Submitted by Dr. Andrew Yox, Honors Director
Six NTCC honors freshman recently presented the trailer of their new film on Barbara Conrad at the annual fall meeting of the Walter Prescott Webb Historical Society. The Webb Society is the collegiate auxiliary of the Texas State Historical Association.
Jacob Lambie, Peyton McClendon, Verania Leyva, Miguel Paco, Daniel Landaverde, Mercedes Collins all have taken major roles in the production of the film, due for a premiere this February. All took turns presenting key aspects of the film’s development. Paco, the producer, presented the trailer, entitled, “Pressed but not Crushed, the UT Saga of Barbara Conrad.”
Paco is the second student in NTCC history to create a film trailer without a cinematic template, and with the high-powered, complicated software of Adobe Premiere. Leyva-Garcia introduced the story of Conrad, from Center Point in Camp County, who was ejected from a lead role in a 1957 University of Texas opera, because she was opposite a white male. Lambie, who plays the part of UT President Logan Wilson in the film, explained the regional and institutional racism of the time. This played a part in the shaping of the scandal that ironically catapulted Conrad into a remarkable career as an opera singer.
Peyton McClendon explained her role as Makeup Director, and Martha Ann Kelly, the white rival to Conrad; Daniel Landaverde, the challenge of acting for the first time, and his role as an UT administrator in the film. NTCC’s Gladys Winkle Scholar, Mercedes Collins explained what it was like to play racist roles, as many used the Conrad incident in the state in an attempt to reassert white supremacy.
Paco’s new trailer on the case of Barbara Conrad at the University of Texas is available on the Honors Northeast website, www.ntcc.edu/honorsfilms, along with six other feature-length films on regional themes, created and produced by the honors program at NTCC.
Honors Northeast is now accepting applications for the 2019-20 school year. The program can offer a bargain in education, and professional guidance to graduating seniors in the top-10 percent of their class. Those with questions should call or write Honors Director, Dr. Andrew Yox (903-434-8229 or ayox@ntcc.edu).
