update

So, now that THAT's out of the way...I guess I'll have to change the name of this thing to something more relevant. Like "Continued Delusions", or "I Should Be Working, Actually".

I must say, this whole process has been enjoyable - from intitial excitement, to high expectations, sheer mind-numbing boredom, wretched excess, and numbing reality, we all managed to begin, execute, and actually finish a project (or projects). And that's saying something, I guess, in a feel-good-we're-all-winners-social-promotion-kinda way.

Educational? Sure. As President Reagan once said, famously, "mistakes were made." And no doubt we all have learned from those, and can go on to make newer, larger, more expensive mistakes in the future. But we won't make those exact mistakes again.

Actually finishing a project gives you the confidence to begin another, and in that spirit I now have two in the works - a music video and possible documentary, about my pals The Paranoids, a great Austin garage-rock band who recently reunited after six years and are recording a new album.

And the other nascent project, currently bouncing around the film salons of South Austin, will probably be a short comedy film with Potter (star of both "Dry" and "Making 'Dry'"), exploring the world of low-rent, putt-putt golf courses in modern-day Austin. Hopefully I'll just be handling the camera on that one, and Paul, now a father and thus increasingly homebound, will serve as editor.

I know you can hardly wait.

shocking news!

Well...can't say this was a big surprise. The submission fee was probably the biggest waste of $20 that Paul or I have ever spent, and would have been more wisely used for something useful and practical, like, say, two lap dances at Expose happy hour. Or something.

"Dear Jeff,

We did not select 'Making "Dry"' for screening at this year’s South
by Southwest (SXSW) Film Festival.

This year, SXSW has received more film submissions than ever and the
overall quality is just about the best we've seen. Watching the
submissions makes us realize just how talented so many filmmakers are
in the world today. Unfortunately, this means that we cannot invite
many quality films. We enjoy viewing the projects that filmmakers
submit - please be assured that your film was given full consideration.

Thank you for considering SXSW Film when you chose which festivals
your work would be submitted to. We look forward to viewing any of
your future projects, and we hope to see you at this year’s
Conference and Festival!"