Tag: Hill Country Film Festival
Dependent’s Day: Hill Country Film Festival review
by Matt Ward
Some of the best independent features start out as expanded versions of short films – made or just planned in the head of the filmmaker. Oscar-nominee Whiplash began as a short film from director Damien Chazelle and Hill Country Film Festival alum Before I Disappear began as an Academy Award winning short film called Curfew. Dependent’s Day, a comedy from writer/director Michael David Lynch … Read More Dependent’s Day: Hill Country Film Festival review
Bear With Us: Hill Country Film Festival review
by Matt Ward
What’s the worst possible way to propose to the perfect woman? Thought of it yet? Odds are whatever you thought of isn’t as outlandish as independent comedy Bear With Us, a hysterical film from director William Stribling and co-writer Russ Nickel. The film had audiences rolling in their seats at last weekend’s Hill Country Film Festival, where Bear With Us took home the prize … Read More Bear With Us: Hill Country Film Festival review
Cut to the Chase: Hill Country Film Festival review
by Matt Ward
Your average Hollywood thriller nowadays costs anywhere from $25-50 million to make. Boosted with formulaic scripts that are some variation of explosion here, car chase there with a half dozen gun battles along the way, there’s little originality left in the genre, especially when you get into the world of half-cooked, rushed to the screen sequels. If the thriller genre is ever going to … Read More Cut to the Chase: Hill Country Film Festival review
Transpecos: Hill Country Film Festival review
by Matt Ward
It’s hard to imagine a more timely independent feature to hit the big screen in 2016 than Transpecos, Greg Kwedar’s dynamic and explosive thriller along the Texas-Mexico border. With homeland security, drug lords and massive wall-building in the news, now more than ever do moviegoers need this film to help them engage in thought provoking discussion thanks to Transpecos’ cinematic world where ambiguity reigns … Read More Transpecos: Hill Country Film Festival review
Wildlike: Indie drama nails frontier Alaska
by Matt Ward
You’ve probably seen Bruce Greenwood in a lot of movies. He’s one of those “Oh that guy” character actors. You know the ones. A friend will say something like “I really liked (NAME OF ACTOR) in that movie I saw last week,” to which the immediate response is almost always, “Which one is he?” Then the friend explains what movies you’ve seen the actor … Read More Wildlike: Indie drama nails frontier Alaska
Night Owls: Hill Country Film Festival spotlight
by Matt Ward
A Chipotle in Beverly Hills wouldn’t seem like the ideal spot for crafting top notch independent comedy, but it sure seemed to work for the writing team of Charles Hood and Seth Goldsmith. What ultimately came from those late night meals/writing sessions was “Night Owls,” which premiered at South by Southwest in March and won the Cinema Dulce (best of fest) award at last … Read More Night Owls: Hill Country Film Festival spotlight
SEC Ready: Hill Country Film Festival spotlight
by Matt Ward
Nobody’s calling the University of Texas the big brother of Texas A&M University anymore. Not that anyone in Aggieland ever did. With the move from the Big 12 Conference to the Southeastern Conference two years ago, the Aggies have officially separated themselves from the perceived shadow of the Longhorns and are well on their way to long term success in the SEC. It’s why … Read More SEC Ready: Hill Country Film Festival spotlight
Mount Lawrence: Hill Country Film Festival spotlight
by Matt Ward
Wake up, bicycle until you can’t really move anymore, set up camp, go to bed, then repeat ad nauseam for the next five and a half months. It’s a formidable challenge for anyone, let alone a filmmaker attempting to chronicle the journey every step of the way, but for Texas native Chandler Wild, it was something he felt compelled to do in order to … Read More Mount Lawrence: Hill Country Film Festival spotlight
Sunny in the Dark: Hill Country Film Festival spotlight
by Matt Ward
Sometimes life gets too tough and you want to shut the world out. Imagine being able to close out everything and everyone as soon as you get home from work, only to realize you’re not as alone you think. It’s the premise for a horror film, right? Not exactly. Try Texas-based independent drama. Dallas-based filmmaker Courtney Ware will bring the Texas premiere of her … Read More Sunny in the Dark: Hill Country Film Festival spotlight
Cinematic Considerations 