Lone Star Silver Screen

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...

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),...

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....

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 documenta...

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.o...

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-se...

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/ Aus...

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 d...

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...

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://si...

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...

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...

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. OK2B...

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 impor...

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 th...

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 interac...

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 Mex...

Austin and guest Alex Gonzalez delve into the film Support the Girls , exploring its themes of hospitality, personal struggles, and the dynamics of working in the service industry. They discuss the film's portrayal of character relationships, the cultural backdrop of Austin, TX, and the broader implications of labor and camaraderie in the workplace. The conversation highlights the emotional depth...

Austin talks to Rebekah Louisa Smith, the Film Festival Doctor about Texas film festivals this week! They discuss Rebekah's journey from the UK to the US, her experiences with various Texas film festivals, and her insights into the film festival circuit. Rebekah shares her top recommendations for Texas film festivals, highlighting their unique vibes and the importance of supporting local filmmaker...

Austin and guest Nick Holloway delve into the world of Cormac McCarthy's novel No Country for Old Men and its acclaimed Coen Brothers adaptation. They discuss the themes of violence, character depth, and the film's ambiguous ending, while also analyzing performances by Tommy Lee Jones and Josh Brolin. The conversation touches on the significance of the film's Oscar wins and the impact of McCarthy'...

Julian Sol Jordan is on the pod this week! We talk about Robert Rodriguez's book Rebel Without A Crew , tying it into Julian's experience making his debut film, Real Life . We discuss the influence of Robert Rodriguez, the challenges of funding a film, and the value of working with limited resources. The conversation also touches on the balance between artistic integrity and commercial viability i...

In this episode of Lone Star Silver Screen, host Austin Zook speaks with Ian Loomer, President of the Dallas Producers Association, about the new Texas film incentives bill and its implications for the film industry in Texas. They discuss the role of the DPA and TXMPA (the Texas Media Production Alliance), the importance of film incentives, and how the new legislation aims to position Texas as a c...

In this episode of Lone Star Silver Screen, host Austin Zook and guest Shane Longoria delve into the 2018 film BLAZE, directed by Ethan Hawke. Over the course of their conversation, they discuss the merits of nontraditional biopics, the origins and impact of the Outlaw Country movement in music, and the life of musician Blaze Foley.