Hyperreal Film Club

In a world, where machines seek to supplant everything we cherish as ‘human’ - a league of heroes emerge from the everyday crowd. Armed with a fiery passion for movies, love for new experiences, and the power of friendship. Will they save humanity from the machines’ ultimate weapon “the bottom line”?

Find out in a theater near you!

Hooked? Doesn’t matter. Hyperreal Film Club gladly shows movies that are both deemed classics and how-the-hell-did-this-get-made? Along with everything in between. Founded in 2016 by Tanner

Hadfield, Jenni Kaye, and David McMichael - the club’s main purpose remains to bring people together to experience the magic of sharing a movie with an audience. They host their pop-up screenings at an

array of venues but most often at Hotel Vegas, The Paramount Theater and Violet Crown Cinema. They have become an incredible resource for movie fans and movie makers, alike, as their features are paired with a local short film as the headliner. They recognize that Austin is a hotbed for talent in the filmmaking world and want to give local filmmakers a chance to screen their shorts with a public audience who is fired up and always ready for the Q&A that follows. HFC holds a residency at Hotel Vegas on E 6th St. every Monday where they screen a range of movies. These typically sell out and are filled with patrons ready to scream, laugh, yell and roar.

“I feel like people get tired of sitting at home and watching TV screens. If you go to the movies, and I love the Alamo Drafthouse, but it kind of sucks when you can’t like wig out when something crazy happens. Just have to sit there all composed. I feel like the Hotel Vegas shows give you a chance to let it all out. And everybody is going to do it.” says Blake Williams, an HFC Film Programmer amongst other hats for the club.

Blake grew up going to the movie theaters regularly as it was always his mom who brought him there in lieu of hiring a babysitter. Between the theater visits and the countless VHS tapes he watched growing up, Blake considered himself a film junkie who still maintains that rate of watching titles. But even he is shocked at how many movies they have screened that he has never heard of. A true testament to the range of the club’s members and the club’s own willingness to screen anything that someone is passionate about. What does this Hyperreal library look like? “I would call it more a Hyper brain, it’s just a conglomerate of anyone that is participating. You can throw out a suggestion and if it resonates somewhere there’s a strong chance it’s going to be played.” says Lindsey Woods, who assists in

partnerships and marketing for HFC. Growing up, Lindsey would watch Singin’ in the Rain with her grandpa every time she visited him. So much so, they could act out the scenes with each other. Movies would always be where she would find her community throughout life. When she moved to Austin she was naturally led to a Hyperreal screening of Phantom of the Paradise, where the atmosphere was so intoxicating, she promptly reached out to HFC to see how she could contribute more to the community. Going from fan to proactive member of HFC is quite regular, as all the positions are volunteer based,

most of the artwork for promotions is contributed pro-bono, and events are sponsored by local Austin partners. The in-person events are not only great for new experiences on screen but are also a great way to meet new people and discuss what you all just experienced together. The event goes on long after the credits roll as people will stay after the showing, grab drinks at the bar and engage in that social element that just doesn’t exist in theaters or on your couch. “My hope is someone is watching something that they haven’t given chance to before. My hope is also that people make friends and find a community.” Lindsey exclaimed. Blake added “With the shorts, I hope that people will be inspired to make one themselves. Just seeing the person who made it is right in front of me and that it’s possible. I feel like the Q&As add an element, which makes it demystified. It makes it feel like the barrier of entry

is lower than you thought. I think it helps seeing them at a bar, and realizing ‘oh this is a normal person’.” The experience, however, is not restricted to live events. As Lindsey says “There are so many pieces that make up a Hyperreal experience. Yes, we have the movies themselves, but the reviews published on our website and our discord community allow people to dive deeper into programming. When it comes to special event screenings, there’s a lot of care that goes into making sure the venue adds to the screening too. Recently, we screened Marie Antoinette at the Elisabet Ney Museum.

I can’t think of a better way to enjoy that movie than next to a castle and sculpture gallery with a cellist and costumed volunteers there to greet you. Both the in-person and online elements of Hyperreal work to complement each other and give our guests the best experience possible.”

The online presence of the club is what largely allows them to not just cover a wide surface of titles but also to dive deep into stories of each film. On their website you can read reviews of films from the members themselves, whether it was screened or watched on their own. If you feel motivated enough, you can

even submit one yourself. These reviews are posted regularly with several being uploaded every week. In addition to the reviews, the HFC Discord channel has become another great branch of the community for screening films. Discussions are always plentiful and the platform serves as a great way to get your foot in the door if you aren’t able to attend the events. With such a range of titles and genres being shown, I was curious if the audience reflected that array of taste.

“[HFC is] Cinema for the people. Anyone who wants to come, you’re more than welcome to come. It’s very easy, in any film community, to get sucked into a kind of bro-y culture. And at times it can feel unwelcoming. This is the complete opposite of that. Another reason why I was drawn to this.” Lindsey affirmed.

I found that there really is no singular tastemaker for what they decide to show and discuss. It is very much fueled by the motivation of a few or even one.

“I just feel like there wasn’t a lot going around the city for Black History Month, film wise. And I asked if I could do some screenings [for BHM] and they said yeah sure go for it.” Blake explained, “It got kind of difficult; I reached out to my god sister, and she was like “You got to show this” and I called my mom, and she was like “You got to show that.” It really is that brain, it’s just whatever you want to show. There really is no filter[laughs].” The filter does not exist. I wondered if they had barriers for something that could be deemed too commercial and would rather keep the screenings for titles that didn’t have much exposure. My inclination was pulverized when they told me they screened Fast & Furious in the past. This was not your typical niche, indie film club. This is truly a community for people who love the moviegoing experience.

“It could be a good movie, it could be a bad movie, you’re there to have a fun time. The experience makes it a good movie even if it sucks [laughs]. I think that reputation has been what keeps people coming back.” Lindsey assured me. And if you’re wondering if streaming movies has impacted them like it has at the box office...

“I mean, most of the shows we show you can stream at home. I think the fact that people are selling out our Hotel Vegas screenings show that there’s a need for a community.” Lindsey confirmed. Capital “C” Community is truly the engine of the Hyperreal Film Club.

The people who join are given a space to explore, learn, engage and grow. All of them led here with some level of passion for cinema. So, it was only right to ask Lindsey and Blake: What are three movies in your life that you feel altered who you are, for better or for worse.

LINDSEY

Singin’ In the Rain

“I watched it with my grandpa over and over again, every time I would visit.”

Begin Again

“There was a scene where all the instruments come to life and begin playing, and I was like ‘woah - this is what a movie can be?’ Magical moment.”

Phantom of the Paradise

“First Hyperreal movie I went to see. Just being in that environment and Hotel Vegas for the first time with a crowd that was just very excited to be at the movies and react to the screen - it was like ‘oh wait now I’m here and this could be something.”

BLAKE

E.T.

“Mom’s favorite movie. Fun family story. Thinking ET was real, he was like a friend for a while as a kid.”

Toy Story 2

“Great family story. I don’t think I’ve seen a blooper reel after the movie like that, and since they were all animated, it kind of messed me up [laughs]. Made them feel all the more real and it’s just so funny.”

The Social Network

“On paper, that story shouldn’t work or be entertaining, but it’s a movie that’s so well done. I keep coming back to it.”

@hyperrealfilmclub

https://hyperrealfilm.club/reviews/january-movie-screenings-at-hyperreal-film-club