Good news for sea turtles! Fast Cut Films has learned our documentary “The Heartbreak Turtle Today” was shown on Denver, Colorado PBS Station KBDI on August 25; seen August 2 on KQED for Northern California; New Hampshire NHPTV two showings on August 24 and once on August 25; Idaho PTV on August 27; and scheduled for WQPT Quad Cities of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois; KPTS 8.1, Wichita, Kansas; MPTV, Milwaukee; and KCET, Los Angeles.

Executive Producer: Carole Allen
Produced by: Jim Bailey, Sunset Productions
Production by: Fast Cut Films, Mark Susman
Edited by: Mike Snow at Fast Cut Films

Watch the trailer and call your local PBS station about air times in your community.

On August 23, 2011, Fast Cut Films was in attendance with Harris County officials, historians, downtown office workers and local citizens for the dedication and ribbon cutting for the grand re-opening of the historic 1910 Harris County Courthouse in downtown Houston. This short clip highlights a few the unique features of the restored building. The clip also features scenes from footage we shot in 2004 prior to the demolition and remodel. Camera placement was carefully matched to help illustrate the profound changes.   Stay tuned for the rest of the story. Texas Foundation for the Arts, in association with Sunset Productions and Fast Cut Films, is producing a PBS television documentary about the history and the restoration of the 1910 Harris County Courthouse. For more information and historical fact about the 1910 Courthouse please visit www.discovertexashistory.com

Fast Cut Films is currently in production on the second episode of Houston Arts Television series titled “The Art of Architecture.”  In this installment of the TV series, the artistry and enduring legacy of Houston’s architectural treasures come to life as we shine a camera lens on both the aesthetics and the historical, geographical, political, religious, economic forces that shaped them. A project of Texas Foundation for the Arts. Underwriters include Architecture Center Houston, AIA Houston, Houston Arts Alliance.

For more information please contact Kim Lykins, Executive Director, Texas Foundation for the Arts.
www.texarts.org

“Galveston Island” will air March 2, 2011 on HoustonPBS, Channel 8 at 9:30 p.m.

DVD copies of “Galveston Island” can be purchased at www.houstonpbs.org

(From Texas Foundation for the Arts  www.texarts.org ) KERA-TV in Dallas will broadcast “Galveston Island” this Thursday, Feb. 24 at 7:00 p.m., and KLRN-TV in San Antonio will broadcast the program at 9:00 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 28.  We hope you will tune in to see our Ava award-winning program that has also been broadcast in Houston and Austin this month.

Texas Foundation for the Arts’ “Galveston Island” provides a compelling glimpse into the rich history and culture of one of Texas’ oldest and most treasured cities.

Known as the “City of Firsts,” Galveston was the first city in Texas to have electric lighting, the first telephone, and one of the state’s first newspapers.  Also known as “Sin City of the Gulf” the 1930s and 40s ushered in popular nightclubs, such as the renowned Balinese Room, back room gambling, and a thriving red light district.

Filming began in 2008, just two weeks prior to Hurricane Ike.  In the aftermath of the storm, the filmmakers captured the resiliency of the islanders during their struggle to rebuild, a scenario that mirrors the determination of the island residents to rebuild after the devastating 1900 storm…”

“Galveston Island” DVDs are available through HoustonPBS by calling Annette Smith at 713-743-1811.

http://wp.me/p1lAIy-2T

Susman and Snow, co-producers of the in-production documentary film, “Where Lightnin’ Strikes,” were on hand to film the dedication ceremony that was the culmination of fifteen months of work by fellow Houstonian and blues fan, R. Eric Davis. Davis began his quest to honor Hopkins after discovering that Houston’s only public memorial to Hopkins is his meager gravestone in Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery.

“We’re getting some nice footage, said Snow. “We’ve filmed several interviews with members of Lightnin’s family and friends and we’re getting great performance footage.”

