The journey to create You Can Color Outside the Lines has been almost as wild as the story it tells. Production began in 2016, but after thousands of miles on the road, and a global pandemic, the film is finally here.
Director Joe Salinas, an El Paso filmmaker with deep Austin roots, spent years traveling the country capturing more than 40 interviews with musicians, artists, skaters, and friends whose lives were touched by the Big Boys.
Salinas has created projects around the world, from commercials to music videos for artists including Dinosaur Jr, Jawbreaker , Spiral Stairs of Pavement, Mineral, Sparta and many other iconic bands. He's also directed work for National Geographic, Vans, Beto O'Rourke and others. His work has appeared in Rolling Stone, Spin, Brooklyn Vegan and many more publications both online and in print.
In 2024, after years of hearing about the documentary and wondering when it would see the light of day, Austin filmmaker, editor, animator, and designer Andrew Leeper reached out to Joe. That conversation sparked a creative partnership that would bring the film across the finish line. Digging through thousands of flyers, photographs, videos, and archival treasures, Leeper helped uncover the connective tissue that made the story click.
Known for his work with Gentlemen Rogues, Black Books, And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead, and Band of Bastards, Leeper brought a fresh visual energy and storytelling instinct that helped transform years of footage into a living, breathing portrait of the Big Boys.
Together they crafted a film fueled by passion, persistence, and a deep love for Austin's creative community.
About the film:
You Can Color Outside the Lines chronicles the rise and lasting impact of the Big Boys, the wildly original Austin band who fused punk, funk, skateboarding, performance art, humor, and radical self-expression into something entirely their own. Long before genre-blending became fashionable, the Big Boys were creating a world where creativity mattered more than rules.
Narrated by Damian Abraham of Fucked Up and the podcast Turned Out A Punk, the documentary features appearances and interviews with a lineup of punk, skateboarding, and creative legends including Ian MacKaye, Steve Albini, Jeff Ament, Tony Alva, Keith Morris, J Mascis, Fred Armisen, Mike Watt, John Doe, Exene Cervenka, David Yow, Glenn E. Friedman and many more.
At its heart, You Can Color Outside the Lines isn’t just a music documentary. It is a celebration of individuality, DIY culture, skateboarding, friendship, art, and the power of creating your own path.