Skip to Content

23 Filmmakers to remake ‘Slacker’

Richard Linklater made a splash back in 1991 with his independent low budget film Slacker. The film was unique in its structure and seemingly plotless film, following a single day in the life of an ensemble of mostly twenty-something youths in Austin, Texas. The film followed various characters and scenes, never staying with one character or conversation for more than a few minutes before picking up someone else in the scene and following them. A similar idea was also explored at around the same time in a film called Twenty Bucks, that well followed a 20 dollar bill around for a day.

Now two decades later, the Austin Film Society and The Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas are teaming up with 23 Austin filmmakers to remake Richard Linklater’s critically acclaimed movie to celebrate the film’s 20th anniversary.  According to the Austin Film Society [via The Playlist] “Each scene will be recreated, using the original dialogue and locations (whenever possible), and individual scenes will then be compiled to create the remake, presenting the city’s changing face while showcasing some of its most exciting talent.”

Slacker was shot with a 16 mm Arriflex camera on location in Austin, Texas with a budget of $23,000, and premiered at Austin’s Dobie Theater on July 27, 1990. Orion Classics acquired Slacker for nationwide distribution, and released a slightly modified 35mm version, and while it did not receive a wide release, it went on to become a cult film bringing in a domestic gross of over $1,000,000. The film was part of the independent film movement of the 1990s, and went on to inspire Kevin Smith, who has said on numerous occasions that the film was the inspiration for Clerks.

stats via Wikipedia

The idea seems intriguing but I’m just wondering if the world needs another remake?

Here’s a list of the filmmakers and teams involved:

Miguel Alvarez
Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas
AFS Film Club
Austin School of Film
Bradley Beesley
John Bryant
Bob Byington
Mike Dolan
Sam Wainwright Douglas
Jay Duplass
Chris Eska
Paul Gordon
Amy Grappell
Duane Graves & Justin Meeks
Berndt Mader
Geoff Marslett
Spencer Parsons
PJ Raval
Bob Ray
Reel Women UT Chapter
Elisabeth Sikes
Karen Skloss
Ben Steinbauer
David & Nathan Zellner

[wpchatai]