Greetings – I am Laura DiMeo (pronounced D- May-O). I have been at ACC since 2008 – first as a student, then hourly assistant for production classes; now, I am progressing through my second decade as an adjunct professor and support staff with the Radio-Television-Film Department.

I have a BA in English Literature (from a New England college), the ACC RTF Film/Video Technical and Management Certificates, and the RTF AA Degree – but my “reel film school” degree comes from working 3 decades in the television and film industry. I started as a volunteer “gofer” on a small film and gradually moved up the crew ladder through the years to be “best boy grip” – the second in command of the lighting crews. I set lights and operated camera dollies and cranes on rock videos, TV commercials, local and national sports events, TV series, and independent and major motion pictures. I was among the first women on the East Coast to earn NABET and IATSE union cards as a TV/film technician. I was honored to work with and learn from great professionals – in front and behind the camera.

Injuries and a significant change in film technology resulted in my stepping back and trying other jobs for a while, but I yearned to stay involved in filmmaking. When I relocated to Texas, I decided to go back to school and study digital production to catch up with the changes in the gear and process of filmmaking. In 2008, I found ACC and took some classes. One thing led to another; I worked as an RTF TA (hourly employee) for the production instructors while getting my RTF certificate and AA. Upon completing my degree in 2011, I was invited to join the ACC RTF faculty [teaching the same classes I first took].

A while later, I was hired as an Instructional Associate – a staff position overseeing the day-to-day logistics of running our department. In this new role of Faculty Advisor, I focus on being the “in-house” person who can inform students about our programs and guide them in choosing classes that best fit their goals. I hope in some way, in my work as an instructor and as a Faculty Advisor that, I am paying back all those great professionals who mentored my film career. Come chat with me about how the ACC RTF program can get you started in the art and business of visual storytelling.

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Laura DiMeo
Faculty Advisor
Austin Community College
Radio Television Film Department
[email protected]
Book an ACC RTF Advising Meeting with Laura DiMeo