Action Figure News Archive
AF's DOWNTOWN ranked #1 Best Thing in Austin
January 7, 2009
Austin Chronicle's Stephen Moser has rated Action Figure's award-winning television series DOWNTOWN the #1 Best Thing in Austin for 2008. Best thing? Not bad!
http://www.downtownaustintv.org/
http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/column?oid=oid:721379
Big Wig Winner
June 13, 2008
The Action Figures were voted by their peers, for the second consecutive year, as the best film/video/post production firm at the Austin Ad Federation Big Wig Award Ceremony last night. Ad Person of the Year went to Dave Kampa at McGarrah Jessee. Lifetime Achievement was awarded to Sherry Matthews.
The party was a 1920's themed event and Susan & Vicki were the Bee's Knees by sporting fully tasseled Flapper costumes.
Top 10 Viral Videos on MySpace
June 6, 2008
The Punches are still getting attention.
Last week it was a featured video on You Tube.
This week it's a MySpace top 10.
relearntodrive.com is National ADDY Winner
May 27, 2008
As a Region 10 gold ADDY winner, relearntodrive.com for GSD&M/BMW went on to win a Silver award in the national competition. Mark Miks directed the running footage and interviews with the drivers and Ariel Quintans cut the footage for the microsite.
Way to go, Guys.
BMW PDS is Golden
May 13, 2008
Action Figure entered the Austin ADDY's with interview and running footage directed by Mark Miks and edited by Ariel Quintans, for the BMW micro-site relearntodrive.com, where it won a Gold award. At the District 10 Regional Awards in Dallas on April 18th it won another Gold.
ADDY's are judged by tough juries of prestigious peers at the local, regional and national level. They review an enormous range of submissions of print, broadcast, internet and other work to find the best the industry has to offer in dozens of categories. The national ADDY's are in June at the AAF National Convention in Atlanta.
Agency: GSD&M/Idea City
Producer: Aaron Kovan
Creatives: Chad Laughlin and Ryan Martinidale
Client: BMW of North America
"Downtown" Austin Heads South
May 1, 2008
"Downtown" Austin's award winning series about the people, culture and events of Downtown Austin has been picked up by San Antonio's Public Broadcast station, KLRN. The station programmers felt that the shows content would be entertaining and informative for the wider Hill Country audience.
Get Flocked
March 20, 2008
Check out Dan Brown's promotional video for Planet Cancer on flamingoagogo.com. Planet Cancer is a nation wide support group for young adults with cancer.
Director: Dan Brown
DP: Shane Kelly
Editor: Ariel Quintans
Music: Tequila Mockingbird
Boys in the House
March 5, 2008
Tex-Mex rock trio Los Lonely Boys recently recorded their much anticipated third album in our very own East Side Stages. And who better to capture the behind-the-scenes footage during their visit than resident director/prankster Mark Miks. Stay tuned for a peak!
AF Won Two Awards at The Austin Show, 2008 Addy Awards
February 28, 2008
Gold ADDY Award in Online, Micro or Mini Sites for Mark Miks and Ariel Quintans work with GSD&M's IdeaCity on Relearn to Drive for BMW. Silver ADDY Award in Online, Webisodes for Dan Brown, Ariel Quintans and Sandra Guardado's work with FameCast for the Rock Stage Finals documentary.
THE PUNCHES ARE ON FIRE
January 18, 2008
Action Figure accomplice and buddy Cory Kilduff, the TX half of the dirty disco/house/electro duo Ocelot took the recently acquired footage of the AF crew punching each other in the face at 1000 frames per second and repurposed it to his remix of the Robyn track "Be Mine". Since then the "music video" has been blowing up the music blog scene, catching fire from notable music resources as Pitchfork, Stereogum and XLR8R, among at least another couple dozen others. Most recently the video got written up on the local scenester tastemaking webjawn Austinist.com.
Action Figure. Blowing up your face for 2008.
-a
Punch This
December 3, 2007
what happens when director Mark Miks gets his hands on a Phantom HD camera and has a little time on his hands? he lines up the action figure crew one by one and has his way with them...
(Yow! to AQ for the kick-ass edit)
"DOWNTOWN" Receives Three Lone Star EMMY® Awards
October 29, 2007
Austin's Popular PBS Series Features the Stories that Make DOWNTOWN: As Austin As It Gets
Austin, TX (Oct.28, 2007) "DOWNTOWN," a co-production of the Downtown Austin Alliance, Action Figure and KLRU-TV, Austin PBS, won three awards at the 5th Annual Lone Star EMMY Awards on Saturday, October 27. This 10-week series, which airs on KLRU, features unique stories of the people and places that make "DOWNTOWN: As Austin As It Gets."
