Orville Wanzer was Las Cruces' first filmmaker who came to Las Cruces in 1959 to teach English at NMSU. Dr Smith’s presentation will introduce her documentary, Birth of the Acid Western, inspired by his and Las Cruces' first feature film, The Devil's Mistress. Dr. Smith's documentary explores this countercultural film genre that challenged Hollywood’s mythic narratives of the American West, redefining power, gender, and class. Rooted in Las Cruces, New Mexico, the documentary highlights the pioneering work of Orville “Bud” Wanzer, a visionary of independent, low-budget filmmaking made in New Mexico. Through archival research and community stories, Smith's documentary it reimagines the Western’s cultural impact and celebrates creativity from the margins. This project honors an outsider’s vision and positions Las Cruces as a contested space for locals, artists, and industries that are with us today.