“I always say Orange is a small town with world-class charm,” Candice Harrison said.
This November, Orange will host its first Film and Arts Festival. The festival will start with a mixer on Nov. 5.
Harrison, president and festival director, said she believes the festival will be a great time to network with important names, such as cinematographers Brandon Cox and Darren Genet, Hawaiian poet laurette Steven “Kealoha” Wong, actor Kevin Sorbo, and many other award winning people within the industry.
Texas-based artists and animators will also be in attendance.
A local panel for filmmakers from Southeast Texas who work in the industry in places such as Austin and Los Angeles will be held Nov. 6. On the same day, Wong will present a poetry reading, followed by a poetry slam for ages eight and up. All new and expert wordsmiths are invited to speak at the event, Harrison said.
“(Wong) was the first ever Hawaiian poet laurette, he has started the largest poetry slam in the world,” Harrison said. “It’s called the Hawaii Slam. It’s amazing what he’s done, especially on that island, and how many people attend it.”
The festival hold its first screening Nov. 6, with documentaries, animations, and special premiere screenings from Cox and Wong, and a film directed and produced by Orange Festival co-founder Daniel Katzman.
Other screenings by local filmmakers and filmmakers from all over the world will also be held, as well as panels, workshops and Q&As by special guests.
“We’re trying to bring special screenings because want to
bring movies back to Orange,” Harrison said. “Orange doesn’t have a movie theater anymore, so, movies haven’t been shown in Orange for a very long time.”
Katzman said as a filmmaker himself he would like movies to be made in Texas. For years, Georgia was known as the film state because of tax incentives. But in recent years, Georgia has become more expensive.
“It was Georgia for the longest, then New Jersey, now Texas is the next big thing because they have gone through the incentives,” Katzman said. “But a lot of it is North Dallas and, of course, Austin. But the gap we’re filling is Southeast Texas, and we want everyone to know we have a lot to offer.”
Harrison’s aspiration for the Orange Film and Art festival is to have family fun and to remain educational for future artist and filmmakers, she said.
“We want to help not only independent filmmakers in Southeast Texas, but we want to build a bigger crew base here in Southeast Texas, and we can’t really do that without proper education and guidance,” Harrison said.
“A lot of people come from a small town and they think it stifles you, and that’s actually quite the opposite.”
For more information, visit orangefilmandartsfestival.com.