You know, sometimes you just cruise along thinking you're on terra firma, and then something, suddenly, comes along and yanks you by the whatsit just to let you know that those things you take for granted are really rather precious and should frequently and loudly be honored as such. The film community here in Austin was hit with two such blows last Thursday. The first shockwave to hit was the information that the Texas Union film program on the UT campus will cease to exist as of the new year. Official confirmation of the suspension by the director of the Texas Union, Andy Smith, was unavailable prior to deadline but no one is denying the slaughter either. Through the guidance of Steve Bearden, who has programmed the film series for the past 27 years, the Texas Union has been one of the town's foremost venues for showcasing both innovative and popular film entertainment in a manner that catered to the needs of the students and the community at large. Its absence will be a devastating blow. It's presently unknown what will happen to the theatre itself or to the groups, such as the Austin Film Society and various campus organizations, who regularly avail themselves of the venue's services. Certainly, for Union officials this matter is economic in nature, but for lovers of film throughout Austin, the decision to pull the plug appears callous and premature. On the same day we learned of the Union Theatre closing, we also were saddened to learn of the pending October departure of Ann Hornaday from the Austin American-Statesman. She has accepted a job offer to become the film critic at the Baltimore Sun, a personal growth opportunity Hornaday found too good to refuse. Although with the Statesman as its chief film writer for a little less than two years, Hornaday's work has made an enduring impression on this town. Her thoughtful and well-expressed ideas and opinions have raised the level of film conversation and journalism and have set a standard that the Statesman will find hard to duplicate. One of the Austin film scene's most ardent and effective champions ever, Hornaday swears that distance will not change her passions in the least. We're lucky to have enjoyed her contributions to the local dialogue for the time we have...
Stan Brakhage, one of the godfathers of the American experimental film movement, will be in Austin Saturday Sept. 13. At 1pm, he will sign copies of his book, Film at Wit's End, at Borders. At 3:30pm, he will screen a selection of old and new works at the Paramount, and later that evening he will conduct a filmmaking workshop. See the interview in this week's "Screens" section or call 481-0493 for more info...
Another new film series starts up this week called Funhouse Cinema. Dedicated to underground film and video, this series screens on Mondays at 8 & 10pm at the Ritz Lounge. First up on Monday, Sept. 15 is "Musical Oddities," a collection of early music films including clips of Duke Ellington, Liberace, Kate Smith, and much more. Call 708-1717 for more info...
Script doctor Aubrey Horton will deliver a free lecture, "The Hollywood Option," on Tue. Sept. 16, 7:30pm at BookPeople. He will also be offering two screenwriting workshops at St. Ed's which must be reserved by Sept. 20. Call 835-7639 for info...
This week the Austin Film Society's Abbas Kiarostami film series shows And Life Goes On (1992). The Iranian film screens Tue. Sept. 16, 7pm, in the Texas Union Theatre.
