BROWNSVILLE SHOWS OFF TALENT IN FILM AND MUSIC TO OVERFLOW CROWD AT BMFA

Much Larger Crowd than Expected at Brownsville Museum

of Fine Art for Movie Premieres, Music

In this era of exaggerated crowd size, the Brownsville Museum of Fine Art likely shattered all records with a crowd much larger than expected for the premieres of two movie short features with Brownsville directors, actors and camera technicians.  Arriving fifteen minutes early, I got the last available seat up against a wall.

The first hour featured mostly instrumental music from local artists learning their craft at the Charlotte r. Petrina Cultural Center, although a young charro in sombrero closed that show to an appreciative audience.

Moving into a larger room, we next viewed two short movies directed by Brownsville natives Rene Rhi and Albert Medina.  

Actor Playing Failing St. Joseph's Academy Student

Medina's effort, with a laughable $300 budget, featured actors portraying two St. Joseph's Academy Students, one with all his goal boxes checked, the other failing and drifting, without any clear direction.  The facial expressions of the failing student were simply mesmerizing and the director knew it, letting them fill up the screen.

Rhi's movie, with some graphic scenes, treated the effects of an anti-depressant used to treat PTSD and some legal scenes involving a Brownsville courtroom.

Some locals served as volunteer actors in both movies.

Sunday's Whine with Cheez podcast will feature several contributors to Saturday's event.