Heather M. is here, the managing producer for Howcast’s Emerging Filmmakers Program, blogging from Austin where I’ve been attending screenings, sessions, and parties at South by Southwest since Friday.

They say SXSW is great for networking, but after talking to filmmakers down here for the past four days and interviewing them on-camera for Howcast and YouTube’s Creator’s Corner, I’ve found that for filmmakers, networking, marketing, and outreach are all sort of yucky words. Most of the filmmakers I’ve encountered here are shy folks, and touting their skills or bragging about their projects isn’t easy for them. Nevertheless, they all echo the same advice — one way or another you’ve got to break through any reservations you have about making connections and talking about your work.

I’ve been to Sundance and lots of smaller regional fests and I think South By (as the kids in the know seem to call it) is actually one of the easiest places to make that happen. People are friendly here. And it’s not just southern hospitality — there are attendees are from all over the world. The environment is welcoming, making it a great place to discuss projects, share ideas, get inspired, and meet people you’d actually want to work with. Don’t believe me? Listen to these filmmakers talk about the magic of SXSW, and how to not only survive, but make the most of the festival (following the free food must be part of the plan).

Check out these filmmakers’ tips — from using the web to carrying a black backpack — today on YouTube, Filmmaker Magazine, and Howcast.com. And stay tuned for more tips in the next few days.

-Heather M.

P.S. Huge thanks to all the filmmakers who shared their ideas and let me harass them on-camera. Best of luck with all your projects!