Alas, it's time to say goodbye...

As far as exciting news, I'll say this: we've sold the film and it will be released theatrically in the fall. I can't go into more details right now, as I don't want to steal the thunder from the official press release, but I think...well, I'll just leave it at that right now. Should be announced in the trades in the next day or two. It's very cool.

Had a great day yesterday and was too busy to blog. Went to the AICN panel and it was a blast. I've been reading that site for years so it was funny to see Harry and the boys get up and tell some war stories. Then I went to see 'Air Guitar Nation" which was awesome, definitely check it out if you can. Then, after a short nap, we met all our old friends at the AFI party. We premiered "Fuck" at the AFI Fest this last year so there was some great karma to being able to thank them for their part in getting our movie out there. I think the film will always be associated as getting picked up at SxSW, which is great, but it was at AFI where we first popped our fuck cherry.

Even though we weren't eligible for any awards, we attended the closing ceremony. It's always cool and inspiring to see others get awards. I love seeing smiles on the faces of filmmakers, because for most of our lives there's just a confused and bewildered look there. Matt Dentler was incredibly nice in giving a special shout out to our film, so if you're reading Matt, thanks man, much obliged as they say here, it really means alot. Then at midnight, we had our second screening and it was packed, we had to turn away a huge crowd. We tried to get a second screening set up, as we had a second tape with us, but it proved to be impossible, so Steve K gave away a huge pile of Fuck shirts and everyone seemed happy.

The screening itself was fun, though the audience seemed a little more subdued than our other screenings. My guess is the midnight hour had taken it's toll, I know it had for me. But almost everyone stayed for the Q&A and had incredibly nice things to say. It's very cool, after you spend so many hours alone in a little dark room editing a film, to see so many people so enthusiastic and laughing. The audiences here at SxSW have been just perfect for our film. It plays again at midnight on Thursday, if you can make it, but I'll be safely home in bed. In fact, I plan to get in bed at 4pm today when I get home and don't plan to get out for about three days.

So, yes, we did our best to keep Austin weird while we were here. I'd like to tell all the other filmmakers that I met in person or through their films that it as a pleasure just to be included with y'all. There was some serious talent and passion on display here this year and I hope you had as great as experience as we had. Rock on, motherfuckers and keep up the good work. And a huge thanks to everyone, from Matt to every last volunteer at SxSW,. You guys offered up a Texas-sized heapin' of luv and it won't soon be forgotten. If Austin-ites are as weird as they say they are, you guys are the fuckin' weirdest!

And so, for now, I'll say farewell. In a few hours I'll board my American Airlines flight and head back to Santa Monica. But I can honestly say it feels like I've found a second home here and hope to be back soon.

Adios, y'all.

First off, let me be the first to break the news that we'll have some very cool news to announce in the next day or so.

It'll make this fest all the more memorable. And it's obviously just not about movie's here. Erykah Badu's show at the "Before the Music Dies" party was simply off-the-muthu-fucka-hook. With a supergroup band that included Doyle Bramhall II, Wendy and Lisa, and DJ Jazzy Jeff, they all had the Austin Music Hall on fire. It was a super-blues-funked-up burst of juke-joint jammming. I think I could watch that girl sing the phone book and still be mesmerized.

Though I have to say that all the movies, the conferences, then the parties and music shows make a boy pretty tired. I feel like I should be doing business during the day, but all can do is look forward to my next Advil. You think with all these fests I''ve been to I'd have learned to pace myself. But no such luck, it's just too much fun. I'll sleep when I"m dead...

Anyways, stay tuned...

It needs to be said - Austin is a great town.

Maybe it's just because I'm happy to be here with the film, but can't just help but smile as I walk along the street. Very laid-back vibe, great music, cool attitude, beautiful woman and everything else. I could seriously consider moving here.

I'm writing this from inside the historic Paramount Theater this morning, waiting for a movie to start. After a long nurse-the-hangover day yesterday I'm feeling much better today and am going to try and see a few movies, go some conferences and check out the trade show just to see what's up. I'm like a film festival tourist in the land of plenty.

