Film Joe Swanberg: Mumblecore’s Soft Spoken Saint

April 2, 2009 - 9:23 am

Joe Swanberg’s first feature, Kissing on the Mouth, cost a mere $1,200 and his expectations for it were realistic.  He thought a few people might kind of like his little movie.  Joe didn’t expect his heart-wrenchingly realistic autopsy of male/female relationships to spawn a style that quickly evolved into a movement known as “Mumblecore.”

Mumblecore is indie films’ tastiest flavor and it’s about to emerge onto the shores of the mainstream.  Swanberg’s latest, Alexander the Last, premieres at SXSW and, in a bold move by distributor IFC, will bypass theatrical distribution and debut as VOD (video-on-demand) for anyone with internet access to see.

Joe reminisces fondly about film, fun and South by…

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Film Filmmakers Sound Off on South By

March 15, 2009 - 4:11 pm


The annual trek to Austin, Texas in March for the SXSW Film Festival has been made by many notable filmmakers.  And once they take in the sights, sounds and culture permeating Sixth Street, they are hooked.  In fact, after losing their SXSW virginity, many make movies they plan to take to what is becoming the festival world’s most desirable destination.

Having covered SXSW and attended as a filmmaker a few years myself, I can attest to the fact that while other festivals are necessary for business, this one offers all the networking of those other festivals with more friendly fun than can be packed into days that seem to blur together.  A simple math equation might explain this best:
Great Films + Parties + Tex Mex + Texas Women + College Town + Local Brews – Pretentious Hollywood Attitude = The Best Fest in the West

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