Reel Women SXSW Showcase

Right off, gals, I’m gonna give it to you straight—yesterday’s Reel Women Showcase required some pre-downtown coffee drinking on my part. And the showcase started at noon. As in…12 pm. I rolled out of bed and into the Long Center parking garage just in time to help set up. (Apparently, if you get there early enough—aka: around 10:45 am—parking is free because there’s no attendant…but you didn’t hear that from me.) I was actually concerned for other festival goers who might have partied into the wee hours of the morning. ::cough, cough::

Nevertheless, the SXSW and Reel Women devotees poured in. With around 200 attendants, the showcase was a rousing success.

Featured in the RW Showcase were shorts by RW Student filmmakers, Gabbie Burns with “Austin Memory Project: A History in the Making,” Carlyn Hudson’s “Have it All,” Ivete Lucas’ “La Lupita,” Elizabeth Chatelain’s “Karin’s Shoes,” Gaia Bonsignore's "Valentina" and Nina Vizcarrondo's “The Carolyn Jackson Story".

After the showcase, all of the filmmakers stuck around for a brief Q&A session, sharing advice for women filmmakers, budgets for their films and amusing anecdotes about their filmmaking experience. Said one filmmaker who was dishing out advice, “Join clubs or organizations like Reel Women.”

Warm fuzzies abound! And it gets better…

Later, whilst lunching at Whole Foods downtown amongst hippies and crying babies and flying soy-covered napkins due to a persistent wind, a boy, who appeared to be about 14 years old or so, asked Carlyn to sign his Reel Women Showcase program. I wish I could have snapped a picture…but alas, I was geeking out on Carlyn’s behalf.

But it’s more than a random person asking for an autograph… I am constantly reminded of how brave and talented you girls are for doing what you do, and I immensely enjoy getting to see your work. I can’t wait to see what you all create in all of the years to come (or any upcoming meetings, for that matter.) Be proud, girls!