Lone Star Silver Screen

Austin is joined by filmmaker and educator Ya'Ke Smith to discuss his latest documentary, Cycles of Resilience: A Journey Through Austin's Black History. They talk about the many hats Ya'Ke wears in his life and career, the importance of physical media in a world of intangibles, and our role as standard bearers for the historical record.

https://exodusfilmworks.com/

Black History Ride / Cycles of Resilience: https://blackhistorybikeride.com/film/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yake80/?hl=en

Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/exodusfilmworks

Juneteenth: On Faith and Freedom: https://www...

Austin is joined by filmmaker Gene Gallerano and Bob Ray to discuss their recent documentary, Thank You For Listening, which charts musician Joshua Ray Walker's battle with cancer and ensuing performance at the Grand Ole Opry.

The guys talk about Texas Monthly's support of the film, how Gene's mom made the movie possible, and the importance of celebrating the journey in a creative endeavor - especially one where you don't control the outcome. It's a great chat that puts a focus on independent filmmakers who had to roll with the punches to reconceptualize their film in real...

San Antonio-based producer and filmmaker Vanessa Rae Lerma joins Austin to discuss her latest short film, SweetNess, and what it took to mount a short film musical. They talk about her desire to accurately reflect life in San Antonio, how her work as a theater educator has helped in her filmmaking journey, what it takes to get a bakery's worth of cupcakes onscreen in a movie, and the allure of a fine breakfast taco!

SweetNess Insta: http://instagram.com/sweetness_film/

Austin is joined by the president of the Dallas-Fort Worth Critics Association, Todd Jorgenson, for a chat about Jorgenson's career, the power of film criticism, and his other great passion: sports. What are the best sports movies? Is baseball the best sport to make movies about? Find out in our new episode!

Read Todd's Reviews @ Cinemalogue: https://cinemalogue.com/

Check out the DFWCA: https://dfwcritics.com/

Austin is joined by filmmaker and VFX artist Matthew Ward to discuss Ward's career, spanning from his early days working on the Star Wars prequels, The Matrix sequels, and a lot of films with Robert Zemeckis, to his pivot in the 2010s to work on video game cinematics for beloved titles like Destiny and Borderlands.

It's a fun, fast-moving talk about the arc of an artist, changing technology in film, and a reminder of just how long Francis Ford Coppola was trying to get Megalopolis off the ground.

Matthew Ward's Website: https://www.studioward.com/<...

Filmmaker (and musician) McKinley Argyle joins Austin this week to discuss her new short film A Place We Can Go. The movie looks at the legacy of now-shuttered DIY space 1919 Hemphill, celebrates DIY venues as inclusive community spaces, and explores the relationship Texans have with their state when they don't conform to conservative norms.

While diving into the film itself, Austin and McKinley talk about her journey to filmmaking. They touch on the challenge of watching feature films in the Age of TikTok, lessons McKinley has learned that made her a better documentarian, and the oddly fascinating...

Austin is joined by Flatland Film Festival's Kea Beasley to discuss the long road from Oklahoma City to Lubbock, TX, the magic of classic sci-fi/horror flicks, whether or not Lubbock really does have more restaurants per capita than any other city in the U.S., and the great work being done by the Louise Hopkins Underwood Center for the Arts.

Flatland Film Festival: September 24 - 26, 2026

FFF Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/Dbt8HoZjQCB/

FFF Website: https://lhuca.org/flatland-film-festival/aboutflatland/

Austin is joined by Ray L. Perez, the president of the GTX Film Festival, to discuss the evolution of the event and its upcoming outing on September 26, 2026. They cover the joy of programming a good comedy, the importance of a clean sound mix, and the magic of audiences being able to connect directly with a filmmaker about their work - and much more!

GTX Film Festival Website: https://gtxfilm.org/

GTX Film Festival Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gtxfilms/

Austin is joined by Festival Director Craig O'Daniel to discuss the upcoming Tyler Film Festival, taking place in Tyler, TX September 18 - 19, 2026. They talk about the city of Tyler, the blossoming film community in East Texas, films Craig's excited to show off, and how the festival has evolved over the past several years!

Tyler Film Festival Website: https://www.tylerfilmfest.com/

Tyler Film Festival Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tylerfilmfest/

Austin is joined by returning guest Cait Kennedy to discuss Fantastic Fest! They talk about what sets this festival apart from others, what Cait loves about attending, dipping into a state of temporary psychosis when trying to balance pet care with the demands of a weeklong film festival, and (obviously) some of the movies scheduled for the festival that Cait is excited to see!

