Director Jenn Wexler talks SXSW, The Ranger and Karaoke in Austin
March 2, 2018 |
By Dani Dudek

Jenn Wexler is no stranger to SXSW. She produced the 2017 film Like Me, as well as last year’s Grand Prize Jury winner, Most Beautiful Island.

And apparently, she’s an expert on the Austin karaoke scene.

When asked what she’s most looking forward to in Austin, she replied, “The karaoke bus. The karaoke cab. Themed karaoke rooms. Lots of karaoke options in this town.”

Sounds like someone has trip to Egos in her future.

This year, Wexler makes her directorial debut with the retro-style horror/ thriller, The Ranger.

The plot of the film goes a little something like this:

When Chelsea and her friends get in trouble with the cops, they flee the city and go on the run. Fueled by a hallucinogenic drug called Echo, they hope to lay low—and get high—in an old family hideout in the woods. But Chelsea’s got reservations about going back to nature and secrets she’s not sharing with her friends. When a shot rings out, her past comes crashing back, and the punks find themselves pitted against the local authority— an unhinged park ranger with an axe to grind.

More intriguing than that summary, however, is what Wexler says attracted her to the project.

“An aesthetic appreciation for glitter and gore.”

The film stars Chloe Levine, whom you may recognize from Netflix’s The Defenders and The OA, and Jeremy Holm, from House of Cards and Mr. Robot.

To get Wexler prepped for her Texas trip, we sent over a few of our Totally Texan questions.

What is your favorite movie and/or TV show shot in Texas?

“Texas Chainsaw Massacre!”

Who is your favorite Texas musician?

“Rev Horton Heat”

What actor would you call “totally Texan?”

“Matthew McConaughey”

What Texas food are you most looking forward to eating (and perhaps instagramming) while in Austin?

“Breakfast tacos ❤️️”

What advice do you have for Austinites looking to get into the biz? 

“Pick up a camera and do like Rodriguez.”


SXSW 2018

Check out The Ranger at the following times during SXSW:

Monday, March 12, at 11:55 pm at Alamo Ritz.

Tuesday, March 13, at 11:30 pm at Alamo Lamar.

Thursday, March 15, at 11:15 am at Alamo Lamar.


Wexler will also take part in a panel titled, State of Genre: Are We “Elevated” Enough Yet?

You can catch that panel on March 11 at 2pm in the Austin Convention Center Room 13AB


For more on what celebrities are confirmed to attend the fest, click here.

And see the top 10 TV events happening here.