Texas Entertainment and Media Industries Symposium
On Friday, September 20, 2024, nearly two hundred community members took part in the Texas Entertainment and Media Industries Symposium (TEMI). Co-hosted by the Center for Entertainment and Media Industries (CEMI) and the Department of Radio-Television-Film (RTF), the all-day event brought together experts, scholars, and students to discuss the vibrant landscape of the Texas media ecosystem.
Panels
Four panels explored different phases of the media project lifecycle and delved into the breadth of film, TV, music, gaming, live event, and digital media opportunities available in the Lone Star State.
We began the day discussing Creative Development with Megan Creydt (Texas Monthly), Michael Garicia (26 Keys Productions), Evan Narcisse (Brass Lion Entertainment), and Sara Robertson (Austin PBS) in a conversation moderated by UT faculty member and Emmy-award winning producer and executive, Jordan Levin.
Next, moderator Micah Barber led a panel on The Production Ecosystem with Chip Rives (Texas Crew), Red Sanders (Red Productions), Stephanie Whallon (Texas Film Commission), and Steph Swope (Minnow Mountain).
The afternoon began with From Distribution to Exhibition, a panel moderated by RTF Associate Chair and founder of the Texas Archive of the Moving Image, Dr. Caroline Frick, and featuring Holly Herrick (Austin Film Society), AJ Feliciano (The Roost Podcast Network), Francis Roman (SXSW), and Adam Zehner (Crunchyroll).
In the final panel, Jordy Barksdale (Magnolia), Lisa Hickey (Consultant), Louis Messina (MTG) and Barbara Morgan (Austin Film Festival) discussed Live Events and Experiential Entertainment, moderated by Emmy-winning sound editor and RTF faculty member, Korey Pereira.
Networking
“All of the panels and tabling were extremely helpful. It was really interesting to hear about all of the opportunities in Austin/Texas, especially with graduation coming up.”
– An RTF senior
In addition to structured discussions, the symposium also featured a tabling session, during which students had the opportunity to meet with representatives from 17 Texas media companies across a variety of different sectors, including from All Entertainment Business, ATX TV Festival, Austin Film Commission, Austin Film Festival, Crunchyroll, Magnolia, Media for Texas, Minnow Mountain, Powerhouse, Sennheiser Electronic Corporation, Texas Film Commission, Texas Monthly, Texas Student Media, 26 Keys Productions, and TXMPA. Students participated from all across campus, including from Moody College of Communication, McCombs School of Business, Natural Sciences, Education, Engineering, Fine Arts, School of Information, and Liberal Arts.
Featured Speaker
The day concluded with a conversation between RTF Chair and Screenwriting Professor, Cindy McCreery, and featured speaker, Texas-based filmmaker Elizabeth Avellán (Spy Kids, The Faculty, Sin City). Co-owner and Vice President of Troublemaker Studios and owner and President at EYA Productions, Avellán is a key figure in the historical and contemporary Austin film scene.
"Part of the choice of being here in Austin and staying in Austin was that—if we were able to take care of making El Mariachi from here, knowing no one and really not having any money, then why are we gonna go to LA to do what—to do it like they do it? That didn't make any sense to us."
— Elizabeth Avellán
She encouraged students to be collaborative and supportive, emphasizing that even PAs and administrators are essential to creating the on-set community. While emphasizing the challenges of the media business, she reassured students that they will "find great people....you will find your kind." Avellán also discussed her deep roots in film, beginning when she was growing up in Venezuela.
Thank You and Stay Tuned
This event was made possible due to the generous support from Wofford Denius through the Cain Foundation. We are grateful to all who attended, spoke, helped out, and contributed to our efforts to forge connections between the current and future leaders of the Texas media industries.
Stay tuned for podcasts from the day’s sessions, and check out some of the highlight photos from Dr. Charles Ramírez Berg and Leticia Rincon!
