happy , texas ( film )
happy, texas | film stories | st. louis news and events | riverfront times
& apos; happy, texas & apos; : two unlikely candidates to win mr. congeniality
park city, utah — a crowd - pleasing comedy called
happy, texas
has become the talk of the sundance film festival - - but it' s not exactly happy talk .
tags: film stories, texas, steve zahn, william h. macy, wayne
happy, texas is a comedy film released in 1999 directed by mark illsley, and starring steve zahn, jeremy northam and william h. macy .
looking for movie tickets? enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing happy, texas near you .
mark illsley, peter harris, alan williams, and emily kaye alexandra patsavas. happy, texas. usa, 1999 .
mark illsley, peter harris, alan williams & alexandra patsavas, e. k. (1999) happy, texas. usa .
rating :
happy, texas
is rated pg - 13 (parents strongly cautioned). it includes sexual situations and some strong language .
of the
happy, texas
sale, elwes said his confidentiality agreement prohibited him from talking numbers, but he called it
the best deal that' s ever been made for an independent film .
a charming fish - out - of - water romantic comedy, the modestly budgeted happy, texas more than makes up in heart what it lacks in splash .
department of radio - television - film the university of texas at austin 2504 whitis ave. stop a0800 austin, tx 78712 - 1067
anybody with a soft spot for fakers, who either identifies with them or just admires their chutzpah, is going to get a kick out of happy, texas .
©2018 austin film festival • austin film festival is a not for profit 501 (c) (3) corporation .
welcome to happy, texas, the town without a frown. yes, apparently there really is a happy, texas. no, they didn' t actually shoot the movie there. but director / co - writer mark illsley' s feature directorial debut is still a fun, funny way to spend an hour - and - a - half of your time .
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for inquiries, contact lauren kelcher stevenson kelcher @ urltoken o 512. 646. 0149 for immediate release austin, texas—march 20, 2018— austin film festival ...
broad curriculum. our curriculum covers both television and feature film writing as well as classes in production, film and television history and media studies .
then, hurricane harvey, the most powerful storm to hit texas in over a decade, happened .
a smart, light - hearted romantic comedy, happy, texas uses its well - written script and exceptional cast to prove there' s still life left in the fish - out - of - water caper genre .
happy, texas is a hoot, a hilarious comedy that' s smart and caring, yet sexy and ingenious enough that it just might stir up some of that elusive full monty - style box - office appeal .
purchase a film pass for access to eight days of film screenings during austin film festival – including over 180 films and q & as; , indie breakouts, narrative and documentary competition features, classic retrospectives, and a stellar shorts program .
happy, texas ,
directed by mark illsley from a screenplay he wrote with ed stone and phil reeves, builds up expectations of a cathartic comic explosion with the staging of the pageant. but when the big moment comes, the movie blows its opportunity. the event ought to be a hilarious catastrophe. but in turning away from the parading little misses to focus on a car chase and a bungled bank robbery ,
happy, texas
abruptly fizzles out .
austin film festival is a 501 - 3 organization. your donation is tax - deductible to the extent allowed by the law. aff has also made great strides promoting film production in texas. your support helps us to further the art and craft of filmmaking in our state .
... if the world is not exactly aching from a lack of fish - out - of - water criminal capers, happy, texas nevertheless pleasingly proves that even a shtick we' ve seen before can charm when it' s done well .
the keen eye for the importance of story in film is apparent in every selection by the programming team​, and the camaraderie they foster among filmmakers results in a friendly and fun festival that i am happy to call home .
rival bidders bitterly dispute winner miramax' s version of the independent film' s sale .
moviemaker magazine named aff as one of the “50 film festivals worth the entry fee” in 2015, 2016 & 2017 and a “top 25 coolest film festivals in the world” in 2014 .
austin film festival’s 15th annual summer film camp returns this june at st. david’s episcopal church for its 15th annual program for aspiring screenwriters, filmmakers, and claymation enthusiasts ages 9 - 18 !
more than merely a clash of egos, the
happy, texas
furor is a window into the high - stakes world of film marketing, where perception is sometimes more important than fact. is
happy, texas
( which stars william h. macy, steve zahn and jeremy northam) an 800 - pound gorilla, made by the son of a wealthy california businessman and sold at sundance for a record price? or is it the little engine that could - - a scrappy labor of love, financed by a santa rosa family that
mortgaged almost everything [ it ] owned
( according to a miramax press release) and sold for a pittance ?