Since the inception of the series in 2005, "DOWNTOWN" has received six Lone Star EMMYs. This year, the series received awards in the following categories:
• Arts/Entertainment - Program Feature/Segment - Episode 302 "Slam Poets," highlights the poetic brilliance, alliteration and friendly competition of the Austin Poetry Slam
• Texas Heritage - Program Feature/Segment - Episode 304 "The Magi's Gift's Before He Was O. Henry," traces the famous author's Austin connections to the modern-day "O. Henry Pun-Off"
• Public/Current/Community Affairs Feature/Segment - Episode 303 "Experience Caring" highlights the mission of Caritas of Austin, a downtown service organization that works with businesses to help people from all over the world build new lives.
"With all of its unique people, places, folklore and historical landmarks, downtown Austin makes for great television," said Kent Collins, chair of the Downtown Austin Alliance. "We're proud to be one of the co-producers of this wonderful series that paints a picture of what we treasure most about our city."
"DOWNTOWN" has been widely recognized for its depiction of what makes Austin unique. In addition to winning seven Lone Star EMMYs, "DOWNTOWN" has also been awarded the Austin Chronicle's Reader's Choice Poll for the "Best Locally Produced TV Show," and the 2007 Liveable City Vision Award.
For more information on "DOWNTOWN," please visit www.downtownaustin.com.
About Action Figure
Action Figure is an Austin-Based production company specializing in film and digital video, motion and graphic design, interactive, and contact development for television, cinema, advertising, and corporate clientele. For more information, please visit www.actionfigure.com.
About the Downtown Austin Alliance
The Downtown Austin Alliance is a partnership of individuals and businesses devoted to promoting and maintaining a safe, clean, attractive, accessible and fun downtown environment, making downtown THE destination for Austinites and visitors. Providing private sector leadership, the Alliance works with government to develop and implement programs that enhance the business, cultural and residential environment of downtown. For more information about the Downtown Austin Alliance and its programs, call 512.469.1766 or visit www.downtownaustin.com.
About KLRU
KLRU-TV, Austin PBS, reflects, celebrates and inspires Central Texas through creative excellence, community engagement and lifelong learning. Although primarily a television station providing locally produced and quality national programming, KLRU is also a non-profit organization helping to build a stronger community through educational workshops, community outreach projects and public events. Get more information about KLRU at www.klru.org.
Five Lone Star EMMY® Nominations for "DOWNTOWN"
September 20, 2007
For the third year in a row, "DOWNTOWN" has received more EMMY nominations that any other program produced in Austin, Texas. The series received nominations in the following categories:
• Arts/Entertainment - Program Feature/Segment - Episode 302 "Slam Poets," highlights the poetic brilliance, alliteration and friendly competition of the Austin Poetry Slam;
• Texas Heritage - Program Feature/Segment - Episode 304 "The Magi's Gift's Before He Was O. Henry," traces the famous author's Austin connections to the modern-day "O. Henry Pun-Off;"
• Magazine Program - Feature/Segment - Episode 310 "Hip Hop," features Austin's thriving Hip-Hop scene and introduces MCs with a message and B-Boy City;
• Arts/Entertainment - Program/Special - Episode 301 "Urban Transportation, Downtown's 'Wilder' side, The 'Rite' Playhouse," looks at the importance of a comprehensive regional transportation plan, exposes Austin's unique urban wildlife, and celebrates the Scottish Rite Theatre, one of Texas' oldest theatres;
• Public/Current/Community Affairs Feature/Segment - Episode 303 "Experience Caring" highlights the mission of Caritas of Austin, a downtown service organization that works with businesses to help people from all over the world build new lives.
Wild time on the Web
June 20, 2007
relearntodrive.com goes live today. Web viewers can now experience driving the right way thanks to the directing efforts of Mark Miks and editorial finesse of Ariel Quintans of Action Figure. GSD&M agency creatives Ryan Martindale and Chad Laughlin chose Miks to capture the Performance Center driving footage because they knew he was willing to do whatever it took to capture their vision including sending a couple of cameras to meet their maker. The intense performance driving footage came out spot on and was described by BMW as "Far and away the most thrilling driving footage they've seen" you can almost smell the tires burning as you watch BMW's barrel around the track giving the viewer a taste of the intense course work they can expect at the BMW Performance Driving School in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Sunset is anything but serene on the Skid Pad. Take a spin. Have a bag handy. Quintans' cuts between camera will knock your equilibrium.
