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BUTT-NUMB-A-THON 10 applications now being accepted & considered!
Hey folks, Harry here... It's so strange doing this particular BUTT-NUMB-A-THON announcement. It's my 10th one. I've done 9 1/2 BNAT announcements prior to this - and doing the TENTH one... It just feels different.
A decade? Has it really been a tenth of a century? 1% of a millenium? It's just really really hard to believe, but at the same time - it is kind of hard for me to remember NOT PLANNING and doing Butt-Numb-A-Thon. I remember sitting at Kerbey Lane on Kerbey Lane with a small group of friends - when I came up with the concept for Butt-Numb-A-Thon and the Charity that it would benefit. It was a truly inspired moment as I ate Apple Cinnamon Pancakes in Maple Syrup (can't do that anymore) but at the time... I literally had no idea that it would become an institution that would continue to grow and take shape - or at the very least, that I would still be doing it, 10 years later.
SO - what theme to play with for BNAT X? Well... The roman numeral for 10 is X, which denotes PORN... nah. I know, I could braid my hair tightly and put on a golden one piece bathing suit and jog down a beach as my balls mangina around the crotch in a parody of "10". Nah What could I possibly parody, that has to do with the number 10? I've got it!!!
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS OF BUTT-NUMB-A-THON!!!
I like that! Charlton Heston passed away this year, and my butt numbed to so many of his great films, it feels only appropriate that in the year of his passing, this monumental film geek celebration celebrate his most iconic film.
***HARRY WHAT IS BUTT-NUMB-A-THON?***
OH - you don't even know what I'm talking about? Ok. Basically, If God were a Geek, BUTT-NUMB-A-THON would be His HEAVEN & HELL! It is the sweetest, most exquisite cinematic experience that I can possibly imagine, that doesn't involve Opium, Heroin & A Harem.
BUTT-NUMB-A-THON takes place in an ALAMO DRAFTHOUSE Theater - A place that has been called by many publications (and myself) the best theater on the planet. Why? Because they get it. I concoct this 24 hours of Cinema, almost entirely on my own, conspiring with Tim League (Owner - Creator of the Alamo Drafthouse) on the various hijinks that occur within that 24 hours.
The programming consists of a hopefully exquisite mix of the Future of Film, The Past Of Film and The Strangest Of Film. You will see things that blow your mind, damage your mind and fill your mind with the sweet dream of movies. There will be special guests, and it will all be something you'll never forget.
The best thing about BUTT-NUMB-A-THON is the Audience - I pick through 1000s of applications from all over the world to select the most passionate, imaginative and dedicated film fans I can find. I craft the festival to that audience, I seat them next to people that they might very well befriend for life. AND I give every single member of the audience the "BNAT GOODIE BAG" which hold treasures beyond imagining. Seriously, I don't know what's going in them this year, not yet.
How are these people chosen? Well, pretty much for the last 8 years of Butt-Numb-A-Thon, I've had an application process, where I ask a series of questions and you answer. Based upon your answer, I judge whether or not you get in. There's usually around 15-20 questions, some short answer, some essay in form. And I'd have you send in a type of photo, so I could see... what sort of geek you were. This evolved into the YEARBOOKS - where every member of the audience, save those that get in by Standby, appear in a BNAT YEARBOOK, which serves as our Annual to remember the audience and the experience. People even autograph these books and write notes to one another in them. It's amazing.
SO - where's this year's APPLICATION? Well, you will no longer be emailing me your application. Instead, you'll be going to: This Page where you will first submit your photo and name, then go onto the question portion of the contest.
About the Photo. The physical instructions are on This Page, but I do want to say - this is more about the effort or imagination involved. This isn't about craftsmanship, but sometimes it's just about how you interpret the task. Don't Do This Till You Have Read All The Instructions on the above linked page and have your photo done Each Member Of Your Group Needs To Do A Separate Picture and Application, you can assemble them all and enter them, but they each need an application.
MAKE SURE YOUR PHOTO LOADS BEFORE FILLING OUT THE APPLICATION!
IF THE PHOTO ISN'T UPLOADED - Your application instantly goes to the rejection folder, even if you're a personal friend. You can submit multiple times if you fuck up, but please - try to follow the instructions, the first time. Applying first doesn't help - Right now, I'm threading all apps - filled out correctly to the MAYBE category. The only ACCEPTED apps till October 29th will be Personal Friends. Then I go through the UNBELIEVABLY LARGE AMOUNT OF SUBMISSIONS - threading people into place.
