2017 Austin Film Festival and Conference Schedule: Full Schedule

11:30am CDT

Opening Remarks

Austin Film Festival welcomes you to its 24th annual celebration of storytelling through film, television, theatre, narrative fiction podcasting, and new media. Bringing together industry icons, independent filmmakers, aspiring storytellers, and everyone in between, this year features intimate discussions, workshops, premieres, retrospectives, parties, and limitless networking opportunities. Join AFF staff and board members for Opening Remarks to learn more about the week ahead, last-minute additions and changes, and new special guests.

Panelists

Oren Uziel

writer/director Shimmer Lake; writer 22 Jump Street, Freaks of Nature, The God Particle

Oren Uziel recently directed his first feature, Shimmer Lake, which previously won an award at the Austin Film Festival Screenwriting Competition. Production recently wrapped on his science fiction film The God Particle, directed by Julius Onah and produced by JJ Abrams. His previous... Read More →

Christopher Vogler

author The Writer's Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers

Christopher Vogler is a veteran Hollywood story consultant known the world over for his landmark book The Writer's Journey: Mythic Structure for Storytellers. Vogler began his career as a documentary filmmaker for the US Air Force’s space program. After graduate studies at the USC... Read More →

Thursday October 26, 2017 11:30am - 12:30pm CDT
InterContinental Stephen F Austin, Ballroom

Conference, Panel

1:00pm CDT

A Conversation with Gale Anne Hurd

Don’t miss this one-on-one, in-depth conversation with Gale Anne Hurd, one of the industry’s most respected film and television producers, and the co-writer of The Terminator. As an executive producer on such projects as The Walking Dead, Aliens, and Armageddon, Hurd has decades of experience navigating high-tension, high-stake, and high-conflict situations – both on and off the page.

Hurd is the Executive Producer of Mankiller, her third Native American documentary, which chronicles the extraordinary life of the first woman Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, Wilma Mankiller. Mankiller will be screening at this year's Festival, consult the film schedule for screening times.

Moderators

Barbara Morgan

Executive Director, Austin Film Festival

Panelists

Gale Anne Hurd

executive producer The Walking Dead, Armageddon, Aliens; producer/co-writer The Terminator

Gale Anne Hurd is one of the industry’s most respected film and television producers. In 1984, after working in various capacities for legendary producer Roger Corman, Hurd produced and co-wrote her first feature film, The Terminator. The film was a box office and critical success... Read More →

Thursday October 26, 2017 1:00pm - 2:15pm CDT
The Driskill Hotel, Ballroom

Conference, Panel

1:00pm CDT

Austin Pitch Prep

Are you ready to give your best pitch? Get prepped to sell your script–and yourself!–and ensure your first pitch wont be your last. Will you be in the select group that makes it through to the Pitch Competition Finale?

Panelists

Pamela Ribon

writer Moana, Smurfs: The Lost Village, Ralph Breaks The Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2, Bears, Samantha Who?; comic book writer Rick and Morty, SLAM!

Pamela Ribon is a screenwriter Moana, Smurfs: The Lost Village, TV writer, comic book writer, author, and best-selling novelist. She’s currently co-writing Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2:.She was recently named one of Variety’s 10 Screenwriters to Watch and is a... Read More →

Thursday October 26, 2017 1:00pm - 2:15pm CDT
The Driskill Hotel, Citadel Room

Conference, Panel; Pitch

1:00pm CDT

How to Work the Conference

The AFF Conference is a great place to mingle and learn–that person sitting next to you could be a life changing contact. Although the schedule can be intimidating, this panel featuring seasoned festival attendees is here to help. Join the discussion on everything from networking to pitching to where the closest restroom can be found. Find out how to maximize your Badge and your time here at the Conference!

Moderators

Matt Dy

moderator; Screenplay/Teleplay Director Austin Film Festival

Panelists

Bob Dearden

writer iZombie, Play It Again, Dick

Bob Dearden is a former forestry worker and decorated free-throw shooter hailing from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. He received an MFA from The University of Texas at Austin in 2013, and currently works as a writer for The CW’s iZombie.

