Inside Movies

• The 'Chainsaw' keeps buzzing: An unnamed prequel to 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre' will start a nine-week shoot in the Austin area Oct. 10. It follows the 2004 Austin-area filming of the grisly remake of Tobe Hooper's 1974 horror classic. Big-shot Michael Bay, who produced the remake, is producing. Jonathan Liebesman, the under-30 director of 'Darkness Falls,' is directing and Sheldon Turner, who wrote this summer's remake of 'The Longest Yard,' is writing the prequel. Jordana Brewster, who made her film debut in Robert Rodriguez's Austin-made horror-thriller 'The Faculty,' stars. Andrew Bryniarski and gruff R. Lee Ermey, as Leatherface and Sheriff Hoyt respectively, return from the remake. The film is eyeing a 2006 release. -- Chris Garcia

• Like most major productions in town, the 'Chainsaw' show has set up shop at the Austin Studios at the old airport, renting office space and a stage, where sets will begin construction next week.

This means the studios are going to have a busy fall. Richard Linklater's feature adaptation of Eric Schlosser's bestselling nonfiction book 'Fast Food Nation' is opening offices at the studio next week and will use stages when it starts filming in mid-to-late October. Much of the movie -- an indictment of fast food practices, from farm to plate -- will be shot on location in Austin, Colorado and Mexico. Casting continues, but Oscar-nominated actress Catalina Sandino Moreno ('Maria Full of Grace') has a major role. The film's working title 'Coyote' is designed to throw fast food joints off the scent when crews set up near the fat factories, which presumably aren't big fans of the muckraking book.

Also in October at Austin Studios: Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino's horror duet 'Grind House,' which has each filmmaker shooting an hourlong splatter flick. Rodriguez persuaded QT to shoot in high-def digital video for the first time (not counting the one scene QT shot in 'Sin City'). QT agreed on the basis that Rodriguez serve as his cinematographer/camera operator. If all this activity isn't enough, Rodriguez will be shooting 'Sin City' parts II and III back-to-back at the studios, either late this year or in early 2006. He hopes to have both sequels in the can by spring. -- C.G.

• Austin filmmaker Mari Marchbanks' feature debut 'Fall to Grace' premiered at South by Southwest in March, reaping good reviews. Now it's won Best Narrative Feature at the New Orleans Film Festival, which runs Oct. 6 through 13. (The jury elects fest winners before the event.) Shot in Austin and filled with music by local bands, the teen-family drama is cruising the festival circuit, hitting the Rome International Film Festival in Georgia on Sept. 10. -- C.G.

• Cinematexas is just around the bend -- Sept. 14-18 -- and its socio-politico arm Parallax View has a killer lineup, with films by Fernando Solanas, a rare screening of the 1972 Vietnam War doc 'Winter Soldier' and a wealth of shorts and filmmaker discussions. But the mostly free program needs cash to continue, so it's throwing the prismatic bash Resuscitate Resistance III from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Sept. 10 at the American Youthworks Warehouse (216 E. Fourth St.). It features a silent art auction, offbeat multimedia fashion show, international short films, live music and dancing. www.cinematexas.org. -- C.G.

• Another Cinematexas event: The festival's youth component Cinemakids happens all weekend Sept. 17 and 18 at the University of Texas. Films by kids and moviemaking workshops for kids ages 6-12 are slated. Reservations for the workshops required. 475-8648. Info at www.cinematexas.org. -- C.G.

• We like Alison Macor, the film aficionado who for years was a freelance movie critic for the American-Statesman. Her cinema knowledge is abundant, varied and deep -- she earned a doctorate in film from UT -- making her a perfect film-class instructor. Macor is teaching two courses at the Austin Museum of Art's Art School: 'Movie Lovers' Weekend: Made in Austin,' which covers our homegrown movie scene, runs Sept. 17 and 18; and 'Movie Lovers' Sundays: Scream Gems!,' a look at the machinery of classic, cult and new horror movies, is Oct. 2 and 9. We also like Martin Thomas, co-host of popular cable access movie show 'Reel Deal,' who will teach 'Movie Lovers' Sundays: From Comic Book to Super Heroes,' which explores the leap from page to cineplex Dec. 4 and 11. 323-6380 or theartschool.amoa.org. -- C.G.

• Script doctor extraordinaire Aubrey M. Horton presents another one of his popular screenwriting workshops -- an eight-week whopper beginning Sept. 25 at St. Edward's University. The class runs Sundays and costs $380. Several of Horton's students have gone on to make good, including a young alum who recently signed a two-picture deal with Paramount, says teach. 249-6501. www.ScriptDoctor911.com. -- C.G.