Tony Cox Award
June 20, 2007
Director Dan Brown's short, "The Pipe", reaped the Tony Cox Award for Screenwriting in a Short Film at the 2007 Nantucket Film Festival. Dan shot his film on location in Austin, Texas in the spring of 2006. It stars Kent Osborne and Nathan Zellner and was adapted from a short story by Jack Pendarvis.
Variety.com article of June 18, 2007
UFOs at the Zoo
May 31, 2007
The Flaming Lips are putting the finishing touches on a live DVD, "UFOs at the Zoo," due in July via Warner Bros. Mark Miks was Director of Photography for The Lips shows at the Hollywood Bowl and at Oklahoma City Zoo ampitheatre in 2006. Both shoots were multi-camera HD video. Plans are still coming together for how the footage will see the light of day. "We went to great lengths to shoot the whole thing in this pristine HD format," Coyne says. "I'm sure somewhere along the way some company will be interested in this. It will look great on those big TVs. Not everything benefits from so much clarity, but a Flaming Lips show definitely does."
Billboard.com article of April 06, 2007
DOWNTOWN wins Liveable City Award
April 27, 2007
We're very pleased to announce that DOWNTOWN, the Action Figure produced television series, has been given a Liveable City Vision Award. According to Liveable City, DOWNTOWN "has contributed to preserving the special character of our community and has helped to make Austin a more livable city." www.liveablecity.org.
Lasers and Ponies
April 10, 2007
Downtown Season 3
April 9, 2007
3 is the Magic Number!
KLRU-TV, Austin PBS, is pleased to present Season 3 of it's three-time EMMY Award-winning television series DOWNTOWN. The series' new season, the proud product of it's 3 co-producers--the Downtown Austin Alliance, Action Figure, and of course, KLRU-TV, Austin PBS will begin airing on Thursdays at 8:00 p.m., beginning April 26th.
Telling just some of the stories of the people and places that make DOWNTOWN: As Austin As It Gets--this season takes you on a nature tour of downtown (episode #301); allows you to EXPERIENCE art (episode #303); explains the intricacies of gentrification (episode #307) and urban transportation (episode #301); and heats it up at the Hot Sauce Festival (episode #303). So, don't be a Zombie (episode #302), grab a cup of coffee (episode #302), and enjoy the newest season of DOWNTOWN, Austin's best locally produced show! It'll blow you away (episode #305)!
DOWNTOWN: As Austin As It Gets
FAMECAST REVEALS TOP 5 FINALISTS
April 9, 2007
FAMECAST REVEALS TOP 5 FINALISTS ON EACH STAGE
Finalists Battle it out to Earn $10,000 and Become FameCast Fēnoms During Live Finalist Shows in Austin, TX April 9-14
Austin, TX - April 2, 2007 - Season One of FameCast, the first online talent competition designed to find America's best new artists, is drawing to a close as the top 5 finalists on each stage have been decided by the fans. The top 5 finalists from each of the six stages comprising Season One are now preparing for the live finalist week in Austin, TX April 9-14. The live finals shows will be webcast for the viewing audience to cast their votes for the FameCast Fēnom on each stage. The grand prize winner on each stage will win $10,000 and national exposure.
"Season One of FameCast has uncovered hundreds of amazing up and coming artists from across America. Now it is all about the live finals show where the top 5 on each stage will battle it out live to be the first FameCast Fēnoms ever and for the grand prize," said Kent Savage, founder and CEO of FameCast. "The fans have decided who was worthy for a trip to Austin to compete live on stage and now it is the fans opportunity to select America's best new artist on each stage. We are all excited to see which of the contenders will be left standing after the finals."
Top 5 FameCast Finalists: Pop - Paul Jones, Seattle, WA; Grisel, El Paso/Austin, TX; Angela Carnegie, New York, NY; The Fishermen, Washington, D.C. and Robbie Hazen, Hollywood, FL.
Rock - Pushmonkey, Austin, TX; The Earthtone Players, Austin, TX; Copasetic, Coral Springs, FL; Shifted Fate, Houston, TX and Kill the Complex, Los Angeles, CA.
R&B - Melissa Suzanne, Orange County, CA; Smoke E. Digglera, Louisville, KY; RO, Washington, D.C.; Ryan Pugal, Honolulu, HI and Julia Huff & Her Company Band, Chicago, IL.
