Hit Man Austin Premiere, The Paramount Theatre, May 16, 2024.
Richard Linklater’s new film Hit Man staged its Austin premiere Wednesday night at The Paramount Theatre, and on the same night Austin native Glen Powell was inducted into the Texas Film Hall of Fame by Robert Rodriguez. Rodriguez cast a 15-year-old Powell in his first film role, as “Long-fingered boy” in Spy Kids 3: Game Over.
Glen Powell in Spy Kids 3: Game Over, 2003.
Robert Rodriguez and Glen Powell share a hug.
BEAUTIFUL MOMENTS
Powell thanked teachers from kindergarten, third grade, and high school, along with his football coach. He brought them all to the premiere. Mom and dad had some fun on the red carpet.
Screen grab from The Today Show.
This was a family gathering on all sorts of levels, showcasing our city’s homegrown talent. Editor Sandra Adair has worked with Linklater on 20 films. Part of a close-knit group of longtime collaborators — art and set design team Bruce Curtis and Rodney Becker, cinematographer Shane Kelly, producer Mike Blizzard, composer Graham Reynolds, other too numerous to name. The cast features Austin actors Sanjay Rao and Austin Amelio. Rao, who’s great in Hit Man, worked with Arts+Labor on a Dell commercial in 2016. We’re guessing it takes a few more zeroes to book Sanjay now.
It’s all part of a wonderful symmetry. Rick co-founded the Austin Film Society, which tonight will honor Powell at Robert Rodriguez’ Troublemaker Studios. Hit Man will then open wide at the AFS Cinema May 24th. Go see it on a big screen with an audience. It’s that type of movie — popcorn and a laugh.
ART OF THE TITLE
Happy Heat Editor and Arts+Labor Senior Art Director Vicky Andres designed Hit Man’s opening titles, and breaks down her process.
Hit Man Premiere Party, Soho House Austin, May 15, 2024 (L-R) VFX Team Laura Gonima, Vicky Andres, Jared Sosa, Scott Hamilton.
HEAD GAMES
Jared Sosa handled visual effects in Hit Man. What does that mean? Well, as Jared explains “…there’s a courtroom scene. In the take they want to use, one of the jurors is mouthing the script along with the lawyer who’s speaking. So we digitally replaced his head.”
Jared’s most famous face replacement was his BuzzFeed collaboration with Jordan Peele to goof on President Obama in 2018, a digital comedy classic. Jared also has written for Happy Heat on AI, and generally is one of the more creative cats in town. He joined Arts+Labor in 2019. Now he’s off to Chicago. Which is cool, there’s a great filmmaking scene up there. But Austin will miss him.
AUSTIN’S MUSIC ECONOMY, WHERE WE STAND.
Club owner Will Bridges addresses the Austin Tourism Commission, May 8, 2024.
Local entertainment guru Will Bridges spoke this week to the Austin Tourism Commission. Bridges and various partners own Cisco’s, Arlyn Studios, Deep Eddy Cabaret and Pool Burger, and the crown jewel — Antone’s. He also co-founded the Austin Blues Festival. Bridges offered observations that in his words were “a little less data-driven, more based on feel of operating in the market.” A few points to ponder:
WHAT DEFINES A CLUB
“A club is open almost every night of the week, it has a consistent staff and most importantly it has an identity. Most clubs — but not all — have a focus genre-wise, so maybe it’s a rock club or a jazz club or blues club. It gives you a sense of purpose, because integrity comes from what is on the marquee and on the stage. There’s accountability.”
WHAT DEFINES A SCENE
“A scene is the most coveted thing of any music market. It means people going to see live music regularly, at small clubs. That’s important for tourism because so many visitors want to do something authentic, they want to tap into the local nightlife culture. That is where Austin has always excelled.”
THE NEXT STEP
“Austin’s always been about the music, but in order to initiate the next chapter Austin needs to become a city that’s all about the song. We’re already seeing that shift with BMI taking an office here, and more artist representation companies establishing a presence here. We need to support the creative process at its most granular level so we’re investing in the intellectual property, not just the entertainment and performance side of music.”
IT’S CALLED THE MUSIC BUSINESS FOR A REASON
“Growing up in Austin, you know, working at music venue was kinda like a thing you did until you figured out what you really wanted to do. But that can’t be the mindset if we’re going to become a sophisticated music market.”
PRESERVING HOLLYWOOD HISTORY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS
UT’s Texas Performing Arts announced it is launching a one million dollar endowment campaign to support preservation and access to its collection of historic hand-painted film backdrops, from movies including The Sound of Music, Ben Hur and North by Northwest.
Backdrops & Bourbon, Bass Concert Hall, May 1, 2024. Sponsored by Milam & Greene. Photos by Sloan Breeden.
The University’s home to 68 of these paintings, which it calls the world’s most comprehensive educational collection. Learn more here.
WORKING A KENNEDY RALLY
We happen to know a crew member or two, one of whom worked with CSPAN on the live broadcast of Robert F. Kennedy’s rally Tuesday from Brazos Hall. They have some observations that we’ll offer Evil Mopac style…anonymous…along with a few of their snaps. One person’s take from the front line.
Robert F. Kennedy Rally, Brazos Hall, May 13
“Wanna find all the white people? Go to a Kennedy rally. Nearly everyone looked like they came from privilege. A whole bunch of folks who cruise the internet and think they’ve found all the secrets the rest of us missed.”
“It was about alternative medicine. I never heard anything on civil rights, abortion, health insurance, immigration, fentanyl — the stuff the rest of the world worries about. And no mention of Gaza, just an indirect statement that “we need to stay out of all these other wars.”
“The whole thing felt depressingly deja vu — that’s why Roe was overturned, right? Sanders supporters didn’t turn out for Hillary, Trump stacks the Supreme Court. Now it might happen again.”
“The band was all covers. Played a Buffalo Springfield song, which pissed me off.”
HAPPENINGS
PARTY ON THE PATIO AT WHEATSVILLE COOP - 05/16 5 - 8PM: Live music, delicious food, and community fun all on the Guadalupe location’s beautiful patio. For only $12 get an in-house scratch-made Philly cheesesteaks, an ice-cold beverage, and a bag of chips. Vegan and non-alcoholic options will also be available.
GOOD POLLUTION CASSETTE RELEASE & YARD SALE - 05/17 6PM:The only live brand in Austin, GOOD POLLUTION, are releasing their debut cassette before leaving Texas for Philly! Joining them will be harsh noise baddie DROMEZ, dance-inducing carnival performance artist ATTIC TED, New Orleans freak folk puppeteers COOKIE TONGUE, and beloved drag clown embarrassment artist ANDIE FLORES! There will also be a yard sale. The show is free with encouraged donations. Sweet freaks only.
BODY MECHANICS - 05/17 10PM - 6AM: Back in a new industrial warehouse with some legendary guests.... Featuring acts from Texas and Berlin come experience Austin’s underground rave scene. Check out their instagram for more info! @bodymechanicstx 21+ / $20
THE GARDEN WITH ALICE GLASS AT STUBB’S - 05/18 7PM:American experimental rock band The Garden returns to Austin with Alice Glass (you might know her from Crystal Castles). Tickets are still available! Stick around for the after party with Farmer’s Wife.
Go see something, tell us about it, we’ll share more stories next week. Let’s build something together. We’d be forever grateful for your help, and an easy way to do so is by subscribing to the Happy Heat Substack. What comes in goes right back out in artist commissions and live shows. To which you’ll get to come! For the first 100 subscribers, we are offering 20% off forever.
