on a few I tried to get multiple pieces in one shot.

Those are Cigar Boxes and there is a really interesting story to Richard’s love of those boxes.  You’ll have to check out the exhibit to find out about that fun story.  Here’s a tricky shot of a few of the Ocean Park smaller pieces.

Do ya see the reflection? O well – JUST GO TO FORT WORTH ALREADY!! Richard’s Ocean Park Series is running thru January 15th (so hurry up!!)

Now if you’re looking for something COMPLETELY different, you’ll have to check out the KAWS exhibit.

This bold, colorful and freaky exhibit isn’t that massive.  In only a few rooms at The Modern you can experience one of Art’s newest sensations, KAWS.  Here’s the official website explanation:

“The work of Brooklyn-based artist Brian Donnelly, who makes his art under the moniker “KAWS,” is the subject of the first Focus exhibition for the 2011–2012 season. KAWS’s vast body of work includes graffiti (early in his career), murals, paintings, and sculpture. Following along the continuum of Pop art, his work critiques contemporary consumer culture, blurring the boundaries between it and the art world. Building an artistic language, which includes altered forms of familiar animated characters, such as Mickey Mouse, the Michelin Man, and SpongeBob SquarePants, his cartoonlike hybrids are often depicted in various states of the human condition.”

Where the End Starts, 2011 is a great example of KAWS tendencies.  Here are a few more fun parts of the KAWS exhibit to wet your appetite.

The Jersey City fella has some wild tastes and color combos, but it might be his “darker pieces” that really catch your fancy.

Quite striking in person the contrast of such dark art on The Modern’s white walls is mesmerizing or even “Magical”.  But most folks, I think, will enjoy those lovable “faces”.

For more information about these two wonderful exhibits, click here.

For more info on First Fridays at The Modern, click here.

Info on Magnolia at The Modern, click here.

Hope to see ya out and about in Funky Town checking out the great exhibits, films, or fun evenings of music at the Modern

And here it is: the obligatory year end list. PSD presents to you the Best Albums of 2011. Did I miss something? Tell me about it in the comments.

10. Telekinesis 12 Desparate Straight Lines
I was lucky enough to see them twice this year (at the Granada and at SXSW) and both performances were filled with their high energy indie pop gems.

9. M83 Hurry, We’re Dreaming
I am never a fan of the double album. Too much material to digest. But I waded through this one and connected to it much more than M83′s previous work. Plus, “Midnight City” is the best song of the year.

8. The Antlers Burst Apart
Heartbreakingly beautiful.

7. Toro y Moi Underneath the Pine
One of my favorite shows of the year was seeing these dudes on the patio of Club Dada in early October. Errbody had their dance pants on.

6. Smith Westerns Dye It Blonde

http://youtu.be/Dj7Z1RAeqBQ

5. Jay-Z and Kanye West Watch the Throne
This.

4. Cults Cults
Some of my favorite jams of the year are on this record. So catchy.

3. Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds S/T
I miss Oasis forever, and I’ve always been Team Liam. But this album proves that, yeah, he’s probably the more talented brother.

2. Yuck Yuck

1. Foo Fighters Wasting Light
I don’t know any other way to say this, but no one makes rock music better than the Foo Fighters. Even as a FF superfan, I had no expectations before listening to Wasting Light and was still completely blown away. Recorded directly to analog tape in Dave Grohl’s garage and produced by Butch Vig, the record is up for six Grammy’s. Also shout out to the creative marketing effort surrounding it’s release using social media and a series of “secret” live shows.

Click Thru for our 11 Best Films of 2011 and a few honorable mentions.

Last year saw a three-headed Cerberus-like film-beast engulf our 10 ten lists, with Nolan’s dreamy INCEPTION (still my pick for #1), A KING’S SPEECH, and of course that Facebook movie that showcased Aaron Sorkin is still one of the most important writers in the game.  Instead 2011 seems to have more variety, more choices, and more opinions then 2010.   It felt like a true sports filled year with Moneyball capturing everyone’s eye and films like Warrior showcasing the newest “MAJOR” sport MMA.  Major filmmakers like Spielberg were back with horses and that darn RIN TIN TIN, Scorsee went all 3d (WHAT!?), Alexander Payne returned from his hiatus, and George Clooney helped Ryan Gosling become even more of the “IT” guy for 2011.   On top of that Andy Serkis truly made an argument for a CGI based character getting a nomination, Michelle Williams brought back Marilyn like never before, Emma Stone followed her “Surprise Golden Globe” love with an even better more defining character in THE HELP, and Documentaries brought out the best of the best!