I will be going through all the applications and we'll announce the winners by Halloween, 2008. SO you should have the application in, no later than midnight on October 29th.
WHEN IS BUTT-NUMB-A-THON 10?
December 13th & 14th! - That's a Saturday & Sunday from Noon to Noon. Specifics on when we start letting people into the theater will be announced closer, but for you out of town travelers - do note that we'll be doing a pre-party on that Friday the 12th. My birthday is actually Thursday the 11th.
The application is up and ready - and I'm awaiting your applications with eagerness and glee. It's always a painful & fun process for me. The final edits always make me cry, seriously.
Good luck,
Harry
P.S. - Want to learn from the BNAT Community?
The BUTT-NUMB-A-THON MySpace Page
The BUTT-NUMB-A-THON Wikipedia Page
The BNATTERS Live Journal Page
The BUTT-NUMB-A-THON Facebook Page
And Coming Soon: ButtNumbAThon.Com, right now it takes you to the Alamo Drafthouse, soon that will change.
Join our Communities!
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But got no money and live on the other side of the planet. Maybe next year. (Yeah, right.)
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Hopefully I'll be able to take a break from work or school and attend. This just has to be the coolest event ever thought of. Congrats Harry on 10! That's awesome!!
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Yea! the day is finally here! What's the deadline for getting applications in?
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get them in before that.
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I am a nOOb
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I'm officially a shut-in until I finish the app (minus the time spent at the bar later today).
JHT -
Knew this would be coming soon, Harry.
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Harry - so how does this work if you want to apply with different people? One application per group and ONLY that person submits a photo????? I'm a tad confused.
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Does each person do their own submission but then we put the people in our group on each submission?
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...and I'm off to go make a costume!
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YAY YAY YAY YAYneed to find something biblical!
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Oct 17, 2008 2:08:03 PM CDT
Harry....if I apply-- will you consider me....
by dannyglovers_dickblood
....or immediately delete my application once you read its from Dickblood. Should I disclose my handle in the application or will that hurt me? And lastly, are there any fine bitches at these things?
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Who refer to them as fine bitches. As if your handle wasn't already enough of a pussy magnet.
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In a row I've made plans to attend and 9 yrs in a row have been thwarted, nothing in the way now... Cept Harry's judgment
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I'm the Man on the Mountain Top in Colorado who is going to attempt to sign up for the 3rd of 4th year in a row.
Here me screaming Harry. I'll be sending my entry soon!
Looking forward to a potential "TREAT" email on Halloween! -
Hear me as opposed to here me. Christ. My mind's already on Friday night when I'm trying to get through this Fri-DAY. -
...its a pussy TRAP!
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pretty much says it all. except OH CRAP! I gotta get on this, like right now!
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We even had a girl from Playboy as an attendee, and there's LOTS of hotties
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BNAT 8 was fanfuckingtastic, some great movies, some strange movies, Rocky, 300, Black Snake Moan, Knocked Up, Teenwolf ;) , fucked up trailers, Animated Bird & Horse Porn, great food, even better company, I'll never forget the evil burning taste of the Cocaine, why I drank the whole thing I'll never know, I can taste that shit just thinking about it. When I knew I couldn't make it last year I swore I'd be applying this year. Next time Gadget, Next time.
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Oct 17, 2008 4:13:49 PM CDT
I can't go, because, you know, requires me boarding a plane
by ricarleite
And that's expensive.
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Until I've figured out the photo it would be nice to get a headstart on the questions.
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Gremlins are running amok (or there's just a lot of people applying at the moment :-)
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Persistence! Or should that be... Faith!
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wow choices choices can I be the mexican that takes the jobs away from those hebrew dogs
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BNAT = The Promised Land!
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we know you always schedule the event on the weekend closest to your birthday. Yes we know you want everyone to bring you pwesents. Do you have to repeat that it's your birthday every year?
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I would love, love, love to go!!! You should consider hosting these in all the major cities man! I could probably watch movies for 48 hours in a row, with short 10 minute breaks in between every second or third film depending on the length. Please consider it Harry!!
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http://tiny.cc/vXEAy I don't think it will help your pictures any. ;)
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So guesses as to this years films? I'm thinking definatly a Charlton Heston and a Paul Newman film with them both dying this year. Perhaps "the good, the bad, the werid" for foreign film. Would star trek be too much to ask for? Its release date was pushed back 'cos they didn't want to compete with other films so i'm guesing it's mostly done post-production. Watchmen would be fucking awesome to get..
