If you weren't in Austin for South by Southwest -- or even if you were, and your schedule, like mine, was so incredibly packed with films and parties, that you missed out on catching some of the many panels there, you're in luck. For your listening convenience, the SXSW website has podcasts of the panels up. There were panels on just about every topic imaginable at the fest, from "Animation and Digital Effects on a Budget," to "The Porn Police: Know the Rules" (that one featured the never-shy-about-baring-his-all Joe Swanberg), to journalist Sarah Lacy's "controversial" interview with Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg's, which just about descended into all-out chaos.

I've heard the entire interview, watched parts of it on YouTube, and read heaps of blog comments ripping Lacy to shreds, and I gotta say, I don't see what people were so riled up about in that room, or why the audience turned on her so harshly there toward the end. Yes, it was a conversational-style interview, not a hard-hitting smackdown.

Though the film Untraceable debuted in the states last month, it arrives in the UK this week and a new online marketing campaign was launched not long ago to help promote the overseas release. Great. Super. Not quite. Apparently, the interactive company Picture Production Company set up a Facebook page called "Kill With Me," and we're being told (via the Guardian) that said page "has been gradually revealing more and more of a visceral torture scene from the Untraceable movie to Facebook members." That's not all -- here's a copy of the text that was also featured on the page: "This guy is going to die. You want to see his stinking flesh burn and bleed and blacken? Until he's some twisted dead thing? This is what you want. And I've filmed it especially for you. The more fans I get, the more I'll show ..."

A similar marketing tactic for the same movie was used on the video community Seesmic, where "an actor planted on the service briefly disappeared, and was then filmed by a video camera being bound, gagged and seemingly executed." The dude in charge of PPC knew both pages would be pulled, but wanted to "push the boundaries of what is acceptable in an online community with the Untraceable marketing campaign." I don't know about you, but tricking people into believing they're watching someone being murdered is taking it a bit too far. I understand the need to consistently up the ante with regards to marketing campaigns (especially for horror/thriller flicks), but where do you draw the line.

If you came across a campaign like this, would it make you want to see the film? Or is this taking it too far? Additionally, where do you draw the line these days? Sound off below ...

I decided to write this because each and every week I have people sending me things that I simply HAVE to do, or see or look forward to. I'm sure it's the same for you; you'll be chatting with a friend online, and they'll throw something out and follow it up by saying: "Dude, you HAVE to do it!" I take it that's how Norbit made so much money at the box office. But anyway, here are a few things that are hip this week (in my life) and maybe yours too ...

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street -- The first critics screening is what did it, and since then -- in only a week or so -- the new Tim Burton flick has reached cult-like buzz status. Almost everyone I've spoken with is telling me to see it, even though they haven't seen it, which kinda doesn't make much sense. But the folks that have seen it are loving it, and so this week it's hip to want to see Sweeney Todd. Additionally, feel free to submit questions for Tim Burton and Johnny Depp for Moviefone's Unscripted session. (Actual quote: I've heard it's Burton's best film since Beetlejuice!")

Walk Hard Tour -- We posted about this earlier today, and already almost all the shows are sold out. In case you're wondering what I'm talking about: To promote his new film Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, John C. Reilly is touring the country and performing tunes from the movie in local rock bars. I caught wind of this early yesterday, and since then a number of people have asked me how to get tickets to see him at The Knitting Factory in New York City. We're currently working on getting some of our readers tickets for this thing, so stay tuned and be excited. (Actual quote: If I meet John C. Reilly, do you think it would be weird if I geeked out a bit over Boogie Nights?")

Facebook -- This social networking site has been around for some time now, however I finally caved into the peer pressure and created a page yesterday. While browsing, I was amazed to discover just how many people I knew who were on this thing. At one point, I half expected my mother to show up. Cinematical is currently in the process of setting up our own Facebook page, but in the meantime feel free to look me up (by name or by searching Cinematical), share movie tips with me and read the latest stories on Cinematical. A bunch of us Cine writers are also on there (like Rocchi, Patty, Jessica and Snider), so be sure to say hello. This week, it's hip to have a Facebook page. (Actual quote: Dude, f*ck MySpace -- Facebook is where it's at!")

Speed Racer -- You might not think it's hot at the moment, but wait until later this week. We definitely have something special in store for you ...

What else is hip this week?