The beautiful La Quinta hotel continues to inspire. The tag line, which is placed on every little advertisement in the hotel is "La Quinta - Spanish for...Free Wireless" or whatever little hotel chain perk they are pushing. Now regardless of the fact that there is no wireless on the premises I have appropriated their little jingle as my own and discovered it can be adapted for just about anything, as in "La Quinta - Spanish for...let's do another shot of tequila" or "La Quinta - Spanish for...my head fucking' hurts" or "La Quinta - Spanish for...not The Four Seasons."

I think I'm starting to annoy my friends, but I don't care. I'm smiling.

Gotta go, movie is starting. "La Quinta - Spanish for...Austin is a great town."

Here's a pic of our marquee...

OK, so now I see how this works - this might best be renamed the "morning after hangover blog."

So, I'm lying in bed in the beautiful La Quinta after opening night here at SxSW and my head is still somehow pounding to the beat of the band that played at last nights opening party. Apparently someone, or a few people, seemed to think that tequila was the best drink with which to welcome ourselves to Texas with and apparently I agreed, and, well, agreed, and then agreed some more. Let's just say this is a real welcoming place. At the party I danced for awhile with a local lass whose boob kept falling out of her dress so I guess I can go home now if I want to as I've already seen my share of the local sites. And hey, things are bigger here in Texas.

Had our first screening last night. Went great. Well attended, big laughs and some great questions in the Q&A. People seem to really enjoy our film and it's always great to have such a great audience. It was in the beautiful and huge Paramount Theater, such a thrill to be able to play a movie called "Fuck" in place that's been around since the turn of the century. My favorite memory will be hanging out in the lobby for awhile as the movie played and watching a few of the ushers and usherettes, all of whom seemed to be around since Sam Houston was running for Governor, as they sat in their golden gilded chairs with their hands folded in their laps, trying to somehow ignore the plentitude of "fucks" coming from within the theater. I think they couldn't wait for "A Prairie Home Companion" to start. Very funny.

We tried to sell Fuck shirts in the lobby and sold a grand total of eight. Though I did see a guy who came to the party later wearing one and for some reason it made me so happy I couldn't even begin to explain. Maybe I was just still in my after-boob haze. After the party I wandered Sixth Street for awhile, saw some great local music and hung out in a hip-hop bar where they had monitors that subtitled all the songs that played. It was kind funny to see "Mutha-fucka, mutha-fucka, shake that thing..." written out on the screen.

Today I plan to see a couple films, go down to the Convention Center and see what all the workshops are about and try to get my head ready for another long night. Film festivals are funny that way - even in college I didn't go to parties for seven nights in a row. Maybe they should have tests here every morning to keep everybody honest.

OK, so my head is a little better now. I heard that blogging, Advil and Gatorade have a good effect on this sort of morning malaise. Now I'm going to go down to the breakfast bar where they have make-your-own waffles and see if I can manage to construct some sort of meaningful breakfast...

More to come...I hope...

OK, headed out to Austin in the morning on American Airlines 1182.

Last time I was there, about ten years ago, I was shooting a doc for Japanese TV about the bats that live under the Congress Ave. bridge. Little did I know I'd be back with a film called "Fuck." I hope the bats are still there...I'm guessing they are.

We're playing Friday night at the Paramount right before the official opening night film. With any luck at all, (with apologies to Mr. Altman) the marquee might read "Fuck The Prairie Home Companion." There's also some sweet irony in the fact that the first person who agreed to be interviewed for our film was the aforementioned Mr. Altman, though the interview never did quite come together. The fun fact is that the first fuck uttered in a major studio film was in "MASH." Doesn't seem like all that long ago...

Look, I'm thrilled to be in Austin at SxSW. Audiences across the country seem to really dig our film and I can't wait to play in Texas, one of my favorite places. I'd also like to shout out to my other filmmakers here. I'm sure that some of you are going to prove to be a better blogger than I and I look forward to your dispatches from the front. Please if you see me anywhere, say hey and I'll do the same. I'm looking forward to seeing your films.

If you'd like to see more about our little fuck film, go to www.fourletterfilm.com

And hey, let's all have a couple of beers and go watch the bats while we're there...