Years before they became independent princes of Hollywood, Robert Rodriguez, Tobe Hooper and Wes Anderson were Texas-based indie filmmakers. The
Texas Independent Film Network: Shorts Program offers a rare chance to see their very early work. The screening includes
Bedhead from then whizkid Rodriguez. Its a surreal little goofball made a full 20 years before
Machete. Rodriguez made the short while he was at the University of Texas, using his family as actors. A tale of severe sibling rivalry,
Bedhead shows a young girl who decides to use her newfound telekinetic powers to get back at her obnoxious older brother. That effort includes dragging him behind her bicycle (ouch!). Rodriguez served as director, cameraman, editor, co-writer and even animated the films title sequence.
Also on the bill: Horror movie maven Tobe Hooper (Poltergeist and Texas Chainsaw Massacre) contributes the unlikely medieval satire The Heisters, while Wes Anderson is represented by the unconventional comedy Bottle Rocket. (No, not his 1996 breakthrough feature that introduced the acting duo brothers Owen and Luke Wilson to the world. This is an earlier attempt, a short, unconventional little comedy, also called Bottle Rocket, that also features the Wilsons, albeit four years younger.) 7 p.m. Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, 1001 Bissonnet. For information, call 713-639-7515 or visit www.mfah.org/films. $6 to $7.
Fri., Feb. 4, 7 p.m., 2011