Erin Hallagan

founder Story Bar; former AFF Creative Director

Erin Hallagan is the founder of Story Bar, an Austin-based multi-disciplinary arts initiative featuring storytelling and the exploration of the human condition through community-driven programming. Prior to Story Bar, Erin served as Creative Director of the Austin Film Festival... Read More →

Josh Holden

writer/director The Golden Rut

Brothers Nick and Josh Holden co-founded the Austin,TX based, film and video production company Mishnoon in 2007. The Holden Brothers, have made over an estimated 100 short form videos, including web series, music videos, music documentaries, and web and TV commercials. Over the last... Read More →

Nick Holden

writer/director The Golden Rut

Thursday October 26, 2017 1:00pm - 2:15pm CDT
InterContinental Stephen F Austin, Ballroom

Conference, Panel

1:00pm CDT

Indie Film Track: The Filmmaker's Team

The making of a feature film is no small feat. As the saying goes, it takes a village. Learn who and what you need in your corner in order to make the journey from pre-production to post as seamless as possible.

Moderators

Ashland Viscosi

moderator; founder Creatives Meet Business

Ashland founded Creatives Meet Business (CMB), an event and podcast series in Austin for creatives of all disciplines to define themselves as “artists” and “creatives” AND “small business owners” and “entrepreneurs.” The event series helps creatives – filmmakers... Read More →

Panelists

Scooter Corkle

writer/director Hollow in the Land; director of photography Bloody Knuckles; gaffer Beyond the Black Rainbow

"Scooter Corkle is a writer/director from Vancouver Canada, having worked in film for past 14 years in various departments including grip, lighting and camera. His last two short films CHLOE AND ATTIE and POUR RETOURNER went on to play in festivals all over the world including Tribeca... Read More →

JJ Ingram

producer Operator, Chasing the Blues, The Long Dumb Road, Once Upon A River

A Chicago native, JJ’s producer credits include: Chasing The Blues (Fulton Market Films), Operator (SXSW 2016, The Orchard), Unexpected (Sundance, Film Arcade), Bloomin Mud Shuffle (Factory 25) and Baby Mary (SXSW 2014). JJ recently wrapped the comedy feature, The Long... Read More →

Jennifer Morrison

director/actress Sun Dogs; actress Once Upon a Time, Warrior, House

Actress, director, and producer, Jennifer Morrison, continues to have her plate full with numerous television and film projects. In April 2016, she launched her own production banner, Apartment 3C Productions. The first full length feature film under the new company is Sun Dogs... Read More →

Kristin Slaysman

producer/actor Dr. Brinks & Dr. Brinks; actor The Last Tycoon, Masters of Sex, American Horror Story, Little Sister, Thou Wast Mild and Lovely

Kristin Slaysman is a graduate of Northwestern University and a Los Angeles-based producer, actor and director. As an actor, her feature film work has premiered at Berlin, Sundance & SXSW film festivals. TV credits include: Masters of Sex, American Horror Story and The Last Tycoon... Read More →

Thursday October 26, 2017 1:00pm - 2:15pm CDT
The Driskill Hotel, Crystal Room

Conference, Indie Film Track

1:00pm CDT

The Hero's Journey: Exploring Joseph Campbell's Story Structure

It’s a classic story framework. From the Bible to Star Wars to The Lego Movie, humans love a great tale of adventure. The Hero’s Journey, as codified by Joseph Campbell, has helped many a screenwriter structure a story. Join Christopher Vogler, author of The Writer’s Journey, as he examines the challenges and temptations of writing within this framework, how to heed the call to adventure, and the details that go into making the monomyth your own.

