Radio-TV-Film Professors, Alumnae Nominated for Lone Star Emmys

AUSTIN, Texas – Sept. 25, 2007 – Two University of Texas at Austin Radio-TV-Film faculty members have received a total of four Lone Star Emmy Award nominations for “Austin Time Tours,” a documentary recounting Austin’s history, and “Special Session,” a statewide public affairs series. Both aired on KLRU-TV – Austin’s PBS.

A two-hour documentary, “Austin Time Tours” recounts Austin’s history from the age of the dinosaurs to present day. It was produced by lecturer Karen Kocher (MFA ‘95) and is an outcrop of the interactive multimedia documentary “Austin Past and Present.” It aired on Nov. 30, 2006 and is one of three nominations in the Documentary: Historical category. For more information, visit www.austinpastandpresent.org.

“Special Session,” a statewide weekly half-hour series hosted by Emmy Award-winning filmmaker and University of Texas Radio-Television-Film Professor Paul Stekler, had three episodes nominated in separate categories.

• “Ann Richards Remembered,” which aired Feb. 25, looks back at the state’s last Democratic Governor, through a short documentary during the last Texas campaign of her life, and by a discussion with the people covered her political career. “Remembering Molly Ivins,” which aired May 13, remember the journalist in a short documentary portrait and in a discussion about the state of journalism today. They are among five nominations in the Politics/Government: News Series category.

Paul Stekler, executive producer
Megan Field (B.S. ‘02), producer
Diane Zander Mason (MFA ‘02), producer
Sandra Guardado (MFA ‘95), editor
Deborah Eve Lewis (MFA ‘95), cinematographer

• “The Freshman Class,” which aired April 22, provides a portrait of two freshman legislators and how they navigate the session. It is among three nominations in the Politics/Government: Program/Segment category.

Paul Stekler, executive producer
Megan Field, series producer
Diane Zander Mason, series producer
Sandra Guardado, series editor
Deborah Eve Lewis (MFA ‘95), cinematographer

• “Reel Texas,” which aired on March 11, examines legislation providing incentives for film production Texas. It is one of four nominations in the Texas Heritage: News Single Story/Series category.

Paul Stekler, executive producer
Megan Field, series producer
Diane Zander Mason, series producer
Sandra Guardado, series editor
Deborah Eve Lewis, cinematographer

A weekly half-hour series produced in Austin in conjunction with Midnight Films/KLRU Austin PBS, “Special Sessions” featured journalists, politicos and other notable Texans taking on the issues and politics confronting the 80th session of the Texas Legislature. The series intertwined documentary and discussion to educate viewers about legislative decisions and their effects on Texans. The series debuted on Feb. 10, 2005. For more information, visit the “Special Session” homepage at: http://www.klru.org/specialsession

The fifth annual Lone Star Emmy Awards will be announced on Oct. 27 in Dallas. The statewide Lone Star Chapter of The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences serves all 19 television markets in Texas. It is dedicated to the advancement of the arts and sciences of television and the promotion of creative leadership for artistic, educational and technical achievements within the television industry. It recognizes excellence in television annually with the Emmy Awards. For more information, visit: http://lonestaremmy.org/

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Contact:
Erin Geisler
(512) 475-8071