From a Texas filmmaker: R. Bret Ruiz didn't go to CineFestival

February 27, 2006

Barbara,  not sure if I'll burn my bridges if I give
you a quote...Mary Jesse was fired and her assistants
Carolina and Nicole both resigned.   Nobody
signed up for classes (other kinds of classes as well)
so they canceled them- of course they did absolutely
no out reach and raised the prices so anybody living
on the west side could never attend.

I can unofficially give you this info: Yes we always
had problems getting paid, supposedly their was never
enough money in their accounts or they were always
waiting for a check from the city.  My understanding
was that the city money was reimbursements......The
director never went once to Cinefestival.  He did not
go to the student recital in December [that I know of].
Didn't go to any other events
or stick around when the students from the Guadalupe
classes  performed.  Although they didn't cut
"programming" they cut the media arts directer
position a few years ago.  Cinefestival was very
poorly funded this year although the programming and
the curator were outstanding.  They used to have the
media arts director work on it all year plus an
assistant, plus volunteers.  They used to bring in
several filmmakers -this year only  one.  They are
even being slow paying the winners from Cinfestival's
premio mesquite, I know 2 have gotten paid so far, 2
still need to be paid. even though the SA film
commission and McDonalds gave them money for the
awards.  GCAC membership hasn't even gotten a mailout
about the festival in 2 years.

Anyway, please use this info but don't put my name....