Moderators

Greg Garrett

moderator; author; Professor, Baylor University

Greg Garrett has been a panelist and moderator at the Austin Film Festival for more than fifteen years. At the Festival, he has interviewed luminaries such as Lawrence Kasdan, James Hart, and Damon Lindelof, and led conversations on craft, genre, adaptation, and narrative. Himself... Read More →

Panelists

Christopher Vogler

author The Writer's Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers

Thursday October 26, 2017 1:00pm - 2:15pm CDT
St. David's Episcopal Church, Bethell Hall

Conference, Panel

Tags On Story

2:45pm CDT

Alternative Ways to Break In

While the doorways to Hollywood are narrow, with lots of writers trying to squeeze through, the reality is the industry is changing and the old processes are no longer the only ways to find success. Come and listen as panelists share the creative pathways they found and forged that lead to the success they’ve experienced.

Moderators

Erin Hallagan

founder Story Bar; former AFF Creative Director

Panelists

Jenny Turner Hall

executive producer/writer/director The Unexplainable Disappearance of Mars Patel

Jenny Turner Hall (jennyturnerhall.com) is a Peabody Award recipient and an irrepressible storyteller with a DIY spirit. She writes, produces, and performs stories in almost every genre. She is currently an executive producer, writer, and director of The Unexplainable Disappearance of Mars Patel. This podcast was profi... Read More →

Jardine Libaire

writer/author White Fur

Jardine Libaire got her MFA in Writing from the University of Michigan. Her sixth novel White Fur (Hogarth), published in May 2017, was an Amazon Best Book, a Barnes + Noble Discover, and a Book of the Month selection; the television-series adaptation of White Fur she wrote for... Read More →

Jono Matt

co-writer Captain Planet

Jono Matt (who's totally writing this bio, but is still going to speak in the third person) is currently working on the live-action reboot of Captain Planet. He met his writing partner, Glen Powell, when they both snuck into the Golden Globes. Jono worked as a director's assistant... Read More →

Thursday October 26, 2017 2:45pm - 4:00pm CDT
The Driskill Hotel, Citadel Room

Conference, Panel

2:45pm CDT

Fail Again, Fail Better

This is a business that's obsessed with success even though failures are far more frequent. Join four friends for a frank and honest conversation about how their failures shaped their careers, their choices, and their decisions to keep going in spite of it all.

Panelists

Jason Headley

writer/director A Bad Idea Gone Wrong, It's Not About the Nail, At the Bar, F*ck That: A Guided Meditation

Jason Headley’s feature film, A Bad Idea Gone Wrong, won a Special Jury Prize at the 2017 SXSW Film Festival and the Grand Jury Award at the deadCenter Film Festival. Called “a talent to watch” by the Hollywood Reporter, Jason is currently writing an upcoming feature film for... Read More →

Christina Hodson

writer Transformers: Bumblebee (2018)

Christina Hodson transitioned from development executive to screenwriter in 2012 and has started to make a name for herself writing muscular, female-driven stories in traditionally male-dominated genres. Her first three spec scripts featured on the Black List three years in a row... Read More →

Pamela Ribon

writer Moana, Smurfs: The Lost Village, Ralph Breaks The Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2, Bears, Samantha Who?; comic book writer Rick and Morty, SLAM!

Oren Uziel

writer/director Shimmer Lake; writer 22 Jump Street, Freaks of Nature, The God Particle

Thursday October 26, 2017 2:45pm - 4:00pm CDT
The Driskill Hotel, Maximilian Room

Conference, Panel

2:45pm CDT

Indie Film Track: Storytelling through Documentaries

When watching a documentary, it can be easy to forget the complex, ever-changing writing process the filmmakers were faced with during production. Adapting to unforeseeable elements, while keeping the story clear and true to the film’s intent, is a task documentarians must master to craft a truly great work. Come listen to seasoned documentarians as they advise on the importance and techniques behind successful planning, interviews, editing, and storytelling involved in doc filmmaking.