We’ll start things out with a very quiet and underrated Documentary.

11.Bill Cunningham New York – The ultimate loner has given more to NYC then we ever knew!

A triumph in showing a hermit-like man with a soft and talented side.  I left this documentary, after seeing it at DIFF 2010, being blown away how this small-man with his camera, riding New York on his bike, captured so much more then just the fancy fashion world.  He captured the pomp, the stance, the wealth, the power, the beauty, and the truth of the world’s most dynamic city.  And yet he himself is still such a cloaked figure, such a shy subject, and sadly such a misunderstood person.  It’s a documentary that asks whether the people that “cover” or “report” on things deserve their own respect and coverage.  Bill Cunningham certainly deserves the recognition and I hope you give this film a chance because you’ll also find yourself amazed at just all that he accomplished with that camera and that darn bike.

10.  Warrior – Dear MONEYBALL lovers – STOP IT!

Ok it may seem a bit harsh to throw Brad Pitt under the bus for a good film like MONEYBALL, but i’ve read way to many reviews saying it was a great baseball film and even worse the best sports film of 2011.  NO, it really really wasn’t (Please go to ESPN 30 for 30 to see the best sports on film).  The baseball moments were to magical, and didn’t reflect the actual truth of the games.  The epic 19 game winning streak was the highlight of the “baseball” in the film and it just seemed cheap and glitzy to me.  Where as the fighting, the training and the reality of WARRIOR were all based on how well they showcased the world of MMA.  It might help that the UFC has engrained a certain “style” to things with TV shows like “The Ultimate Fighter”.   Overall all though the MMA world is still very misunderstood sports entity.  It has neither the recognizable history of boxing or the beauty of the other major sports.  Its brutal, its violent and it embraces both those elements with every fight.  The beauty though is in the true athletic feats and intelligence behind the training.  We’ve seen how important it is to be “well-rounded” in the sport of MMA.  Its not just the biggest-baddest fighters that win because they can CRUSH people.  No the sport utilizes some of the world’s oldest martial arts to give advantages to fighters.  It’s so much more the “sweet science” then Boxing ever was or is.  I loved the way in which Warrior showed the “calming” influences of Frank’s way of training. That reality was only possible because of the films ability to work with MMA trainers like Greg Jackson.  The realism in WARRIOR is why its in my top ten and MONEYBALL is not (i’m sorry MAJOR LEAGUE created a more realistic “ball game” then Brad and the Gang.).

9.  The Future-  A talking cat, time travel and Miranda July = SOLID!

Another DIFF film, gotta say James and the Cool Gang sure do pick some quality films!!  The Future showed a meaner and thus more realistic love story then the “cute” ME AND YOU AND EVERYONE WE KNOW.  We get to witness the breakup of a couple, but the film does it through the eyes of a talking “dying” cat, in a cage many miles away from said couple.  The film is unique, different and is totally Miranda July’s voice.  A voice that deserves to be heard more and more!!

8.  Red State- Did 40-year-old Kevin Smith just reinvent himself?  Must have been the Weed.

Ok the line above was a shout out to Kevin’s awesome stand-up about turning 40 (and how he finally tried weed and boy HE LOVES IT!).  Well RED STATE has nothing to do with Bluntman and Chronic.  It doesn’t have Jason Mewes in it and no Ben Affleck doesn’t have a cameo.  Instead Kevin gives us a tense, difficult, and misunderstood world.  Michael Parks gives easily one of the best performances of the year and channels Rutger Hauer like no human ever has before! John Goodman‘s character really reflects the country as a whole, I think, and that makes his “choices” so damning.  Kevin Smith has always ruffled feathers (DOGMA ANYONE!!!), said what he feels with no filter, and stood up for his opinions.  It doesn’t really matter if ya like him or not, his latest film is something you wouldn’t have guessed he did.  The film is worth watching just to see a side of Kevin we’ve never really seen before on the big screen.

