Cindy McCreery grew up in a small mountain town in Southern California and went on to teach at UCLA and UC Santa Barbara. Drawn to Austin’s vibrant and creative community, she made the move eleven years ago. Today, she leads the Radio-Television-Film department at UT Austin as its Chair.

 “Austin has this feeling where it’s exciting, you feel welcome, and you’re not being weird by wanting to do something exciting,” McCreery said. 

For students who chase careers in film and music, The University of Texas at Austin is more than a great institution, but a city brimming with enthusiasm. Austin, Texas has a deep-rooted creative pulse, where anyone who has a passion for artistry and innovation is celebrated. 

Austin’s independent film history stems back to the creation of Austin Film Society in 1985, by a UT student and filmmaker, Richard Linklater. This culture was continued by breakout films like “Dazed and Confused” and “Slacker,” made by Linklater in Austin, to showcase the city’s unique cinematic capabilities.

Another Radio, Television and Film professor, Korey Pereira, said Austin’s origins inspire people to create art and keep Austin weird. “Austin as a whole is a very artistic place… there’s a really happening community that you can easily come here from anywhere and plug into that,” Pereira said. “I worked on films here that look at the dance community here in Austin, the art community, the music community… it’s a place where creative people can come together and make art.”

Austin is known as a hub for independent films, as the city provides platforms for emerging filmmakers to showcase their work, like South by Southwest (SXSW) and Austin Film Festival. UT Austin’s students have produced thousands of groundbreaking films, and notable alumni have inspired students' success and styles of filmmaking. 

South by Southwest (SXSW) was founded in Austin, Texas, in 1987 as a festival and conference dedicated to the fusion of music, interactive media, and film. With a mission to help creative people achieve their goals, SXSW has become a powerful platform, one that continues to inspire and elevate UT Austin students as they pursue their own creative ambitions.

“The really exciting thing about (SXSW) in particular is it brings up caliber talent to Austin,” Pereira said. “It’s a chance to network with people from around the world, which I think is really exciting as a student. The idea is you can volunteer at the festival, get access to some of the events… you get to be in the room with people that you normally wouldn’t interface with in that personal way.”

McCreery agrees. She said the works of filmmakers Wes Anderson and Richard Linklater showcase parts of Austin’s independent background within their Hollywood films. 

“(Wes Anderson) inspires students who can think outside of the box and feel like they can do something different with their voice,” McCreery said. “That spirit lives in Austin…our students come and they want to tell original stories and take chances. There’s a uniqueness to our students that I haven't seen in other places.”

While many students in the Radio, Television and Film departments are inspired by professors and alumni who came before them, the student-led Mango Coast band is motivated by Austin’s reputation as the “Live Music Capital of the World,” and engagement from fellow students. 

“Our focus is more party music, we play songs everyone wants to sing,” Edward Hyde, the rhythm guitarist of Mango Coast, said. “The more (we) play, the more people start recognizing, ‘Oh that’s Mango Coast.’”

Mango Coast started around two and a half years ago, composed of students and the friends and family of past band members. They cover various genres of up-beat and energetic songs, like the crowd favorite, “Sex on Fire” by Kings of Leon. Mango Coast started their career playing in fraternity and sorority parties, and have now extended into Downtown Austin nightlife scenes. 

Rather than following mentors or leaders, members of Mango Coast joined the band out of a love for performing, admiration for the group or a connection through family and friends. Being in Austin helped the members come together, as they were inspired by the culture of live music.

“The music scene was part of the reason I wanted to come here (from Connecticut to Austin),” Dustin Walters, the band’s drummer, said. “I wanted to come to a city that was cool and I’d enjoy being in. I think because it has that title, it attracts people.”

The members of Mango Coast are just average students, with majors varying in business to cell and molecular biology. They find time to practice, and play back to back gigs because of their love for music, and inspiration from Austin’s creative and welcoming live music scene. 

“There's a great theater here, and there's a lot of artists, and, of course, like filmmakers, (Austin) just feels like an energizing place,” McCreery said. “I love living in a city where you're surrounded by artists, and you're not you're not alone and you have a passion for creativity.”