Krasinski makes foray into directing

Note: the following piece was co-written with my co-editor for the Hilltop Views, Holly Aker, to view our complete Q&A with Krasinski, visit the Hilltop Views story.

Before anyone had ever heard of Dunder Mifflin Paper Company’s resident funnyman Jim Halpert, New York waiter John Krasinski was planning his foray into directing with the screen adaptation of “Brief Interviews with Hideous Men."

Seven years later, the actor, best known for his role as on NBC’s The Office, has finally brought his brainchild to the big screen.

The film is based on the book of the same name, written in 1999 by the late David Foster Wallace. It contains fictional interviews and short stories in which the male subjects reveal their repulsive characteristics, fantasies and behaviors.

Krasinski, who adapted the screenplay, also directed and acted in the film.

Krasinski said his decision to make the film was twofold. First, to draw further attention to Wallace’s work, and secondly to create a conversation about the provocative topics discussed in the film.

Krasinski said one of the highlights of his career was actually getting to elicit story feedback from Wallace prior to when filming began.

“[Wallace] said he was trying to write a book about a character that you never see or hear from, but through all the guys around her, you get to understand what she’s all about,” Krasinski said.

When adapting for a visual medium, Krasinski made the choice to create a narrative and further develop the female lead.

The story follows Sara Quinn, a recently dumped graduate student doing her dissertation on male sexuality. Quinn assembles a lineup, all of whom reveal themselves to be sexually deranged, misguided men suffering from a wide range of fears and inferiority complexes.

The film has a largely nonlinear, experimental style, and reveals more about each character with the story’s progression.

As part of the ensemble cast, Krasinski plays the role of Sara’s ex-boyfriend. However, this was not part of the original plan.

“I actually was planning on not being in it at all,” Krasinski said. “In the end, the reason why I was in the movie at all, was because an actor dropped out about two weeks before we were shooting.”

Krasinski and the producers felt that since the movie was such a unique project, someone wouldn’t have time to learn the lines, let alone grasp their concept in only two weeks time.

“I think the only thing on my resume that allowed me to do that part, was the fact that I had read the book 150 times,” he said. “And, I will say it was the most terrifying performance I’ve ever done.”

The film, which brings up many heavy subjects, will leave movie-goers thinking.

“I really hope that people leave the theater and can’t decide what they think of the movie for a few minutes until they talk about it, so that was my big goal,” Krasinski said.

The dirt on Fun Fun Fun Fest

Festival-goers were treated to many perks as they arrived at Waterloo Park Saturday morning for Fun Fun Fun Fest.

Among them, a speedier willcall line than years past, free iPhone and iPod cases from sponsor Incase, a string of vendors offering up tasty treats, and of course, a wide array or musical offerings, poised to deliver a good time.

An early afternoon performance from Austin’s own L.A.X drew a sizable crowd for so early in the day, and managed to get many people dancing. The six-member dance hybrid group showed off their moves as well as their musical talent.

Altercation Comedy members JT Habersaat, Jake Flores and Joe Staats garnered laughs at the yellow stage for ripping on hipsters, UT football fans and the realities of being broke. The jokes seemed to strike a cord with much of the crowd. Ironic considering the packed stadium was only blocks away.

Vega and Neon Indian, both projects of Austin native Alan Palomo, performed on the blue stage only hours apart. While both projects produce danceable electro tunes, Neon Indian’s set was more psychedelic and hypnotic than the livelier Vega show.

Brooklyn band Les Savy Fav gave what was arguably Saturday’s most inventive performance.

Lead singer Tim Harrison embraced his balding head and prominent gut, by strutting around on stage in everything from a reptilian mask paired with a wedding dress, to a pair of iridescent purple leggings, worn under blue brief-style underwear. Harrison also applied black and red face paint to himself, his band mates, and members of the crowd and press pit.

His onstage antics were extended into the audience further with multiple stage-dives, one of which included a fully extended ladder being spread horizontally across the crowd so he could walk on top of it.

Yeasayer, Face to Face, 7 Seconds and Ratatat also delivered popular performances on Saturday.

The second day of the festival was dampened by rain, and eventually a thick sludge of mud covering large parts of the festival grounds.

Nothing Austinites were not accustomed to after ACL’s now notorious Dillo Dirt sludge-fest.

The Austin buzz band Black and White Years played an early set on the orange stage. Their blend of electo, dance and rock coupled with some bold fashion choices, made for a entertaining set.

Alaska in Winter played an inventive show on the blue stage. The one-man electro band, Brandon Bethancourt, sang and played the keytar onstage, while his virtual video orchestra was projected on a screen above the stage. The video featured images of Bethancourt playing all of the different instruments utilized in each song.

Boston punk band Street Dogs inspired circle pits in the rain with their performance on the black stage, drawing on live show mainstay tracks like “Tobe’s got a drinking problem.”

Of Montreal headlined the orange stage, and gave the kind of flamboyant, psychedelic performance that is typical of the band, known for their live show featuring dancers, ninjas and elaborate costumes. Probably the only notable difference between the band’s performance and their other shows was the fact that lead singer Kevin Barnes kept his clothes on for the rainy occasion. In previous Austin performances, Barnes has opted to strip into more revealing attire.

Competing with Of Montreal in the 8:30 timeslot was Danzig, returning to Austin for the first time in approximately 15 years. Though frontman and namesake Glen Danzig may have aged a bit since his Misfits, Samhain and early Danzig heyday, his vocal abilities were still on point. Fans stuck it out through the rain and sludge to rock out to the rock legend’s performance.

Other notable Sunday performances came from Atlas Sound, Youth Brigade, Mission of Burma, D.R.I and Crystal Castles.