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■ SOUTH Continued from page 9 And the Internet/Interactive portion of this multimedia trifecta will be especially potent this year, with “Blink” and “The Tipping Point” author Malcolm Gladwell and blog heroine Wonkette (Ana Marie Cox) among the speakers. Yet, despite ballooning into what the Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau says is a $29.3 million boost to the local economy, it’s still viewed by many as “alternative” — but in a good way — and an affably Texan antidote to smug bi-coastal attitudes. it s Known as a place wnere potentially interesting things come out. A lot of documentaries come out of there,” said Dana Harris, an LA-based film reporter for Variety, of the film festival. “I want it to succeed and grow, but there’s something really nice where, at this point, it’s like this cool secret.” “It’s a nice combination of good films and a good vibe,” said Eamonn Bowles, president of Magnolia Pictures, which is showing the anticipated documentary “Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room” at SXSW. David Fenkel, marketing executive director at THINKfilm, which is showcasing five movies at SXSW, including the acclaimed “Murderball,” likes the eclectic audiences the Austin festival attracts. “You have crowds of people coming to Austin for film and ] - 1WMr~ ' : SSS8 % : - music, so it spans more than just a regional film festival,” he said. “At Sundance, a lot of films are received positively, and it’s difficult to see how that translates into the world outside of Park City (Utah). With South by Southwest, you get a much better understanding of how the film is perceived by the industry and filmgoers.” That’s exactly what film festival producer Matt Dentler is aiming for. “We certainly don’t want to be another Sundance,” he said. “What we are hoping to do is create our own niche, catering to both industry and audience. That’s something that’s rare at a film festival; it’s usually one or the other.” Interest in South by Southwest has spilled far across U.S. borders. Australian filmmaker Pip Mushin is making the long trip with his movie about a struggling piaywrignt, josn jarman. “It’s a great opportunity to see how the press reacts to the film as well as the general public,” he said via e-mail. “And a good screening at South by Southwest can do wonders for a film, in terms of buyers.” But if the film world is still rapturously in love with South by Southwest, it might be presumed that for those on the music end — who’ve endured the crowds and the hype for many more years — the bloom would be long off this Texas rose. After all, there are nearly 1,300 acts set to perform this year. That’s a lot of spilled Shiner Bock and smoke-choked club air. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Actor Elijah Wood, right, joins DJ Mel onstage to play music from his iPod during a South by Southwest Film Festival party last Saturday. “It’s still very much an important and incredible festival,” said Amy Doyle, music programming vice president for MTV, MTV2 and mtvU. MTV is airing a special on SXSW in April. it s sun tne place to De ijor musical tastemakers,” Doyle said. “I definitely don’t think it’s over. It’s risen in esteem,” said Caryn Ganz, associate editor of Spin, who’s attending the festival and plans to devote two to three pages to it in an upcoming issue. “Last year, there was Franz Ferdinand, before they broke on the charts. ... Still, it’s a place for small bands.” One of those “small bands” is Fort Worth’s Black Tie Dynasty, which will be making its SXSW debut March 19. “I don’t really know what to expect,” said singer/guitarist Cory Watson, who notes that iTunes has approached the group about doing a cross-promotion during the festival. “I just know that big things happen at South by Southwest, and I’m hoping it happens to us.” Sean McCullough, guitarist for Albuquerque’s the Oktober People, which also is making its first appearance, is a touch more skeptical. “I have kind of mixed feelings,” he said. “There’s just so much going on, and there’s a ton of people ... I don’t expect much to come of it. Other bands have had huge hopes, and nothing happens. There are so many bands, it’s hard to get seen by anyone who would care.” Jack Fields of New Orleans’ Blackfire Revelation takes it all with several boxes of salt. “We’re not the kind of guys who get dressed up for the one day of school for the class picture,” he said. “I kind of feel sorry for the people who are thinking they’re going to find the big record deal off playing one show. If they really believe that, I’m not the only one laughing at them.” One grumble that s heard every year is that SXSW is pursuing the global next big-label thing at the expense of the local. South by Southwest creative director Brent Grulke has heard it all before. “Perception is somewhat difficult to manage,” he said. “The real truth is that because of the sheer number of acts, we have more Austin acts than ever before and more regional acts than ever before.” As for the festival getting too big and unwieldy, few seem to feel it’s overwhelming — yet. “Eventually, it could happen,” said Variety’s Harris. “But it’s like that slogan ‘Keep Austin Weird.’ The core elements in Austin don’t change, and I don’t think it’s going to change, either.” HEADPHONE IT IN You can experience South by Southwest without the hassle of luge crowds, wrong wristbands, ligh gas prices and busted :ardrums. Just use your iPod. Go to www.citizenpod.com and download the SXSW4Pod music estival schedule, where you can .earch by act, date, club name or nusical style to find out who’s ilaying where. But, wait, there’s nore. The entire Showcasing \rtist mp3 library — more than 750 full-length files — is also ivailable for download. ■ MCFLY Continued from page 9 the next McFly performance. “I had a lot of fun, and I think it’d be nice to see them in the Delaney’s atmosphere,” he said. Mighty McFly will perform at 10 p.m. tonight at Delaney’s. There will be a $3 cover, but fans believe it’s well worth it to watch this band strut its stuff. After each performance, the band gives fans the opportunity to sign up for its e-mailing list, which provides band information and upcoming show dates. So, whether you want to rock ’n’ roll all night or just want to know what love is, Mighty McFly will get the job done. Comments on this story? 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