Movies
The “Jaws on the Water” Event Returns to Texas This Summer!
Just when you thought Jaws couldn’t possibly get any scarier…
Watching Jaws on land is terrifying, but could you imagine watching it… while floating in the water?! For the past several years, the Alamo Drafthouse has been hosting special “Jaws on the Water” events that offer up that experience to brave horror fans, and we’ve learned the exciting news today that the “Bucket List” fan event is making its return this summer!
A press release sent out today explains, “JAWS on the Water is coming back to Austin, TX for multiple screenings beginning July 3, following a much-missed pandemic hiatus last summer.”
“Alamo Drafthouse has partnered with High Beam Events and the newly resurrected Action Pack Entertainment to bring the legendary screening experience back to Volente Beach on Lake Travis for a triumphant return beginning Saturday, July 3rd, and tickets are on sale now!”
Scheduled dates at this time include:
- Saturdays July 3, 10 & 17
“The ultimate summer event that made CNN ask, “Could there possibly be any scarier way to watch JAWS?” returns for an immersive, unforgettable screening experience– a huge inflatable outdoor screen is placed at the water’s edge with intrepid viewers watching the movie while floating in inner tubes, with who-knows-what swimming in the inky depths below. As everyone watches Chief Brody and crew on the hunt for the Great White, floaters might feel something tug on their toes as scuba divers provide an added thrill to the proceedings.”
“There are some pandemic-era changes to the event this year, most notably the organizers were not able to create new collectible inner tubes for the audience to float in, so everyone is encouraged to bring their own tube or inflatable device (but no floating doors, as this isn’t a screening of TITANIC).”
“Doors to Volente Beach’s water park will open at 5:00pm, allowing for plenty of time for beach play, water slides, food and drink, and anticipation or dread for sundown before the movie commences. Capacity is more limited than in previous years to allow more space for social distancing between attendees.”
Tickets are expected to sell out, so grab them while you can!
Movies
‘Backrooms’ Director Kane Parsons Is No Fan of Generative AI: “Defeats the Purpose Entirely for Me”
There has been a lot of talk recently about filmmakers embracing generative AI as part of the filmmaking process, from Darren Aronofsky to Martin Scorsese. But what about filmmakers that are against the use of Gen AI for creative pursuits? You can count 20-year-old Backrooms director Kane Parsons among that group, which should give you some hope for the future.
In a new chat with The Australian, the self-taught young filmmaker makes it crystal clear that he won’t be using generative AI in any of his upcoming filmmaking projects.
“I think I’m in the same boat as most well-adjusted people,” Parsons tells the outlet. “If I could snap my fingers and make generative AI disappear forever, I probably would. Creatively, I get no enjoyment from using those tools. It defeats the purpose entirely for me.”
“What interests me more is interrogating it artistically,” Parsons notes. “We already live in a world where you walk outside and there are billboards and signs that are obvious AI slop. That’s become part of our visual reality. To me, generative AI feels less like innovation than a symptom of a broader cultural and economic rot.”
He explains, “I’m interested in using that iconography in art – not using AI to make the art itself, but examining what it represents. I definitely want to explore it further in future projects.”
Kane Parsons also notes during the interview with The Australian, “… there’s so much at stake and so many genuinely harmful consequences already happening.”
Backrooms marks young prodigy Kane Parsons’ feature directorial debut, and it’s based on his own series of YouTube videos that were brought to life using Blender, the open-source 3D computer graphics software suite. So it’s no surprise that Parsons, who has hand-made his filmmaking career up to this point, isn’t buying into the hoopla around Generative AI.
His debut feature is the #1 movie in the world, so perhaps he’s onto something.
What’s next from Kane Parsons, you ask? Stay tuned…
You must be logged in to post a comment.