Some of the highlights of the day included, Davis’ emotional welcoming of the capacity crowd, followed by an insightful speech from Dr. Roger Wood, a college professor and local blues authority. City of Houston Council member James Rodriguez, whose district includes Third Ward, read a proclamation from Mayor Annise Parker’s office congratulating Davis on his efforts and proclaiming Saturday “Lightnin’ Hopkins Day.” Harris County Historical Foundation representatives read further congratulations from County Judge Ed Emmett, U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and Gov. Rick Perry, and presented commemorative plaques to Hopkins’ granddaughters Bertha Kelly and Jessica Woodson.

“It’s an honor to be here and to witness history,” says Susman. “I’m glad we’re here to document the day. This will be a great addition to the film.”

In addition to the speeches and marker unveiling, the crowds were treated to dynamic performances by Diunna Greenleaf & Blue Mercy, Milton Hopkins (Lightnin’s cousin) and Texas Johnny Brown.

Is the ground water in Texas safe to drink?  Not unlike the Transocean Deepwater Horizon, BP offshore oil spill and oil plume assaulting the Gulf coast beaches, wetlands and marine life, Texas is under assault by hundreds of underground oil plumes attacking our drinking water, aquifers and soil. There are currently 1200 polluted contamination sites found in over one hundred counties. The law requires the oil and gas operators of fracking or high pressure injections wells and gas plants to clean up their toxic waste and pollution. But Texas Governor Rick Perry and the Texas Railroad Commission fails the citizens of Texas by failing to enforce the law.  “What’s in Your Backyard?” is a documentary examining one example in Bee County where the city of Beeville and surrounding community is threatened by an underground toxic plume of hydrocarbons and heavy metals marching towards them. Sadly the Tuleta gas plant operators responsible for this contamination are well funded and capable of cleaning up this toxic mess but instead get a free ride courtesy of Rick Perry and the Texas Railroad Commission’s failure to enforce the law. How many acres of land, water wells and aquifers need to be poisoned before our elected officials step up and enforce our state laws? Watch the video and tell us what you think.

Produced by Mark Susman
Executive Producers : Wigington Rumley Dunn, L.L.P.

The Gulf of Mexico is home to the endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtles. Twenty-eight years of restorative efforts to protect the survival of the species is threaten by the BP oil spill. Shrimp trawlers are bad enough but oil in the water and on the beaches reverses three decades of progress.  Sunset Productions and Fast Cut Films is currently in production of a public awareness documentary about the plight of the Kemp’s ridley sea turtles.  The film features interviews of notable scientists and turtle experts including Marine Fisheries Research Biologist, Charles Caillouet, Ph.D.  In this clip Dr. Caillouet discusses the negative effect of the oil spill on the struggling sea turtle population. The video filmed in 2008, shows Kemp’s ridley turtle hatchlings heading off to the Gulf to begin their life’s journey. The film documentary is sponsored by the Sea Turtle Restoration Project, Carole H. Allen, Gulf Office Director.  for more information please visit www.seaturtles.org.

Houston Arts Television took home a Remi at the 43rd annual Houston International Film Festival in the Arts/Cultural category. Many congrats to the team!
A production of  Texas Foundation for the Arts

Executive Producers: Kimberly Bjork Lykins & James Bailey
Producer: Mark Susman
Editor: Mike Snow
Post Production: Fast Cut Films

Notable Past Awards

Communicator Awards: Award of Distinction for “Brushstrokes of South Texas: The Murals of Daniel Lechón” (2005)

Communicator Awards: Award of Distinction for “The Golden Age of Texas Courthouses” (2004)

Videographer Awards:   Award of Excellence for “The Prairie View A&M Story (2003)

Houston Arts Television has been awarded an American Marketing Association ” Crystal Award” in the Video or Feature category.  Congratulations to the production team!

A Texas Foundation for the Arts production
Executive Producers: Kimberly Bjork Lykins & James Bailey
Producer: Mark Susman
Editor: Mike Snow

Houston Arts Television showcases Houston’s arts scene in a magazine-style format. The first episode features The Menil Collection; Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, The City of Houston art collection administered by Houston Arts Alliance’s Civic Art + Design; Houston Children’s Chorus and student who attends Houston’s High School for the Performing and Visual Arts.

Executive Producers: Kim Bjork Lykins and Jim Bailey
Producer: Mark Susman
Editor: Mike Snow