Cait's Simply Cinema Substack: https://simplycinema.substack.com/

Turning Pages with Cait: https://turningpageswithcait.substack.com/

Cait's IG: https://www.instagram.com/thecaitkennedy/<...

This week, Austin is joined by Jessica Irvine Drake, the founder and director of She Speaks Film Festival, which comes to Taylor, TX September 18-19, 2026! The festival is dedicated to providing a platform for women's voices in film - something Jessica knows a lot about.

She and Austin talk about her own career as an actor (and her circuitous route from Canada to Texas), what she's learned while preparing her first film festival, and where she wants to take She Speaks in 2027 and beyond!

She Speaks Website: https://www.shespeaksfilmfestival.com/<...

Austin is joined by filmmaker Brenden Hubbard to discuss his new short film Hide, playing the South Texas International Film Festival this month. Starring Alejandro Rose Garcia (better known as Shakey Graves), the film follows a father and daughter trying to survive in a town stalked by a malevolent force.

Brenden and Austin discuss Brenden's work in the music industry, location scouting, working with a child actor, Texas music venues - and much more!

Hide Insta: https://www.instagram.com/hide.short?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&stkn=ZDNlZDc0...

We're soft launching our return from a brief hiatus with a special episode where Austin speaks with Christina Hahn, director of the Dallas Asian American Film Festival. Christina talks about the importance of representation, how she and her collaborators curated the first ever Dallas Asian American Film Festival, and the beautiful diversity of Texas.

DAAFF Website: https://www.daaart.org/daaff

Austin is joined by filmmaker John Moore today to discuss his new documentary, When We Were Live, which will play the Oak Cliff Film Festival this weekend. They talk about John's decision to let found footage from Austin's public access television scene tell its own story, the process he went through to turn that footage into a coherent film, and the importance of taking constructive criticism.

Tickets for the 8/2 OCFF screening: https://ocff2026.eventive.org/schedule/6a35b2a04fce8a3c10851b26?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQPOTM2NjE5NzQzMzkyNDU5AAGnrVWXMeGDZN6DUIBRAxT92ProDz4eva...

Austin is joined by filmmaker Joe Salinas to discuss his new documentary about pioneering punk band Big Boys. They discuss the band's music, the legacy of Austin punk, and how bringing on Andrew Leeper as an additional editor helped him get the project over the finish line.

YCCOTL OCFF Tickets: https://ocff2026.eventive.org/schedule/6a35af954f6a2d50da54d818/tickets

Joe Salinas' Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joesalinasfilms?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

Andrew Leeper's Instagram: https://www.instagram...

Austin is joined by director Matty Wishnow to discuss his new feature, The Last Critic, which will be playing at the Oak Cliff Film Festival later this month. They discuss the life and career of music critic Robert Christgau, how Matty was able to get some of the sharpest cultural commentators on the planet to take part in his debut documentary, and the pleasures of breakfast tacos.

The Last Critic screens Friday, July 31 at 8:45PM at the Kessler Theater.

Tickets are available now: https://ocff2026.eventive.org/schedule/6a30949848d846b6463575d5

Austin has a dream guest on today with editor extraordinaire and SMU alum Chris Tonick joining to talk about his career and, more specifically, the work he did on one of the most exciting movies of 2026, the Hong Kong action film The Furious!

Don't miss Chris explaining how Hong Kong action films are edited, how he worked his way through the ranks to find himself on this project, and what the guys think about the later works in Frank Herbert's Dune saga!

The Furious Webpage: https://www.lionsgate.com/movies/the-furious<...

Austin is joined by...another Austin! Director Austin Sayre is on the show this week, discussing his new documentary, 'The Man with the Big Hat,' about the life and work of musician Steven Fromholz. They discuss Sayre's introduction to Fromholz, how a broken pelvis nearly threw a wrench in their initial schedule, and the evolution of Austin as a musical mecca in Texas!

'The Man with the Big Hat' Website: https://www.themanwiththebighatfilm.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themanwiththebighatfilm/

Austin is joined by festival director Eugenio Del Bosque to discuss CineFestival, which is celebrating 50 years of spotlighting latino/a films for their audience in San Antonio. They discuss the festival's evolution, the role they can play in young filmmakers' development, adapting to unexpected programming challenges, and more!

