Written, directed, and edited by University of Texas at Austin student Theodore Nicolaou, this 1973 narrative film dramatizes the experience of the White family as they house two suspicious guests on a night of severe weather. In the short, the White family eagerly opens their doors to Lazlo and Renee Tartantua, who complain of car trouble. As the night progresses, however, Joe and Betty White begin to notice troubling behavior from their guests. Although the Whites earnestly attempt to get the Tartantuas out of their house, the Tartantuas overstay their visit. Finally, Joe forces them out of the house, only to be bombarded by a mob of homeless hurricane refugees. Forced and locked out of their own house, the Whites unsuccessfully search the neighborhood for shelter. Many members of the cast and crew went on to have successful careers in the film industry. Nicolaou worked on numerous sci-fi and horror films, including the Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974), Ghoulies (1985), and The Dungeonmaster (1985). Makeup artist Dorothy J. Pearl worked on Tootsie (1982), for which she won the BAFTA Award for best makeup and hair; Groundhog Day (1993); Big Fish (2003); and Miss Congeniality (2000). Bill Mackie was a professor in the Radio-Television-Film Department at the University of Texas. He now works as an independent broadcast media professional.

Travis County Austin

TFC student film short film 1970s 1970’s Austin Travis County University of Texas at Austin UT Austin University of Texas UT RTF Radio-Television-Film Department Motion Picture Center horror horror film thriller flood weather storm rain water emergency shelters Red Cross National Guard refugees housing survivors thunderstorm police ambush fear Theodore Nicolaou Nicolaou, Theodore Bill Thurman Thurman, Bill Reeve Love Love, Reeve D. Allen Lawshae Lawshae, D. Allen

Pat Samuelson Samuelson, Pat Howard Rase, Rase, Howard Linelle Manson Manson, Linelle Thomas Herod, Jr. Herod, Thomas Jr. Courtney Goodin Goodin, Courtney Linn Scherwitz Scherwitz, Linn Monty McMillan McMillan, Monty Michael Hofstein Hofstein, Michael Laura DeBolt DeBolt, Laura Janelle Manson Manson, Janelle Dottie Pearl Pearl, Dottie Bill Davies Davies, Bill Sally Nicolaou Nicolaou, Sally Vicki Lowe Lowe, Vicki Tom Phillips Phillips, Tom Charles Berg Berg, Charles Mike Curry Curry, Mike Anne Collins Collins, Anne Virginia Crawford Crawford, Virginia Bruce Hand Hand, Bruce Susan Heyer

Heyer, Susan Mitch Johnson Johnson, Mitch Karen Lamport Lamport, Karen Robin Madden Madden, Robin John Sauri Sauri, John Gordon Thomas Thomas, Gordon Geoff Watson Watson, Geoff Suzi Lozo Lozo, Suzi Walter Carrington Homes Sears, Roebuck and Co. Travis Country Sheriff’s Dept. Mr. and Mrs. J.P. Brady cast edit edited film filming scene set star starring