7.  Short Films – 1. THE STRANGE ONES – A quicker more dark version of Cormac McCarthy’s THE ROAD.  2.  PIONEER – the best darn bedtime story I’ve heard!  3.  THE DUNGEON MASTER – Don’t mess with the nerds of the world!!

I happen to love short films.  I’ve seen at least one “shorts program” at every festival I’ve covered, I’ve even traveled to small town,USA to see the best darn short film festival in the nation (in my opinion – yeah shouting out to the 24fps film festival in Abilene!).  I have the same stance on short stories as I do on short films. They are the most truth-filled elements of literature and film-making respectively.  They are usually the best places to recognize up-and-coming talent both behind and on screen.  They are the easiest to “sit” through when they are bad and more enjoyable when they are good.  They usually allow for more thought after viewing/reading and give the audience a real role in “deciphering” the film/story.  Short films/stories are more then just simple little shorter versions of the “real” stories and films.  They are the the most open, the most daring, and the most interesting pieces of film and story.  These three shorts all impressed me with their own jaw-dropping moments and revelations.  For THE STRANGE ONES its simply one “act” that the Man does to the Boy that changes this simple “road” film into a dark statement piece.  I’ve now seen the film 4 times and each viewing I get goosebumps at the final sequences.  PIONEER continues to show the subtle beauty behind David Lowery’s work.  He’s not afraid to film kids, each of the shorts I’ve seen of his in festival play have had kiddos on screen a lot longer then ol’ Orsen Wells ever wanted to see.  PIONEER though really captures the mystic of our parents “teaching” us lessons.  The back and forth between Will and Myles is just magical.  DUNGEON MASTER has its own fun ironic magic to it.  The humor is dark and the twist is well worth the pain of seeing the “Master” treated so horribly.  Watch out for what you wish for is so true in this short.

6.  My Week with Marilyn- And the Oscar goes to MARILYN…. I mean MICHELLE!

I had the chance to pick the brain of the Director of the film, Simon Curtis.  Simon talked about how they were able to utilize some of the actual locations to really give the film an authenticity.  That’s was is so appealing about the movie itself.  It seems so authentic to Marilyn.  We get to see behind the cloak of one of Hollywood’s most misunderstood figures.  It’s a very fun and entertaining look with a underlying darkness to it with what we all know happened to Marilyn.  The film doesn’t try and make any drastic statements or go beyond the “week”, instead it gives us a full complete look at how Marilyn came and then left London with as big as bang as anyone could have wished.  Michelle Williams is worth the price of admission alone!

5.  Pariah – Why can’t we just realize that Gays, Lesbians, and Transgender people ARE PEOPLE!

One of the most powerful films of 2011 showcases how ones sexuality defines us so drastically.  We see in Dee Rees Directorial debut one of the most bold and ballsy films about “coming out”.  The movie has a poetic element and the final poem of the film will make you tear up…in Joy for this girl.  Dee Rees isn’t just a new director she’s a new freaking force!  The Lone Star International Film Festival was awesome enough to bring Dee to Fort Worth Texas to showcase her film.  Listening to her discuss being able to showcase this story makes her proud.  Well, Dee watching your film makes us thankful you had the courage.  A moving film that will have you discussing the importance of being honest and true to ourselves about what is really important in life.  POWERFUL!

4.  Super 8- J.J. Abrams created his very own Goonies film.

J.J. Abrams has brought us so much over the last decade.  Whether you like his TV endeavors or his constant love of Sci-Fi on the Big Screen.  You might be excited or even afraid of him re-igniting the Enterprise, but without question SUPER 8 is a perfect homage to all that is great about Steven Spielberg.  I felt like a kid again watching this film = Success.

3.  Drive – Forget Ryan Gosling, Albert Brooks is where the gold is at!

I love the kick ass jacket with the scorpion (I mean I am a Scorpio – even after “they” changed the dates).  I love the kick ass soundtrack.  I love the kick ass driving in the film.  I love the opening chase ending at a Lakers game.  I love many things about Drive.  Mainly and most importantly is the single darkest role of the year.  Albert Brooks was smart, vile, mean, cruel and the perfect over-the-top Villain for Nicolas Winding Refn epic film.  Its easily the coolest film of 2011.

