Do512.com is one of the hardest working sites in Austin, so it’s only natural to profile them at their headquarters as they prep for SXSW.  I met the Do512 crew yesterday as they toiled long and hard over schedules, events, and RSVPs.

Thanks for letting us take this snapshot, Do512!

But trust me, this party is going to be great.  There’s an awesome lineup of bands (ME-TV is going to announce them soon, and you will NOT be disappointed) and FREE FOOD and ADULT BEVERAGES provided by Red’s Porch and NXNW respectively.

And of course, your friendly neighborhood Docubloggers will be there with the Austin Girl Music Guide, so you should look for us and come say “hi”.

Space is filling up, so RSVP NOW!!!  Send an email with your name, company, and industry to AtxDEC at Gmail.

You can click on it to go to its source, and then download and embed it to your heart’s delight!  Let people know what we’re up to, and check back often for updates.

Follow us on Twitter: @docubloggers, @austingirlmg, @METelevision

Docubloggers is setting up shop at the ME-TV headquarters during the week of SXSW 2010 (Monday, March 15^th – Friday, March 19^th).  We’ll be conducting interviews during the day before setting about town at night.  (Stay tuned for more info on our hours, interview guests, and more!)

The history of the building housing ME-TV headquarters is a fascinating look at Austin’s past.  The original building was designed by Houston architectural duo Mackie & Kamrath in 1938, and opened as a 713 seat, single screen theater serving its South Austin neighborhood in 1939.

For years, the theater screened blockbuster films until urban sprawl and the public’s desire for multiplex theaters drove business away.  It was then that this Austin landmark became known as Cinema West and gained its most (in)famous reputation as South Austin’s theater of ill repute.

After years of rallying by neighbors and APD, the city successfully shut down Cinema West, and the neighborhood began to change for the better.  In 2000 during the internet boom years, it was renovated for a high tech company – the source of its modern day look.  The slanted theater floor was leveled out with a metal one, leaving room for modern wiring, and a fourth floor balcony was added offering a stunning look of the Capitol and downtown Austin.

Since then, it’s changed hands a few times, even serving as the campaign headquarters of former Austin Mayor Will Wynn.  The aesthetics have changed, but the original character and history of this landmark have remained.  Setting up the Docubloggers base camp there is truly an honor.

All of us here at Docubloggers are really looking forward to SXSW this year (can you tell??), and to our burgeoning partnership with ME-TV.  There are great things to come from both institutions, so stay in touch and get ready for the weeks to come!

Best of all, we’re lucky enough to be working with Virginia from AustinGirlMusicGuide.com!  She’ll be along for the ride, and will provide the official music coverage for Docubloggers.

All of this SXSW madness will be available as daily uploads and broadcasts, and will culminate in a 30 minute Docubloggers SXSW Special to air on ME-Television, Time Warner Channel 15.  So, stay tuned for more details, and be sure to follow us on Twitter for the latest news!

@METelevision

@docubloggers

@austingirlmg

On Monday, December 21, I attended the final night of the Zilker Holiday Festival where Asleep at the Wheel was performing.  I had my wife at my side and my Flip Ultra HD in my pocket, and had a great time.  I shot some video of the festivities and posted a little story about my experiences on my personal blog, and now Docubloggers is featuring me as one of their Community Docubloggers.  It’s just that easy, folks!  You don’t have to have the fanciest cameras or the best equipment, just a desire to tell great stories about what’s going on in your community.

Below is an excerpt from my blog entry.

Asleep at the Wheel is my BOC

This Bus Don’t Stop Here Anymore

The image was utterly heart wrenching.  Two little girls jumping with glee as the bus approached, a mother gathering up their blankets and other supplies for the evening, and a grandmother’s fleeting smile as we whizzed straight by, the bus driver slowing down to make a slicing motion with his hand indicating we were too full to accept new passengers.

“I can’t look at them!” exclaimed a gentleman standing near me at the front of the bus.  The scene was getting worse with each stop we passed.

The #30 maintained its regular route, and the last day of Zilker’s Holiday Festival was already drawing a large crowd, especially with Asleep at the Wheel performing …

READ THE REST HERE

Docubloggers was fortunate enough to book interviews with a few of the folks behind some of the films featured at this year’s Austin Film Festival.  The Festival is in its 16th year, and represents this town’s past, present, and future as a national film hub (read more about AFF’s history here).  The three interviews featured in this docublog cannot possibly cover all that this year had to offer, but do provide insight into the broad slice of features and shorts represented around town.  AFF showcases talent ranging from seasoned film veterans to up and comers with skills and a dream.  Check out what they have to say.

The Scenesters

Writer/Director Todd Berger and actor Kevin Brennan, both of the comedy group The Vacationeers, talk about their new comedic murder mystery feature.

Lapse

Director Helena Wei and writer/actor Blaise Miller discuss the four minute “moment” of love lost that comprises their short film.

Calvin Marshall

Director Gary Lundgren and stars Diedrich Bader and Michelle Lombardo share the story of this new poignant comedy, and talk about why the Austin Film Festival was perfect for its world premiere.

The Mansion of Terror, located off of I-35 at exit 251, is Central Texas’ number 1 haunted house, and for good reason.  The Docubloggers team was invited out for a tour last Saturday, and were given great access to the horrors within.  But we didn’t just want to see the Mansion, we wanted to participate.  So I bravely stepped back as Dom stepped forward to get made up as a victim of Blood Frenzy, one half of the Mansion of Terror’s attractions.

Dom summoned her inner torment and gave some folks a good fright, we all had a great time, and we learned about how the Mansion gives back to the Central Texas community it aims to entertain.  Nothing like a ghoulish institution with a heart of gold!  If you’re watching this and are intrigued by what you see, you should check them out on a Friday night.  Your entrance fee will go to support one of the very worthy non-profit companies you see out front.

A very special thanks to Jethro for the awesome night-vision camera work and the impromptu screaming (his time spent at this year’s Fantastic Fest was well worth it).  He was using a Sony camcorder that’s about 8 years old, and it looks that good!  Just goes to show you how easy it is to docublog.

Channel Austin celebrated the $1 million dollar overhaul of their facilities with the Digital Fusion Fest, a block party at their East Austin studios.  Docubloggers had a booth at the event, and decided to shoot a little video for those who couldn’t make it (or those who just want to relive the fun!).

It was a great event with free food and beverages, a moonwalk for the kiddos, a rapid fire editing contest, live music, and tours of the brand new high definition workspace.  Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell even declared the day “Digital Fusion Fest Day”.  The most amazing part of the whole thing is that this brand new space belongs to each of you out there.  Anyone with the gumption to start making television now has a collection of cutting edge resources to do so.  Kudos to them, and thanks for having us out to share in the day!

(We’d also like to thank Fito Kahn and the Austin Jazz Alliance for the cool music bed!)

Our first Community Docublog courtesy of the Austin Girl Music Guide!  She attended this year’s ACL Festival, and true to docubloggin’ form, she had a camera (a Flip!) in tow to document the event.  You can also read her reviews of the music and ambience at this year’s festival for all three days (Friday, Saturday, Sunday).  Thanks, Austin Girl!

Did you attend the ACL Festival this year?  If so, share your photos, video, and stories with us!  We’d all love to share the experience!