Arts In Context is an arts documentary series exploring the process of creation through collaboration and the condition of living and working as an artist. By spotlighting visual arts, dance, music and culture, we hope to pique curiosity and inspire people to learn more about a subject, visit an exhibition, attend a performance or create and share something beautiful of their own and facilitate the dialogue between artists and audiences.
Arts In Context airs Thursdays on KLRU-TV, Austin PBS, and is available everywhere on the PBS iPhone app and iPad app.
Mario Troncoso, Producer and Director
Emmy award-winning filmmaker Mario Troncoso is the Producer and Director of the documentary series Arts In Context. Born in Madrid, Spain, he is now based in Austin where he works as a producer for KLRU. He began his film career as a writer before moving to Houston in early 2000. There he joined a number of local artists and began producing videos. With extensive agency and production company experience, Mario has worked on productions across many formats over a period of 10 years ranging from advertising to documentaries and fiction. His latest film, Clowns Never Lie (2011) has screened at festivals and showcases across the U.S. and Europe and was picked up for international TV distribution at Festival de Cannes 2012. Mario’s first narrative feature, Bring Back the Guns, a surreal thriller set in El Paso, is currently in pre-production. Mario studied Film Production and Latino Media Studies at the University of Texas at Austin.
Christopher Kim, Camera Operator/Assistant Editor
Christopher Kim grew up in the suburbs of Chicago and graduated from the University of Iowa with a BA in Cinema. As camera operator and assistant editor, Kim is thrilled to help bring the stories of fellow creative people to KLRU. He is also the writer, director and co-creator of Hardly Sound, KLRU’s newest music documentary series.
Juan A. Izaguirre, Camera Operator
Juan A. Izaguirre was born in Houston, Texas. He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a bachelor’s degree in Radio-Television-Film and he specializes in writing, directing, and cinematography in both the narrative and documentary realms of film-making.
Isaac Hammons, Sound Mixer
Native resident of Kansas, Isaac Hammons studied Sound Design at The Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, Georgia before moving to Austin in 2009. Isaac has experience in various fields, including film, television, theatre and sound art, but particularly enjoys capturing and expressing emotions and stories through sound.
Simone Khan, Research Assistant Intern
Simone Khan is a Radio-Television-Film major at the University of Texas at Austin and an intern for Arts in Context, where she assists with research and editing for the show. One day she’d love to edit professionally for television or film. Khan has enjoyed every second here at KLRU and is very excited for what the third season of Arts in Context will bring.
Jonathan Murthy, Production Intern
Jonathan Murthy was born in Houston, Texas and is studying for a degree in Radio-Television-Film and English at the University of Texas at Austin. Murthy has previous television experience from working at KVRX and TSTV.
Robert Avila, Production Intern
Robert Avila is from Brownsville, Texas and studies Radio-Television-Film at the University of Texas at Austin. Avila currently interns for Arts in Context and enjoys writing music and taking pictures of his surroundings.