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Oh wait...
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touching themselves over my photo
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...that Harry awards a few "pity" tickets based entirely on who has had the most miserable, fucked-up year and deserves to be rewarded with 24 hours of movies. I got claimsies on the pity ticket. Just one, of course. No friends or girlfriend for ol' Jabbayoda.
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How much do tickets cost? That'll be the real answer I need before filling out an application.
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I think Harry tries to keep the ticket prices pretty consistent from year to year. The cool thing about BNAT is it funds the kids weekend movie series that Harry puts together for the youth of Austin (like my totally lucky niece and her bros.). Last year, the ticket price was about $65 each, if I remember correctly. Not bad for 24 hours of pure insanity (Farewell, Uncle Tom!) and awesomeness (Mongol!!)... as well as the grotesque (I will never, ever forget watching footage of a urethroplasty at 6 a.m. right before breakfast... all to the cool tunes of Chuck Mangione's "Feels So Good". Oh yeah!).
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I don't tip because society says I have to. All right, if someone deserves a tip, if they really put forth an effort, I'll give them something a little something extra. But this tipping automatically, it's for the birds. As far as I'm concerned, they're just doing their job. I'm very sorry the government taxes their tips, that's fucked up. That ain't my fault. It would seem to me that waitresses are one of the many groups the government fucks in the ass on a regular basis. Look, if you ask me to sign something that says the government shouldn't do that, I'll sign it, put it to a vote, I'll vote for it, but what I won't do is play ball. And as for this non-college bullshit I got two words for that: learn to fuckin' type, 'cause if you're expecting me to help out with the rent you're in for a big fuckin' surprise.
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totally earns their tips. Not only were all my BNAT waiters totally friendly and cool, but they have to serve people in the dark and manage huge-ass fountain drinks for the ever-thirsty-for-more-caffeine audience.They earn it and deserve it. Just sayin'.
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if any of my applications ever even got pasted the first glance vetting.
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What size is 3" x 4" in the metric system?
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If someone cares:
Q1: Your Name: *
Q2: Your Slave Name: *
Q2b:Your Age: *
Q3: Worst moment of Slavery that you have endured at the hands of "The Man"? *
Q4: Your Homeland, Homestate, Homecity: *
Q5: What kind of slavery do you endure on a regular basis? *
Q6: Favorite Charlton Heston Movie?: *
Q7: Favorite Charlton Heston Line? *
Q8: How is BUTT-NUMB-A-THON like THE PROMISED LAND? *
Q9: If A Burning Bush Started Talking To You, What Would Be Your Reaction? *
Q10: If you had the power of Moses, what 3 Vintage Films and what 3 Future Films would you play at BNAT this year? *
Q11: Number in your group: *
Q11b: Names of others in your group:
Q12: Which BNATs Have You Attended? *
Q13: Why Should You Be Amongst The Chosen People? *
Q14: Are You A Registered Voter With The Intent To Vote? *
Q15: Favorite Film of 2008, Thus Far? *
Q16: Your TeeShirt Size:
Q17: Your Email Address: -
... but no way am I coming from England to be turned away.
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I mean, for a good share of the population, slavery is not something to be joked about. It would be like basing BNAT on The Accused and asking people what kind of rapings they endure on a daily basis. I think sometimes Harry gets so into his movie world that he doesn't think about how things might play in the real world. Or am I just being overly sensitive?
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I don't think you are being too sensitive. BUT when Harry does this it is in good fun without bad intent, (in my opinion)
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...slavery is not something that only happened in this country and only ended 150 years ago.
This is about the slavery that took place thousands of years ago. -
Yes, I know the questions are related to The Ten Commandments. That's all well and good. But the one I can't get past is "What is your slave name?" That's an incredibly provocative question, regardless of context. Slave names were a way of robbing people of their identity and, worse, their dignity. It's not something anyone wants to think about. Especially if it's just so they can see a movie two weeks before it comes to theaters.
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And really, if the only reason you're going to BNAT is seeing the premieres, you're missing out on a lot.
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I don't think you're being overly sensitive either. While I agree with Camilla that Harry was likely doing it in good fun without any malicious intent, he could have taken a different angle on the Ten Commandments for those questions. They do seem a bit in poor taste.
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Is that I have the wrong opinion of Butt-Numb-A-Thon?
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your slave name from now on will be sourpuss. seriouslah. oh and watchmen??????????
