Short Cuts

Humor in a Jugular Vein Dept.: Former Gals Panic frontman and budding animator Lance "Fever-- Myers has unveiled a new animated short titled "Gutsman,-- which has already been accepted into the Hollywood Underground Film Festival. And that's not all: A recent screening for Alamo Drafthouse owner Tim League resulted in the film being brought to the attention of the gang at Spike & Mike's Sick & Twisted Animation Festival (currently playing at the Alamo's downtown location), who found the film right up their dark alley and summarily added it to their 7:30pm showings this Friday and Saturday. We haven't seen "Gutsman" yet here at "Short Cuts," but judging from Myers' sublime debut film "The Astronomer-- -- which will air this spring as part of PBS' series The Territory (see "TV Eye," p.40) -- suspicion is running high that "Gutsman" is another micro-masterwork. While that previous film was a quiet, contemplative gem, Myers describes "Gutsman" thusly: "It's based on a nightmare that I had, which started out with me reading comic books and then turned into an absolute gore-fest. It's similar in execution to 'The Astronomer' -- it uses the same techniques and process -- but the message and the feel of it couldn't be more different." No wonder S&M found the film to their liking. Info on the screening and S&M in general can be found at www.drafthouse.com...The Austin Museum of Art's Art School (3809 W. 35th) is hosting another set of classes helmed by former Chronicle scribe Alison Macor. "Cinema Eye: Film Appreciation" begins Feb. 4 and "Film Theory Goes to the Movies" begins March 25. Both classes are highly recommended to casual filmgoers who'd like to broaden their knowledge of the medium as well as hardened film geeks. Full info on dates and fees can be had by e-mailing [email protected] or visiting www.amoa.org.