This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Every filmmaker at film festivals this week has a story about how he or she got here, and some of those stories are more interesting — or, at the very least, improbable — than others.
The filmmakers of "Bindlestiffs," which is screening at the Slamdance Film Festival, have arguably the most improbable story of them all.
The film began when director and co-writer Andrew Edison was in his senior year of high school. He and his friend Luke Loftin were infected with a bad case of senioritis, so they wrote a screenplay about three virgins who make a trip to the big city to live out the plot of Catcher in the Rye — and to lose their virginity to prostitutes. In the film, as adolescents are wont to do, they frequently use the word "boner."
No one was paid. The budget was next to nothing. And craft services were nonexistent.
Although Austin residents Edison and Loftin are only 20, their debut crude comedy "Bindlestiffs" was accepted into the Slamdance Film Festival.
Loftin had been enrolled at the University of Southern California to become an actor, and Edison was in film school at New York University, until "Bindlestiffs" started gaining buzz. After that, they both dropped out of college and returned to Austin to live in a bachelor pad and work on more film ideas.
Loftin and Edison answered the Tribune's questions about how they managed to make the rest of us look old and stupid.
How did you get people to work for free?
It helps to work with high-school and college students who aren't used to getting paid in the first place. It also helped that we shot during summers and school vacations.
At what point did this turn from a small project into a festival film?
We got a phone call from Slamdance. Right around that point things were kicked up a notch. Now our lives are crazy and are phones are blowing up. Ladies, call us: 832-524-1055.
What are your preconceived notions of what the atmosphere will be like?
We've both been to Park City before, and we expect it's gonna be a blast. We're excited to be promoting the film at such an awesome fest. Thank God for the trendy perverts that run the place.
What are your plans for the festival?
We will be there with most of our team. If you see a herd of young people walking down Main Street in bright yellow ponchos, that's us. So please come say hello. We will be promoting the film and our screenings all week as well as giving interviews, performing live stunts, and partying the nights away.
How did your film short "SEXT" inspire your film?
"SEXT" was the first improvised film project that we did with "Bindlestiffs" lead actor John Karna. It was the first glimpse into the way the characters talk and the themes of virginity and sexual peer pressure. We also made John strip to his undies, which in itself was very inspiring.
"Bindlestiffs" screenings at Slamdance
Saturday, Jan. 21, 10:30 p.m. • Treasure Mountain Inn, 255 Main St., Park City
Thursday, Jan. 26, 1 p.m. • Treasure Mountain Inn