The Stars at night are big and bright

...deep in the heart of Texas, and musics and movie stars are coming together this week for the annual rite of Austin Spring. SXSW.

Austin seems to heat things up and I 'm not just talking about the man. Austin Texas has been on the scene stirring things up in the music and movie industry for years. South by Southwest (SXSW) started in 1987 as a way to connect this what happening in this central Texas city to the rest of the world.

There is Texas, and then there's Austin.

It is it's own place unlike any other in Lone Star State. Austin is mix of influences, experiences and outlooks, meshing and blending into something totally unique. From the influences of the UT community, the role of being the capital of Texas and a long history of a party town, ( heck, General Custer's troops enjoyed their party spirit after the Civil War in the area that is now around 4th and 6th street) this cosmopolitan city deep in the heart of Texas has become an influence in developinIg and discovering new talent in both music and movies. And SXSW has been a huge part of that.

White Stripes, Franz Ferdinand, Bloc Party, Amy Winehouse, Arctic Monkeys, Lily Allen, Wolfmother, The Hives, The Strokes, and even the Flaming Lips have all had shows at SXSW that propelled them into music stardom.

In 1994 SXSW added film to the music and created a one two punch cultivating local talents and showcasing national and international films at the same time. This year the film line up has over 250 films with 64 having their world premiere and representing a world of extremes.

Some of the high profile movies this year include: Kimberly Peirce’s Stop-Loss (with Ryan Phillipe), Nicholas Stoller’s Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Martin Scorsese’s Shine A Light (Rolling Stones movie), Grant Gee's Joy Division, Aaron Rose & Joshua Leonard’s Beautiful Losers, Morgan Spurlock’s Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden?, Julian Schnabel's Lou Reed's Berlin and the festival’s Closing Night Film, Stephen Walker’s documentary Young@Heart. (Senior's choir covering some of the rock, rap, and classics. --and there not high school seniors we're talking about).

It shows that the arty vibe of the city of Austin, an undoubtedly some of SXSW influenced and shaped Austin, to the funky approach to life and acting, how could it not. While you think this is all about Austin, think again, this year Jake has a more than just a Nichol's worth of interested in this year's SXSW. Jake is connected to the documentary piece Crawford, a look at President George W. Bush and the effect of him moving to small town Crawford TX. Jake sits on the advisory board with fellow Vineyarder's Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen.

SXSW has become a major player in the entertainment scene as well as bringing not only exposure to this Texas center of live music and thriving community, but over $43 million in revenue to the city last year.

There is so much that is going on at SXSW you have to check it out for yourself.

SXSW

SXSW Insider's Guide

Walk The Line

It seemed like a perp walk outside the hotel yesterday. Leaving in front of the hotel in the rain on the street side, rather than leaving around the back at the service entrance.

Top Ten Reason to Leave the Hotel Out the front.

10. Driver got lost - GPS went down.

9. Needed to tip the doorman

8. SUV traffic jam in back of the hotel

7. Avon didn't call ( rim shot)

6. Wanted to pick up some gum and maybe some postcards.

5. Didn't steal the towels so we could this time.

4. Researching if New York wet pavement new Avon fragrance sensation

3. Someone just needed to walk through the lobby one more time.

2. Heads --service entrance Tails -- out the street.

And the number one reason ...

Free PR: Bringing the LumberJake look to NYC.

Nichol'd and Dimed

Recession, the value of the US Dollar falling, Gas prices rising.... needing all your spare change to get by. You don't think you can get much for a nickel these days... but maybe you can.

Talk about losing your shirt - it never looked this good.

Damn inflation, this Nichol is giving more than a quarter's worth.


Jake might be doing the whole Bright Lights Big City thing right now , but you know this is the Nichol(s) tour he really wants to be on.




Wonder if he asks "Brother can you spare a dime".

Maybe he gets a discount, but betcha he is more than willing to pay in full.

Talk about rubbing two nickels together.



Pictures: Austin Media (l)
Austin Nichols Journal (r)

If It's Tuesday It must be Brooklyn

Early Run with Chris.
Grab the Times, head over to hotel -- service entrance , up to room

Suit up (too warm for plaid flannel)--another day. Another list with a post it attached. " Hold doors open, do not run ahead."

Breakfast on own.

Stand outside Today show until Al spots us. Meredith ---hrumph!
(Sneak over to Dean and DeLuca for a little shopping and coffee.)

