The Big Screen

A conference in Fort Worth this weekend is getting filmmakers from across the world together to share tips on everything from how to light a set to how to use music in a movie. This week, we talk with the founder of the Film + Music Conference about how the event came together - and about showcasing Fort Worth to people who might film there.

Richardson native David Gordon Green is best known for directing "Pineapple Express" and other broad comedies. With his new film, "Stronger," he returns to his more dramatic roots in telling the story of a survivor of the Boston Marathon bombing. This week, we talk about the film - and about Green's evolution as a director. "Stronger" opens on Friday.

Dallasites Cynthia and Allen Mondell have been married for nearly 48 years. And for most of that time, they've made films together. A retrospective of their documentaries airs tonight on KERA-TV, and they sit down to talk about their partnership on this week's edition of The Big Screen.

The crowds at the Venice Film Festival are getting the first look at some of the most important films of 2017. One half of our Big Screen team -Chris Vognar - is taking in the scene, and he takes a break from the glitz and glamour to check in.

This fall, a pair of high-profile Texas directors - David Gordon Green and Richard Linklater - will release new films that could get the attention of Oscar voters. Green's up first with "Stronger," starring Jake Gyllenhaal as Jeff Bauman, a man who lost both of his legs during the Boston Marathon bombing. Meanwhile, Linklater gathers Steve Carell, Laurence Fishburn and Bryan Cranston for "Last Flag Flying." It tells the story of a grieving father (Carell) who goes on a road trip to retrieve the remains of his killed in action in Iraq. This week, we preview those films and take a sneak peek at the upcoming Venice Film Festival, which one of our team members will be attending.

In 1998, Carter High School's football team dominated the competition on the way to a state title. And then, that title was taken away. This week, we talk about Carter's fall from grace with Adam Hootnick, director of 'What Carter Lost,' the new ESPN documentary about the team. The film airs Thursday night at 8:30.

In his 1989 film "Do the Right Thing," Spike Lee captured a day in the life in a historically black Brooklyn neighborhood. And his story of racial tension and gentrification is just as relevant nearly 30 years after its debut. This week, we talk about the movie with Brandon Harris, author of "Making Rent in Bed-Stuy: A Memoir of Trying to Make It in New York City." He's showing the film and talking about his book this Sunday at 3 p.m. at the Texas Theatre.

A new series is bringing some of Hollywood's scariest movies back for one-night-only screenings. And it's hosted by our own Chris Vognar! This week, we talk about the movies and why they're worth visiting the theater – even if we're afraid of the dark.

The highest-grossing films of the summer - Wonder Woman – was made by a woman – Patty Jenkins. And this month, an entire festival of movies made by women is coming to Dallas. This week we preview the Women Texas Film Festival with its artistic director, Justin Walford. The Women Texas Film Festival runs August 16-20 at Studio Movie Grill in Dallas. Details are at artandseek.org.

Big wave surfers are athletic, have incredible balance and practice for years to reach the top of their sport. Those traits are also common among dancers. This week, we talk with Emilie Skinner, artistic director of Dallas Neo-Classical Ballet, whose latest work is inspired by surf culture and classic movies that tap into that culture. The company performs a pair of pieces before a screening of the seminal surf documentary "The Endless Summer" on Sunday at the Texas Theat