on a texas chain gang, convict wayne wayne wayne jr picks a fight with the brutal bob maslow, alarming a third felon on the chain, conman harry sawyer. when the van taking them to solitary crashes, maslow takes off. harry and wayne hijack a rundown winnebago and find themselves escorted to the small town of happy, texas, by the local sheriff chappy dent. the van actually belongs to two gay beauty - pageant producers, david and steven, hired to stage a pre - teen pageant in happy. harry and wayne adopt the gay pair' s identities .
the soundtrack album for happy, texas features a mix of mostly country music by such artists as emmylou harris, alison krauss, lee roy parnell, pam tillis, brad paisley and br5 - 49. there are also bits of tejano (flaco jimenez) and exotica (yma sumac) .
i was completely surprised by the scale of aff. apparently, everything is bigger in texas, including the hospitality. if you’ve never been to austin it’s a great time to go. one of the best film festivals you’ll ever experience. ”
comedia / la única esperanza de libertad para dos presos evadidos pasa por asumir la identidad de los propietarios de una destartalada furgoneta que roban en su huida. se tendrán que hacer pasar por una pareja gay de productores de desfiles de belleza a los que se espera en la pequeña población de happy, en mitad de texas. allí serán tratados como reyes, ya que los habitantes de happy están desesperados por lograr que las jovencitas del pueblo consigan clasificarse para optar al título del desfile. happy se convertirá en terrero abonado para los embaucadores. reparto: jeremy northam, steve zahn, ally walker, illeana douglas, william h. macy
meanwhile, cary woods, a producer (
copland
) whose independent pictures has a domestic output deal with new line, said the negotiations on
happy, texas
left him feeling
completely used
by elwes. woods said that despite spending three hours discussing his marketing plans with the filmmakers, he never got a chance to bid on the film, which he compared to
in & out .
as devastating floods continue across houston and along the texas coast, rescue teams have brought hope, heroism and much - needed relief to the stranded .
an interview with writer / director boots riley about his incendiary new film ,
sorry to bother you .
amazing food! amazing drinks! amazing night! our film & food fundraising gala benefits our young filmmakers program .
f
happy, texas ,
a risk - free satire that picked up some positive buzz at this year & apos; s sundance film festival, catches the public & apos; s fancy, it will be because the nonsensical story of a pair of crooks ducking the law in a small texas town is so soft - hearted it wouldn & apos; t hurt a fly. almost everybody in this not - so - funny comedy is giddy and cuddlesome with a gosh - oh - gee enthusiasm that is at first engaging but quickly becomes a sign of a desperation to be liked .
but
happy, texas
lacks the audacity and pathos of
priscilla
and the funky drag humor of
wong .
in addressing attitudes toward homosexuality in rural texas, the movie pretends that rabid gay - bashing doesn & apos; t exist in the area. and one scene, set in a country - and - western bar packed with male couples strutting the texas two - step, suggests that the region has a booming gay culture. the movie & apos; s portrayal of a children & apos; s beauty pageant, a juicy target for satire in the age of jonbenet ramsey, is more celebratory than mocking .
summary: two escaped convicts (steve zahn and jeremy northam) steal a winnebago from a couple of gay men on their way to happy, texas to choreograph a beauty pageant for little girls. the crooks assume the the gay men' s identities until the suspicions of the local sherrif (william h. macy) are aroused .
austin film festival is really about creativity, about trying to help people find their voice. and it’s fun. ”
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once again, william macy proved that he has incredible talent, and that does not include the wonderful performances of the other actors. the writing was outstanding. this was a fresh and creative plot. this is the type of movie i thoroughly enjoy. the children in the film also did a fine job. it has a lot of twists and turns which add greatly to the movie. happy, texas is a rather fast - paced comedy which holds your attention. even though as film - making goes, this was a low - budget production, that did not in any way detract from the professionalism and filming. all of the actors truly excelled. i highly recommend this film .
as austin film festival continues to grow and expand, our vision also widens with the addition of new avenues for storytellers. the playwriting competition is open to full - length stage plays and gives playwrights a chance to explore our film and television conference. it will also allow film professionals to discover storytellers who have mastered the art and craft of stage drama .
two minutes into happy, texas, one convict clouts another over the head with a dead armadillo. this suggests we' re in for some undemandingly broad humour in the zucker or farrelly brothers style. but although it reverts to slapstick for its set - piece chase finale, for most of its length mark illsley' s debut film offers an unexpectedly gentle, even sentimental comedy of sexual identities, a less raucous version of the adventures of priscilla queen of the desert .
austin film festival’s young filmmakers scholarship program grants access to over 300 scholarships for students and teachers in middle and high school .
