NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Stephen F. Austin State University School of Art and the Friends of the Visual Arts will present a free, one-night screening of "Muscle Shoals" at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 3, in The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House in downtown Nacogdoches.

Directed by Greg "Freddy" Camalier and released by Magnolia Pictures, "Muscle Shoals" is the true story of a small town with a big sound and an even bigger influence on the music industry.

Located alongside the Tennessee River, Muscle Shoals, Ala., has helped create some of the most important and resonant songs of all time, according to information at magpictures.com/.

"Overcoming crushing poverty and staggering tragedies, Rick Hall brought black and white together to create music for the generations," the website says. "He is responsible for creating the 'Muscle Shoals sound' and The Swampers, the house band at FAME Studios that eventually left to start its own successful studio known as Muscle Shoals Sound."

Performers such as Gregg Allman, Aretha Franklin, Mick Jagger, Steve Winwood and others bear witness to Muscle Shoals' magnetism, mystery and why it remains influential today.

"Muscle Shoals" was a grand-prize winning film at the Boulder International Film Festival. The film runs 111 minutes and is rated PG for thematic elements, language, smoking and brief partial nudity.

A portion of the evening will feature a presentation about the Sound Recording Technology program at SFA. Established in 2009 by Dr. Kevin Kelleher, the program now boasts about 60 students and is one of the fastest growing programs at SFA.

The Bachelor of Music in Sound Recording Technology (SRT) provides students with the fundamental skills necessary for a career as a recording engineer. Portions of the curriculum are devoted to classes focusing on audio technology, microphone techniques, songwriting, music production, live sound, the music industry, and sound for film and theatre. The final semester of the SRT program is reserved for an off-campus internship where students will receive specialized workplace training with approved professionals in the music, film, broadcast, theatre, or live sound industries.

This screening of "Muscle Shoals" is part of the School of Art's monthly Friday Night Film Series and is sponsored in part by the Nacogdoches Junior Forum, Mainstreet Nacogdoches, Bill Arscott, Jill Carrington, Karon Gillespie, John Heath, David Kulhavy and Brad Maule. The Cole Art Center is located at 329 E. Main St. For more information, call (936) 468-1131.