The Pride of Texas Film Fest will take place at the venue, located at 401 Center Avenue, Friday, June 10 through Sunday, June 12.
The idea was fostered during a drag show that took place during a NaNook and NaKoda’s fund raiser a year ago.
“It was very successful for NaNook and NaKoda’s to make money, the drag queens came out on top, everybody came out on top which was insane,” said 10 Mile Productions co-owner Hayley Fowler-Cox. “I didn’t think this idea of a drag show in Brownwood was going to be anything. We were kind of nervous. But me, (film maker) Brock (Cravy), and (10 Mile Productions co-owner) Sara (Cox) were just sitting here one day and said let’s do this thing.”
Cravy, a Keller native who now lives in Goldthwaite, “For me, I had heard there was going to be a drag show here and that just blew my mind. I asked if they wanted to a have a Pride celebration and film festival because my background’s in film, and they said yeah. I didn’t think Brownwood or small town, I thought let’s celebrate and watch films and fellowship. I think people are thirsty for it.”
Cravy’s background in film played a pivotal role in the event becoming a reality.
“I’ve been in film most of my life,” Cravy said “My first film was a Mickey Rourke film, I’d just graduated high school. I worked on American Idol, Amazing Race, the original Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, and dozens of film and TV shows.”
Friday, June 10 festivities will take place from 6 p.m. to midnight.
“Friday night is the kick off party,” Cravy said. “There’s going to be the drag show, body painting exhibit, models being painted by our local artists, there’s going to be drag performances, decorations, balloons, music, food trucks. We’re also having the Glam Bot glam cam like they have in the Oscars. The VIP tickets will include a slow motion entrance.”
Saturday, June 11 doors will be open from 11 am. to midnight.
“We’re having a full block of movies on Saturday,” said Cravy, who added about 30 LGBTQ-centric films will be shown over the weekend. “There’s not going to be any nudity, any pornography, any vulgarity. It’s a clean show. Our first theme is a retrospective and where we came from and how we got here. We’re also going to have a rest in power exhibit on the ceiling. Those that have come before and died before us.”
The festival wraps up Sunday, June 12 between 10:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.
“We’ll have mimosas and matinees on Sunday, with intermittent drag performances, Cravy said. “Everyone loves a drag show. Even if you haven’t been to a drag show, you’ll love a drag show. It’s been about since the beginning of time.”
“We got a couple of locals coming back as themselves, which is very cool,” Cox said. “We still haven’t got the count on how many girls will be here, but we’ll have about four to six. If we’re going to be the first we want to do it right.”
Reaction to the event has admittedly been mixed thus far.
“There’s been push back, but there’s been push back all my life,” Cravy said. “To those pushing back, I appreciate your right by the Constitutions to do that. I have no qualms against the folks not returning our calls or emails. I’ve reached out to a lot of folks and they just haven’t responded. But we need the support of the community. We need logistics support, we need volunteers, we need people to help decorate, set up, this take a village and it takes a community.
“Since the drag show, Sara (Cox) and I had been dreaming about Pride,” Cox said. “I wanted to do a Pride here in Brownwood just because we have a lot of LGBTQ businesses opening up around town. I thought this would be something this community wanted and needed. We’ve got a little LGBTQ community here and everybody’s so supportive of us. We’ve had overwhelming support from the community and people are excited about something fun to do. People are excited about it, they just don’t know how to react to it.”
The event is limited to and around 10 Mile Productions. No other businesses are taking part and no parade is scheduled.
“We’re not associated with the Lyric at all, or anyone else.” Cravy said. “It’s all here and this corner block.”
Ticket availability will be revealed a later date.