Moderators

Greg Curtis

Moderator; Former Editor of Texas Monthly

Gregory Curtis was the Editor of Texas Monthly from 1981-2000. During his editorship, the magazine won many prizes including five National Magazine Awards. In 2000, it was selected by the Columbia Journalism Review as one of the ten best magazine editors in the country. Curtis has... Read More →

Panelists

James Keach

director/producer Glen Campbell...I'll Be Me; producer/actor Walk The Line, Long Riders

Born in New York, James has been a part of the film industry as an actor, director, writer, and producer. A graduate of Northwestern University and the Yale School of Drama, he received classical training as an actor at the New York Shakespeare Festival and was a founding member of... Read More →

Keith Maitland

director/producer TOWER, A Song For You: The Austin City Limits Story

Keith Maitland has made three feature documentaries in the last ten years -- TOWER, an animated doc about a mass shooting in Austin, TX in 1966; A Song For You: The Austin City Limits Story, a music doc featuring Willie Nelson, Beck, and dozens of other musicians who have graced the... Read More →

Valerie Red-Horse Mohl

writer/director/producer Mankiller, Naturally Native, True Whispers: The Story of the Navajo Code Talkers, Choctaw Code Talkers, My Indian Summer

Valerie Red-Horse Mohl, a filmmaker of Cherokee ancestry, is the Director/Producer (in collaboration with Gale Anne Hurd of Valhalla Entertainment) for Vision Maker Media/PBS, of MANKILLER. Red-Horse Mohl’s body of work spans over two decades of film and television content creation... Read More →

Michael Del Monte

writer/director Transformer; director Transcend

Michael Del Monte started directing documentaries after completing his Master’s in philosophy from the University of Toronto. His first feature documentary, Transcend, was inspired by his personal passion for long distance running. In 2016 he produced and edited the short-film... Read More →

Thursday October 26, 2017 2:45pm - 4:00pm CDT
InterContinental Stephen F Austin, Assembly Room

Conference, Indie Film Track

2:45pm CDT

Picking the Write Fellowship

Fellowships have a long list of successful alumni, but what separates one from another, and which is the best fit for you? Join this panel for a discussion on the variety of options, what they can offer, and how to use these programs as a means to break in.

Moderators

Jill Chamberlain

author The Nutshell Technique: Crack the Secret of Successful Screenwriting

Jill Chamberlain is the founder of The Screenplay Workshop (www.thescreenplayworkshop.org) where she has helped over a thousand writers with their screenplays. Her book, The Nutshell Technique: Crack the Secret of Successful Screenwriting(University of Texas Press) is the go-to manual many professionals swear by and is on the syllabus for screenwriting programs across the co... Read More →

Panelists

Grace Moss

Director, Talent Development & Inclusion, NBC Entertainment

Grace Moss is the Director of Entertainment Diversity Initiatives for NBC Entertainment. In this role, she oversees multiple programs that focus on discovering, cultivating and showcasing talented writers and directors of diverse backgrounds, with the objective of getting them staffed... Read More →

John Rhodes

co-founder ScreenCraft

John is an independent film producer with experience on many sides of the industry. He worked for Open Road Films’ acquisition team, acquiring and releasing such films as The Grey starring Liam Neeson and End of Watch starring Jake Gyllenhaal. Previously he worked as a creative... Read More →

Rebecca Windsor

Director, Warner Bros. Television Workshop

Rebecca Windsor is the Director of the Warner Bros. Television Workshop, the premier writing and directing program for professionals looking to start and/or further their careers in television. As an extension of her role developing new talent, Rebecca was recruited to help launch... Read More →

Thursday October 26, 2017 2:45pm - 4:00pm CDT
The Driskill Hotel, Victorian Balcony

Conference, Panel

2:45pm CDT

The Fine Print: Contracts and Options

Take off your reading glasses and join this discussion on the writer’s relationship with “the fine print”. Covering contractual agreements, options, and basic legal advice, this is your opportunity to seek counsel without having to sign on the dotted line.