Race over to Good Morning America. Let's Diane see us. (What! Sam's on location...damn)

Ride around looking discreet, past the Insider offices, (3 times) (call A)

More Shopping again. (Look for Austin, and yeah Mom, Dad, Mags and Peter, Ramona) (remember no running ahead, look interested, hold doors)

Make sure they stop at SEW 229A Mott St., nr. Prince St; 212-686-1630
(A: 15 1/2 37 sleeve fitted )

Ben Sherman between Broadway & Mercer

Park & Ronen (swim trunks...)

Lunch - Sfoglia 1402 Lexington Ave.; Text Kim and Evelyn, check in about preproduction for Nailed.

Prep for UN thing. (Call Nat) (bring id for security screening)

UN Speech (bring crossword puzzle, sit in back, can you txt in there?)

Car over to Brooklyn. (whew)...check out Hollander & Lexer, Boerum Hill, (vintage watches, tie bar?) Run by Mag's & Peter's chill out call A for a bit, wander around Park Slope, grab something to read for the car rides, get a coffee, call Michelle.

Back over the Bridge. Change for dinner.

Negotiate walk about for tomorrow ( 4 blocks, 2 smiles, )

Dinner at the Waverly (paps alert)

Back to Hotel

9:00 pm the rest of the night is mine! Back out the service entrance. Back to the Village.

Half? Quarter? Eighth of a Nelson?

Little more brotherly than wrestling hold , Jake shows his round the neck with sister Maggie back at the premiere of Secretary at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2002. Even here it doesn't read either natural or a comfortable position but more "one more picture smile" . Not the relaxed Gyllenhaal sibling embraces we have seen at other times.


Seems to be more of a Texas hold'em move. But who would know about that? Hmmm.










Has to be low blood sugar or late for a reservations right? Couldn't be anything else could it?

Seems that Jake and Reese downtown tour included dinner at Prune. A tiny chef owned restaurant, with a homey feel, Gabrielle Hamilton and most female kitchen crew create hearty, elegant and seasonal New American cuisine. Prune has gotten rave reviews and even warmed the culinary cackles of cantankerous chef Anthony Bourdain. Definitely a Jake kind of place.

Out Spotlight XV

Today's spotlight focuses on another Hollywood actor, who you might say is the flip side of William Haines, our Valentine's Out Spotlight. Ramon Novarro was also a silent screen star who successfully transitioned to talkies. He worked at MGM, along with Billy Haines during the '20s and '30s. Novarro was from Mexico and moved to L. A. with his family to escape the Mexican revolution. Novarro was the first Latin Hollywood star. His biggest successes were the films Ben-Hur and Mata Hari.

Novarro was gay, and struggled with it mightily. He was not comfortable with it like Haines was. Novarro was Catholic and worked to reconcile his faith and his sexuality. He never seemed at ease. Novarro did move in the same circles as Haines, and Novarro's sexuality was fairly well-known, for much of the 1920s. Novarro had a significant relationship with his publicist, Herbert Howe, that was alluded to in the fan magazines. The gossips wrote about Novarro not being married, never having a girlfriend, and spending all his time with his family and his publicist. In the early '30s, when Hollywood and the country became much more conservative, Novarro became reclusive. Louis B. Mayer also tried to force Novarro into a lavender marriage. Novarro refused. In 1935, MGM let him go, the same year Mayer pushed Billy Haines out.

Novarro, unfortunately, did not have the ability to reinvent himself like Billy Haines. He also did not have a strong long-term relationship to support him. He became more reclusive and drank heavily. The only sexual contact he would allow himself was from hustlers he picked up in the street. Novarro did some character acting after 1935 and always hoped for a comeback. This was not to be. On October 30, 1968 Novarro was brutally beaten to death in his home by two hustlers he had hired for sex. They believed Novarro had a large sum of money in the house, but this was not the case. The men would not believe Novarro when he denied having money and killed him. They left his house with $20 they took from his bathrobe. The two men were caught and convicted but were released fairly quickly. Both picked up new charges (none as serious as Novarro's murder) and were re-incarcerated. The two men have done more time on their less serious charges than they did for Novarro's murder.

What is interesting to me about Ramon Novarro is that during the '20s he was out and was even in a relationship. Then, in reaction to the new conservatism of the times, he attempted to go back into the closet, but he was not willing to go all the way. He had to know that when he refused a lavender marriage, it would be all over for him, just like it was for Billy Haines. But refuse he did. A brave act. And a sad life. RIP, Ramon Novarro.















Picture from ramonnovarro.com

A Poll For Your Attention

One vote per computer. You will notice that two of Jake's most important movies are missing from this poll. That's because I'm trying to make this hard for you! Also, which of these movies have you not seen?