Mythos Studios, the filmmaking arm of Austin, Texas-based advertising agency GSD&M, has begunproduction on the poetry slam documentary Slam Channel.

Executive producer TimMcClure is collaborating with producer and co-directors Mike Henry and KyleFuller of Confessions Multimedia and producer Chris Ohlson of 824 Pictures.

Scheduled to open nextspring, the picture follows a team of local Austin poets and their counterpartsin New York City as they prepare for this summer's National Poetry Slam,which runs from Aug 3-8.

The film-makers say theyhave raised more than half of their $300,000 budget, with the majority ofinvestors hail from Austin.

The producers plan topreview slam performances featured in the documentary online before thepicture's release. Poetry slam involves timed recitals of original poemswithout the aid of props or costumes.