2.  The Descendants – O where the hell have you been Alexander?

This film had a lot going for it.  Wonderful screenplay that showcases the beauty and history of the 50th US State.  Excellent acting from George Clooney, Beau Bridges, and Robert Forster.  Great introductions to young stars Shailene Woodley, Amara Miller, and Nick Krause.  Its a really tragic story with a heartbreaking twist and yet the pace of the film is almost perfect.  There isn’t a moment that lags or a scene that doesn’t feel right or important.  Their isn’t anything drastic or over-the-top and so it all seems plausible and thus even more heartfelt.  George’s most human role maybe ever.  Alexander Payne is easily one of the finest Writer/Directors right now and his bold look into human characters is refreshing, funny, and resonates for quite a long time.  One more shout out to the lovely folks at LSIFF for bringing Nick back home to Texas.

1.  Buck – The epitome of a true gentleman.  Meet Buck Brannaman.

Simply the most heartwarming film of 2011.  Minus the Horse Whisper elements, the sheer guts and intelligence Buck Brannaman showcased in wanting to “train” horses in a less violent manner should be a lesson for all of mankind.  Buck is a really amazing man.

Honorable Mentions:

3. The Help

A lot of powerful performances that need to get recognized.

2. Win Win

Simply my favorite Writer/Director over the last decade has been Tom McCarthy.

1. Being Elmo: A Puppeteer’s Journey

An inspiration to everyone in the form of a little red puppet.  Incredible!

This Tuesday December 27th the We TV network premieres its new show, “Texas Multi-Mamas”.  PSD was able to chat with one of the show’s families.  Click thru for our roundtable interview preview with Ryan and Teryn Todd.

Here is our chat with Ryan and Teryn Todd about the show, their 4 children, and about the struggles of having a multiple birth.

From WeTV website:

“WE tv’s new series Texas Multi Mamas, premiering Tuesday, December 27 at 8|7c, is an energetic look inside the lives of a group of Texas women with big personalities, staunch opinions, and wild lives as they support each other in their moms of multiples group.”

For more information on the show visit, WeTV.

For more information about Teryn and her family, watch the show’s Teryn Todd preview.

Kicking off our 2012 Sundance Bound Series we like to introduce you to Writer/Director Kat Candler and her film Hellion.

Here is our email chat with Writer/Director Kat Candler.

Kat Background Questions:

1.  “Dear Fellow Scorpio”, j/k.  Gotta start every questionnaire with the simple, Where are you from?

Yep, Scorpios are kind of rad.

I grew up in Jacksonville Beach, FL where I went to a nerdy academic magnet school, Stanton College Preparatory for my entire junior and high school career. Some of the best memories of my life. I started college at Emerson College as an acting major but lasted a few months before I ditched the Boston weather and acting degree (which felt like bad therapy) for Florida State and a creative writing degree. While in Tallahassee, I deejayed at V-89 (the college radio station), I sang in a not-so-great indie rock band called Jake Ryan and I paid rent by selling movie tickets at Oak Lake 6 where all the film school kids worked.

2.  Tell me what’s it like living and working in Austin?

Living and working in Austin is kind of amazing. I’ve been here for 14+ years and it’s home. The people are nice, the film community is fucking awesome. I’m proud to have grown up with so many talented filmmakers in the Austin and even the Texas film scene. I think what makes it so special is that every one has such a unique and truly distinct voice. And we all rally behind each other and try to do what we can to support each others efforts … whether it’s using someone’s house to shoot, contributing to Kickstarter campaigns or working on each others projects. It’s a great place to balance life and making movies with such good-hearted people.

