Interview:
Austin Nichols,
director,
Drew Mackintosh,
writer,
"The Long Shot"
Representing the directorial debut of Austin-based actor Austin Nichols, the Drew Mackintosh-written comedy The Long Shot focuses on the community effort to save an Austin municipal golf course from being sold to a newly transplanted California billionaire. Known affectionately as “Muny,” the Austin Municipal Golf Course may run at a deficit but it is a little slice of heaven to the locals who enjoy an inexpensive round of golf without worrying about following all those pesky rules and regulations. But the Muny way of golf comes under threat when the City of Austin hires government consultant Samantha Lambert (Austin-based Friday Night Lights star Adrianne Palicki) to drag the golf course into the black. Samantha instantly butts head with Muny’s change-resistant golf pro Ray Mueller (Ryan Hansen). Ray fears Samantha—an Austin resident for just three months—wants to gentrify an Austin institution. Enter Samantha’s boyfriend, billionaire Dylan Hench (Justin Chatwin), believes he could make a lot of green by buying the golf course and doing as he pleases with the land. This comedic clash between longtime Austinites and Californian transplants also stars Justin Chatwin as Dylan Hench and Bill Wise, Temple Baker, and Dulcé Sloan as Muny’s loyal employees. Former USC running back Reggie Bush makes a troll-worthy cameo. The Long Shot will screen at 2 p.m. Oct. 25 at the Bullock Museum IMAX Theatre during the Austin Film Festival. Austin-raised actor Austin Nichols previously directed two episodes of Walker and One Tree Hill. Nichols starred in the TV series One Tree Hill and appeared in episodes of Walker, Minx, Ray Donovan, Bates Motel, The Walking Dead, and Friday Night Lights. He also appeared in this year’s I Know What You Did Last Summer legacy sequel, The Six Triple Eight, Masquerade, The Iron Orchard, Parkland, and Gloria Road. He will next be seen in the Austin-shot comedy Deep Eddy, directed by The Long Shot cast member Temple Baker. The Long Shot represents Drew Mackintosh’s first produced screenplay.
Aired: Oct. 22, 2025. Web sites: https://www.facebook.com/AustinNicholsOfficial/ https://austinfilmfestival.com/2025-film-schedule/ |
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