What does it mean to play God in the era of artificial intelligence? Does the creation of a new technology mean we know own its future direction? The Artifice Girl, from director and writer Franklin Ritch, examines these questions over three acts. While the film could easily adapt to the stage, the moral questions become … Continue reading SXSW 2023: ‘The Artifice Girl’ Tells a Tale of Evolving Artificial Intelligence
SXSW 2023: ‘Louder Than You Think’ – The Unlikely Story of A Drummer and Pavement
The lo-fi movement in alternative rock did not start with Pavement, but the band quickly earned a spot at the top of the industry. Their breakthrough album, Slanted and Enchanted, became one of the most influential records of the decade. While Pavement would go on to bigger things in the future, the three-piece band featured … Continue reading SXSW 2023: ‘Louder Than You Think’ – The Unlikely Story of A Drummer and Pavement
SXSW 2023: ‘BlackBerry’ Examines the Rise and Fall of a Tech Giant
Many of us had a BlackBerry phone at some point. This author had one for all of high school until the iPhone took over the market. The famed device allowed more forms of communication than any before and helped revolutionize the cell phone world. Yet anyone under thirty may only remember the fall from grace. … Continue reading SXSW 2023: ‘BlackBerry’ Examines the Rise and Fall of a Tech Giant
SXSW 2023: ‘Art For Everybody’ Examines the Downfall of Thomas Kinkade
Nearly every American has seen the work of Thomas Kinkade. The famed "painter of light" became a worldwide celebrity. His work may not hang in many museums, but it became a populist item to collect for millions of Americans. At its peak, his company estimated one in twenty Americans owned a piece of his art. … Continue reading SXSW 2023: ‘Art For Everybody’ Examines the Downfall of Thomas Kinkade
SXSW 2023: ‘Cora Bora’ Lands Big Laughs Amongst Tragedy
How one recovers from tragedy varies by the person. Many try to move on with life, while others attempt to escape everything that reminds them of the trauma. Director Hannah Pearl Utt examines a young woman who loses herself in the aftermath of one such event. Starring a very funny Megan Stalter, Cora Bora asks … Continue reading SXSW 2023: ‘Cora Bora’ Lands Big Laughs Amongst Tragedy
SXSW 2023: ‘Peak Season’ Plays Takes Full Advantage of Its Gorgeous Setting
The comedy about directionless people feeling the pressure of arrested development has been a staple of indie cinema for years. Popularized by films at Sundance throughout the 1990s and 2000s, it has become a reliable method of storytelling. Yet there are stories that can break through the genre for one reason or another. Peak Season … Continue reading SXSW 2023: ‘Peak Season’ Plays Takes Full Advantage of Its Gorgeous Setting
SXSW 2023: ‘Molli and Max in the Future’ – The Sci-Fi Rom-Com You’ve Been Waiting For
Sci-fi rarely gets credit for its ability to cross-pollinate genres. Yet many films in the genre borrow elements from other stories to tell a complete story. It's rare to see a full-fledged rom-com/sci-fi mashup, but Molli and Max in the Future pulls off the challenge. Directed by Michael Lukk Litwak, the futuristic romance takes advantage … Continue reading SXSW 2023: ‘Molli and Max in the Future’ – The Sci-Fi Rom-Com You’ve Been Waiting For
SXSW 2023: ‘Late Night with the Devil’ Combines Historical Fiction and Horror
Mixing and matching genres keeps films fresh. While found footage horror comes in and out of popularity, the mockumentary format opens the door for truly chilling sequences. Adding realism to a story of death and destruction inherently adds to the stakes. Yet Late Night With the Devil changes the format once more. Creating a fictions … Continue reading SXSW 2023: ‘Late Night with the Devil’ Combines Historical Fiction and Horror
SXSW 2023: ‘With Love and A Major Organ’ ‘With Love and A Major Organ’ Shows Heart – Literally
Oftentimes, the best magical realism begins with a simple idea or metaphor. How we communicate those metaphors is very much in question, though. Director Kim Albright and screenwriter Julia Lederer take the idea of "giving one's heart away" quite literally. The resulting sci-fi drama is both a wonderful reflection on the power of love and … Continue reading SXSW 2023: ‘With Love and A Major Organ’ ‘With Love and A Major Organ’ Shows Heart – Literally
SXSW 2023: ‘A Guide to Not Dying Completely Alone’ Shows Promise
What does it take to make a big change in your life? How do you change your circumstances to find a place you belong? Creator Kevin Yee puts these questions front and center of his pilot for A Guide to Not Dying Completely Alone. Set to debut in competition at the 2023 SXSW Film and … Continue reading SXSW 2023: ‘A Guide to Not Dying Completely Alone’ Shows Promise