THE WASPS w/ filmmaker Q&A
Details
If you’ve ever wondered what would happen if a scrappy Austin backyard production took on one of the oldest comedies in human history—with stunts, pyrotechnics, and yes, period-accurate sex toys—THE WASPS has your answer.
This micro-budget marvel was shot on a handmade set in Austin’s Cherrywood neighborhood and executive produced by Richard Linklater. It’s a full-on cinematic fever dream: detailed period costumes, ambitious production design, flying old men, and enough visual gags to make classics scholars and stoner comedy fans cackle side by side.
Adapted from Aristophanes’ THE WASPS, the film leans hard into the original’s mix of satire and absurdity, then cranks it up with a distinctly modern sense of humor. Think “CLERKS in Ancient Greece” and you’re in the right temple: razor-sharp dialogue, lowbrow jokes, and a gleeful willingness to offend, all footnoted with nerdy, Chicago-style asides for the comedy history buffs.
The screening comes with a live filmmaker Q&A, so you’ll get to hear straight from the creative minds who turned a backyard into ancient Athens with fireworks and fart jokes. Ask about the DIY set builds, how you choreograph flying seniors, or what it’s like to juggle classical fidelity with pure cinematic chaos.
- What to expect
- A wild indie adaptation of one of the oldest comedies ever written
- Micro-budget ingenuity: backyard sets, homemade spectacle, and creative stunt work
- A rollercoaster tone that swings between highbrow satire and gleeful trash humor
- Moments that cause rapturous laughter and occasional walkouts—this one does not play it safe
- Post-screening Q&A with the filmmakers for behind-the-scenes stories and craft talk
- Perfect for
- Fans of cult cinema, DIY film, and Austin’s indie film scene
- Comedy lovers who like their laughs a little risky and a lot weird
- Theater and classics nerds curious about how ancient Greek satire translates to modern film
- Anyone who wants a movie night that’s the opposite of ordinary
THE WASPS with filmmaker Q&A is a one-of-a-kind blend of art-house ambition and backyard bravado—a rare chance to see ancient comedy reborn as a rowdy, unapologetic indie spectacle and then grill the creators about how they pulled it off.
Venue Details
Step into the cinematic wonderland of Hyperreal Film Club where movies come alive in the most thrilling ways!
This isn't your average theater—it's a pop-up paradise specializing in unique, immersive movie-watching experiences in thoughtful environments that transport you right into the story. They amplify local artists and host a whirlwind of events, from cult classics like Beverly Hills Cop and Nosferatu with live scores to fresh indie gems, short film showcases, filmmaker Q&As, and wild nights like soundtrack karaoke or music video parties.
- Catch screenings Monday through Friday packed with surprises!
- Discover zones featuring hidden treasures like Kamikaze Hearts or City Wide Fever.
- Join special series highlighting Black women directors, trans stories, or Hong Kong heartbreak melodramas.
- Tonight's vibe? A music video party or best-of shorts—pure Austin film magic!
Skip the multiplex and dive into cinema for the people—your next favorite film adventure awaits at Hyperreal!