Country - Anthony Andrews, Frankfort, MI ; Luke Foster Band, Broken Arrow, OK; Eric Michael Hopper, Buford, GA; Devin Claycomb, Bedford County, PA and Jim Fowler, Jacksonville, FL.
Hip Hop - Rock Star, New York, NY; Philly Ruckus, Philadelphia, PA; Round Table Union, San Antonio, TX; Abboriginal Records, Austin, TX and 20Bello, Washington, D.C.
Comedy - Aaron Hughes, San Diego, CA; Mark Gonzalez, San Diego, CA; Stuart Swanson, Oceanside, CA; Erik Knowles, San Diego, CA and Matt Kazam, Washington, D.C.
Live Finalist Shows in Austin, TX - After three months of grueling online competition, the Top 5 FameCast finalists from each stage will be battling it out LIVE for $10,000 and national exposure. FameCast's Season One live finals shows will be held in Austin, TX on April 9-14. The live shows will be produced and webcast on location. Now is your chance to come see America's top talent compete live to become FameCast's first Fēnoms!
The Show Schedule is as follows:
Pop Finals: Monday, April 9, 9PM EST (8PM CST) Rock Finals: Tuesday, April 10, 9PM EST (8PM CST) R&B Finals: Wednesday, April 11, 9PM EST (8PM CST) Country Finals: Thursday, April 12, 9PM EST (8PM CST) Hip Hop Finals: Friday, April 13, 9PM EST (8PM CST) Comedy Finals: Saturday, April 14, 9PM EST (8PM CST)
If you will be in the Austin area, get your VIP ticket for the live shows at www.famecast.com or by emailing the following info to VIPtickets@famecast.com: • Your name • Number of people you are bringing • Which night(s) you would like to come FameCast is an artist discovery and entertainment community providing a nationwide, seasonal competition whereby an online audience determines tomorrow's biggest stars. FameCast was founded to showcase legitimate artists who have yet to be discovered and whom the audience deems to be worthy of stardom. The FameCast online competition and community will provide contestants the ability to connect with and grow a national audience and compete to become a FameCast Fēnom and win the grand prize worth $10,000 and global exposure.
About FameCast Born in Austin, TX, the Live Music Capital of the World, FameCast is the first online competition designed to find America's best new talent. Knowing that lack of exposure is what keeps some of our best artists in the shadows, FameCast aims to shine the spotlight on those that have what it takes, but have lacked the breaks. For more information visit www.famecast.com.
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Media Contact: Aaron De Lucia Porter Novelli on behalf of FameCast (512) 241-2249 aaron.delucia@porternovelli.com
PA Shoots Director
March 27, 2007
The first party in the new building
January 25, 2007
... was a massive blowout, of course. DJs in two different rooms, tasty snacks, lots of booze, breakdancing, and many people having a great time. You know it's a good party when people are wandering about with serving trays full of shots of Patrón.
Below are a few photos, you can check out the rest here and here.
Stage 1 was transformed into a dance club.
There was a bouncy castle too.
And even some Rollergirls.
Ariel say drink!
FameCast is Alive!
January 23, 2007
In a search for the nation's best new talent, FameCast is the first online contest where artists can connect with a national audience and compete to become the next FameCast Fenom, a prize worth $10,000 and national exposure. Action Figure has worked with FameCast founder, Kent Savage, to design and develop the site and the concept as a whole. It's only in it's first week of on-line life, but it's off to a great start. Check it out at: famecast.com.
Wichita Vortex Sutra
November 15, 2006
Allen Ginsberg's Wichita Vortex Sutra is an antiwar lament that carries an observational honesty not present in the MTV din of Howl. It's a poem worth recalling today... http://www.thenation.com/doc/20061127/potts
DOWNTOWN wins two EMMYs!
November 15, 2006
"DOWNTOWN" TV SHOW AWARDED TWO LONE STAR EMMYS
Austin's Show about the Stories that Make "DOWNTOWN: As Austin As It Gets™" Wins for the Second Consecutive Year
Austin, TX - The 4th Annual Lone Star Emmy® Awards were announced on Saturday, October 21, 2006, at the Verizon Center in downtown Houston, Texas. With over 1,200 nominations the competition was fierce, but the news was great for Austin's popular show "DOWNTOWN," which airs on KLRU, Austin's PBS station. "DOWNTOWN" received two Emmy® Awards--more than any other single show.
