“Well, I’ve been a camera bug all my life,” 94-year old Ramon Galindo admits during his interview with TAMI in 2015. Inspired by his mother’s love for photography, Galindo bought his first camera, an 8mm Brownie, when he was a child in Austin during the 1920s. Although Galindo describes himself as a creator, unable to sit still and always making things, we believe that Mr. Galindo defies any definition! A professional tailor for most of his life, as documented in his beautiful self-made instructional films, Galindo’s true passion is magic which he has performed all over the world. Galindo has used film for over 70 years to record his magic tricks, showing others his work as well as to help himself perfect his techniques. In addition, Mr. Galindo’s collection serves as an important chronicle of the Austin community, as the filmmaker has consciously prioritized documenting the changing urban landscape throughout his life.Read More
Galindo produced two narrative films with his family and friends. Shot on black and white 16mm film, A Day of Horror (1964) was inspired by a co-worker, Chris Crow, at Mr. Galindo’s Custom Ace Tailors shop in downtown Austin. Crow had obtained great popularity with Ace Tailors’ clients by making a scary face when they arrived to pick up garments. Galindo decided to write and direct a movie featuring Crow alongside the neighborhood kids, his daughters, and the Galindo family dog, Humphrey. Galindo convinced the children to be in the movie by telling them, “we’re not gonna get paid, we’re just doing it for the heck of it. Let’s have some fun.” Shot over two weekends on the property of a Hays County judge between Kyle and San Marcos, the film featured music especially composed for it. Ramon recently edited together a seven minute version of the original for the 2015 Film Festival and Competition in Wimberley where he won a Life Time Achievement Award, Best Director Award and Chris Crow won Best Actor. (Hear the story of A Day of Horror as told by Ramon in the gallery below!)
Mr. Galindo’s other narrative work, Josephine’s Dream (1962), uses special effects to take us into the mind of Galindo’s young daughter, Josephine, as she dreams of the Austin rodeo. By creating a narrative of the dream, Ramon is able to use footage of the Austin rodeo and present it in a creative way.
