Nicolas Cage's 'biggest fan' posted flyers across SXSW asking the actor to call. It worked.

Saturday update: Nicolas Cage called!

After printing more than 500 flyers and projecting a building-scaled picture of actor Nicolas Cage against a downtown wall with the message "PLEASE CALL ME" around South by Southwest, superfan Robby Schnetz's wish was granted. 

Schnetz, 31, received a call from the Academy Award-winning actor, known for roles in “Con Air” and “Face/Off,” on Saturday afternoon. And as the Austinite promised he would, Schnetz thanked Cage for the work he’s done in Hollywood and told him that he was, in fact, his biggest admirer.

“I wanted to just thank you so much for everything, all the years of content you’ve put out, all the roles you’ve chosen and the characters you’ve played,“ Schnetz told Cage, who is in Austin for the premiere of his movie "The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent." “It’s amazing and I honestly feel like I am your biggest fan. I can’t necessarily prove it, but in my heart of hearts, I really do believe I am.”

Cage thanked Schnetz for his support, and let him know his outrageously ambitious efforts didn’t go unnoticed. 

“I’m a film enthusiast, too. So anytime somebody is interested in a movie or cinema, I’m always happy to talk, Cage said. “But I just wanted to let you know I got your message and I called you and I wish you the best of luck on all your endeavors.”

Earlier: South by Southwest has long been a festival bursting with super-fandom, with droves of fans pouring into downtown Austin hoping to spot their favorite actors, musicians and influencers.

If you've already made rounds on Day One, you've likely seen one of the biggest signs of fanship floating around this year's festival, the first in-person SXSW in two years. 

Slapped across the columns and walls of the Auston Convention Center are flyers featuring a photo of actor Nicolas Cage with the messages "I'M YOUR BIGGEST FAN" and "PLEASE CALL ME" above a 737 area code phone number. 

The fan responsible is Austinite Robby Schnetz, who printed nearly 500 copies of the flyer in hopes of connecting with the "Face/Off" and "Con Air" actor, whose newest film, "The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent," is one of the most anticipated flicks to screen at SXSW. The film plays at 10:30 p.m. Saturday at the Paramount Theatre.

We gave Schnetz, 31, a ring to talk about his admiration for Cage, the bold move of posting his phone number throughout downtown Austin, and the hundreds of calls and texts he's received from impersonators of the Academy Award-winning actor.

Although we were initially sent to his voicemail, where the Plano-native requested a verification selfie in case we were Cage, we finally got a hold of him for a quick Q&A.

This conversation has been lightly edited for length and clarity. 

American-Statesman: Out of all the fans of Cage, what makes you the biggest?

Robby Schnetz: I don't know if I could technically prove it because there are so many people, but I know in my heart that I am.

I started younger, man. One of my fondest memories with my parents was when I was super young. We watched "Con Air," and it was funny because he played some guy named Cameron Poe in the movie. The thing was, I had a friend in elementary school named Cameron Poe, and that's why my parents were like, "Hey, let's watch this movie."

They already saw it but they wanted me to see it so that I could go, "Oh hey, there's my friend." But you know, I watched (Cage's movies) throughout the years, and when I got to college, he was the main actor my roommates and I really started to follow.

But now, I got shower curtains, pillows, coasters, even a Nicolas Cage flag. I just know that in my heart of hearts I am his biggest fan. And if he's here in Austin, like, why wouldn't I do this stuff?

What about Cage made you such a massive fan?

I mean, he's been around for so long and he's not like one of these, "Oh, I'm gonna do a couple of blockbusters, get my millions and get out." He's not just doing roles for the box office. He's doing roles for the fans and because he wants to do them.

In his past couple of movies he had little dialogue, and in "Willy's Wonderland" he had no dialogue. He can act without saying a word. And with his upcoming movie, "The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent," you can tell he did this for the fans just by looking at the trailer. This is him thanking the fans and really appreciating everything they've done and supported.

