“Created Here” Premiering at Sundance
January 22, 2020
A Recap of Memorable SXSW Video Projects
Austin videographers and photographers know that SXSW, a.k.a. South by Southwest, is our city’s prime time for lights, cameras, and action. SXSW season is mid-March, when the global media industry meets up to celebrate filmmaking, music, and technology.
SXSW World Premiere Entertainment
At SXSW 2019, we served as documentarians for the Heather Dubrow’s World podcast. This event took place on International Women’s Day, featuring W.O.R.K.—Women Offering Real Knowledge.
SXSW Live Music Videos
Remember, South by Southwest is the world’s biggest music festival, with 2000+ official performances, countless unofficial shows, and impromptu live music all across Austin, centering around 6th Street downtown. Our videography team’s favorite experience was this introduction to Jack Garratt at SXSW 2016.
Jack Garratt is a British singer-songwriter who released his debut studio album in February 2016–just a month before we captured this concert on camera.
It was a thrilling experience, documenting the entire SXSW Live Broadcast of 2016, providing dual-camera coverage for the world-famous Austin radio station, 93.3 KGSR. This event maxed out the Austin W Hotel ballroom three days in a row.
The 2016 SXSW Live Broadcast featured on-air live music performances by The Avett Brothers, BØRNS, X Ambassadors, Chvrches…
Give Your SXSW Story a Play Button.
If you’d like to record your SXSW story with ARISE Video Studio, just let us know your vision, and we’ll save the date. Contact us via phone: (512) 522-1497, email: hi@arisevideo.com, or online form.
SXSW Panels + Interactive Events
Outside of the Film and Music Festivals, SXSW offers the 5-day Interactive Festival, appealing to techies and business-minded creative professionals. This event is a grassroots producer’s paradise, where technology and creativity join forces for cutting-edge digital media.
SXSW Interactive includes a trade show, keynote speakers, and a startup accelerator. Events include panel discussions, like the one shown below, along with workshops, mentor sessions, pitch events, podcasts, and book readings, and product launches.
Fabien Cousteau, aquanaut and environmental advocate, spoke on behalf of Sirenas, revealing the therapeutic potential hidden in the world’s oceans.
While local attendees flock to the free parties and events each year at SXSW, there are 33,000 Interactive Festival badge holders immersing themselves in new media technology. These include entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, game developers, nonprofit leaders, and documentarians–like us!
SXSW Secrets
Being Austin locals, we have the pleasure of attending and filming a variety of special events. Year after year, we film panels and parties, for business and for pleasure. Here are a few of our local tips:
1. Press Passes + Permission
Photography and videography is permitted at SXSW events only with press credentials and a camera tag, provided by the Press Department. With permission, videographers and photographers can obtain a camera tag for the purpose of recording certain performers, presenters, and speakers. Additionally, a press pass is available to some documentarians with press accreditation.
The Strumbellas wowed the crowd by taking the show right into the front row.
2. To Badge, Or Not To Badge?
The Platinum Badge is the ultimate access pass to exclusive events in Music, Film, and Interactive Festivals. Other badges grants us limited admission to all events associated with the specific badge type. Long waiting lines are typical for popular events, and badges give us the advantage to skip to the front of the crowd, sometimes.
Many SXSW events do not require a badge. For example, big-name bands often play free shows during the daytime, before their official shows. Check out The Austin Chronicle‘s ultimate guide to unofficial SXSW parties, for example, where you’ll find a surprising array of high-quality events all around town.
Austin itself is a special place to experience, without a badge. In fact, it seems like the population rises by 100K for the weeks that follow SXSW, when the visitors stay and play in Austin. Try stand-up paddle boarding on Town Lake, or visit Whole Foods headquarters, for an authentic Austin story to share.
3. Which Annual Events Are Absolute Musts?
For music fans, we recommend the free day parties at Waterloo Records, which is the superlative local music store. And if you’re an early riser, we highly recommend KUTX Live at the Four Seasons, featuring amazing music, bright and early, plus coffee and breakfast tacos.
If you can tolerate a big crowd, check out the top-notch concerts at the SXSW Outdoor stage, free and open to the public with a SXSW Guest Pass. For fans of music posters, check out Flatstock, showcasing the world’s top gig poster artists each year at the Austin Convention Center—the central location for official events.
Playing on the theme of “Layers,” Stonyfield Organics worked with Austin’s best street artists to promote their Oh My Yog! brand of yogurt.
4. Any additional SXSW Tips?
Yes! Anytime you’re traveling in the Austin area during SXSW, traffic will be packed. So you may enjoy zooming around town on a bike or scooter. You’ll find rental bikes and scooters all across the downtown area.
Another option is the hourly car rental, called car2go, allowing you to grab a car from the street and leave it anywhere in Austin. Of course you can call a taxi via Uber, Lyft, and RideAustin, but you might have to pay a premium price for your ride.
