Cynematik on IndieWIRE

On Saturday, I was horrified to be heading to Texas (a few people have commented that I probably irked quite a few Texans with my initial blog on how much I was dreading my impending visit). Austin has changed my views! I've discovered that not all Texans are like George Bush. There are liberal Texans who love film and art and culture (NOT just "sanctioned" films, ALL films ... films with an independent voice). There are honest, fun, forward-thinking folks here in the Lone Star State. I'm having to eat heaps of humble pie.

If you want to get a look at a part of Texas that I've come to really enjoy you can take a look at Austin 360. I've wandered the streets extensively and discovered some wonderful galleries and shops. TESORO is one of my favorites. I've enjoyed the breezy climate and easy camaradarie of the community.

On top of that, you've got to love the city that is home to Bat Conservation International. Unbeknownst to me, I was booked into the hotel that is right next to one of the largest bat conservancies in the nation. I've learned that over half of the 47 species of bats in the United States have been documented to use highway structures as roosts, including the approximately 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats utilizing the Congress Avenue Bridge in Austin. The Austin American-Statesman created the Statesman Bat Observation Center adjacent to the Congress Bridge, giving visitors a dedicated area to view the nightly emergence. It's quite a sight to see clouds of bats emerge from beneath the bridge at sunset.