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three prisoners escape from a chain gang, and two of them, wayne and harry (zahn and northam) run away to happy, texas, where they pose as the gay organizers of a beauty pageant. they put on a show with the small girls of the town while hiding from the law and waiting for the opportunity to rob the local bank .
the tomatometer score — based on the opinions of hundreds of film and television critics — is a trusted measurement of critical recommendation for millions of fans. it represents the percentage of professional critic reviews that are positive for a given film or television show .
across texas and around the country, people are reaching out to brides - to - be who may have had their wedding dresses, decorations or venue ruined by harvey .
austin film festival welcomes new ideas and would love to work with any organization that shares interest in the arts and entertainment industry .
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the contents of these presentations reflect the opinions of the speakers and do not necessarily represent the views of the harry ransom center and / or the university of texas at austin .
praised as recommended reading by film and media studies professors and filmmakers alike, the book offers introspections and recollections on the creative process .
austin film festival would like to acknowledge and thank our many festival sponsors who demonstrate their commitment to aspiring filmmakers and screenwriters through their financial support. their contributions not only enhance our annual event but ensure austin film festival can continue to administer its various educational initiatives throughout the year .
now in its 15th year, austin film festival’s annual film & food fundraising party is one of the most highly anticipated events in austin! the glamorous and historic driskill hotel hosts this fantastic evening of flowing cocktails and inventive culinary treats, presented by 20 of austin’s hottest restaurants .
premiering to widespread acclaim at this year' s sundance film festival where steve zahn received a special jury prize for comedic performance, happy, texas follows two escaped prisoners, harry sawyer (jeremy northam) and wayne wayne wayne jr. (steve zahn) whose only hope to evade the law lies in a most unusual getaway vehicle... a beat - up winnebago. now, to hold onto their freedom theyll have to assume the identity of the r / v' s owners: two beauty pageant... full synopsis »
wow! this film is well written, performed, executed. . you name it, it' s worth the time to watch. steve zahn has always been a favorite actor of mine. obviously, he can do any role or any dialect, portray any character with credibility, and bring a genuine smile to the spectator' s face .
happy, texas
is an adorable film, and what a great plot. as usual, william h. macy is the consummate actor as well. well, actually, everyone was good in this film. the movie made me laugh and really gave me an entertaining couple of hours. we need more movies like this! one thing i did find strange was that steve zahn, who played
david
in the town, was able to sew. now how strange is that? who cares? it was a marvelously fun film, and i want to see more of steve zahn in the future! ! !
excellent education. the ut rtf program is ranked as a top 10 u. s. film school by the hollywood reporter and moviemaker magazine .
austin film festival showcases an outstanding program of narrative, animation and documentary features and shorts, including premieres, advanced screenings, and independent films .
my feeling is that’s exactly what you should do ,
she said .
you should proceed with the things that will make you happy and bring your family and friends together, even in spite of the tragedy .
whether you' re a good guy or a bad guy, in happy, texas you' ve got heart. though the plot gets wacky, the
just plain folk
element keeps the craziness in check. it' s really refreshing to finally see a film with gay characters that aren' t in drag or snapping their fingers. it is possible to have a funny gay character without being flamboyant. sure, there is a lesson to be learned as in most films, but we care about these characters as they get deeper and deeper into trouble. i had a big smile on my face after watching this film, and it stays with you a while. how many other films give you a gift like that ?
steve zahn (out of sight) and jeremy northam (the winslow boy) star as wayne wayne wayne jr. and harry sawyer, guests of the texas department of corrections, who are picking up dead armadillos on a lonely stretch of texas highway when a ruckus with another inmate affords them the opportunity to escape. stealing a beat - up winnebago that promptly breaks down, the pair is
rescued
by sheriff chappy dent (william macy), who assumes the two men are the beauty - pageant consultants the town has hired to prepare the contestants of happy for the upcoming little miss squeezed (as in orange juice) pageant .
the ballad of narayama
is a japanese film of great beauty and elegant artifice, telling a story of startling cruelty. what a space it opens…
conference & networking access. our students are given passes to the austin film festival’s screenwriters’ conference as well as the atx television festival and south by southwest .
zahn' s performance was hugely praised by critics, and although he had appeared in several hit hollywood movies, this was cited as his breakout film .
austin film festival offers all badge holders discounted rates at our hotel partners. hotel space is limited and allotted on a first come, first serve basis .
as schoellkopf and callaway looked at the guest list for their oct. 7 wedding, they saw that nearly everyone was affected by harvey, which dumped more than 20 trillion gallons of rain across texas and louisiana .
there is a moment early in
happy, texas
when an escaped convict looks at a roomful of 5 - year - old beauty pageant contestants and asks them if they know the words to
ninety - nine bottles of beer on the wall .