"DOWNTOWN" is a co-production of the Downtown Austin Alliance, Action Figure and KLRU. This 13-week series features the unique stories of the people and places the make "DOWNTOWN: As Austin As It Gets.™"
"DOWNTOWN" received Emmy® Awards in the following categories:
• Arts/Entertainment - Program Feature/Segment - Featured in Episode #204 "22 to Watch," about the emerging artists exhibit at the Austin Museum of Art.
• Public/Current/Community Affairs Feature/Segment - Featured in Episode #203 "Art from the Streets" is a poignant piece offering insight into Austin's homeless art show.
DOWNTOWN wins Chronicle Readers Poll
October 12, 2006
This just in from the Austin Chronicle Reader's Poll, regarding DOWNTOWN, the documentary series produced by Action Figure and the DAA:
Reader's Choice
Best Locally Produced TV Show: Downtown Now you can take a trip into the city without ever leaving your sofa. Thank goodness KLRU is a frequent remote destination for us, or we may never have stumbled across our new favorite show, and as a result, some of our new favorite things about our town. In half an hour the Emmy Award-winning series captures the beat, the art, the arts, the history, the excitement, the essence that is downtown Austin. They cover everything, with past features ranging from the East End and the Victory Grill to Zilker and Barton Springs, from Austin women builders to the Central Texas hip-hop scene, the Gospel Brunch to the Quentin Tarantino Fest. No finer place for sure, Downtown, everything's waiting for you!
AF's DOWNTOWN Gets 5 Emmy Nominations!
September 26, 2006
Action Figure's documentary television series, DOWNTOWN, has just recieved a record 5 Lonestar Emmy nominations. Read more in this article: http://austin.bizjournals.com/austin/stories/2006/09/25/daily2.html
Mark's Greatest Achievement
August 17, 2006
Action Figure Director/Principal has finally made it. In Austin Monthly's list of Austin's Ten Most Eligible Bachelors. No really, check it out.
Downtown Season Three gets the greenlight
August 4, 2006
We'll begin production on Downtown Season Three later this summer and we're looking forward to initiating a new tapeless workflow, using the P2 technology and Panasonic's new HVX200 HD cameras. Look for season to launch sometime after the beginning of the year.
"Summer Savings" ranked 4th by Advertising Age
June 28, 2006
Congrats to everyone who worked on Summer Savings TV! The spot ranked #4 on Ad Age's top 10 Most Liked, Most Recalled New TV spots.
View the spot here: Wal-Mart "Summer Savings"
And check out the article on the spot by Washington Times: Wal-Mart takes a risky turn with gas ads
TOP MOST-LIKED SPOT Burger King's 'Big Air' by Crispin Porter & Bogusky, which features a high-flying, motorcycle-riding chicken, was voted the most liked TV commercial of the period by consumers.
1 Burger King Extreme Spicy Tendercrisp--person in chicken suit does stunts on dirt bike; big huckin' chicken song. (:15) 144
2 Burger King Extreme Spicy Tendercrisp--person in chicken suit does stunts on dirt bike; big huckin' chicken song. (:30) 141
3 Home Depot Father's Day Gift Cards--little boys exploring store; pulling products from the shelves; at checkout the boys become grown men. 140
4 Wal-Mart Rollbacks--father says ready to go camping?; red SUV backs up to neighbor's lawn; don't let high gas prices limit your summer fun. 139
5 Kmart Father's Day--father pushing daughter on swing; she wants to go higher; gets knocked out of frame by daughter on backswing. 135
6 State Farm Cars--two cars from Cars movie walk down red carpet; now that you're a big star, need an agent. 133
7 Sheraton We belong song; various types of people greet each other; the greetings are different, the need to feel welcome is the same. 131
8 Microsoft PeopleReady Software--Alberto attends orientation, gets picture taken; women on elevator with PDA; every person is an investment. 130
9 Breyers Cyclone--man in front of freezer orders ice cream; woman inside freezer says, "coming right up Hank." 129
10 Sprite Sublymonal advertising; man in testing facility receives drops of sprite, lemon and lime slices on eyes reveal mouth where eye should be. 12
Found on YouTube. Wayne Coyne's Commencement Speech.
May 31, 2006
Wayne Coyne, the frontman for the band, The Flaming Lips was recently asked to give a commencement speech to the graduating class at his old high school. His address focused on a story told to him by our man Mark Miks. Watch the video.
W Magazine taps Action Figure
May 3, 2006
Action Figure's Director/DP, Mark Miks, just finished a shoot for W Magazine in NYC. The project, a documentary DVD insert for the October issue, chronicled an usual fashion shoot by photographer Mario Sorrenti, and featured the set design of artist Richard Tuttle. Look for it in the October issue of the magazine. After it releases we'll post files on our site as well.
