Film institute green-lights first three movies

From: Austin Business Journal, TX - Jun 4, 2004

The first three feature films from the University of Texas Film Institute and Burnt Orange Productions LLC, a public-private film production partnership based in Austin, are in development.

The films are "Austin Angel," "Dot" and "The Marfa Lights." Preproduction on all three projects is expected to begin in the next two months.

The projects will feature professional talent in key creative roles with student apprentices and interns in all stages from development to preproduction to principal photography to post-production. The film institute is looking for 20 to 25 students to work on each film.

The film institute is using technology from Advanced Micro Devices Inc. to incorporate digital technology into all production phases.

"Very few students have the opportunity to work on commercial, feature-length projects as part of their film school training," says Thomas Schatz, executive director of the film institute, which was started late last year. "The fact that all three of these projects are high quality and will have top-notch professional talent attached to them makes this an extraordinary hands-on learning opportunity."

"Austin Angel" is a film about a country singer looking back on his life with regret.

"Dot" is about teen alienation. It revolves around a deaf orphan teenager who goes to live with what appears to be a typical middle-class family.

"The Marfa Lights" is a coming-of-age drama about honor, brotherhood and first love.

© 2004 American City Business Journals Inc.