I had the honor of meeting this great man twice - both times exactly how you’d expect him to be. The most undersung of the New Hollywood giants, with maybe the best filmography of them all: GODFATHER I and II, APOCALYPSE NOW, TENDER MERCIES, NETWORK, THE CONVERSATION, THE APOSTLE, TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, and one hell of a career topper with WIDOWS. That’s just scratching the surface.
A few more 2025 memories, vertical style! Some Christmas celebrations with family, hanging out with the PRETTY COOL nephews, donning some homemade Halloween costumes (“I’ve had a few small costumes…”), anchoring the local news, finding friends’ films at the Irish Film Institute, enjoying David Byrne, and, as a bonus, a glimpse of my stunningly accurate impression of the Eiffel Tower while ON THE EIFFEL TOWER (I didn’t know you were allowed to do that!).
Some moments from the last few months! A one-year wedding anniversary drawing for @clairefran , talking with Professor @officiallymcconaughey , a few more @rustylightnin screenings, location scouting, leftover Dublin/Paris memories, and time with the in-laws in Omaha.
I am so thrilled for @strasshola and his beautiful movie THE BALTIMORONS, which opens this weekend just about everywhere (Austin! LA! Omaha!). Go out and support this gem of a movie and get acquainted with your new favorite actor!
Friends in NY! THE BALTIMORONS - directed by @jayduplass and featuring a star-making performance from @strasshola - opens in theaters this weekend! It’s truly one of this year’s best movies - a warm, earnest, and deeply affecting comedy, with Strassner and @lizthelarsen giving us one of recent cinema’s most memorable duos. I cannot recommend it enough - look for all of the Q&As happening around you, and see it opening weekend! (LA and Austin folks - it opens next week!)
A belated, beautiful honeymoon in Ireland and France, and a wonderful birthday celebration, to boot!
Lots of discoveries and mischief on this trip - I happened upon a Parisian video store that deeply resonated with me (#4), Claire stole the Crown Jewels from the Louvre (#6), Claire victoriously returned to the hospital that mended her broken arm in 2019 (#8), I enjoyed a €10 Coke on top of the Eiffel Tower (#10), we communed with the dead at the Catacombs (#13), I fought off half the population of Europe for a glimpse of the Mona Lisa, a painting almost as impressive as the five Da Vincis in the next room that receive paltry attention (#16), Claire made delicious birthday cupcakes (#18), and we had a celebration to remember, both with and without Nabil (#19 - 20).
HOWDY FOLKS! RUSTY LIGHTNIN’ WAS TICKLED BURGUNDY TO SCREEN HIS BIOPIC AT DA @filmoakcliff THIS PAST WEEKEND!! THANKS BE TO @filmfortworth AND DA OAK CLIFF CREW FOR HAVIN’ THIS BROKEN DOWN COWBOY AT YER FEST!
#oakclifffilmfestival #leeharveyoswald #rustylightnin #life
IF YOU NEED TO FIND RUSTY THIS WEEKEND (AND YOU DO!!), HE’LL BE AT DA @filmoakcliff TO SCREEN HIS 7 MINUTE MINI-BIOPIC ON SATURDAY, JUNE 28TH AT 1:15PM! IT’LL BE AT DA @bishopartstheatre - GET YER TICKETS PRONTO!!
Continuing to highlight local arts institutions affected by the cuts to the NEH and NEA (and, by extension, the Texas Commission on the Arts)…
The Paramount Theatre needs no introduction - it’s home to thrilling live music performances, a stellar Summer Classic Film Series, and headliner SXSW and Austin Film Festival screenings. Last year I had the opportunity to work with their Education department - specifically the Story Wranglers residency program, where teaching artists come to elementary schools for seven week residencies to teach students creative writing, storytelling skills, and performance techniques, culminating in a live show in which the Story Wranglers perform the students’ stories for the entire school. As a teaching artist, I got to see firsthand what an incredible impact these residencies have on the students. It’s unconscionable that these are the kinds of programs being affected by the government cuts to arts funding.
To support the program and the Paramount as a whole, become a member, donate, call your elected representatives, and - if you have kids - look to see if there’s still availability for this summer’s Camp Story Wranglers or any other of the Paramount’s summer camps.
HOWDY FOLKS! LONG TIME NO RUSTY! THE MINIATURE VERSION OF MY MAJOR MOTION PICTURE IS SCREENIN’ AT THE 14TH ANNUAL @filmoakcliff IN DALLAS ON SATURDAY, JUNE 28TH! I’LL BE DER WITH SPURS ON! GET YER TICKETS AT DA LINK IN MY BIO!
