Six years after her death, filmmakers Jack Lofton and Keith Patterson team up to portray the most memorable woman in Texas politics in their directorial debut, Ann Richards' Texas. The documentary reminds me of a happier time when women's rights were championed by formidable progressive supporters in the Lone Star State. The movie screened at Aff after its world premiere at the 2012 AFI SilverDocs Festival, where it won the WGA Documentary Screenplay Award.
Former Texas Governor Richards was an outspoken woman who went from housewife and teacher to a politician who led the state in 1990. It was her keynote speech at the 1988 Democratic National Convention in support of presidential candidate Michael Dukakis that moved her into the spotlight and the Governor's Mansion -- a formidable accomplishment for a Democrat in a red state, not to mention for a woman who wasn't a "good old boy" millionaire like her Republican opponent,...
Former Texas Governor Richards was an outspoken woman who went from housewife and teacher to a politician who led the state in 1990. It was her keynote speech at the 1988 Democratic National Convention in support of presidential candidate Michael Dukakis that moved her into the spotlight and the Governor's Mansion -- a formidable accomplishment for a Democrat in a red state, not to mention for a woman who wasn't a "good old boy" millionaire like her Republican opponent,...
- 10/30/2012
- by Debbie Cerda
- Slackerwood
Jack Lofton and Keith Patterson's documentary hearkens back to happier times (at least for liberals), the years before George W. Bush entered the political spotlight. I am talking about those glory days when Texas had one of the most liberal governors in the United States, a female governor to boot. Considering where Texas politics stand today (in the far right corner), it seems utterly unfathomable that Ann Richards was the governor of Texas less than twenty years ago. Ann Richards' Texas begins like a Cliff Notes' version of Richards' personal history; but once it arrives at the 1988 Democratic National Convention, where Richards delivered the keynote speech for presidential nominee Michael S. Dukakis, Lofton and Patterson's documentary begins to hunker down into the nitty gritty. Richards' keynote speech was extremely critical of the Reagan Administration and then-Vice President George H. W. Bush; it not only set the tone for her...
- 10/21/2012
- by Don Simpson
- SmellsLikeScreenSpirit
The full lineup for Austin Film Festival 2012 has now been released. Among the big-budget films, Dustin Hoffman's directiorial debut, indie movies and documentaries are flicks with ties to Austin (and/or Texas in general). Among the better-known movies, The Sessions has a slight local connection in one of its stars -- former (but not forgotten) Austinite John Hawkes.
Here are some of the feature-length films made in Austin or with Austin filmmakers. If we missed anything, please let us know. Also, if you're one of the filmmakers on this list, please drop us a line, because we'd love to cover your movie.
Ann Richards' Texas, a documentary by Houstonians Jack Lofton and Keith Patterson, is among the Marquee Screenings at the fest. This one looks like a must-see for those of us interested in Texas politics and/or our former state governor (trailer below). [official site]
read more...
Here are some of the feature-length films made in Austin or with Austin filmmakers. If we missed anything, please let us know. Also, if you're one of the filmmakers on this list, please drop us a line, because we'd love to cover your movie.
Ann Richards' Texas, a documentary by Houstonians Jack Lofton and Keith Patterson, is among the Marquee Screenings at the fest. This one looks like a must-see for those of us interested in Texas politics and/or our former state governor (trailer below). [official site]
read more...
- 9/25/2012
- by Elizabeth Stoddard
- Slackerwood
Here's the latest in Austin and Texas film news.
Austin was well represented in the awards at the Silverdocs Documentary Film Festival in Silver Springs, Maryland this week. The Sterling Award for best U.S. feature doc went to Only the Young, a film about teenagers in an economically troubled California suburb, co-directed by Jason Tippet and Austin native Elizabeth Mims. (Her dad, Steve Mims, clued us in on the award.) The film Ann Richards' Texas won the WGA Documentary Screenplay Award -- we don't have to tell you how that one ties into Austin, although filmmakers Jack Lofton and Keith Patterson are from Houston. And last night, the Silverdocs Audience Awards were announced, one of which went to Andrew Garrison's documentary Trash Dance, about a unique Austin event involving the Department of Solid Waste Services (SXSW interview, Mike's review).Calling all activist filmmakers: The submission deadline for the Fourth Annual Lights.
Austin was well represented in the awards at the Silverdocs Documentary Film Festival in Silver Springs, Maryland this week. The Sterling Award for best U.S. feature doc went to Only the Young, a film about teenagers in an economically troubled California suburb, co-directed by Jason Tippet and Austin native Elizabeth Mims. (Her dad, Steve Mims, clued us in on the award.) The film Ann Richards' Texas won the WGA Documentary Screenplay Award -- we don't have to tell you how that one ties into Austin, although filmmakers Jack Lofton and Keith Patterson are from Houston. And last night, the Silverdocs Audience Awards were announced, one of which went to Andrew Garrison's documentary Trash Dance, about a unique Austin event involving the Department of Solid Waste Services (SXSW interview, Mike's review).Calling all activist filmmakers: The submission deadline for the Fourth Annual Lights.
- 6/25/2012
- by Jordan Gass-Poore'
- Slackerwood
Here's the latest in Austin and Texas film news.
A new local documentary about rollerderby will premiere at Edinburgh International Film Festival later this month. Leave It on the Track, about two competing Txrd teams, is directed by Benjamin Pascoe and produced by filmmaker/Austin Film Society instructor/derby team manager Jonny Stranger. Check out the trailer at the end of this article, and read Elizabeth's interview with Stranger about his Slacker 2011 segment.Houston-based filmmakers Keith Patterson's and Jack Lofton's documentary Ann Richards' Texas, about the life of the former Texas governor, will have its world premiere June 21 at the AFI Silverdocs festival in Washington, D.C. The movie includes interviews with Bill Clinton, Dolly Parton and Dan Rather.The award-winning indie film Strings can now be purchased or rented exclusively on iTunes through a digital distribution deal with The Orchard, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. The Austin-shot thriller,...
A new local documentary about rollerderby will premiere at Edinburgh International Film Festival later this month. Leave It on the Track, about two competing Txrd teams, is directed by Benjamin Pascoe and produced by filmmaker/Austin Film Society instructor/derby team manager Jonny Stranger. Check out the trailer at the end of this article, and read Elizabeth's interview with Stranger about his Slacker 2011 segment.Houston-based filmmakers Keith Patterson's and Jack Lofton's documentary Ann Richards' Texas, about the life of the former Texas governor, will have its world premiere June 21 at the AFI Silverdocs festival in Washington, D.C. The movie includes interviews with Bill Clinton, Dolly Parton and Dan Rather.The award-winning indie film Strings can now be purchased or rented exclusively on iTunes through a digital distribution deal with The Orchard, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. The Austin-shot thriller,...
- 6/6/2012
- by Jordan Gass-Poore'
- Slackerwood
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