3.  When did you decide to jump into the world of teaching and how has that changed you as a filmmaker?

I kind of fell into teaching. People asked me early on to do workshops here and there even though I was a baby at it and didn’t quite know what I was doing. But I quickly realized I kind of loved teaching. Maybe it’s in my blood, I don’t know. My mom and grandmother were both teachers. Music mostly. I think teaching at UT has probably helped me grow exponentially both as a filmmaker and a storyteller. Because I had to know what I was teaching and never went to film school, I went back and started studying again. You should never stop learning and growing. And teaching shoved me back into that world. And then I’m just constantly inspired by my kids. It’s such a joy experiencing films and stories through their fresh, wide eyes. There’s a genuine enthusiasm and excitement that they have that’s infectious. I definitely feed off of it.

Your Films:

4.  “I really, really Love Rocky Road Ice cream,” what a great Introduction to your blog!  I’m curious what first inspired you to write and direct films?

I actually just ate Rocky Road Ice Cream for dinner. It’s so sad. I’m not one of those people who can pin point that moment I wanted to write and direct movies. I think it was a combination of so many things: My mom and dad bringing home a skyscraper stack of VHS every weekend as a kid. Or my dad skipping work over the summers to take me and my brother to see The Goonies or Labyrinth or The Secret of Nimh.  I worked in a movie theater from age 15 all through college. And then in college, I got pulled onto the FSU film school sets and discovered how movies were actually made. That’s when I fell in love and realized it wasn’t rocket science. After college I moved to Austin to make movies. Whatever that meant.

5.  Your films seem to have a lot of children/teens in them, what is it about “Youth” that is so appealing?

I’m a total sucker for youth. Probably because I’m stuck in it. I have diaries filled with first kisses, band practices, River Phoenix obsessions, such crazy heightened emotions about what someone said during lunch or a note that a boy wrote that may or may not mean that he liked me. I don’t know, it’s just a more interesting time to me. Everything’s so new and fresh and huge. Like so huge. All of my memories growing up are very vivid and rich. There’s a pure romanticism about youth and I love it.

6.  Can you explain your writing style and how you first approach starting a script?

My writing style has surely evolved over the last many years. I might start with a plot point, a character, a scene or a nugget of an idea. But I flesh it out in a pretty intense outline and heavy character sketches. They can range from 10-30 pages. Then I toss that outline into Final Draft and accordion it out with dialogue and description. Then comes the fun part … revisions. I typically get up to ten or so drafts of a script. That’s when it’s no longer crap and gets good. The skeleton and spine solidify in the first few drafts, but I think most of the magic happens in the ninth or tenth draft.

7.  I really enjoyed  Love Bug a lot.  Are you partial to turtles, I have a huge love of them is why I ask (the turtle mouth open was AWESOME!)?  What are the hardest parts about working with such young talent?  And vice versa what are the elements of shooting children that you enjoy?

Love Bug was a scene from a family comedy feature I wrote called The Spider in the Bathtub. I was going to the Tribeca All Access program in 2009 with the script and wanted to bring something to show what the film would be– stylistically– the colorful, weirdo world. The open mouthed turtle was actually my editor Nick Walker’s doing. He’s a comedian outside of film and he brought little things like that to the table that made it pop. I feel like I’ve always worked better with kids than adults. Again, going back to being stuck in my youth, maybe? I think the hardest part is finding the right kids. I can’t work with kids who don’t “have it”– if that makes sense. It’s kind of impossible to pull a performance out of a kid who doesn’t get it. Who can’t be honest in the moment. But the fun is finding those kids who do get it. And trust me, you know. Then it’s about treating them professionally and working with them like you would an adult. They’re smarter than we give them credit for. But they’re also less jaded and less aware. They’re just kind of in it.

Being on set with kids is just fun. Plain and simple. All the stress and hard decisions get balanced with their playfulness. It’s about making something special while having a good time doing it. It’s about exploring, discovering and just enjoying the process.

Hellion:

8.  Why shoot in Georgetown in particular?

The summer we shot Hellion was a summer of horrible fires in Texas. So there was a burn ban and eventually a “declaration of disaster”. With a burn ban you can get permission through a city and fire department to shoot but with a declaration of disaster it’s just not going to happen. Period. Because we had a fire we had to ride it out and hope the declaration would be lifted. Thank god it was. We were lucky to work with Georgetown (not far from Austin) because they were just so sweet and welcomed us with open arms. And our locations person, Drew Saplin (and his grandmother) found the perfect house by just driving around and going up to people’s doorsteps and talking to the homeowners. And it truly was the perfect house. We lucked out big time.

