No one sets the pace for five days of mind-blowing, cutting-edge interactive content at SXSW better than Synthetic Pictures. Celebrating their 10th anniversary, the Austin and LA based production company brought together the collective talents of some of production, post-production and interactive’s best companies: Therapy Studios, Yessian Music and Sabertooth Interactive to produce a kinetic creek-side kickoff soiree.
An exclusive crowd of 300 guests made the cut—all national tastemakers, early adopters and industry insiders from film, TV, music, tech, media, interactive and advertising. The tree-canopied courtyard glowed blue and white while two giant 15-foot Instagram feeds, designed by Sabertooth Interactive, exposed partygoer photos and animated logos on the studio walls.
Oden Aerial Photography’s camera-laden remote control helicopters buzzed overhead capturing the party vibe as guests arrived to the sweet sound of The Parlotones, the multi-platinum selling rock band hailing from Johannesburg, South Africa, performing on an open-air stage perched on twenty feet of scaffolding over Bouldin Creek ravine below. Beautiful Bettys from the good folks at Deep Eddy’s VodkaTM served up signature grapefruit cocktails—a fresh-kick concoction made with Deep Eddy Ruby Red VodkaTM, the elixir making its debut at SX F’ing Awesome, but not available in stores until April 1st.
From Oakland, California, Gift of Gab, of the well know duo Blackalicious amped up the night with elastic rhymes and luscious beats from his new album entitled, Next Logical Progression, just released on his label Quannum Projects on March 27th.
Michael Yessian, founder of Yessian Music, an internationally renowned collective of producers, composers, music supervisors and recording artists, surprised guests by giving away a Taylor 210e (Acoustic/Electric) guitar from Guitar Center before handing over the stage to Jason Bentley of KCRW. Bentley a 20-year radio veteran, is host of Los Angeles indie institution, “Morning Becomes Eclectic”. True to his show, Bentley kept guests moving well into the morning hours.
Combining film and music, Therapy Studios stirred up SXSW with their acclaimed feature film, ‘Sound City’ produced by John Ramsay and Jim Rota and helmed by first-time director, Dave Grohl of Nirvana and Foo Fighters fame, followed by a sold out concert of the ‘Sound City Players’ at the iconic Stubbs BBQ.
Also making its SXSW debut was Synthetic Pictures‘ own Reid Connell premiering his short film, “The Heartless Machine” as part of the Austin filmmakers short film exhibition, “Faces of Austin”. Connell’s film screened to a sold-out crowd at the Carver Museum’s Boyd Vance Theater.
SHOOT Magazine, the preeminent source of news and information for advertising agency creatives and producers, commercial & entertainment production/post industry executives & artisans, brand marketers and broadband video decision-makers was media sponsor and on the scene with copies of its SXSW edition—not to be missed by anyone interested in developing successful brand campaigns, film, interactive or music projects.
SXF’ing Awesome got on the BBQ wagon as well. Reluctant food-truck-teur, LeAnn Mueller (who recently took over brother John Mueller’s rolling BBQ joint) parked her La Barbecue “Cuisine Texicana” wheels to provision partygoers with brisket sliders and pulled pork tacos heavenly crafted by pitmaster John Lewis. Mueller’s talent doesn’t stop at barbecue, pit boss by day and celebrity photographer by night, Mueller’s rock, pop, and Texas cowgirl images artistically deco