I don't know many actors that would do that and go out there and be like, "Yes, I'm going to play myself and give myself to this role." He really loves the fans and is an actual actor. Well, he is more of a thespian than an actor.

Why did you decide to print out the hundreds of flyers?

(Cage) was here a few years ago doing a movie, and I was, you know, a poor college kid. I didn't have the money. I was going around hoping to see him. But at this point, now in my 30s, I got a couple hundred bucks to just say screw it. Why not just try it?

Aren't you afraid you'll get calls and texts from weird strangers?

I've gotten literally hundreds of calls and texts of people pretending to be Nicolas Cage. I guess it's all a part of the process to find him. You have to play to win.

How excited would you be if you actually got a call from him?

I don't get starstruck that often by celebrities and stuff like that, but to actually meet somebody that you admire so much, It's going to get my heart pumping. I just want to thank him for all the content he's put out through the years. I just want to say, "Hey, I appreciate everything you've done artistically." I just appreciate his talent.

If the flyers don't work, anything next?

(I'm) going to see if this digital projection on buildings can get me to meet the legend himself or if it can get me into the movie premiere.

– Austin 360

From pink polo shirts to weird boots: How Kanye's fashion has evolved

It’s hard to imagine a time when the masses weren’t drawn to artist and fashion designer Kanye West, a man who's spearheaded some of the biggest cultural shifts and era-defining trends since he first stepped into the industry spotlight.

But the Netflix documentary Jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy chronicles the days when West was a quietly confident producer who was known for his soul-stirring beats but fighting to land a record deal as a solo artist.

The first two episodes of the three-part film, titled “Act I: Vision” and “Act II: Purpose,” are pieced together from 20-year-old footage recorded by now-director Coodie Simmons, who gave viewers a glimpse into the recording sessions of songs that made West a household name. Simmons, who directed the project with fellow filmmaker Chike Ozah, first turned his camera to West with the belief he would ascend to rap superstardom. But even with his remarkable foresight, not even Simmons envisioned what kind of force West would become in the world of fashion.

Nobody knew — except Ye.

“LOUIS VUITTON DON”

The self-proclaimed “Louis Vuitton Don,” a nickname West first christened himself on the song “Last Call” from his debut album The College Dropout, mixed luxury brand pieces like Dior, Gucci and others with streetwear essentials — which blurred the lines of modern couture forever.

From leather kilts, Margiela masks, and Venetian shutter shades, hip-hops fans and high fashion mavens have been drawn to West's influence. And for the 44-year-old rapper, conquering the fashion industry was a goal he set from the time he signed his record deal at Roc-A-Fella Records.

“If West’s rubber BALENCIAGA RAIN BOOTS aren't evident enough, HIS STYLE has always been AGAINST THE GRAIN.”

In “Act II: Promise,” West made his intentions clear during an interview following his car accident in 2002: “I had an accident and almost died and everything, right? But I was sitting up in the hospital for the first seven days, and I’d just be watching TV and I just came to this revelation …. people are like, ‘You almost just died. What came from this?’ And I just sit back, and just decided that I’m going to be the best, the best, dressed rapper in the game because their gear was crazy whack.”

If West’s rubber Balenciaga rain boots aren't evident enough, his style has always been against the grain. On his song “Touch the Sky,” West addressed how his stylistic choices early in his rap career hindered his success: “Back when they thought pink Polos would hurt the Roc/Before Cam got the sh*t to pop/The doors was closed/I felt like Bad Boy’s street team: I couldn’t work the locks.”

In the same way he was viewed as an artist, West’s clothing style didn’t fit the mold of a “rapper,” which better aligned with the gangster rap image that loomed over the genre in the early 2000s. When everyone was wearing XXXL Mitchell & Ness jerseys, jump-rope length chains and baggy jeans in the early 2000s, he was draped in bright rugby shirts, a monogrammed ​​Louis Vuitton backpack and Ralph Lauren sweaters adorned with the "Polo Bear," later inspiring the “Dropout Bear” that was placed on his first three album covers.

