A special screening of a film by William E. Arscott, filmmaking professor at Stephen F. Austin State University, will be at 7 p.m. Friday, March 8, in The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House in downtown Nacogdoches.
“Hoorah” was filmed across portions of the southwestern United States between 1975 and 1976 on 16mm color film stock with a crew of SFA students. Described as a “poetic documentary,” it examines the vanishing American Indian culture at that time and the rise of the “white face,” according to Peyton Paulette, filmmaking adjunct faculty and chair of the Friends of the Visual Arts film committee.
“This will be the first time this film has been screened for a public audience, and it’s the first time the final finished film has been screened in color,” Paulette said. “Previous screenings have been in black and white.”
Arscott is SFA’s longest-tenured faculty member and the senior member of the art faculty. He began his nearly 56-year tenure with SFA in 1963 as an art instructor. He established SFA’s cinematography program in 1980 and now primarily teaches filmmaking. He has worked in many artistic fields, including ceramics, painting, print making, sculpture and cinematography.
He was named a Regents Professor in 1984 and the SFA Alumni Association’s Distinguished Professor in 1986. The late Dr. Baker Pattillo, former SFA president, recognized Arscott in August 2013 for his 50 years of service to SFA, proclaiming Aug. 22, 2013, William E. Arscott Day at SFA.
The screening of “Hoorah” is presented by the School of Art and Friends of the Visual Arts. Admission is free.
The Cole Art Center is located at 329 E. Main St. For more information, call (936) 468-1131.
