Good news, SXSW-ers! Our film previews continue with Long Nights Short Mornings, which chronicles the stories of a serial dater.

We spoke to Director Chadd Harbold about what attracted him to the film.

My goal with this film was to create an honest, raw, and unsentimental portrait of young romance and a deconstruction of modern masculinity. The film is restrictively structured in vignettes focusing on the main character’s encounters with women. We show them having fun with each other, and hurting each other, without everything hinging on “will they or won’t they” stay together. I didn’t want false stakes, but still wanted to have emotion and intimacy.

The film features some faces you may recognize, sprinkled in with new comers who you soon shall. We know a few of those faces from TV. Ella Rae Peck was featured as Lola on Gossip Girl while Stella Maeve recently starred on Chicago P.D. and Cassandra Freeman on Single Ladies. Shiloh Fernandez stars in the leading male role as James. He was also in The East, which premiered at SXSW in 2014.

This isn’t Harbold’s first rodeo as he’s been to Austin multiple times. This will be his third time participating in SXSW (twice presenting films and once accompanying his girlfriend who presented a workshop). When we asked what he’s most looking forward to in Austin, his response wasn’t surprising.

Seeing films and live music, meeting people, eating and partying.

Good answer, my friend.

To further prep for the fest and take a break from the new scripts he’s working on, we sent Harbold some totally Texan questions.

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

The Last Picture Show (my production company is named after it), Paris, Texas, Giant, Lone Star, No Country for Old Men, There Will Be Blood, Slacker, A Perfect World, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, Waiting for Guffman, Bernie, Rushmore, JFK, Office Space.

Who is your favorite Texas musician?

Kris Kristofferson and Beyoncé.

What actor would you call “totally Texan?”

Sissy Spacek.

What Texas food are you most looking forward to eating in Austin?

BBQ and queso.

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

My advice has always been to just go make stuff. It has never been easier to make a movie than it is right now. Don’t wait for permission. If what you make is good, it will get into festivals or get seen online or get attention somehow, and you go from there. If what you make is not so good, learn from it and make the next one better.