The Circuit

John Pierson (right, in Fiji with Steve James), who teaches the film department's Master Class at the University of Texas, was quick to point out that the Cinematexas post kinda knocks his department, and he's got a point. Pierson brings all sorts of filmmakers into his class to mingle with students -- Spike Lee, Fred Wiseman, Gus Van Sant, Mike Judge, Joe Dante, Ross McElwee, Mark Cuban, Kevin Smith, Steve James and even Chuck Norris. I still miss the festival. A lot of good people helped build it. But UT’s film program remains one of the best. And while Burnt Orange is over, the UT Film Institute’s new initiatives will keep alive the concept of giving on-set experience to students. Check it out here.  (Mike Jones)

September is packed with fests, yet I always looked forward to UT Austin’s Cinematexas, one of the very best film events in the State. It was the smartest way to put on a student film festival – blending their program with screenings and guest lectures of established filmmakers and artists. One year, Terrence Malick programmed his own section entitled Silence, which featured four of his favorite silent short films. Cinematexas also provided the best kind of access. Where else could film students have michillindas at the San Jose Hotel with Werner Herzog, just after an electric screening of his “science fiction” film Lessons of Darkness?  So I was heartbroken to read programming director Ivan Lozano’s sad announcement, posted on the site: “Due to the loss of support from our biggest contributor, and the loss of our office space, we are financially unable to continue...”

If by the loss of a major contributor they mean the University of Texas, and the loss of office space means whatever basement classroom they were probably given, then I hope UT reconsiders.  Burnt Orange, the University’s initiative to put students to work on feature film productions, seems burnt - no longer making movies.  To lose such a respected festival that celebrated film as art within its students’ work is major loss.  (Mike Jones)