9.  I love the tone you all go for with your Indie Go Go Campaign video.  How would you describe your sense of humor with this film and the tone you’re trying to showcase?

We had a blast making those videos and will make more along our Sundance/Park City journey. They’ll air online as our video blog. Our friends are dumb and goofy. We like to do dumb shit.Hellion definitely took quite a turn tonally from script to screen. It was interesting how it shaped itself through the process but I just went along with it. On the page it has more of a Love Bug quirky tone, but when we started pre-production things got much darker. It rides a fine line between comedy and pretty dark drama. I hope it works. It’s interesting because different generations react to it differently. It’s hard to talk too much about it without giving it away. I’ve gotten everything from “I love it!” to “I don’t know how to feel about it” to some people even crying. Or my nine-year old nephew saying, “That’s really really weird.” It’s a strange film, but at the heart it’s got my “Kat Candler” stamp all over it.

10.  What was it like working with Jonny in this film and can you tell us a bit about his character.

Man, I love Jonny Mars so much. I think he’s one of the best actors in Austin, maybe Texas. He was a friend first so it was super easy working with him. He has fantastic instincts and it just seems to come so natural to him. I’d work with that guy on anything. The story is loosely based on my mom’s three younger brothers and my grandfather. My grandfather was a pretty hard-edged man. He was frightening one moment and super gentle and loving the next. So it was finding that balance in a single dad struggling to raise three troublemaking boys. I think Jonny nailed it.

11.  Kids, Fire, and Parental Guidance Lacking – What was the atmosphere like for this film?

The atmosphere was a lot of fun. I think/hope everyone had a great time. When I teach my film classes, I emphasize a handful of things over and over … story, professionalism and kindness. Sets shouldn’t be screaming matches or miserable places. It’s about working with people who are super talented who have good hearts. I like to hand pick who I allow on our sets. I’m always asking, “Are they nice?” Especially when you have kids around. You have to make sure you set a good example and protect them. We only had a few complications … a broken toe, a singed leg … I think that was it. Everyone got out alive. And did an amazing job. I got lucky with a bad ass crew.

12.  Music wise can you talk about the score and how it impacts the film.

I LOVE THE MUSIC SO MUCH! Some of my Dallas friends recommended Curtis Heath who’s in The Theater Fire up in Fort Worth/Dallas area. He’d scored a few friends’ films. I basically told Curtis “80s thrash metal”. I wanted a score that matched the madness and chaos of these kids. Curtis immediately got it on his first pass. We did a few tweaks here and there and what he came up with in the end … it was perfect.

13.  I love that you have David as your editor.  Both of you as writer/directors have thrown the old adage of “DON’T work with Animals and Children” out the window!  Was it David’s experience with children in his films that attracted you to him editing this one?  Can you also talk about what the post process was like and when did you decide this is the final cut to start sending out to festivals?

David and I go way way back … 1999, I think. He’s one of my early early film friends that I’ve grown up with. And I think we understand each others sensibilities pretty well.I went to David because first and foremost he understands story through and through. So our discussions were mostly involving character arcs and beats in the story. He got the film. He brought a lot of magical moments to the table.

I’m very much about workshopping both scripts and rough cuts. We did several “rough cut” screenings with trusted friends and some random folks to see what was working and what wasn’t. We cut out an opening scene that was slowing it down (David’s idea). We trimmed and shaved and got it pretty damn tight. And then when we brought the music into the timeline– and that just was like, “holy shit”.

14.  SUNDANCE TIME – What was that phone call like and how has that one call already “changed” things for you?

It was a Wednesday night around 9pm the day before Thanksgiving when Kelly called me. It was one of those moments you just kind of “know”. I literally fell to my knees and started crying. I kept telling Kelly, “Shut up. Shut up. Shut up!” and weeping. It was pretty fucking awesome. A month later, I still walk around the house saying, “I got into Sundance.” At this point, my husband has gotten pretty annoyed with me, “I got into Sundance” … “Oh my god! I know.” But he’s crazy proud.Maybe it’s like having sex for the first time. You definitely feel different. You feel legitimized. It’s really really nice.

