Indie Filmmaking: From Texas to Los Angeles and Back

Really into movies? As filmmaker or as an audience member? Oh, well, it doesn’t matter because today writer/director/editor Chris Eska has something for both. For those who dream of being the next filmmaking wunderkind, there’s Indie Filmmaking: From Texas to Los Angeles and Back. Eska will lead the workshop, discussing the craft of filmmaking, including screenwriting, production, editing, festivals, film distribution and more.

Later, there’s a prerelease screening of Eska’s August Evening. The debut feature film from Texan Eska, who will be at the show with others from the movie, embodies the archetypical conflict among generations in a relationship between an undocumented worker and his young, widowed daughter-in-law. The Spanish-language movie (don’t worry, it’s subtitled) filmed around San Antonio was written, directed and edited by Eska, who grew up in Ottine (pop. 98), attended Rice University and then headed west to the film-directing program at the University of California in L.A. August Evening won the John Cassavetes Award at the Independent Spirit Awards. After the film, stick around for a discussion with Eska and Alfred Cervantes, deputy director of the Houston Film Commission.

The Indie Filmmaking workshop is 1 to 5 p.m. Rice University Media Center, 6100 Main. For information, call 713-522-8592 or visit www.swamp.org. $40 to $50.

August Evening screens at 7 p.m. Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, 1001 Bissonnet. For information, call 713-639-7515 or visit www.mfah.org/film. $7.
Sat., Aug. 9, 1-5 p.m., 2008