Slacker by request

When I lived on 41rst street in Austin I had no AC. In the summer I had a habit of staying at one of the girlfriend's house and coming home for a few minutes before work. Work as I'm calling it started at 3 for me in those days. So one such day I roll up to the house at 2ish and there are a bunch of artsy people milling about on the lawn. Having never been around a movie set before I had no idea that people milling around is what a film set looks like. IT looked for all the world like they were on some kind of break...I swear it did...honest. Running a bit late for work I push past the coffee house crowd up to the porch and past an older man and a young man. As I passed the two men I realized that they were not rehearsing, but indeed shooting. Erm oops...I'm effing genius.

Filming stopped, I didn't hear anyone shout 'Cut' but the scene was stopped. Realizing that I'd just wasted time and film on what I thought was a student project, I felt like a real tool.

Sitting in my room distraught one of the girls tried to comfort me;

'Cool Kate Bush poster'
'Wow, it's pretty hot in here'
'Say is that Outlaw Ladies?


But I knew I had effed up royally.


The film was not a student project, it was the debut feature film of Richard Linklater called Slacker. The scene I ruined was one where the old man conspiracy nut offers words of advice to the young thief character, on my freaking porch.

I felt bad about it for years, I'm sure the budget was tight and many people were volunteering, film stock was no doubt at a premium, and here I come 6' 4" 180 lbs in my Nirvana fudge packin shirt oblivious to the whole of my surroundings.


Anywhoo I'm over it, I mean it worked out for Richard. Maybe I was good luck, he's had several hits, and has that new Bad News Bears flick coming out. So shout out to Richard Linklater and his fine films, sorry about the timewaste.