CineFestival runs from July 9-12 in San Antonio, TX.

More information can be found below:

CineFestival Website: https://guadalupeculturalarts.org/cine-festival/

CineFestival IG: https://www.instagram.com/cinefestival/?hl=en

This week, Austin is joined by writer/director Justice Hardy and Executive Producer Lindsey Barnes to discuss their new film, Mantis, a sci-fi/horror/thriller. They discuss the origins of Mantis' heady concept (interviewing murder suspects up to 36 hours after they die), the role of an EP on an indie film, what films influenced Mantis (and which ones would make a killer double feature with it), and the magic of good Tex-Mex.

PRODUCTION NOTE: Austin's audio is a little muddy in the intro. It only lasts about 10 seconds. This is why we don't record with...

Austin is joined by writer/director J.T. Walker to discuss his new film, Broken Land. The movie is Texas to its core, tackling timely issues and showcasing the rugged beauty of the Lone Star State. During their conversation, Austin learns how J.T. conceived of the film and brought it to life, as well as how they crafted an authentic, emotional experience on set.

Rent Broken Land: https://athome.fandango.com/content/browse/details/Broken-Land/4952332

Chapters

Austin is joined by the co-directors of the El Paso-based Femme Frontera Film Festival, which runs from June 11-14. It is FREE to the public and dedicated to providing a platform for female and gender-expansive filmmakers; Manis also helps lead the La Frontera Film Lab, which seeks to amplify voices from the U.S.-Mexico border region and teach female and gender-expansive filmmakers about documentary filmmaking.

Femme Frontera Site: https://www.femmefrontera.org/

Email Address: [email protected]

La Frontera Film Lab: https://www.femmefrontera.org/femme-frontera-border-film-lab<...

Austin is joined by local filmmaker Stone Swad to talk about the recent wave of video game adaptations. Is this good for the movie industry? Is Legend of Zelda overrated? And what would the best video game to film in Texas be? Find out in this episode!

Stone's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mr.ston3y/

Austin is joined by festival director Tengah Nguyen of HAAPIFEST (that's the Houston Asian American Pacific Islander Film Festival) to discuss the festival's origins, objectives, and their 2026 slate! This is a hybrid event featuring in person and online screenings over the course of two weeks, from May 29 - June 14. You can learn more at the links below:

HAAPIFEST Website: https://www.haapifest.org/

HAAPIFEST Insta: https://www.instagram.com/haapifest/?hl=en

Austin is flying solo this week, running through some Texas movie news and his thoughts on recent films he caught at the theater. Movies reviewed include: OBSESSION, MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM HATHAWAY: THE SORCERY OF NYMPH CIRCE, PROJECT HAIL MARY, THE SHEEP DETECTIVES, IS GOD IS, IN THE GREY.

Movie news sources:

Paramount Theater: https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/austin/article/austin-tx-summer-film-series-paramount-22260695.php

Orange, TX Film Fest:

https://www.12newsnow.com/article/news/local/film-and-arts-festival-coming-to-downtown-orange/502-18440269-7031-4a96-82e8-6a24dc3faa73

Austin is joined by artist and content creator Hayley Chow to discuss her work with History Undresed on the red carpet for the Dallas International Film Festival. They cover the challenges of working a red carpet, Hayley's work as a film and fashion historian, and her interaction with Warner Bros. executive Michael De Luca at DIFF.

History Undressed: https://www.instagram.com/historyundressed/

Austin's D Magazine Profile of Hayley: https://www.dmagazine.com/arts-entertainment/2026/03/history-undressed-hayley-chow-dallas-film/

Howdy! This week, Austin's doing something a little different. Instead of bringing a guest on, he's indulging in his worst tendencies and monologuing about Texas industry news and what he's been doing lately.

Includes: Thoughts on the 2026 Dallas International Film Festival (DIFF), Mother Mary's box office performance, the new director attached A24's The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and more!

Austin is joined by Nadeem, Cindy, and Jade Kassis to discuss their new film, One In A Million, premiering at the Dallas International Film Festival on April 26, 2026. The movie is a faith-based medical drama covering the family's real life experience when Jade was diagnosed with HLH, a rare blood disorder.

