Bands and Bounce artists are showing the hordes at SXSW what it's like to be inside a club, but it was left to film to give a glimpse of New Orleans' after-dark street life. A NOLA-set film that premiered over the weekend in Austin is already picking up some buzz for its unique take on our nocturnal ways through the eyes of a pair of young brothers. Still, the movie's commercial chances were immediately thrown into question as filmmakers Bill and Turner Ross chose to the name the piece after that street that no tourist can pronounce: Tchoupitoulas. The LA Times saw the film. So did Unicorn Booty.

On this day in Bayou State history, U.S. Federal troops ended the 1811 Louisiana Slave Revolt. 56 African Americans were killed, with their heads displayed on pikes for extra intimdation. Tonight, Bill and Turner Ross  talk their new film and Wasted Lives play at Allways Lounge. But once, Thomas Paine published Common Sense (1776), John D. Rockefeller incorporated Standard Oil (1870), ‘Masterpiece Theatre premiered on PBS (1971), Time Warner was formed (1990), Pat Benetar was born (1953), and Howlin Wolf died (1976).

by Zach Tompkins

With epics long enough to make a second large bag of ultra-butter popcorn sound good, the American movie industry seems to have lost its knack for brevity. But short films are still out there, and some are even well-crafted enough to catch the attention of the academy. For its second year, the Prytania Theater will screen the Live Action and Animated short films that were nominated for Oscars. Screenings run today through Thursday, Feb. 17.