The cultural scene in Austin is more alive now than it’s ever been. Or, perhaps it’s better to say that it’s as alive as it’s ever been, because although it would be hard to compete with its own past, it has maintained a steady pace of incredible activity for a few decades. There’s no signs of it slowing down, either, making it a perfect weekend jaunt for young creative people wondering if the next big thing might be happening here. The hotel options are excellent , and there are plenty of great options for food all around town.
The big draw is the culture, of course, with a wide array of choices in mainstream and alternative entertainments in visual art, performance, music, naturally, and also film. Its reputation is secure in the indie market when it comes to film, and the SXSW festival continues to put it square on the map, but there’s also a long history here for larger budget films as well.
With films of another generation, like Raggedy Man, Gator, and Honeysuckle Rose , filmmakers knew that there was a certain local appeal here. It was possible to make movies that had an authentic Texas feel, but the town also offered a certain kind of cosmopolitan feel that made it particularly attractive to casts and crews. It’s not just a great place for backdrops that speak to an American West, but it’s also a fine place to hang out after the shooting is over for the day.
The next generation really opens up with Richard Linklater who somehow, unbelievably, managed to cross over into the mainstream with films that have a deeply alternative approach and point of view. Slacker managed to slip into the stream and started a wave of interest in Austin culture in general. Added to this, it also opened the doors to other films, including his own growing body of work, with films like A Scanner Darkly, and Waking Life, all made here, and all reflecting overt or subtle local sensibilities.
Michael, Spy Kids, and Miss Congeniality are also mainstream films that are made here, and the diversity of styles and audiences for these films only gives more credibility to Austin as a place that can indeed represent a wide swath of culture and cultures. Of course, there are always more films on the way, and visitors here might find themselves wandering onto a film shoot, and rubbing elbows with stars and the next wave of geniuses in the film industry.
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