Texas Focus: As I Walk Through the Valley
Texas Spirit Theater | NR | 80 min. | Documentary, Music
October 26, 2017 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Join the Bullock Museum for a screening and conversation about the Texas music documentary As I Walk Through the Valley.
As I Walk Through The Valley is a journey into the underground music scene of Texas’ southernmost border-region which follows four generations of Valley musicians as they struggle to find a voice of their own in the land of charro beans and Tejano legends.
Event Details
As I Walk Through The Valley unfolds over four decades of music in the southernmost tip of Texas: The Rio Grande Valley. Told by the people who lived it, the film examines the histories and stories of musicians playing in the underground scenes throughout the decades.
A cinematic exploration of the Texas narrative, the Museum's Texas Focus Film Series highlights stories by, for, and about Texans. This evening's program includes a film screening and Q&A with filmmakers Charlie Vela and Ronnie Garza. Come early at 6pm for a welcome reception with cash bar.
Please note: Entrance for this screening will be at the IMAX lobby doors.
Your ticket purchase supports the Bullock Museum's exhibitions and educational programming.
Rating: NR
Suggested age: 18+
Writers/Directors: Charlie Vela and Ronnie Garza
Runtime: 80 min.
Genre: Music, Documentary
Release year: 2017
As I Walk Through the Valley travels through four decades of music making in the Rio Grande Valley. In the 1960s, we meet garage rockers who mix the influence of American pop with the wild nightlife of Reynosa, Mexico to create a trans-national scene. The 1970s see musicians inspired by the social and political movements of the time embracing their musical roots to reinterpret traditional Ranchera music through their Rock-n-Roll influences to develop a distinctive Chicano sound. By the 1980s, the first signs of punk and hardcore emerge. Alienated kids at the height of Tejano music form bands of their own and fill burned out buildings and quinceanera halls. In the dawn of the internet-age, the pop-punkers of the 1990s and 2000s develop coalitions rooted in egalitarian democracy, pooling resources in hopes of creating a lasting infrastructure.
Charlie Vela has spent the last 15 years as a record producer, musician and studio owner in the RGV documenting local music and performing.
Ronnie Garza is an experimental musician (Winter Texan) and democracy activist, and has worked in video-journalism related to activism in Austin and The RGV.
Directors Charlie Vela & Ronnie Garza are first-time feature filmmakers. They both grew up in the RGV punk scene of the late-90s/early-00s and were informed by its strong sense of community and fierce DIY ethic.
In 2014, they decided to take on the challenge of documenting the history of the scene that helped shape them as artists. Without formal training, a crew, or funding they began production, learning along the way, and ultimately premiered As I Walk Through The Valley at 2017's SXSW International Film Festival.
The Texas Spirit Theater on the Museum's second floor hosts original film series, artist talks, lectures, live music performances, and daily showings of multi-sensory films.
Museum Members enjoy free unlimited IMAX® documentary films, discounts on feature film tickets, free exhibition admission, discounts in the Museum Store, and more. Learn More.
Learn about ticket prices, refund policies, and parking (free after 5 pm). For evening programs, please enter through the Bullock Museum IMAX Theatre.
