Plus, the city increases safety measures near Rainey Street
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69º | Rainy | 87% chance of rain | Sunrise 7:28 a.m. | Sunset 5:42 p.m.
 

Welcome to the limelight 🎥
Silhouettes of crew members standing around in front of an LED Volume screen at Stray Vista Studios. The screen is showing blue and pink clouds.
Stray Vista Studios has the largest Volume soundstage in the state. | Photo provided by Stray Vista Studios.
“Dazed and Confused” may be Austin’s claim to movie fame, but that doesn’t mean filmmaking in the Capital City peaked in the ‘90s.

Central Texas will become home to three new studios this year, signaling the city’s growing popularity among filmmakers. Austin’s sunny weather and creative scene are part of what make the region a desirable location for moviemaking, but the Capital City also already has a strong film culture.

This is supported in part by the Austin Film Society, which was founded in 1985 by director Richard Linklater. AFS operates Austin Studios, a 20-acre production complex that houses several local production companies and vendors.

And, as Austinites are well aware, movies and television shows are filmed here all the time — but the city doesn’t exactly have the studio space to support it. Crews (including for HBO’s recent “Love & Death” series) often work out of unused warehouse space.

A rendering of a dozen studio and office buildings, as seen from an aerial point of view, at Hill Country Studios.

Hill Country Studios will have a dozen stages, plus ~300,000 sqft of office space, when it opens.

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Rendering provided by Hill Country Studios

Cue: three new Austin-area film studios. These include:

Stray Vista Studios | Dripping Springs
  • Opened in February
  • 10,000 sqft
  • Stray Vista Studios operates the biggest “Volume” soundstage in the state. What’s that? Essentially, it’s a large curved LED wall — developed for Disney’s “The Mandalorian” — that allows filmmakers to create an immersive environment.
Hill Country Studios | San Marcos
  • Opening sometime in 2023
  • $267 million project
  • This studio is expected to have a 15 acre-backlot, 12 stages and 310,000 sqft of offices.
  • Former Netflix executive Kevin Bar was tapped last fall as the studio’s Chief Operations Officer.
Bastrop 552 | Bastrop
  • Opening August 2023
  • 546 acres
  • On completion, this development is set to have ~500,000 sqft of studio space, a three-story office building, and warehouse and storage space. It may also have “recreational accommodations” like a golf course, private club, and drive-in movie theater.
 
Asked
 

What’s your favorite locally filmed movie?
A. Dazed and Confused
B. Office Space
C. Spy Kids
D. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
 
Events
 

Monday, April 10
  • ATX Short Film Showcase | Monday, Apr. 10 | 8 p.m. | The Ballroom at Spider House, 2906 Fruth St., Austin | $12-$75 | Take in locally made short films, and stay afterward for a Q&A with the filmmakers.
Tuesday, April 11
  • Round Rock Express vs. Tacoma | Tuesday, April 11-Sunday, April 16 | Times vary | Dell Diamond, 3400 E. Palm Valley Blvd., Round Rock | $10-$65 | The Express will face down the Tacoma Rainiers in Round Rock.
  • National Poetry Day with Typewriter Rodeo | Tuesday, Apr. 11 | 7 p.m. | Meanwhile Brewing Co., 3901 Promontory Point Dr., Austin | Free | Enjoy live music and get a free custom poem from Typewriter Rodeo.
Wednesday, April 12
  • 8th Indie Meme Film Festival | Wednesday, April 12-Sunday, April 16 | Times vary | AFS Cinema, 6259 Middle Fiskville Rd., Austin | $100-$200 | Watch more than 20 films in 13 different languages at this festival highlighting South Asian and Iranian filmmakers.
  • Chris Distefano | Wednesday, Apr. 12 | 7 p.m. | The Paramount Theatre, 713 Congress Ave., Austin | $35-$55 | Get ready to laugh out loud at this comedian’s performance.
Thursday, April 13
  • The Surreal Garden | Thursday, Apr. 13-Saturday, Apr. 15 | 6:30-11 p.m. | Zilker Botanical Garden, 2220 Barton Springs Rd., Austin | $40 | Wander through neon sculptures at this interactive art experience.
  • Koe Wetzel | Thursday, Apr. 13 | 7 p.m. | The Moody Center, 2001 Robert Dedman Dr., Austin | $30-$137 | The country artist will perform alongside The Steel Woods and Red Shahan.
Friday, April 14
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Network
 

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Wonderlust Austin Retro Lounge
Wonderlust is a one-of-a-kind social club. | Photo by Wonderlust
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Its carefully curated, themed experiences combine originally crafted cocktails and entertainment with opportunities for transformative connections in a social setting.