they stare at him with curiosity. after all, he is the out - of - town pageant consultant, hired to prepare them for the little miss fresh - squeezed pre - teen beauty pageant .
our diverse permanent faculty are all working screenwriters who cover the gamut from experienced television showrunners to feature film writers to produced writer / directors to tv staff writers .
still, bey reveals who inspired the album' s name in the short film' s home video footage, featuring jay z' s grandmother hattie white .
motion picture | medium length film (30 - 60 minutes). inc: wayne bergeron, trumpet. (soundtrack personnel). motion picture (form) .
did you know that austin film festival provides group discounts to students at colleges, universities, and specialty schools? consistently considered by moviemaker magazine as one of the “50 film festivals worth the entry fee, ” aff allows participating writers and filmmakers to measure themselves against the very best, while also providing valuable networking and learning opportunities .
ganz, 22, a behavioral therapist in richmond, texas, was inspired to organize for brides - to - be after meeting an engaged fireman who was helping people affected by harvey while his own home had been ruined .
austin film festival is really about creativity, about trying to help people find their voice. and it’s fun. ” - ron howard, 2009 extraordinary contribution to filmmaking award recipient
here, as in stephan elliott' s film, most of the comedy derives from the clash of cultures, and from the effect on a backwoods world as its denizens open up, under the influence of the anomalous outsiders, to suppressed aspects of their own sexuality. however, the edge is taken off the humour by the film' s overall air of benevolence. this is one texas burgh where homophobia is utterly unknown. the people of happy (
the town without a frown
) regard their supposedly gay visitors with nothing more aggressive than bemused curiosity and go out of their way to be tactful. even the macho wayne, initially horrified at the subterfuge, soon starts getting in touch with his feminine side. (
first i gotta make little polka - dotted flowers for the girls' hats ,
he protests when harry summons him for a heist conference. )
the convict' s name is wayne wayne wayne jr. (steve zahn). he and harry sawyer (jeremy northam) have escaped from an overturned prison van, cut through their handcuffs and stolen an rv at a gas station. what they discover belatedly is that the rv belongs to two gay men who travel around texas consulting on beauty contests .
lots of folks are looking for you ,
says happy' s sheriff, chappy dent (william h. macy), as he stops them outside town .
motion picture | made - for - tv series. short film (under 30 minutes). julie london as julie. (personnel on camera). motion picture (form) .
the movie received a rating of 81% on rotten tomatoes, based on 83 critics, stating ,
it' s nothing epic or grand, but it' s a simple, funny film that kicked off steve zahn' s career .
roger ebert of the chicago sun - times gave it 3 / 4. steve zahn won three awards for his performance in the film .
motion picture | made - for - tv series. medium length film (30 - 60 minutes). julie london as anita. (personnel on camera). motion picture (form) .
it was a positively reviewed film, and was a box office hit, grossing $ 3. 7 million against a $ 1. 4 million budget, and is now considered a cult classic .
with the exception of a few scenes, the film was shot entirely on location in piru, california. one scene was filmed at oil can harry' s in studio city, los angeles .
in addition to writing courses, students are encouraged to use their electives to broaden their critical knowledge and filmmaking experience via the department' s film studies and production offerings. the department strongly encourages collaboration between its student screenwriters and filmmakers, which has resulted in award - winning films screening at major festivals worldwide. an internship in the film industry is required as part of the program of work, and past students have interned both in los angeles (at such companies as miramax and pixar / disney), and locally at the austin film festival and with austin - based filmmakers richard linklater and terrence malick .
the opportunity to work with an instructor who has real world experience in the film industry during summer camp made a real impact on my [ teen ]. he loved everything about his camp experience !
this was not what i expected whatsoever - a thoroughly delightfully funny little film that kept me smiling for a long time after leaving the cinema. two small time criminals skip prison after their transportation vehicle crashes and steal a motor home - however the motor home belongs to a pair of pageant directors, and due to being accosted by the local sheriff they assume their identities. there are several brilliant moments in this film - not the least of which being when the two find out they are supposed to be gay lovers, and that the beauty pageants are for children rather than the models they were expecting. the local sheriff is the star of this film as he comes to terms with his sexuality in red neck land, but this was just a lot of fun all round. definitely a small time film, but one certainly worth watching .
motion picture | feature film (over 60 minutes) .
you' re my thrill
by sidney clare, jay gorney, performed by billie holiday. (songs). motion picture (form) .
it all begins when harry sawyer (jeremy northam) and wayne wayne wayne jr. (steve zahn), two convicts on the lam, go through the contents of the winnebago they have just stolen and discover that its owners are a gay male couple who travel around the country producing pageants. stopped by the sheriff, chappy dent (william h. macy), the pair are shocked to find that instead of being arrested, they are escorted to happy, texas, and welcomed as the potential miracle workers who can whip the little miss squeezed pageant into professional enough shape for the town to make the regional finals .
