Welcome to South by Southwest 2009

On Friday, March 20, performing right society BMI will partner with SXSW to present new wave progenitors Devo at Austin Music Hall (208 Nueces St). The show marks the climax of BMI's focused presence at SXSW 2009: Throughout the week, the organization will also stage indie rock showcases, orchestrate film and songwriter panels, and host its annual invitation-only mixers, the details of which will be announced soon.

In addition, Devo will follow up their Friday performance with a Saturday, March 21 interview at the Austin Convention Center as part of the SXSW Music Conference. Those seeking The Truth About De-Evolution are advised to attend.

Devo's thorough understanding of the ability of precise, multi-faceted artistic expression to relay relevant social commentary elevated the band from quirky cult icons to mainstream players in the late 70's and 80's. Co-founders Gerald Casale and Mark Mothersbaugh dubbed the band "Devo," shorthand for their wry philosophy of the "de-evolution" of humanity they most readily observed in cultural shortcomings of the United States. Devo sought to bring attention to the crisis of individuality through a finely executed musical and visual experience that was equal parts satire and synth-beat-savvy: They paired austere uniforms capped off by signature upside-down red flower pot hats with urgently confident vocals and infectious if somewhat cantankerous rhythm. 1978's Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! ignited a devout underground following, and thanks to their smash "Whip It" and its corresponding video directed by Casale, the band emerged as early MTV heroes. Hits including "Beautiful World" and "That's Good" followed before the members splintered off into numerous creative outlets including video direction and film and television music composition. In October 2008, Devo reunited in hometown Akron, Ohio, for the band's first live show in more than 30 years.

Thinking about attending SXSW 2009? Well, you should get your badge today, so you save some money.

Registration rates for all SXSW conference and festival badges will increase after today, January 16th. Click over to our Registration page to review your options and register and book your hotel. Please remember that registration fees are non-refundable once processed.

The second installment of our podcast series features a conversation between SXSW veterans Gary Hustwit (Helvetica, 2007) and Doug Pray (Big Rig, 2007). This year's festival sees the world premiere of Gary's latest film, Objectified, a documentary that aims to do for industrial design what Helvetica did for the humble typeface. Meanwhile, Doug's film, Art & Copy prepares to take the Sundance Documentary Competition by storm with a detailed look at the weird and wonderful world of advertising.

Click Here to Listen / Download MP3

In the podcast, the two discuss the common ground between their latest films, including the art in the everyday, the genius of 'Got Milk?', and the strangeness and power of sitting in the dark and staring at a screen.

SXSW is pleased to announce the preliminary lineup for SXSW 2009. Please keep in mind that this list is ridiculously subject to change as arranging a festival with more than 1,000 musical acts can sometimes be a bit like herding cats.

You can find the newly-updated list by clicking here. Check back for updates as we'll be making more announcements soon.

Photo above: St. Vincent

Hey Central Texas web professionals -- do you want to see a more accessible Internet? If your answer is "yes," then join Knowbility for the eighth annual AIR-Interactive competition, in which developers create exciting, media-rich and imaginative web sites for Austin-based artists, arts organizations and musicians. The best sites will then be chosen according to how accessible they are to everyone, including people with disabilities. The Accessibility Internet Rally Interactive (AIR-Interactive) is a unique, award-winning program that has received local and national media coverage. Its purpose is to match teams of Web designers and developers with non-profit arts organizations, bands, musicians and artists to help make the Web more accessible for people with disabilities. Additionally, AIR-Interactive is also looking for artists, musicians and non-profits who would like to get their site re-designed in a more accessible fashion. Contact Teenya Franklin for complete details. Also, if you are registered for SXSW, be sure to visit the Knowbility booth at the 2009 Film & Interactive Trade Show.

