Babes in Toyland

Babes in Toyland:

Remember, back when you were a kid, how your cinematic aspirations were limited to the re-creation of the burning of Atlanta with Malibu Barbie's Dream House, or the re-enactment of the Odessa Steps sequence with your little brother? If you were lucky, your grampa's Super-8 camera was lying around to record your genius for posterity, but mostly the movies in your mind stayed just there.

Not so anymore. In a new outpost of the Austin Film Festival's Kids 'N' Film program, the AFF and the UT Department of Radio/Television/Film are offering a summer film and TV camp for kids. Budding movie moguls and aspiring auteurs get to put their grubby paws all over RTF's many techie toys -- like audio equipment, DV cameras, and AVID, ProTools, and iMovie software. One- and two-week sessions on the UT campus are offered to two age groups -- 9- to 12-year-olds and 13- to 16-year-olds -- with age-specific content and instruction. Courses range from Japanese and stop-motion animation, sitcom production and writing, casting, even a crash course on the mockumentary. Those imparting their pearls of wisdom will include UT instructors and local professionals, ensuring your li'l tykes get both book smarts and hands-on experience.

Registration for Cinema/Television Summer Camp ends June 25, 2002. Call 478-4795, e-mail [email protected], or visit www.austinfilmfestival.com for further information, including course descriptions, schedules, and cost.