Hi! I DO work in the film industry/commercials. First of all, a lot of people here tend to think that artists or filmmakers in Austin live of their parents money or have a trust fund. That is not my case, neither is the case of most of the people I crew with. I work doing a LOT of boring video stuff in order to pay my bills and allow myself to make my own films. I also do cool projects once in a while but those are very rare in Austin.
I went to film school but you DO NOT need to go to film school if you want to work in film. I think I would have been better off working as a PA for three years than going to film school - perhaps my film knowledge wouldn't be great and I wouldn't have made my own films but I would have had a lot of contacts. So, if you want to be a director, my advice is to get money from your day job and invest it in your projects. Work as hard as you can to make as many things as you can. If you want to be a DP, AD, Gaffer, Producer, Production Designer... you will have to start as a general PA, make contacts, then be a PA in the department you are interested in and go up the ladder. That's the way the film industry works.
Austin film's industry is quite small and the problem is that there is a lot of talented people with a lot of experience and those people rightfully get the better projects since they are the most qualified and best connected. Those people also tend to work with the same assistants all the time, so it is hard to get into the industry, but once someone gives you a chance, and you prove you are good and super hard working, that person will recommend you and you will get more work. Even if you are head of department you will have to work 13-15 hours a day and you always have to be on point, because if not people will remember you for that. I don't say that bitterly but that is the way it is.
My recommendation is that you try to get work as a PA to see how film works. My advice for a PA is always be attentive, don't talk about your life or plans (it drives me insane if I am trying to work or concentrate and I can hear PAs talking about all their plans for hours!), just hustle, think about people will need before they need it and do it, be nice and don't complain. If you do this, you will get more work and people will love you! The more people you meet and impress with your work ethic (and not talk), the more you will work in the future.
As for resources to meet people and find work: short film texas (google it) texas film comission (google it) yahoo film group (Austin casting and crew calls) There's a monthly film mixer, I believe there is a facebook group or a meet up. There's like a hundred meet up film groups. Look up production companies (google!) and email them. AFS has a ton of events.
But, again, if you want to make YOUR own films, none of this is going to allow you to do them. You just have to get a camera, a computer, some friends and make your film!
Good luck, Austin is a kind and nice place to be a filmmaker. :)