American Made, new show on CNBC that features AF's title work airs tonight!
April 17, 2006
Action Figure produced the opening title sequence for the new series, American Made, which premiere's on CNBC tonight at 7pm CST.
Using existing footage, motion designers Matt Hovis and Ariel Quintans created a 40 second opening sequence using layered imagery and type in After Effects.
Let us know what you think.
DOWNTOWN Premiere Party April 11th
April 3, 2006
Join us for the Season Premiere Party for season two of our Emmy award winning series DOWNTOWN. The premiere will be at the historic Paramount Theatre (713 Congress), from 7:30 to 10:00pm on April 11th. Tickets are free!
Rollergirls one of Time Magazine's faves
February 14, 2006
Time Magazine voted Rollergirls one of the best things happening in Reality TV. Here's what they had to say:
LIKE REALITY TV, ROLLER DERBY mixes contrived personae with real conflict, theatrics with real spills. The women of the Austin, Texas, Lonestar Rollergirls league are equal parts athletes and punk-feminist performance artists (with drag-queeny noms de skate like Venis Envy and Miss Conduct); they wear Catholic-schoolgirl skirts and fishnets and deal out bruising blows. "You can be completely feminine and athletic, threatening and sexy," says a skater of the sport's appeal. Gorgeously shot and structured like a drama, each episode delves into the lives of skaters, some fighting off demons, others blowing off steam. As their offtrack dramas climax on a sweaty track in an old airplane hangar, their cheesy competition becomes transcendent, just as good, cheesy TV can.
Article: 6 Reality TV Gems (Really)
Donuts are fun and smell good too
January 27, 2006
Check out this camera test Mark and the AF crew did yesterday. Only blew one tire!
Blog Entry from Salon about Rollergirls
January 12, 2006
Eric found this entry on Salon regarding Rollergirls:
7 Reasons I Like "Rollergirls"
Anyone else watching "Rollergirls"? It's a reality show on A&E about the thriving roller derby scene in Austin. I'm kind of into it, and not just because I play another gals-on-skates sport. Here's why:
- It's nice to see women compete over something other than bachelors. (And yes, underneath its jock-burlesque trappings, roller derby -- while we won't see it in Turin -- actually is a sport.)
- These girls are HOT. (Brandi Chastain's bra moment: how quaint it seems now!) But they're naturally, if punkily, so. And the camera doesn't leer.
- I would totally hang out with these people. Unlike these people.
- The show is not trying to prove anything About Women. It's not trying to say "See? When women play sports, it's really about friendship!" (One team is resolutely nonbonding.) Or "See? Women can be both tough and feminine!" Or "See? When you get women together, they fight!" It just shows these gals -- all different, none turned into a type -- doing their thing.
- So two of them are on this radio show, and the bonehead host goes, "I bet if I kept talking to you I could convince you to make out with me." And Punky Bruiser goes, "I bet if you kept talking to me you could convince me to kick your ass."
- There's no fake "girl power" grandstanding. But! One player says: "That is what roller derby gives you: the knowledge that you are in fact a superhero, and you don't have to wear a cape. But you do get to wear the tights."
- I am now obsessed with trying to come up with my own roller derby name. (Great ones I've heard: Jackie O'Nasty, Tyranny Sue and, my personal favorite, Sheila Tack.)
If you've missed "Rollergirls" so far, it's on A&E just about every 10 minutes.
-- Lynn Harris
Rollergirls reviews are in: Seattle Times - "A Masterpiece of Theatre"
January 9, 2006
Reviews have been flooding in on the new Action Figure co-production airing now on A&E: Rollergirls. Critics have been very, very positive (besides the bitchy one at Variety). Here's the review in which the Seattle Times called the show "A Masterpiece of Theatre".
ROLLERGIRLS PREMIERES TONIGHT on A&E!
January 2, 2006
Rollergirls, A&E's newest series premieres tonight (9pm CST). Action Figure principals Karen Jacobs and Matt Hovis served as co-executive producers, with their partner Mark Miks as director. Action Figure editor Ariel Quintans spent much of the year editing the show in LA and is glad to be back in time to see the final product on air.
Rollergirls on A&E site
November 15, 2005
So, it's official, Rollergirls will launch January 2nd on A&E! See a sneak preview at http://www.aetv.com/rollergirls/
"Bring the Noise" screens at SHOOT
October 19, 2005
The music video for "Bring the Noise" by the Unholy Trio, directed by Mark Miks, has been selected to screen at "SHOOT".