Apply for membership online, or check out their next event (VIP Retro Lounge) on Thursday, April 20. Pro tip: Use code PONY23 for a buy-one-get-one-free ticket deal for the next 72 hours.*
 
News Notes
 
Civic
  • The City of Austin installed a new lakeside fence barrier and increased police presence in the Rainey Street District, as part of ongoing efforts to improve safety in the area. Future changes include additional fencing, lighting upgrades, and cameras.
Edu
  • Hutto ISD and Hays CISD will both put the largest bond packages in school history on the ballots this May. Hutto’s $522 million package would fund upgrades and new construction, while Hays’ $367 million bond would support growth efforts, arts programs, and technology. (Austin American-Statesman + Community Impact Austin)
Announced
  • Truluck’s is leaving its downtown restaurant in favor of a new, two-story space in the 300 Colorado building — one block away from its current spot. The new location will contain two bars and an outdoor patio, and is expected to open sometime next month. (Austin Business Journal)
Ranked
  • The annual ranking of the richest people is back, and Austin resident Elon Musk fell from his No. 1 spot to second place, with a net worth of $180 billion. ATX-based tech mogul Michael Dell also made the Forbes list’s top 25, at No. 23.
Sports
  • Applications are now open for the third annual Austin FC Dream Starter Competition. Five local entrepreneurs will be selected to compete for the $100,000 grand prize in a pitch contest on Monday, May 22.
  • More than 16,000 people attended the San Antonio Spurs’ first-ever game in Austin last week, marking a new record at the Moody Center. The Spurs defeated the Portland Trail Blazers and lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves during the two-game I-35 series.
Plan Ahead
  • A Japanese-style robot restaurant show — complete with laser displays, J-Pop dancers, and battling robots — is headed to East Austin this fall. Book your visit now for the pop-up taking place Friday, Oct. 13-Sunday, Oct. 15.
Environment
  • In honor of Earth Month, H-E-B rolled out curbside recycling for thin plastic like shopping bags, produce bags, and bread bags. The grocery chain also plans to switch from plastic to biodegradable cutlery at store restaurants. (CultureMap Austin)
Finance
  • One card, all the perks. A $200 welcome bonus, unlimited cash back, and 0% interest into 2024 all with no annual fee almost sounds too good to be true — but this card has it all.*
Fun Fact
  • We’re asking our readers to take our brief survey to help us ensure the content we deliver is relevant to you. Your feedback is important to us, and we’re all ears. Bonus: you’ll be entered into a drawing to win $500. Take the survey.
Travel
  • You love strolling in Zilker Park. But do you know how to ask for directions to Jardin des Tuileries in Paris? Babbel — the No. 1 language app in the world — can help you start learning just that in as little as three weeks. Pro tip: Snag 55% off your subscription today.*
Trending
  • How to make skincare more fun: the Marshmallow Whip Maker, which turns the cleanser you’re already using into a fluffy, marshmallow-like foam that feels rich and creamy on the skin. Keep the skincare gains going with a trusted SPF stick for face and body + a silk pillowcase for nighttime.
 
 
Arts
 

Acting academy anniversary
Janet Adderley in a classroom, teaching a circle of students.
Founder Janet Adderley transitioned The Adderley School into a nonprofit in 2018. | Photo by Karen Peterson
Austin isn’t just a hot spot for making films — the city also has a hand in producing the actors who star in them.

This May, the Adderley School for the performing arts is celebrating 30 years of training young actors and actresses. The school, founded by Janet Adderley, boasts a star-studded roster of alumni, including Ben Platt, Maya Erskine, and Gigi Hadid.

The school was founded in California, but Adderley — who was raised in Texas and now lives in Austin — also opened a branch in the Capital City, where she also transitioned the school into a nonprofit. The school has additional locations in California, Connecticut, and Louisiana.

The institution’s three decades of work will be celebrated by celebrities like James Corden, Kenny Loggins, and Debra Martin Chase at a fundraising event in Santa Barbara, CA next month.

Learn more about the Adderley School and its mission.
 
The Wrap
 
London Gibson

Today’s edition by:
London
From the editor
I recently revisited Nixta Taqueria for the first time in a while and y’all, that place is good. If you haven’t tried the beet “tartare” tostada yet, now’s your sign to try it out ASAP.
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