Short Cuts

"Gosh, If Only Someone Would Show Me How to Load The Film!-- Dept.: So I was talking to my homie the other day, and I said, "Direct audio capture right to the timeline, with field-grabbing goofiness on-site and on-time? With 16mm film and/or mini-DV capabilities and mad editing skills to pay, play, or go all the way to a startling, stunning career in indie filmmaking à la those Coen Bros., and so on? Yo, step off, beeyatch, that's whack!" Sure, I know, you usually say the same thing, but check it, G: Local film maestro/guru/man-about-town Steve Mims sends note that it's not too late to reserve a spot in his much-beloved Austin FilmWorks Production One class for fall of this year. There is hype, and then there is hype: Mims' class is top-flight and has been the breeding ground for a host of local filmmakers and productions, from Robert Rodriguez to Richard Linklater and beyond. We don't say it enough, but Austin is lucky -- very lucky -- to have Mims' class (and partner Kevin Smith's smart Final Cut Pro workshop as well), which is far and away the best source for learning hands-on what to do and how to do it short of gigging on the next Spy Kids film. The 14-week intro to digital and 16mm filmmaking class, meeting on Tuesday nights throughout the fall, is having orientation on Tuesday, Aug. 27. Go see what you ought not be missing, eh? Call 467-0731 or check 'em out online at www.austinfilmworks.com... Reel Women, Austin's premier femme-centric film group, is holding their next meeting Wednesday, Aug. 21, 7:30pm, at Women and Their Work Gallery (1710 Lavaca). Featured speaker Nancy Schiesari will screen part of her feature-length documentary Hansel Mieth: Vagabond Photographer as a work-in-progress and "talk about the use of fictional narration in the documentary genre." Networking starts at 7:10pm, the meeting is free and open to the public, and, yes, despite the name, you don't have to be sporting estrogen to get in. Following the meeting will be the "Mega Mix," with, as they say, "networking and synergy." Always an entertaining mix, and more so when enlivened by such additional fare as raffles for "massages, salon services, yoga classes," et cetera. How can you miss? Call 448-9090 or e-mail [email protected] for more info.