In a vibrant celebration of community and storytelling, the nonprofit Color Arc Productions hosted its fourth annual “Stories About” event, this time delighting audiences with tales centered around the beloved theme of pizza. The gathering, held at AFS Cinema, featured a short film titled Pizza My Heart, followed by a series of creative minute-long performances, ranging from songs to flash fiction and drag acts.
Attendees were not your typical moviegoers; they had come together to share their love for pizza and the stories that accompany it. Jacob Duffy Halbeib, one of the 14 participants, humorously mused from the stage, “Pizza is pizza is pizza. People pontificate pointlessly upon pizza positions.” He emphasized that there truly is no bad type of pizza, setting the tone for the evening’s light-hearted exploration of the food.
The event, which has become a cherished annual tradition, took on its unique theme this year after previous installments focused on comfort food, birth order, and unique jobs. Christine Hoang, the creative force behind “Stories About” and the writer and star of Pizza My Heart, described the event as “goofy, wholesome, very heart-forward,” highlighting the vulnerability and connection that food can foster among participants.
Hoang established Color Arc Productions in 2015 with a mission to amplify Central Texas stories that reflect diverse perspectives. Transitioning from a career as a practicing attorney to full-time artistic endeavors, she sought to create connections through storytelling, especially in the aftermath of the pandemic.
Reflecting on the profound impact of sharing stories, Hoang noted, “When you share in a room full of almost strangers, you feel like you’re taking part in something so sacred and special — and maybe a little bit holy.” This realization inspired her to dedicate the inaugural year of “Stories About” to comfort food, tapping into the memories and emotions that food evokes.
Pizza My Heart, the first short film produced by Color Arc, follows a heartbroken teenager who finds solace in a pizza delivery woman. Hoang shared the genesis of the film, which was commissioned by Austin Community College. The project began with the whimsical idea of a singing delivery person, culminating in a heartfelt narrative about connection during difficult times.
With PBS announcing plans to distribute the film, Hoang decided to celebrate by dedicating the next “Stories About” event to pizza, inviting performers to share their own pizza-related stories. Partnering with local pizzeria Via 313, which embraced the concept enthusiastically, the event showcased the intersection of food and storytelling.
With the venue secured and sponsorship in place, Hoang issued an open call for short performances, encouraging participants to keep their pieces to one minute. The lineup represented the unifying power of pizza, capturing moments like childhood birthday parties and life milestones that often involve this iconic dish.
Poet Felice Trirogoff shared a humorous haiku series based on her childhood experience with a pizza-related reading program, while musician Lynn Mikeska strummed her ukulele to sing about love’s complexities, likening it to pizza: “Even when it’s bad, it’s good.”
Color Arc’s commitment to food as a storytelling theme will continue, with Hoang’s next short film inspired by her mother’s immigrant story, told through the lens of food memories. “Food is a universal language; the guard comes down, and you immediately connect,” Hoang remarked, encapsulating the essence of what makes food such a powerful narrative anchor.