"SHOOT" is an exclusive engagement premiering the freshest film shorts by emerging artists. 15 short films, curated by Jessica Lauretti, will be screened as an hour long motion picture event at the DAM, STUHLTRAGER GALLERY in Brooklyn, NY.
SHOOT hits Friday, October 21st with the opening reception of featured multimedia artist, Dalit Gurevich Dates: October 21- November 6, 2005 Opening Reception: Friday Oct.21, 7-10pm Hours: Fri. 3-8, Sat. & Sun. 12-6pm or by appt. Address: Dam, Stuhltrager Gallery, 38 Marcy Ave. Brooklyn. NY 11211 Contact: 718-387-9818 ~ damstuhltrager@hotmail.com Directions: L to Lorimer. Exit near token booth. Metropolitan under BQE. Left on Marcy. Distance from train: 3 bl (Visit www.damstuhltrager.com/dalitgurevich.htm for more info.)
"This EMMY is the property of,
October 18, 2005
and all rights are reserved by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Possession hereof has been awarded subject to the recipient's compliance with all of the rules applicable to EMMY now or hereafter established by the Academy, including rules restricting reproduction or commercial use of EMMY or any element thereof in any matter. INSPECTED BY #001-#005."
This is what it says on the bottom of the EMMY. On the top it just says "THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF TELEVISION ARTS AND SCIENCES". It's understandably heavy, bottom-so, and is conducive to grabbing about the ladys waist right below her electric-bolt wings. There is also an element of Tourette's associated with picking it up - you immediately blurt out that you would like to thank the Academy and could you also send a big shout-out to the man upstairs. (since he's such a gloryhound for grammys & emmys & touchdowns & such.)
DOWNTOWN series wins an EMMY!
October 18, 2005
DOWNTOWN, the documentary television series Action Figure co-produces with Downtown Austin Alliance and KLRU, has been awarded an EMMY by the Lone Star chapter of the The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. We're very pleased. And disappointed that we were not able to attend the ceremony, as the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders apparently performed on stage.
The New Design Rage Is...
October 14, 2005
...already over. Do you know what it was? Anti-branding. Your mother's first husband's middle daughter's daughter is a sixth grade art student and she did the logo for this knew chi-chi sushi spot in Manhattan.......Kansas. Some NY'ers from The City were passing through and just HAD to have it - so they paid said sushi spot to NOT sue them when they opened their own joint in the real Manhattan. The whole buy-off cost about 10gs - which is what they would have paid for a logo from a high-falutin' design firm anyway - and then been dissatisfied when it didn't feel fresh and naive enough. Its a 10g story on a high-rise roof top over nicotini's - how our exotic logo came about when we were slumming through the breadbasket of the midwest. The big city ending is... they forked over $ for the logo redux because it didnt work on a fax or as a bellybutton tattoo. Im drunk on the expensiveness of this story. Im eating two complete Naive Design Breakfast Specials - because im so freakin hungover.
DOWNTOWN series wins 2005 Critic's Pick Best Of!
October 14, 2005
DOWNTOWN, the documentary series we produce in conjunction with Downtown Austin Alliance for KLRU, Austin's PBS affiliate, has been chosen by The Austin Chronicle as a Critic's Pick Award for 2005. The Chronicle's blurb reads:
Document of Urban Density - Downtown on KLRU
The brainchild of the Downtown Austin Alliance, design firm Action Figure, and local PBS affiliate KLRU, Downtown is a love letter to the city's urban core. In each episode, top-notch production values help highlight three different aspects of the city's throbbing heart. Informative and amazing to look at (and accompanied by a well-selected soundtrack), Downtown shows the city at its best and dreams of the triumphs lying ahead.
The halfpipe is coming along just fine.
October 11, 2005
We have begun renovation of our new headquarters at 3000 East Cesar Chavez, but most importantly, the skateboard halfpipe which will be onsite, masterminded by our office manager Donnie Knutson and creative director Matt Hovis, is coming along quite well. Despite a faulty jigsaw blade and the fact that Donnie sawed through the tape measure, the project seems to be on course. We'll keep you posted on its development.
DOWNTOWN series nominated for Lone Star Emmy Award
October 10, 2005
DOWNTOWN, the documentary television series we co-produce with Downtown Austin Alliance has been nominated for a Lone Star Emmy award (the Texas chapter of The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences). It is currently a finalist in its category and we'll know October 15th whether it has won. We'll keep ya posted.
