Belton, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor students, alumni and faculty involved in filming the HBO movie Temple Grandin celebrates the film’s 2010 Emmy Award for Outstanding Made-for-Television movie. This film also received the following 2010 Emmy Awards: Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special; Outstanding Music Composition for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special; Outstanding Single Camera Picture Editing for a Miniseries or a Movie; Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie (David Strathairn); Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie (Julia Ormond); and Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie (Claire Danes).

Temple Grandin also received 2010 Emmy Awards nominations for Outstanding Casting for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special; Outstanding Art Direction for a Miniseries or Movie; Outstanding Hairstyling for a Miniseries or a Movie; Outstanding Main Title Design; Outstanding Makeup for a Miniseries or a Movie, Non-Prosthetic; Outstanding Sound Editing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special; Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special; and Outstanding Supporting Actress in a  Miniseries or Movie (Catherine O'Hara).

In this winning film, Claire Danes plays Temple Grandin, an autistic who is known as one of the leading figures in autism advocacy. She is a role model who shows both the struggles and successes that come from autism. As a young person, she was different and misunderstood. However, Grandin went to college and eventually earned a Ph.D. in animal science. She ultimately became an advocate of humane slaughterhouses. This passionate film about her life is richly meaningful.

The project was filmed in the Austin area. Regional talent, including many University of Mary Hardin-Baylor film students, alumni, and faculty, were cast for multiple scenes with Claire Danes, Julia Ormond, Catherine O'Hara and David Strathairn.  The Cru Film students, who performed as a core group of students in Temple Grandin's high school days, included the following: Ashley Cook, Brittany Golden, Ariel Sheffield, Ashley Ramirez, Laura Gebhart, Rachel Jeske, Brianna Edwards, Sarah Hughey, Candice Green, Ashley Biederman, Chelsea Martinez, Jenna Keefe, Teaven Barnum, Jordan Cash, Kacey Cox, Travis Mitchell, Zach Raygoza, Jake Tatum, Nathan Jenkins, Garrett Smith, Luke Cielonko, Alex Adcock and Kendall Doles. Brittany Golden served as their team leader. There are many close-ups of UMHB film students in scenes with Claire Danes and David Straithairn, as Temple's classmates in her high school setting.  David Dunlap, UMHB alumnus, is in board room scenes with Claire Danes. Drs. Dave and Diane Howard were cast as parents in scenes of Temple Grandin's undergraduate graduation. The film first aired on HBO February 6, 2010.