Burton Gilliam (l) and Jim Hampton: Evening Shade rocked. End of discussion.

There was a little star power in the Texas Senate this morning with the passage of Senate Resolution 371, making March 4 Moving Image Industry Day at the state capitol. Cue a standing ovation (sadly, not for resolution authors Bob Deuell and John Carona, but for members of the Texas Motion Picture Alliance, including alliance president Don Stokes, Vice President of Business Development MPS Studios Meredith Stephens, and some guy called Richard Linklater.)

Also in attendance were legendary Texas character actors Burton Gilliam (famous for having the first line in Blazing Saddles) and James Hampton (if you’re under 40, he was Michael J. Fox’s dad in Teen Wolf: over 40, the caretaker in the original 1974 The Longest Yard.) Quick six degrees moment: They both appeared in Evening Shade with Burt Reynolds.

By no small coincidence, the House Culture, Recreation and Tourism Committee is currently discussing House Bill 873 – the new tweaks at the Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program.

This article appears in February 27 • 2009.

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The Chronicle's first Culture Desk editor, Richard has reported on Austin's growing film production and appreciation scene for over a decade. A graduate of the universities of York, Stirling, and UT-Austin, a Rotten Tomatoes certified critic, and eight-time Best of Austin winner, he's currently at work on two books and a play.