Austin and the Kassis family talk about what that experience was like for them, why they decided to produce a film about it, and what it took to get this project produced. It's an emotional, heartwarming discussion that touches on the family's faith -- and...

Austin is joined by multi-hyphenate Simon Pruitt to discuss Ben Stiller's 1994 Gen X manifesto, Reality Bites, starring Ethan Hawke and Winona Ryder. During their chat, they ask the big questions: What happened to Janeane Garofalo's career? Does art have value if it's terrible? Why would anyone choose to cosplay as a peasant at a renaissance festival? Listen to learn the answers to these burning questions - and so much more.

Simon Pruitt's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simonpruitt?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

Zounds Sounds B-Side...

What makes a great movie star? And what makes a great Texas movie star? This week, Austin sits down with cultural critic Cait Kennedy to discuss some of the greatest film actors to come from the Lone Star State. Is Debbie Reynolds' stardom bigger than Texas? Is anyone more deserving than Matthew McConaughey?

Tune into this week's episode to find out!

And check out Cait's work:

Substack: https://simplycinema.substack.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caitthemuse/

Austin is joined by the great Benjamin Flaherty to discuss his independent documentary Shuffle, chronicling fraud in the addiction treatment industry. Benjamin shares his experience working alongside people struggling with addiction as someone who went through treatment for alcoholism, what happened after the film won an award at SXSW in 2025, and what it's like to live with a project for 7 years before getting it out into the world.

Stop the Shuffle Website: https://www.stoptheshuffle.com/

Follow Shuffle on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stoptheshuffle?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh...

Austin is joined by filmmaker Josh David Jordan to discuss his 2025 film El Tonto Por Cristo and the roadshow he and his wife and collaborator Jessica Jordan have embarked upon with it in the United States and Europe. Josh shares stories from the set, talks about the lessons he learned from releasing his first film, This World Won't Break, and how they have made El Tonto Por Cristo's screenings feel like an event - with a sense of community, custom merchandise, and newsletters going out to keep people apprised of the film's journey.

You can...

This week, Austin is joined by Brent and Chris Bolding, the founders of the OK2BX Film Festival, gearing up for its fifth (!!!) outing this year! Launched to honor the memory of Eleanor Bolding, OK2BX serves as a platform for youth filmmakers to showcase their work. The festival focuses on inclusivity and storytelling while providing workshops and college fairs to support aspiring filmmakers.

OK2BX Website: https://ok2bx.org/

Social Media: OK2BX Foundation & OK2BX Film Festival

Submissions Page: FilmFreeway

Austin is joined by filmmaker Shaun Michael Colón to talk about Shaun's film Age of Audio, which explores the rise of podcasts and the creative process behind filmmaking. They discuss the challenges faced during production and the strategies used to promote the film. Shaun shares insights on getting notable figures involved (like Ira Glass and Kevin Smith), navigating film festivals, and the importance of self-promotion. The conversation culminates in a reflection on what defines success for a filmmaker.

https://www.aoamovie.com/

Austin is joined by Nick to finish their 2025 Awards conversation. They pick their Top 5 films of the year, cover their wild card and honorable mention picks, and generally thirst over Tom Hanks, Sophie Thatcher, Kerry Condon, Michael B. Jordan, and more. Balancing that with occasionally insightful commentary is a challenge, but one the boys are more than happy to tackle.

This episode serves as the Season 1 finale of the podcast; Season 2 kicks off soon!

Austin is joined by Nick Holloway to talk through their favorite films of 2025. They go through their picks for the best performances, music, writing, and directing in the year's movies, shining a light on films that may have been left out of the awards conversation. Nick only pulls a knife on Austin once during the conversation (for his Best Director pick), making it an overall successful interaction!

Link to Jamil David's chron.com piece on films in the Oscar conversation with ties to Texas:
https://www.chron.com/culture/article/oscar-nominations-2026-texas-21307761.php

Austin and guest Zach David delve into the film Hell or High Water, exploring its themes, characters, and the impact of Taylor Sheridan's writing. They discuss the performances of Chris Pine and Jeff Bridges, the film's humor, and its cultural relevance, all while highlighting the stunning cinematography and the way the film replicates the feeling of West Texas (even though it was shot in New Mexico).

00:00 Introduction to Hell or High Water

02:59 Exploring the Characters and Performances

06:06 Themes of Morality and Motivation

08:57 <...