... although it reverts to slapstick for its set - piece chase finale, for most of its length mark illsley' s debut film offers an unexpectedly gentle, even sentimental comedy of sexual identities ...
our faculty are not only topflight instructors, but are also working screenwriters, having sold screenplays to hbo, warner brothers, new line cinema, walt disney studios, dimension entertainment, mgm, national geographic, paramount pictures, sony entertainment, the disney channel, lionsgate, happy madison productions, gary sanchez, and many other studios and networks .
tony safford, a senior vice president of acquisitions for 20th century fox, alleges that miramax is lying about what it paid for
happy, texas ,
which follows two escaped convicts who evade the law by posing as professional beauty pageant promoters (who happen to be gay). while miramax says it paid only $ 2. 5 million (plus substantial first - dollar gross participation for the filmmakers), safford said he knows
for a fact
that miramax paid
north of $ 10 million ,
breaking the sundance record held by
the spitfire grill
( which castle rock entertainment bought for $ 10 million in 1996) .
“you’re the barb on my wire / the spark in my campfire / there’s no brighter star in all the multiplexes. / i love this state, you know i do / but the best thing in this state is you. ” slaid cleaves sung it right in his “texas love song, ” inspiring the happy bloom and tristan needham to marry true love and color at the white sparrow. this team is eager to see couples embrace color at their weddings, and i love that they didn’t just wish it – they’re sharing with us a way to do it beautifully, one that feels authentic to the hispanic and texan cultures they were inspired by .
as an online archive for some of c. e. chambers' published interviews, film critiques, and little - known hawaiian historical information. it quickly evolved into a showcase for new material. email address: info @ urltoken
the collection consists primarily of kern' s show music, some holograph sketches; most are manuscript full and vocal scores of kern' s orchestrators and arrangers, especially frank saddler and robert russell bennett. film and ...
title happy, texas contributor names mark illsley (director) peter harris, (additional) david feinman, james stemple (composer) alan williams (music _ director _ and / or _ conductor) alexandra patsavas, emily kaye (music _ supervisor) created / published usa. notes - information from :
jazz on the screen
by david meeker. used with permission. (source) - feature film (over 60 minutes). -
the entertainer
by scott joplin, arr brian kirk ;
gopher mambo
by conrad gozzo, billy may, performed by yma sumac. (songs) - inc: m. b. gordy, percussion. (soundtrack personnel) - jazz on the screen is a reference work of filmographic information and does not point to digitized versions of the items described. the library of congress may or may not own a copy of a particular film or video. to request additional information ask a librarian (urltoken). form motion picture description motion picture | feature film (over 60 minutes) .
the entertainer
by scott joplin, arr brian kirk ;
gopher mambo
by conrad gozzo, billy may, performed by yma sumac. (songs). inc: m. b. gordy, percussion. (soundtrack personnel). motion picture (form). additional metadata formats metsxml record
you’ll also receive discounts around town at participating businesses such as alamo drafthouse village and stephen f. austin bar and terrace. not to mention discounts to our film & food fundraiser (otherwise known as the best party in austin) .
harvey' s deadly toll: the victims of texas' devastating floods: the two - way a small - business owner trying to save his shop, a policeman determined to make it to work, an elderly couple and four great - grandchildren trapped in a van: the high waters in houston have been fatal .
very amateur production! there is no cause and effect pattern to follow. i have never seen a film that just jumps from scene to scene in such a haphazard fashion. bad direction, bad editing, bad writing. just bad !
for their part, distributors said they cooperated, though one compared the process derisively to
an audition .
ruth vitale, co - president of paramount classics, offered another analogy that seemed fitting, given the film' s plot line .
we’re winning major awards. our screenwriting students have won the 2017 humanitas prize in screenwriting and the 2010 and 2014 academy nicholls fellowship. they have also placed highly in other prestigious screenwriting competitions, including the austin film festival and hbo access writing fellowship .
jazz on the screen is a reference work of filmographic information and does not point to digitized versions of the items described. the library of congress may or may not own a copy of a particular film or video. to request additional information ask a librarian .
motion picture | made - for - tv programme or made - for - video / dvd release. medium length film (30 - 60 minutes). inc: norman ludwin, acoustic double bass. (soundtrack personnel). motion picture (form) .