Hey look, it's our new website
July 11, 2005
At long last, our new site is live! Easier to load, easier to use, easier for us to update, and lots more cool stuff to look at. We're still tweaking and filling in holes, but holy crap it's sweet. Let us know what you think.
Belles on Wheels
July 7, 2005
An article about the explosion of roller derby in Austin and around the country appeared in this week's XLent, the entertainment supplement to our sweltering city's major daily paper:
After an article about Austin rollergirls appeared in The New York Times last year, Matt Hovis of Action Figure, one of Austin's premier production and design companies, was among six groups vying for broadcast rights to the Lonestars' story. Eventually Hovis' team won the league's hearts by "showing them how much we really understood their world," he said, adding, "plus, we could handle damn near as much tequila as they could, and that went a long way."
After spending their 2004 season in an East Austin warehouse, the Rollergirls, along with Hovis' production team, moved into Austin Studios Hangar 5 to begin filming the A&E documentary.
"It is technically a reality show, (but) it doesn't resemble what is currently in that genre," Hovis says. With Gary Auerbach, executive producer of MTV's "Laguna Beach," on board, the series will consist of 13 one-hour episodes. Currently working under the simple title "Rollergirls," it will focus on the lives of the women and their intraleague relationships, as well as the "dichotomy between their daily lives and their almost superhero alter egos," Hovis says.
Read the entire article on the Austin American-Statesman website.
Roundup of articles on Ballet Austin's 'Light'
April 14, 2005
Action Figure developed the video and multimedia for Ballet Austin's production of Light: The Holocaust & Humanity Project.
Austin American-Statesman article about the project
Austin American-Statesman review of the perfomance
Austin Chronicle article and interview with Stephen Mills, Artistic Director and choreographer of Light.
Austin's Rollergirls could see sponsor boost with new A&E television series
March 30, 2005
From the Austin Business Journal, a story about the Rollergirls production. Not sure where the "dabbles in films and music videos" bit came from, but there it is:
Also involved is Action Figure Inc., an advertising, marketing and branding company that dabbles in films and music videos.
"The project is a great fit for our company, in that it requires some of things we really specialize in," says Matt Hovis, Action Figure's creative director and co-executive producer for the show.
"We relate well to the Lonestar Rollergirls' approach to their own league: vehemently independent, self-controlled and homegrown. It really is an Austin thing. And so are we."
A&E won't release indicate how much Action Figure is receiving for its work.
Action Figure teamed up with Santa Monica, Calif.-based LPA Productions to produce the show. Action Figure is the co-executive producer and is responsible, along with LPA, for every aspect of the show, Hovis says.
The local production company has 11 full-time employees and five temporary employees, and will add 15 to 20 for "Rollergirls," Hovis says.
"Rollergirls" is set to air next January; shooting runs through July.
Read the entire article at the ABJ.
Austin's historic Paramount Theatre engages Action Figure
March 11, 2005
One of Austin's most historic and beautiful landmarks, The Paramount Theatre, has engaged Action Figure to build its 2005-2006 Season Campaign. Action Figure will also overhaul the brand of the Paramount's sister theatre, The State Theatre, and its accompanying production company.
Action Figure is working with The Paramount to further build its subscriber base, increase awareness of the coming season, and to overhaul the identity of The State Theatre.
The State Theatre, under the artistic direction of Scott Kanoff, has elevated the quality of the Austin theatre-going experience through its consistently high production values and its brave theatrical choices. The theatre's research has shown, however, that the public remains largely unaware that The State Theatre is not only a rental space, but the production company responsible for much of the performances.
Action Figure will work to better define the identities and separation of The State Theatre space and its production company. Look to the 2005-2006 season for our results.
Action Figure begins production of new TV series for A&E
March 11, 2005
With production partner LPA Productions, Action Figure has begun production of its new "docudrama" tentatively titled "Rollergirls." The show will feature the Austin-based Lonestar Rollergirls rollerderby league, who are considered the leaders of a sport rapidly becoming a national phenomenon.
A&E purchased an entire season of episodes — thirteen one-hour shows with production beginning in January of '05 and launching in January of '06. Executive Producer Gary Auerbach, creator of the MTV hit "Laguna Beach" has been in Austin working with Action Figure (whose directors share a co-executive producer role) on the initial production days, but will be working mostly from LA, where he is developing a second season of "Laguna Beach."
Action Figure will be filming the series all over Austin over the next six months, with the league's "bouts" being filmed in Stage 5 at the Austin Studios.