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I found the questions about slavery thought provoking. It actually forced me the think hard about what I considered my slave name. And I gave an honest answer. It might have been originally posed as a question of fun, but if it generates thought and discussion, I welcome it. And as for tipping... Those that don't tip have never made a living as a waiter or waitress or never married someone who has. Yeah, it's rotten what they get paid for minimum wage, but to justify not tipping appropriately as a form of protest isn't going to fix the problem. It's a cheap way of being lazy.
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I'm trying to decide if I can though...frustrating to try and decide. I'd hate to apply, be accepted, and not be able to make it...but then nothing ventured
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Yes, obviously, that was all I got from it.
Buddy, when you went off your original point, I went there with you. -
You discriminatory bastards!
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Harry, my good man, I will turn 42 next year -- and it will be my life's goal to get to a BNAT before I turn 50!! Hope No. 10 is a huge success, and a blast for all those lucky enough to attend.
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On the questionnaire if it fits in there does that mean it went through? Some of my answers I thought might have been just a tad bit too long, but they fit in and didn't get cut off, while my quote did get the last little bit cut off till I formatted it differently. The quote line really wasn't long enough cause my favorite quote is a short one and it almost didn't fit and I imagine most people's quote's was longer. So now I am all worried about my answers being cut off. As this is the first year doing it this way I am sure any bugs will be worked out by next year, but right now I miss just emailing it in. :(
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Or are things being shown on the big screen every single minute of the 24 hours? I ask because I'm curious about the bathroom situation. I have a cast iron bladder, but holding it for an entire day straight so as not to miss anything shown might be a bit of a stretch, literally.
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There are no intermissions and they close the restrooms. There is no escape. And Harry rents piss sniffing police dogs to attack anyone who wets their pants.
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Go for it. If you get it and can't go, it just means one more lucky stand by lottery winner getting in. Plus the applications are fun to fill out.
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Oct 20, 2008 2:20:32 PM CDT
Thanks, Chaplin. Now, does anyone has a serious answer?
by excaliburffolkes
Obviously there are restrooms at the theatre. I was just wondering if you are resigned to missing parts of the films if you go take a leak, of if Harry is nice and stops the action occasionally in between movies.
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You won't have a problem. There will be plenty of opportunities to go to the bathroom without missing a thing. And chances are there will be at least one movie towards the end of it all where you won't give a shit if you do miss something because your brain will be fried and it will be a piece of sadism Harry's picked to rip apart what little bit of dignity and self respect the audience has left.
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I only went last year. So I don't know if the bathroom breaks last year were out of the ordinary or if it's status quo.
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Assuming it's at the Alama Drafthouse at the Ritz this year, the bathroom is out the back of the theater, and down a few stairs... pretty quick to get to if you have to duck out for a quick bathroom break. If you just have to piss, you can be back in probably a minute.That said, there's probably a good 10 mins or so in between films, as Harry introduces the films before they start. Plus, last year, we had several guests who did Q & A's, so there's always an opportunity to take care of business. Plus, the theater is quite accomodating, as you can just duck under the table in front of your chair so you don't have to ask people to move out of your way. In fact, there's almost a stealth art to the duck-and-dash method used by BNAT attendees so they can get out quick and not block the screen for everyone else.
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Now... the chewing of the nails begins...
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Lets hope that submitting along with the Wife doesn't automatically knock us out of contention. Seems groups will have a more difficult time getting in.
Come on, Harry... show a brother a little love this year! This is over my birthday, so bring it on, big guy! Can't wait for BNAT X! -
Harry! Don't kick me out for my fat fingers putting BANT in the last headline. Of course it ain't Butt-A-Numb-Thon - that would just be stupid. So I'm a dumbass... But I'm a dumb ass that really wants to go to BNAT this year!
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Not that it matters, but I'm not submitting this year, mostly because I got my fill of Harry at Fantastic Fest. Now, more than ever it seems, Mr. Knowles is as self-absorbed as ever.
So, who will he line up this year? The hope would be STAR TREK, WATCHMEN, BUTTON and perhaps PARNASSUS. But then again, it seems it would have appropriate to have some of those titles for a film festival centered on the fantastic, instead we got a western, a comedy, a gangster-ish flick and a con man love story.
All good in their own right, but not exactly in harmony with the rest of the films being presented. Moreso even than 2007.