told that miramax' s press release said the film, made for $ 1. 7 million, was
financed by illsley' s family and friends, who mortgaged almost everything they owned and borrowed heavily to raise the funds ,
rolf illsley shook his head .
making matters even more confusing is the director himself, who took pains in an interview to distance himself from a miramax press release on the film. asked to confirm miramax' s description of the deal, illsley said ,
that entire statement is not wholly true .
our summer film camp is all about storytelling. in this immersive and creative environment, we encourage campers to find and tell their own stories. then we teach them how to turn those stories into their very own movies with the help of a supportive crew of peers. plus, campers get to participate in panel discussions with inspiring guest speakers that are major hollywood writers, producers, and directors! and finally, to finish off with a bang, all finished films will premiere at the summer film camp showcase at galaxy highland on sunday, august 6th .
held in the glamorous and historic driskill hotel, the event brings austinites and visitors together to celebrate the film arts and enjoy flowing cocktails and inventive cuisine from some of austin’s most notable chefs. live and silent auctions showcase the very best in luxury items, trips, and experiences .
those who still consider country music to be the aural equivalent of a saddle sore wonít find this sonic country beast a comfortable ride, but it should find appeal beyond the old boundaries of tennessee, texas, tamworth and truck radios. highly recommend to genuine and nascent country music enthusiasts, those
coming out
of the country closet and escaped convicts posing as emmylou harris fans. brad green
from the team: what makes texas so great is its blend of southern tradition and mexican influence. rustic white barns meet stucco and citrus, colliding to make a beauty that no other location can duplicate. while some wedding trends are leaning further and further into the neutral color palette of greens and creams, these two cultures still embrace color, vitality and life… no matter the trend or season !
the program offers kids opportunities to share their creative work with peers, the public, and professional filmmakers and screenwriters. by introducing young people to the film industry, the program hopes to provide them new mediums to express their creativity, improve their communication skills, and benefit the entire arts community .
this film is about 2 straight escaped prisoners having to pose as 2 gay beauty pageant organisers to conceal their identities. this film started a bit slow, but soon afterward it became very funny. steve zahn did very well in his role, and he was very convincing as a rough bandit. his solo performance on doing funny movements and pulling silly faces was fun to watch. i also enjoyed the subplot about the sheriff (william h macy) and david (jeremy northam) a lot. wiliam h macy gave a fine performance especially in the scene where they went hunting for hares, and in the scene where david refused him to enter the room when they were preparing for the performance. i could relate to sheriff' s character so much that i felt his pain. my heart ached when i saw the sheriff crying on the hill. i do recommend this film, it is warm and funny !
happy, texas is one of these films that you know from the beginning will end well, where everything work out, eventually, and nobody gets killed. but it sure ain' t all sweet, as foul language and sex is comic parts of the story, as are two supposedly gay men (they have stolen a camper belonging to two gay mane, so they, two escaped convicts, have to impersonate these guys for a while), a gay sheriff and so on. the acting is nigh perfect, the story ludicrous, and it is all a great saga, but very modern at that. when wayne wayne wayne jr teaches the small girls how to dance on scene is one of the funniest scenes i' ve seen for a long time, and in all it outshines similar films by quite some distance! if only stuart little had some of this energy and love of life, sigh! 8 / 10
the master in fine arts (m. f. a .) program in screenwriting is a two - year (including one summer), 45 - hour program designed for creative individuals with a strong commitment to storytelling for the screen. the program provides a foundation of narrative skills that enables writers to succeed in both film and television, in either the hollywood or independent arenas. only seven students are admitted each year, a number that optimizes the workshop environment and makes it possible to provide maximum guidance. students graduate with polished feature film screenplays, original tv pilots, tv spec scripts, and the tools to be a working professional screenwriter .
for his part, illsley says he is thrilled to be working with miramax, whose co - chairman harvey weinstein flew to utah to close the deal. illsley said he felt weinstein truly understood his movie, adding that he felt that the way the film was sold had brought some dignity back into the deal - making process .
my best experience ever at a film festival was in austin. so many festivals are flash over substance, a who’s who of movie stars. here, the creators are the stars. and rightly so. so if you want to write, direct or produce motion pictures and get paid for it, attend this festival. ”
to give away more of the plot would spoil some of the film' s best surprises and funniest moments. suffice it to say that this is a thoroughly entertaining fish - out - of - water story that never makes fun of its characters and laces its humor with a sweet sense of humanity rather than the expected shot of cynicism .
directed by mark illsley; written by ed stone, illsley and phil reeves; director of photography, bruce douglas johnson; edited by norman buckley; music by peter harris; production designer, maurin scarlata; produced by illsley, rick montgomery and stone; released by miramax films. running time: 96 minutes. this film is rated pg - 13 .
