Film News

BY JOE O'CONNELL

A hot, scary start to 2008

Usually the winter months mark hibernation for the Texas film industry,
but, perhaps spurred by a combo of the Writers Guild of America strike
on the two coasts and a new film-incentives program, this year it's
smoking hot. Already scouting locations are the retreaders at Platinum
Dunes, who have an unnamed film in the works that most certainly is the
announced Friday the 13th remake and most likely will be shooting
hereabouts by February with Marcus Nispel, who directed the first Dunes'
Chainsaw film. In addition, industry insiders note a spike in inquiries
for films in the $3 million to $6 million range. Speaking of Fridays,
NBC will neither confirm nor deny rumors that if the strike stretches
out, they will keep the Friday Night Lights crew busy by shooting a
couple of pilots for a new series here. An NBC rep did firmly deny
Internet rumors that the series would be picked up by ESPN.

Remember the Alamo

Quietly filming this week on the former The Alamo set in Dripping
Springs is Appaloosa, a Western directed by and starring Ed Harris. Also
in the cast are Renée Zellweger and Viggo Mortensen. The bulk of the
project was shot in New Mexico, but according to New Line, a "climactic
shootout" is lensing here. It's good news for The Alamo set, which has
been sitting idle since filming ended in 2003, save the occasional
commercial shoot and some filming of the low-budget Gary the Tennis
Coach. Harris' crew spiffed up the Mexican town set, something it sorely
needed, says Bob Hudgins, head of the Texas Film Commission. "We're
hoping to save the Alamo," he says, and a couple of more films shooting
there and restoring the set in the process might just do the trick.

'Body of War' on Oscar short list

Ellen Spiro's Body of War has made the short list of 15 docs up for the
Best Documentary Feature category for this year's Academy Awards. Spiro,
a University of Texas film prof, worked with former talk-show host Phil
Donahue on this story of the postwar life of Iraq vet Tomas Young, who
was paralyzed by a bullet to the spine. Spiro's longtime collaborator
Karen Bernstein co-produced the film, and Bernadine Colish edited it.
The five doc Oscar nominees will be announced Jan. 22, with the awards
set for Feb. 24.

And the rest...

Get jingly with it at Reel Women's holiday party from 7 to 11pm, Dec. 3,
at Hi-Lo for a mere $5, and dance/mingle the night away. While you're at
it, bring some new socks, gloves, hats, and blankets to help out those
in need... The South by Southwest Film Conference has paired with ON
Networks for the Greenlight Awards honoring the best digital series.
Submissions will be taken from December through Feb. 15, with the
winners announced during SXSW in March. Look for updates at SXSW.com.

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