Got a new product or service that you want to demo to all the digital creatives and cutting-edge new media professionals who come to Austin in March? Then check out SXSW Accelerator, which is scheduled Monday, March 16 at the Downtown Austin Hilton (just across the street from the Austin Convention Center). But, hurry, time is quickly running out on this fantastic opportunity. The final deadline for submitting applications for the 2009 event is Friday, January 16. See the SXSW Accelerator website for details or just contact Chris Valentine to get the scoop.

Seth Rogen Returns to SXSW!  The Warner Bros. Pictures film Observe and Report will premiere in the Centerpiece slot on Monday, March 16th.  The Legendary Pictures comedy, written and directed by Jody Hill (Foot Fist Way) stars Seth Rogen (Pineapple Express, Knocked Up), Anna Faris (House Bunny,Smiley Face), Michael Peña (The Lucky Ones, Crash) and Ray Liotta (Goodfellas).   The story follows Ronnie Barnhardt (Rogen), head of security at the Forest Ridge Mall, who patrols his jurisdiction with an iron fist, combating skateboarders, shoplifters and the occasional unruly customer while dreaming of the day when he can swap his flashlight for a badge and a gun.  His delusions of grandeur are put to the test when the mall is struck by a flasher.  Driven to protect and serve the mall and its patrons, Ronnie seizes the opportunity to showcase his underappreciated law enforcement talents on a grand scale, hoping his solution of this crime will earn a coveted spot at the police academy and the heart of his elusive dream girl Brandi (Faris), the hot make-up counter clerk who won’t give him the time of day.  But his single-minded pursuit of glory launches a turf war with the equally competitive Detective Harrison of the Conway Police (Liotta), and Ronnie is confronted with the challenge of not only catching the flasher, but getting him before the real cops do.  Rogen attended the 2007 Festival with the world premiere of Knocked Up, which went on to gross nearly $150 million in its domestic release.  The film opens wide on April 10, 2009.

In addition to Observe and Report, here's a bigger taste of the 2009 SXSW Film Conference and Festival to whet your whistle!  New panelists include filmmakers Catherine Hardwicke (Twilight, Thirteen), Robert Rodriguez ( Sin City, Spy Kids) and Mike Judge (pictured) (Office Space, King of the Hill), SXSW alum and Mumblecore pioneer Joe Swanberg (Nights and Weekends, Hannah Takes the Stairs) and Mark Woollen, the award-winning creator of many memorable trailers ( Milk, Slumdog Millionaire, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind).

Long known as a banner destination for compelling documentary films, the lineup for the 2009 SXSW Film Conference & Festival will include:
 Objectified – From acclaimed SXSW alum Gary Hustwit (Helvetica) comes a new film that documents the creative processes of some of the world’s most influential industrial designers, and looks at how the things they make impact our lives. What can we learn about who we are, and who we want to be, from the objects with which we surround ourselves?
 New World Order – Co-directed by SXSW alums Andrew Neel & Luke Meyer, this documentary about conspiracy theorists is a behind the scenes look at the underground anti-globalist movement. The film chronicles celebrity radio host and underground cult hero Alex Jones, (of Waking Life and A Scanner Darkly), and other conspiracy theorists on their ceaseless quests to expose the 'massive global conspiracy' that they believe threatens the future of humanity.
Winnebago Man – Jack Rebney is the most famous man you've never heard of – after cursing his way through a Winnebago sales video, Rebney’s outtakes became an underground sensation and an online phenomenon seen by millions. Filmmaker Ben Steinbauer climbs to the top of a mountain and goes deep into the woods to find the recluse who unwittingly became an Internet superstar.

RiP: A Remix Manifesto – Web activist and filmmaker Brett Gaylor explores issues of copyright in the information age, mashing up the media landscape of the 20th century and shattering the wall between users and producers.  Gaylor's documentary features artists like Girl Talk (pictured), who employ mash-up techniques, mixing samples of existing music into new songs.  Interviews with additional artists, lawmakers, companies and consumers are interspersed with animation, archive footage and collages. 

