from February 27, 2006

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Co-writer/composer Kevin Bewersdorf in “LOL”

South by Southwest is back, which means it’s time for another feature film premiere from 24-year-old poet of post- collegiate relationships Joe Swanberg.

Swanberg will have his second South by Southwest feature film premiere in as many years when his new cyber-romance “LOL” debuts March 13 at the Austin festival.

“LOL” is the story of three friends who “struggle to balance their online fantasies and addictions with the demands of real life,” Swanberg said.

Swanberg continues his careful observation of young people’s private moments alone and in pairs, but this time juggles a much larger cast and more elaborate storyline than he did in his first film “Kissing on the Mouth.”

He took pains to avoid the easy tropes of ensemble films. “Especially in a film dealing so heavily with communication technology, I didn’t want people to take away from it how connected all this stuff makes us,” Swanberg said.

Swanberg wrote the story (the dialogue was improvised) with Wells, and with Bewersdorf, who also composed the music.

It stars Kevin Bewersdorf, Swanberg, C. Mason Wells, Tipper Newton, Brigid Reagan, Greta Gerwig, Kate Winterich (from “Kissing on the Mouth”), Mike Hagan, Laura Lippert and Anne Wells.

Swanberg’s earlier “Kissing on the Mouth” releasing to DVD

Swanberg said he’s attempting to arrange free university screenings in Austin, and in April in Philadelphia and Boston to align with those festivals screening “LOL.” “I want to start selling DVDs off the web site, and not be so selective about the festivals we play in – generally get it out there a lot more than we did with ‘Kissing on the Mouth.’”

On the “LOL” website, Swanberg is building awareness for the film with soundtrack downloads and subscription-based podcasts of bonus material from the film.

Swanberg premiered his first feature, the viscerally intimate love quadrangle “Kissing on the Mouth,” at SXSW last year, followed by screenings at the Chicago, Montreal World and Northampton film festivals.

Heretic Films (“24 Hours on Craigslist”) of San Francisco picked up distribution rights to “Kissing on the Mouth,” and it’s releasing the film on DVD as well as planning an online video- on-demand release. Swanberg retains the right to sell DVDs himself and retain the profits.

Swanberg is also creating the serial “Young American Bodies,” (which makes a cameo in “LOL”) for online sex magazine Nerve.com.

“It’s a modern take on the soap opera, but rather than being aimed at women stuck at home doing laundry, we’re aiming at people stuck in front of their computers looking for a break from their work,” Swanberg said.

“Nerve plans to launch the show along with two others on their new site Nervevideo.com beginning in mid-March,” he said. The first season of “Young American Bodies” will be 12 five- minute episodes, with possible plans for a subsequent DVD release.

A benefit preview screening of “LOL” will follow the IFP/ Chicago Independent Spirit Awards party March 3 at Delilah’s, 2771 N. Lincoln Ave. Spirit Awards at 3 p.m., “LOL” at 6 p.m. followed by a live music performance by Bewersdorf. $15, free for IFP members, complimentary food and drinks, donations accepted. RSVP to chicago@ifp.org or 312/235-0161. See www.lolthemovie.com. —Ed M. Koziarski

Ed M. Koziarski is co-director of the feature film “The First Breath of Tengan Rei”. Email:

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