What can Harry pull out of his ample ass this year? My money would be on WATCHMEN, since he's tried his hardest to ingratiate himself with Snyder. And we all know Knowles has been ass licking JJ for years now so if Paramount allows it, STAR TREK would probably also be a safe bet.
Between all the wonderful stories of how great Harry's life is and how many wonderful perks he gets for just being his awesome self, I'm curious to see if the fat man still has some pull in the industry because it certainly seems as if it's waning a bit. Instead of leaking stories, Harry and AICN have now just become ass kissing shills to get their way. -
Gosh, sorry you didn't get what you wanted at FANTASTIC FEST from the screenings, but ya know - it isn't about choosing to not get stuff for FANTASTIC FEST, and more about what is physically finished and/or ready to show.
I also program many of the non-secret screenings at Fantastic Fest as well. I just prefer not to introduce as much as possible, because I prefer to be a member of the audience at Fantastic Fest. -
It's not that I didn't enjoy the films, as I said, they were all good in their own right. I just felt, as many others did, both this year and last, that they just didn't completely fit certainly when stacked with some of the other fare.
And, of course, it can be argued ad naseum whether just the fact that each film in the secret screening list was a genre picture and if FF is anything, it's a genre festival, so that in and of itself makes each piece fit.
And I also heard plenty of stories from some of the AICN staff and others about how some things fell through and this and that was the reason keeping some things from being screened, and that's fine as well although I'm not sure I buy all the reasons given.
And I also full realize you program other films not just the secret AICN part of the fest. And thank you for that, as I saw some of the very best films I've seen this year at Fantastic Fest. The biggest one being THE GOOD THE BAD THE WEIRD.
I, as well as many around me, just felt all the self-congratulation and steering conversations to your personal experiences grew tiring. We all know how awesome it is that you started in your room with a computer and a dream and now get to hob nob with filmmakers and whatnot, but we also don't need to hear it at every goddamn intro and Q&A.
But don't for one minute think I don't appreciate and respect what you've brought to Austin, and to a large extent, the film scene here IN Austin. You and your site bring us great screenings and guests and events.
Too bad none of the projects you were ushering along seem to have made it anywhere. It would be nice to also say you've brought filmmakers to Austin to MAKE films as well as show them.
And I also don't think BNAT, which is your way of thumbing your nose at the gathered audience by proclaiming "Look at me and what I could do for my B-Day!" is the event to end all events it's made out to be. Yes, thankfully you give money to charity, although even that seems to be questioned now as to just HOW much of the proceeds actually finds it's way into the hands of the charity involved.
So congrats. I'm sure as every year you'll have some movie we all want to see screened there, such as the ones I mentioned, like STAR TREK, PARNASSUS, WATCHMEN, WOLVERINE or the like, and I won't get to see until closer to release. So yeah, I'm jealous of that fact because I'm a certified movie geek, but on the other hand, I don't have to spend all day and night listening to you congratulate yourself on how awesome you are and how great you and your wife are, and all the personal BS a room filled with at least 60% (especially now it's at SL) strangers shouldn't really need to hear. -
Seriously, dude. What the fuck? You're like the guy who finally convinces his girl to give him a blowjob and then complains the next day that his dick smells like bubble gum. Ok, maybe it's not a perfect analogy. Here's a better one. You're an ungrateful douche.
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I loved Fantastic Fest. And while I liked the secret screenings I went to, THE best movies I saw at the festival were planned in advance. Gachi Boy, Just Another Love Story, How to Get Rid of Others...these are some of the best movies I've seen all year (Gachi Boy is my personal favorite) and ones that I might not get much of a chance to see again.
The last memory I have of the festival is some of the Drafthouse staff coming in and playing with the Percepto buzzers they set up at the end of The Tingler (which was a super shitty movie but a lot of fun anyway). It was a beautiful little moment that doesn't really happen at a lot of film screenings let alone film festivals. -
I don't know him, but I live in Austin, keep late hours and love going to movies, so I've seen him quite a bit around town. I've never seen him act like a prick. I've never seen him with an entourage of ass kissers. I've never seen him put on heirs or snub a fan. I'm sure he has his character defects as we all do, but putting himself up on a pedestal doesn't appear to be one of them from where I'm sitting.
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Sorry, just had to point it out.
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... I didn't hear a single intro or Q&A at Fantastic Fest that was about Harry. VWantsRevenge strikes me as a person who simply hates to hate.
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Ya know, since he won't be needing any more of those tix... =)
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Took a while to get the photo ready, but my app is in! Whee!
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