Bohemian Cinema By Jonathan Pacheco

SXSW ‘07: Five Lessons Learned

Tags: SXSW, Alamo Drafthouse

Okay, last one about SXSW. My time spent was great and all, but there were some negative side-effects that I figured I’d document in order to avoid them the next time around. To some these are givens, but you know what? I’m not “some.”

1. I Walk This Lonely Road….

   I enjoyed walking through Austin early in the morning with my thoughts to keep me company, and I loved the freedom of being able to do or see anything I wanted at anytime, but soon enough, I was looking for someone to talk to. Next time I attend a big festival, I am taking someone with me. Plus, dark nights and creepy streets are less scary when there’s someone else.

2. Worky Worky, Busy Bee

   The reason I went home so early was because I had an unfinished project hanging over my head the entire stay. I became so anxious that I just decided to bolt literally straight to work. I’m tying every loose end next time, because this was torture.

3. Our Town

   Oh, how many misadventures I could have avoided, and how many more films I could have crammed in if I had known what I was doing. I’m a suburb kid who knows nothing about public transportation, and who’s never been to Austin in specific, so the first few days had me stumbling and learning lessons the hard way.

   Next time, I’m getting to the destination a day early to go through a dry run, as stupid as it sounds. Might save me a few bucks in avoiding parking.

4. Just a Little Bit Longer….

   I stayed for probably less than half the length of the festival, and it was well worth my effort and money. Imagine if I could have stayed the entire time! I plan on planning for the full length of my next festival for the optimal experience.

5. Remember the Alamo

   I am in love with the Alamo Drafthouse. Imagine, a theatre where you can order food in the middle of the film and have it delivered right to your seat. And we’re not just talking about nachos and hotdogs. During my stay I had a 3-cheese grilled cheese sandwich, a “shroomwich,” a yogurt, granola, and fruit breakfast, and more.

   Not to mention that the theater is dedicated to playing obscure and (a lot of times) terrible old films for the hardcore moviegoer. It makes my Dallas theaters look really pathetic, and it’s almost enough alone to convince me to move to Austin.

Overall, I was satisfied because I got what I came for. I saw some great movies in a great city, but more importantly, I was inspired. Good movies and bad movies alike fired me up enough to continue old projects and start new ones. As of now, WIC3 and I are working on two short scripts as well as our feature one, and I even have an idea for a documentary (something I never thought would happen. I just need to find my angle so it doesn’t end up being just like every other documentary of its kind).

Well worth it. Let’s do it again.