What do circus performers, the British Royal Air Force, underground gambling, black cowboys and a tamale-maker-cum-successful-restaurateur have in common?
They’re all part of a new film, “Nowhere But Texas,” made by documentary filmmakers Linda Stogner and Therese Powell.
The neighborhood residents have worked on the project for KERA Channel 13 since last fall. It premieres June 4 at 8 p.m. on KERA.
“It gives us an opportunity to focus on the folks in North Texas,” Stogner says of the film. “We started looking for stories that are out there. These were the most interesting.”
The film features five historical stories, including the Gainesville Community Circus, an amateur three-ring circus that started in the 1920s and operated for more than 25 years. About 1,500 Gainesville residents performed in the circus, which included high-wire acts, tamed animals and clowns.
Stogner and Powell also tell the story of the British Royal Air Force opening a flight-training school in Terrell during World War II. The community welcomed and supported the British cadets, some of whom moved back after WWII.
“Nowhere But Texas” also features Adelaida Cuellar, who started off selling tamales at the Kaufman County Fair — a humble beginning that led to the El Chico restaurant chain. Another story is about the underground gambling and casino that rocked Arlington in the 1930s. And through a Lancaster rodeo family, the film tells the story of black cowboys, including Bill Pickett, who brought bulldogging to rodeos.
Stogner and Powell did interviews, gathered photos, stories and home films and pulled them together into “Nowhere But Texas.” Powell co-produced the film with Stogner, who also wrote and directed.
“I think we both work very well together, and I think that’s why they made us a team,” Powell says. “Linda is particularly gifted in story telling. And I’m particularly gifted in research.”
Powell, who works at KERA, loves to make films. She worked various jobs in the past before going back to graduate school to study filmmaking, finishing in 1992. She started at KERA for free and worked her way up.
“There’s always been something that has fascinated me about movies.” Powell says. “This is what I’ve been happiest doing.”
Stogner is a freelance producer and has done numerous projects for KERA. In addition to documentaries, she is a stand-up comedian and made several short films for the PBS show “Life 360,” including two films called “Adopted” and “Ten Year Old Dog.”
“The stories are true,” Powell says of the documentaries she makes. “You find real people who share their lives with you. They touch me. And by putting it in a film, you can touch other people.”
“Nowhere But Texas” premieres during the KERA fund drive. There is also a DVD of the film available with extra footage.