I’ve gotten a ton of sweet emails and calls from friends, family, managers and agents … I don’t know. I’m hoping it’ll help get my next feature off the ground next year. I just want to keep making movies. And I got lots of ‘em to make!

15.  I love that you blasted the fact that you’ve been to Park City before (on twitter) – What are you most looking forward to doing or seeing at Sundance?

I’m excited to see movies and meet more of the other filmmakers. I was there in 2001 to watch movies and I had so much fun.

Probably my most anticipated film this year is Beasts of the Southern Wild. I’m a huge fan of Glory at Sea and all of the short films from Court 13 Pictures. There’s such imagination and freshness to everything they do. I’ve been following Beasts for a while, just waiting …

Stay Tuned for more of our Sundance Bound Series in the next few weeks!!!

Firefighter, Motivational Speaker and Author Teran Moore took part in a roundtable interview earlier this year.  Teran’s first foray into writing lead to SAVED BY THE FLAME his heartwarming personal story.  Click thru to listen to the interview and find out more about Teran Moore.

“Why is it when a young boy sees a fire engine screaming down the road with lights and sirens blaring, he is in awe and dreams about being one of those firefighters? Of course it looks cool and exciting, but why is it even through our adult years, we still hold those that ride the big red truck in such high regard? It’s very simple. It is because of the pride, the honor, and the traditions they hold in such high regard.”

Teran is very reluctant to call himself an author because he’s so proud of his “day” job.

He talked about the culture shock it was to become a firefighter.

Teran tells the story of how he got his book deal.

Teran talks about a key audience he hopes to reach with his story.

Teran tells the story of purposing to his wife and how it showed to him the reality of being part of a brotherhood.

Teran discussed one of my favorite moments from the book.

The amazing part of this story is the fact that Teran Moore has MS and he has a very powerful position on overcoming the struggles of MS.

Teran sums everything up.

Find out more about the book, Teran and his upcoming speaking engagements on the SAVED BY THE FLAME Facebook Page.

A look at how 2011 is going to round out at some of PSD’s favorite locales, newest finds, and old haunts!

What a pretty smile you have!

We’ll start things out with a new find, Oral Fixation, Dallas’ newest live storytelling series. Up next how about land-sharks…ok not them but how about REAL ones!!!

What big TEETH you have!  At the Dallas Museum of Nature and Science you can extend your love of “Shark Week” by educating yourself even more!!  Great for all ages by the way!!

It wouldn’t be a PSD calender round-up if we didn’t check in with some staples.  Up first how about what those fellas at the Texas have coming up!!  This Wednesday Nite check out the RUN LOLA RUN – 35mm Print!!!!!  Show starts at 9:20, but go ahead and come early to catch one of the final screenings of TOM TYKWER’S 3 (forget Shame, this is the “hot” movie to check out!).

And then COME BACK the next night to catch the one true Willy Wonka.

Sorry JD, but its GENE!!!

Check out all the Texas Theatre listings, here.

Lets end things with the same folks we teased you with in the opening.

There’s just nothing quite like the Big Red Machine!

The Winspear folks have been mighty busy.  Charlie Daniels and Linda Eder this past week and now they invite these quirky comedians!!

O yeah and they’ve added a 3rd(!!!) showtime just for you late night folks (seeya there!).  Tickets can be purchased, here.

And now for the 2011-12 Broadway series to kick off, NEXT WEEK!

There can only be one man to lead the charge and that man is Jean Valjean!!!

You’ve not seen Les Mis like this, its the 25th Anniversary and simply put this is the one show you CAN NOT MISS!  It runs from December 21st thru to New Years!

Get your tickets, HERE!

And those Winspear folks just keep the good news a-coming!  Just added to the Modern Family Panel…

Modern Family show Co-Creator/Executive Producer Steve Levitan has just been added to the Panel with Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Ty Burrell, Eric Stonestreet.

Also Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Eric Stonestreet are going to be highlighted by Barbara Walters on her annual “10 Most Fascinating People” which airs this Wednesday (December 14tyh) on ABC.