harry hatches a plan to rob the town bank during the pageant. leaving wayne to coach five small girls for the event, he sets about gaining the confidence of the bank president, josephine' joe' mclintock, to whom he becomes attracted. meanwhile chappy finds harry arousing his latent homosexuality. wayne discovers an aptitude for stagecraft and wins the admiration of schoolmistress ms schaefer. when the girls qualify for the semi - finals, she and wayne have sex. on the day of the pageant, harry and wayne decide to abandon their bank heist but maslow reappears and forces them to go through with it. harry summons the texas marshals. chappy, devastated by harry' s rejection, is wounded while heroically foiling maslow' s attack on the bank. maslow takes joe hostage, but is captured after a chase. back in jail for a short spell, harry and wayne are visited by joe and ms schaefer, while chappy finds happiness with a texas marshal .
production notes for the film describe illsley as
the son of a corporate ceo who started his own business and grew it into a thriving multinational company .
illsley' s father, rolf, confirmed that he remains a shareholder in optical coating lab in santa rosa, which makes the pigment used to print u. s. currency, among other things .
welcome to austin' s only a / v makerspace catering to the creative tech, film and art communities! this space provides & fosters a more active learning environment while allowing members access to tools, resources and the space needed to create, work and play. open year - round with short and long term plans for individuals and teams. come create with us !
we offer over 500 classes year - round in film, video production, post - production, graphic design, web design, interactive art and software training. our classes are lead by industry professionals currently active within their fields, in a hands - on classroom setting with project - based lesson structure. all classes offer the most up - to - date & in demand tools and software .
the mfa screenwriting program at ut has made me a better writer. the faculty helped me develop and refine my voice, while also teaching me the ins and outs of feature and television structures. i wouldn' t have been able to write the scripts i wrote with them on my own. this program really prepares you to write a lot at a high quality. i loved that the screenwriting faculty basically has an open - door policy, and they are always happy to discuss your ideas and stories with you. they are really dedicated to making you a better writer while still letting you find your own voice .
miramax bought the film earlier this week, beating out fox searchlight, paramount classics and new line cinema - - each of which had wooed the first - time director, mark illsley, in two days of frantic meetings with his producers and his parents. given miramax' s track record making independent films successful at the box office, even the distributors that got beat agreed that illsley' s choice was understandable .
may 2015: [ c. e. chambers is diana einarsen' s pseudonym: please read the
about
section. she worked for a newspaper as an interviewer and as a film critic and has also worked as a paid freelance journalist. she also donates her work on occasion. ] welcome. please check back as more material, old and new, will be added. this website was created in april 2011
our nationally ranked mfa screenwriting programg is one of the most affordable, unique and successful programs of its kind in the country. it is surrounded by a city in love with storytelling — austin, tx, home to great film festivals, some of today’s hottest feature filmmakers, and many of today’s top tv show runners. it’s where you can write the next hollywood blockbuster, original television pilot, or small indie gem .
mark illsley, who produced, directed and co - wrote the script, had his choice of two endings: the big pageant or the bank job. i would have liked more pageant and less of the bank, but the film is so good - humored, it hardly matters. this is one of those comedies that doesn' t pound us on the head with the obvious, but simply lets us share vast amusement .
real world experience. we facilitate internships in l. a. —for such companies as miramax, uta, mad men, wm / endeavor and scott free productions—as well as in austin—at places such as the austin film festival, detour films and with screenwriter / television producer rob thomas. resident austin filmmakers richard linklater, terrence malick, robert rodriguez, and many others offer our students internships, bridging the worlds of hollywood and independent filmmaking .
this very bad and unfunny comedy is almost salvaged by yet another moving performance by the wonderful william h. macy. two escaped convicts pose as a gay couple in a small texas town in order to evade the law while they bide their time in order to pull off their final big heist. their feigned homosexuality provides the premise for numerous misunderstandings and generally unfunny moments. the more
redneck
con gets roped into having to teach little girls how to dance. the possibilities for humour here exist, but unfortunately are unrealized. there' s a corny romance that develops between the
good - looking
con and the town' s attractive banker. this movie was a film without an identity, rotating between an unfunny farce, a cliched romantic comedy, and the more tender and interesting william h. macy subplot of a macho but closeted sheriff coming to terms with his own homosexuality. macy' s performance alone made me glad i saw this movie, but otherwise it could have been tossed in the rubbish bin .
illsley says he knows some distributors are miffed, but he feels they all got a fair shake. miramax won out, he said, because
they are the godfathers of the indie world .