Throughout the documentary, West was also spotted in Superhero and movie-themed graphic T-shirts, knit turtleneck sweaters and a retainer that was far from camera shy. While maligned at the time, a lot of the pieces West wore 15-20 years ago are touted in high fashion circles today, which is a true testament to his vision for future trends. Vintage Polo pieces and other brands West donned in his “College Dropout” days are treasured items for hype beasts and online resellers, and some pairings would even hint at future brand collaborations.

During West’s Def Poetry Jam performance of “All Falls Down” called “Self Conscious,” he wore Adidas Superstars, and even sported a Gap shirt throughout the series, foreshadowing the release of his “Yeezy Gap engineered by Balenciaga” collection in late February.

But in time, everyone would begin to rap, produce and dress like West.

RESISTANCE

Before becoming a rap superstar, West maneuvered through the industry on his own accord, using the scraps and resources he had to place his form of artistic expression at the forefront. And much was the same when it came to fashion. Even with a Louis Vuitton footwear collection, West arranged to intern for Fendi in 2009 alongside the late Virgil Abloh, who was the artistic director at Louis Vuitton's menswear collection before he passed in November 2021.

The New York Times reported that the two men were making $500 a month to run errands and fetch coffees at the famed fashion house. And in a 2013 interview with former BBC Radio 1 host Zane Lowe, West reaffirmed his genius, claiming that he and Abloh introduced the idea of leather jogging pants to Fendi – a trend that would emerge in high-end circles years later.

In 2009, West enlisted industry notables such as Abloh, Don C, Kim Jones, who was Louis Vuitton’s men’s artistic director at the time, and others to establish his first clothing line in 2009: Pastelle. It wasn’t his first dive into the depths of fashion design — that was Mascotte by K West, which was scrapped in 2004, but Pastelle was his first full-fledged attempt at creating his own brand.

But after West’s outburst against Taylor Swift at the 2009 Video Music Awards, Pastelle’s LA office shut down and his plans for the brand’s flagship stores and events soon did as well, according to Complex. His frustrations were made public during an interview on Jimmy Kimmel Live!,”where West talked about the resistance he’s faced at the gates of the fashion world.

“I WANT to make the next RALPH LAUREN.”

“I spent 10,000 hours at this; I dedicated my life to this. And a lot of people say, ‘OK, you know, you have to do music.’ Imma keep doing music, but what if people told me I couldn’t rap. What would have happened? What if people told me I couldn’t perform?’” he said. “I’m only 36 years old, I have other goals and other things, and I’m going to use my platform and every platform to stand up and say, ‘I want to make something. I want to make the next Ralph Lauren.’”

While the interview was nearly a decade ago, it’s reminiscent of the moment in Jeen-yuhs when West played “All Falls Down” to a puzzled music executive, whose colleagues roamed in and out of the room, and he left the Roc-A-Fella office momentarily deflated.

YEEZY EMPIRE

After footwear deals with Louis Vuitton and Nike, West continued to push for his own clothing line and would eventually take the reins of his Yeezy brand in 2015. And in the seven years since its inception, the brand’s apparel and sneaker releases have helped boost West’s estimated $1.8 billion net worth, according to Forbes.

Yes, the numbers are astronomical, but West’s impact has been nearly unmatched because of the stylistic trends he’s set ablaze. He broke ground years ago with collaborations and footwear deals with high fashion brands, inspiring other rappers to level up their drip game and even delve into the business of fashion.

As Yeezy has generated millions of dollars — and quenched the thirst of hype beasts from around the world — he’s opened doors for others to succeed in fashion and has consistently drawn in the industry’s top talent. Designers like Heron Preston and Matthew Williams, who’s now the creative director of Givenchy women’s and men’s collections, have made their marks in fashion after working alongside West and his extended creative team.

So, while many will point to West’s polarizing statements, failed presidential campaign, thickly rubberized rain boots (for now, at least) and his antics on social media, which has half the country calling Pete Davidson “Skete,” his impact in fashion is undeniable and will remain an integral part of his legacy – just as he envisioned.

– Input Mag