RiP: A Remix Manifesto photo credit: Andrew Strasser

"Your homework from last week was to come up with reasons why you should register to attend South By Southwest Interactive by January 16th. I've compiled your answers and listed the top 3 on the board.

"First of all... Value. If you register to attend SXSW Interactive 2009 before January 16th you get all the informative talks like keynotes, panels and Core Conversations; all the exciting evening events like the legendary opening party, networking events and the Web Awards; access to all the latest cutting edge technology and ideas at the Film and Interactive Trade Show; plus a host new surprises... all for only $425!

"Next... Choice and Convenience. Hotels and flights fill up quickly as SXSW approaches. Registering early allows you a wider choice of accommodations and travel times.

"And finally... Productivity and Fun! The earlier you register, the more time you have to plan for what could be the most productive and engaging experience of the year. Schedule meetings with distant contacts or plan to take in all the sites and history the Austin area has to offer."

Originally released theatrically on February 19, 1999, writer/director Mike Judge's OFFICE SPACE was well received critically but did not initially click with the general public. It wasn't until the film hit video and cable TV that it finally found its audience, soon becoming one of the largest selling catalog titles in the then-burgeoning DVD market. It has since gone on to become one of the biggest selling titles in Fox Home Entertainment history and is a modern day comedy classic.

In celebration of the film's 10th anniversary, Fox Home Entertainment will be releasing the film on Blu-Ray DVD on Tuesday, February 3rd. That following Sunday, February 8th, South by Southwest Film Conference & Festival (SXSW) and Fantastic Fest will co-present the ultimate OFFICE SPACE screening at the legendary Paramount Theater in Austin, TX, where OFFICE SPACE was filmed. This one-time only screening event will take place at 8:00 PM and will include special appearances by writer/director Mike Judge and members of the cast and crew to be announced at a later date. Additionally, there will be exclusive giveaways courtesy of Fox Home Entertainment, and co-presenters SXSW and Fantastic Fest have promised special OFFICE SPACE activities before and after the screening. If you are a poorly functioning office fax machine, however, you may want to avoid the festivities entirely.

Tickets for this event will go on sale at noon on Thursday, January 15. Tickets are available for the first 48 hours to 2009 SXSW and Fantastic Fest badge holders (instructions will be emailed to current badge holders). Tickets will be available to the general public starting at noon on Saturday, January 17 at the Paramount Theater box office or online at gettix.net.

A very limited number of VIP tickets will be on sale which will include a pre-event cocktail reception, a limited edition event souvenir, flair, an actual red Swingline stapler, and an after-party at Chotchkie's featuring pizza shooters, shrimp poppers and extreme fajitas!

More details on this screening and updated information can also be found at www.sxsw.com or www.fantasticfest.com. So put on your Hawaiian shirt, guard your Swingline staplers, put a cover page on your TPS report and jump to conclusions for the OFFICE SPACE ten year anniversary party!

Special thanks to Fox Home Entertainment for sponsoring this event. The Office Space 10 Year Reunion is also sponsored in part by 101X, listen to 101X for your chance to win tickets.

Kid Policy: 18 and up; Children 6 and up will be allowed only with a parent or guardian. No children under the age of 6 will be allowed.

DON'T FORGET YOUR FLAIR: Sunday, February 8th at 8:00PM at the Paramount Theater in Austin.

We are excited to announce the addition of Steven Johnson to this year's lineup of participants. The author of books such as "Emergence: The Connected Lives of Ants, Brains, Cities and Software" and "Everything Bad is Good For You", he will speak on the afternoon of Friday, March 13. Those who attended last year's event know what a compelling thinker he is: Johnson and Henry Jenkins of the MIT Media Lab provided Opening Remarks at the 2008 SXSW Interactive Festival (listen to audio of their intriguing presentation by clicking to the Podcast Page). Be there in 2009 to hear him talk about his newest release "The Invention Of Air: A Story of Science, Faith, Revolution and the Birth of America".