though he knows weinstein' s penchant for recutting movies has earned him the nickname
harvey scissorhands ,
illsley said the charismatic executive had promised him final cut and promised not to change a frame. the film is scheduled for an october release .
i saw this film recently, for the second time, with a friend who hadn' t seen it before. it has a solid cast, with roles all well - played, and all who are just a bit shy of being on hollywood' s
a
list - but not because of any lacking talent or appeal. there are a lot of previous comments here, so i would just add that it is a thoroughly enjoyable film, all the characters likable (even the couple of
bad
guys, in their own way). you are completely aware of the basic ending of the story from the outset, and can pretty well guess most of the exact details as it moves along. however, this isn' t meant to be suspenseful, and, as a quiet, modestly - budgeted presentation, it outdoes most of the
a - list ,
super - budget extravaganzas by a mile .
much of the dialogue is laugh - out - loud funny, especially when delivered by zahn, a comic actor with a knack for playing clueless individuals. one particularly funny scene late in the picture finds an overburdened wayne letting loose on harry, complaining that his partner in crime is always off enjoying himself while wayne is left to try to prep the contestants for the beauty pageant. (the actor received a special jury prize for comedic performance at this year' s sundance film festival for his role here. )
safford and others believe miramax is downplaying what it paid in order to avoid what some call
the' spitfire' syndrome .
industry veterans say that film, which did $ 13 million at the box office, suffered because the huge sales price raised unrealistic expectations. and miramax' s purchase last year of brad anderson' s
next stop, wonderland
for $ 6 million is said to have also been hindered by the hype surrounding its sale (it made only $ 3. 4 million in theaters) .
reviewing a soundtrack before seeing the film, it' s hard to know which tracks were picked by the filmmakers for their resonance with the movie and which were picked by arista for the marketing opportunity. many songs, including titles from randy scruggs, kim richey, brad paisley, alison krauss and abra moore have turned up on releases from the last year or two. other cuts, from cathy fink, lee roy parnell and keb' mo', emmylou harris, pam tillis and shannon brown are making their debuts .
zahn' s work gets the loud laughs. in the division of labor between the two escaped cons, harry takes over the bank job and wayne' s task is to pose as a choreographer. completely without a clue, wayne studies videotapes and then tries to teach the same steps to the dutiful little girls, and discovers, amazingly, that he is not without talent at the pageant business. (
i' m trying to figure out if slip - stitching or basting is the best way to sew on a sparkly heart .
) there' s boundless good nature in the work by douglas and zahn. and watching jeremy northam is a revelation: here is the slick, urbane british gentleman of
emma ,
the winslow boy
and
an ideal husband ,
playing a texas convict and not missing a beat .
daddy lessons
beyonce gets introspective on this track, seemingly dedicated to her father and one - time manager matthew knowles. in her first country track ever, the texas native sings that her dad warned her about men who, like him, cheat. (
daddy lessons
is also the first song where beyonce talks about her parents' failed marriage since her 2014 song ,
ring off ,
dedicated to her mother, tina .) in this song, however, beyonce croons :
he told me when he' s gone, here' s what you do / when trouble comes to town, and men like me come around / oh, my daddy said shoot .
in the video, beyonce also slams rumors that her father had never met her daughter, blue ivy. home footage shows the two happily playing .
upon entering the program, students are introduced to the principles of writing for the screen, focusing on characterization, story development and narrative structure. students leave the program with three original feature - length screenplays that have undergone significant revision. students also do extensive work in television, writing specs of existing tv shows as well as original pilots. in addition to their core writing workshops, students enroll in required courses in film history, production for writers, and adaptation. during their final semester, m. f. a. candidates work one - on - one with a senior faculty member on their thesis project, leaving the program with polished work suitable for submission to agents, producers, studios and other financing entities. degree requirements include a written report describing and analyzing the creative development of the thesis script.
happy , texas is a comedy film released in 1999 directed by mark illsley , and starring steve zahn , jeremy northam and william h. macy . it was a positively reviewed film , and was a box office hit , grossing $ 3.7 million against a $ 1.4 million budget , and is now considered a cult classic . 
happy, texas is a comedy film released in 1999 directed by mark illsley, and starring steve zahn, jeremy northam and william h. macy. it was a positively reviewed film, and was a box office hit, grossing $ 3.7 million against a $ 1.4 million budget, and is now considered a cult classic.
happy, texas is a comedy film released in 1999 directed by mark illsley, and starring steve zahn, jeremy northam and william h. macy. it was a positively reviewed film, and was a box office hit, grossing $ 3.7 million against a $ 1.4 million budget, and is now considered a cult classic.