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THE
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Noteworthy happenings, reviews and openings that highlight the best of everything Austin has to offer
SXSW 2011
TH E 2011 CO N FE R E N CE The SXSW Music and Media Conference celebrates its 25th Anniversary in 2011! Since their first music-only festival in 1986, which turned out 700 participants, SXSW has grown to produce expanded music, film and interactive festivals (and this year, they are even incorporating fashion!) with over 36,000 participants in 2010. Reaching a quarter of a century of being the biggest and most anticipated convergence of all things music, SXSW is ready to keep the reputation alive by programming the best event yet. Don’t Miss! SXSW 2011 Interactive Keynote Presentations Seth Priebatsch, Chief Ninja of SCVNGR, March 12
OUTSIDE INDUSTRY: COURTESY SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST
Rock and Repercussions You’ve heard the story before: Poor Austin 20-somethings ban together, passionate about an idea, and have the gusto to follow it through with it, usually on a next-to-noth-
The story began in the 1980s when the four founders (current editor and co-founder of The Austin Chronicle Louis Black, Chronicle publisher Nick Barbaro, past Chronicle staffer
Christopher “moot” Poole, Founder of 4chan.org, March 13 Felicia Day, Web Videographer and Actress, March 14
ing budget. Then, that idea takes on a life of its own. There must be something about living here that begets creative ideas that people latch onto, because Austin breeds these stories
Roland Swenson and booking agent Louis Meyers) were living off of tomato soup and pipe dreams of breaking into the music industry; and Austin’s thriving music scene was the
Blake Mycoskle, Founder of TOMS Shoes, March 15 Bruce Sterling, Science Fiction Writer
all the time. And the globally recognized South by Southwest Music, Film and Interactive Conference and Festival is no different.
ticket. Austin musicians felt isolated from the big east and west coast labels and everyone was wondering how to get a foot in the door.
Outside Industry: The Story of SXSW, directed by Alan Berg, will have its world premiere at The Paramount Theatre as part of SXSW 2011. Berg, co-founder of Arts+Labor, directed the Emmy Award-winning short film, South by Southwest: The Business of Music in 1994. For the past
So, they organized what then they considered to be a fun annual gathering of music industry professionals. It is now the biggest music event in the world, incorporating film and interactive conference elements. Of course, like all inspiring tales, this one
fifteen years, the director and his team have been documenting the festival, interviewing SXSW movers and shakers, and scouring SXSW archives and Austin History Center documents in an effort to chronicle the origin and early evolution of the SXSW Music Festival. Co-Founder and Managing director of SXSW, Roland Swenson remarked, “Alan Berg and his crew found footage we didn’t know existed. The story
has its ups and downs. Berg’s film recounts the rise of SXSW’s smothering success and the overwhelming backlash and criticism that came with it while also documenting the unique qualities and characteristics of Austin that played part in its cultivation. Amongst the upheaval, the film also showcases rare footage of legends including Johnny Cash, Iggy Pop and dozens of others. Don’t miss the world
SXSW 2011 MUSIC, FILM,
they tell about the people involved with the birth and growth of SXSW as a cultural phenomenon is complex, nuanced and entertaining.”
premiere, competing in the SXSW Film 24 Beats Per Second category Wednesday March 16 at The Paramount. www.outsideindustrymovie.com
AND INTERACTIVE CONFERENCE AND FESTIVAL March 11–20 www.sxsw.com
and Internet Critic, March 15 SXSW 2011 Film Headliners SUPER (U.S. premiere) starring Rainn Wilson, Ellen Page, Liv Tyler, Kevin Bacon and Michael Rooker Source Code (world premiere) starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Monaghan, Vera Farmiga and Jeffrey Wright The Beaver (world premier) starring Mel Gibson, Jodie Foster, Anton Yelchin, Jennifer Lawrence and Cherry Jones SXSW 2011 Musicians to Watch Josh Ritter Brett Dennen Oh Land
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