Elizabeth Mims’ documentary, A Man of Vision: The Bill Wittliff Story, delves into the life and impact of Bill Wittliff, a pivotal figure who brought Hollywood to Texas. The film is set to premiere on Sunday at the State Theatre during the 33rd Austin Film Festival.
Wittliff, who gained recognition for his Oscar-nominated screenplay for The Black Stallion in 1979, often received advice to relocate to the West Coast to further his career. However, he famously responded, as recounted by his son Reid, “If I can’t do it from Austin, I guess I’m not gonna do it.” This sentiment reflects his unwavering commitment to his Texas roots.
His Emmy-nominated work on the 1989 television adaptation of Lonesome Dove not only shaped the Western genre but also established him as a creative force in the film industry. He crafted iconic roles for stars like Willie Nelson in films such as Honeysuckle Rose, Barbarosa, and Red Headed Stranger, the latter of which he also directed. Critics have often placed Wittliff alongside literary titans like Cormac McCarthy and J. Frank Dobie.
Marise McDermott, executive director of the Wittliff Collections in San Marcos, remarked, “Although Wittliff was highly successful, he would not leave Texas for Hollywood. He made Hollywood come to him. In a way, that helped pave the way to grow the Texas film industry.”
In crafting this documentary, Mims felt the weight of Wittliff’s legacy. The Austin native, who grew up hearing stories of filmmaking from her father, Steve, sought to honor his memory. Her father even filmed the interviews for the documentary, creating a full-circle moment in her career.
Mims’ journey in filmmaking began as a teenager with a short film that made it into the South by Southwest Film Festival. She later refined her skills at CalArts and found herself drawn to the art of documentary filmmaking, intrigued by the challenge of weaving diverse perspectives into a unified narrative.
Reflecting on her process, she likened it to fishing: “You go out in the morning; you don’t know what you’re gonna catch. Then you’re like, look at this big bass.” This curiosity led to her debut feature, Only the Young, which she co-directed in 2012. After working at the Austin Film Festival, she now serves as an executive producer for its “On Story” series.
Wittliff was closely connected to the Austin Film Festival, which established an annual screenwriting award in his name in 1995. Although Mims never met him before his passing in 2019, she was inspired by his influence, particularly through festival co-founder Barbara Morgan, who regarded him as a mentor. Together, they conceived the idea for a documentary series to explore the artists represented in the Wittliff Collections.
The documentary captures Wittliff’s deep-rooted connection to Texas. As fellow screenwriter William Broyles Jr. states in the film, “If you didn’t want to come to Texas, that’s fine, but Bill was happy to go do something else.” For years, industry leaders sought his insights at his office on Baylor Street.
Sally Wittliff, Bill’s wife, plays a significant role in the documentary, showcasing her as a vital creative and professional partner. Notable figures like Tommy Lee Jones share anecdotes about Lonesome Dove, while Wittliff’s own words punctuate key moments throughout the film.
The documentary also delves into Wittliff’s spiritual side, portraying him as someone unafraid to acknowledge the unseen, with some posthumous tributes referring to him as a shaman of sorts.
Throughout production, Mims felt a cosmic connection to Wittliff, often journaling to seek his guidance. During a crucial meeting, she interpreted a blinking light in her car as a sign from him, saying, “There’s been a lot of pieces that have come together in a very magical way — in a way that I feel like Bill has helped.”
As A Man of Vision makes its debut at the writer-focused Austin Film Festival, Mims believes Wittliff will resonate with the audience. “The film is about the absolute grind of creating things that maybe no one will ever see,” she said, reflecting on the arduous nature of artistic creation.
Living in Wittliff’s world for an extended period taught Mims that a lasting artistic legacy is built through hard work. She described him as having a ranch hand’s mentality, noting, “If I get up and I don’t do some of these things, you know, it’s funny. I can feel Bill being like, ‘All right, get to work. It’s time.’”
The Austin Film Festival runs from October 29 to November 5. More information can be found at austinfilmfestival.com.
