A conversation with David Blue Garcia - The Rider Newspaper David Blue Garcia visits UTRGV for free talk with communications department

Carlos Perez, professor of communications, presents David Blue Garcia with a gift on behalf of the communication department on Thursday at the PlainsCapital Bank Theater in the Student Union on the Edinburg campus.
Kayla Martinez /THE RIDER

Emmy Award-winning filmmaker David Blue Garcia returned to the Rio Grande Valley to share his journey into the film industry during the Communication Department’s semesterly COMMversation event Thursday at the Student Union Theatre on the Edinburg campus.

Garcia, a Harlingen native, is a director, screenwriter, and cinematographer known for directing “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” and “Tejano.”

The event drew a full-capacity audience and began with Communication lecturer Emily Villareal presenting information about the department’s communication major and minor tracks.

For more information about the Communication Department’s programs, visit the department’s website.

Garcia then discussed how his interest in filmmaking began when he was a teenager skateboarding with his friends.

“I wasn’t very good [at skateboarding],” Garcia said. “So [my friends] would just give me the video cameras, so I could film their tricks. Then I realized that I really liked operating the camera and directing them to make them look better.”

Garcia said he knew he wanted to become a filmmaker while in high school. However, because filmmaking resources were limited in the Valley at the time, he moved to Austin at 17 to pursue a film education at the University of Texas at Austin.

David Blue Garcia points to the audience during his interview with Enrique Suarez Thursday at the PlainsCapital Bank Theater in the Student Union on the Edinburg campus. The interview focused on RGV native David Blue Garcia who directed “Texas Chainsaw Massacre.”
Mariah Escobar/THE RIDER

Starting off with commercials and short films, Garcia eventually debuted his first feature film “Tejano” in 2018, shot in the Rio Grande Valley with help and resources from his friends and family.

“I could just ask people for help, and they just opened their doors,” Garcia said. “That’s the great thing about shooting in the Valley.”

After “Tejano’s” release, Legendary Pictures reached out to Garcia to direct “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” after the original director was removed from the project.

“They saw [Tejano] and they thought, ‘This guy knows how to make a movie, look what he can do with a little bit of money. Let’s give him a lot, see how he does,’” Garcia said.

“Texas Chainsaw Massacre” was released in 2022 and is available on Netflix.

Students at the PlainsCapital Bank Theater Thursday as they await to hear from David Blue Garcia in the Student Union on the Edinburg campus. Students learned about Garcia’s path to filmmaking as a communications student.
Mariah Escobar/THE RIDER

Garcia concluded his presentation by answering questions from attendees, where he provided advice for upcoming and aspiring filmmakers.

“I think it’s really encouraging to see someone from Texas come back to the RGV and give us a peek into the film industry,” said Anayancy Salinas, a theater senior who attended the talk. “I feel like we’re kind of forgotten down here, we don’t really think of the RGV as a film industry.”

Villareal said connections helped the department bring Garcia to UTRGV for the COMMversation series.

“[Students] want to see people who are from the valley, who have gone and left, and had an amazing career,” Villareal said. “They love when they come back and get to hear about it. We were super excited to have him.”

Garcia, who’s now based in Austin, told The Rider he was glad to be back in the Valley.

“I’m really glad that I was invited to come speak here at UTRGV, because it’s been so great to be back, to have some really good tacos,” he added with a laugh. “And to meet and see all the students … This was an incredible turnout.”