Moderators

Scott Richter

moderator; President, Richter Scale Media

Scott M. Richter is a multiple award winning WGA writer, producer, director,attorney and founder of Richter Scale Media, his Los Angeles based production company. In addition to having written for TV, film and digital media, Scott has practiced law in both Florida and California... Read More →

Panelists

Stephen Clark

Partner, Lichter, Grossman, Nichols, Adler & Feldman

Stephen Clark is a partner in the West Hollywood, CA entertainment law firm, Lichter, Grossman, et al. For over 16 years, he has represented a diverse group of writers, directors, actors and producers in film and television. His extensive experience includes a wide variety of individual... Read More →

Chris Sparling

writer Buried, The Sea of Trees, ATM; writer/director Mercy, The Atticus Institute

hris Sparling wrote the 2010 film Buried starring Ryan Reynolds, for which he won "Best Original Screenplay" from the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures. His Black List script, ATM, was produced by Gold Circle Films and released by IFC Films in 2012. His feature directing... Read More →

Thursday October 26, 2017 2:45pm - 4:00pm CDT
The Driskill Hotel, Crystal Room

Conference, Panel

2:45pm CDT

The HartChart: La La Land

Come experience the famous “HartChart” first hand. James V. Hart (Hook, Contact, Bram Stoker’s Dracula) will explore how to develop characters and stories by getting to the “heart” of the script. Using Damien Chazelle’s award-winning La La Land as a case study, join this breakdown of establishing main character desires, charting their progress toward their goals, and creating a successful resolution. Through the HartChart’s guidelines for implementing craft, learn how to embrace structure as a friend, rather than an enemy, and how to flesh out ideas for the screen.
FaceTime interview with writer/director Damien Chazelle to kick off the session!

THIS IS AN EXTENDED PANEL THAT WILL END AT 4:15PM. Those who enrolled in the advance sign-up for this session are required to show up 15 minutes early and will be admitted first. The remaining seats will then open to badge holders.

Panelists

James V. Hart

writer Hook, Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Contact, Tuck Everlasting, Muppet Treasure Island, August Rush, Epic, Crossbones; creator HartChart story mapping tool

James V. Hart T (J.V.) was born in Shreveport, Louisiana and grew up in Ft. Worth Texas on Drive-In Movies and Saturday Matinees. His writing/producing credits include; Hook, directed by Steven Spielberg based on an idea by Hart’s then 6 year old Son, Jake, Bram Stoker's Dracula... Read More →

Thursday October 26, 2017 2:45pm - 4:15pm CDT
InterContinental Stephen F Austin, Ballroom

Conference, Panel

9:00pm CDT

Story Mixer: The Screenwriters Edition

Story Bar is pleased to present a late-night storytelling revue, featuring some of your favorite #AFF2017 Panelists and Screenwriters. Bring your drink up from the Driskill Bar and enjoy this mix of poetry, short fiction, and true-to-life tales from folks who know their way around a good story.

This Story Mixer is presented by Story Bar.

Moderators

Erin Hallagan

founder Story Bar; former AFF Creative Director

Panelists

Troy Campbell

Inspired by his experiences collaborating with Danish singer-songwriter Poul Krebs, Troy Campbell founded The House of Songs in 2009 as a one-year project to bring Danish artists to Austin. It has since expanded to 14 countries and a second home in Bentonville, Arkansas. In 2016... Read More →

Jenny Turner Hall

executive producer/writer/director The Unexplainable Disappearance of Mars Patel

Courtenay Hameister

host/head writer PRI's Live Wire Radio 2003-2015; co-writer of The Benefits of Gusbandry (web series)

For nine years, Courtenay Hameister was the host and head writer for Live Wire, a nationally-syndicated live public radio variety show distributed by Public Radio International. She's interviewed over 500 filmmakers, screenwriters, comics and other creative makers including Bob Odenkirk... Read More →

Tess Morris

writer Man Up

Pamela Ribon

writer Moana, Smurfs: The Lost Village, Ralph Breaks The Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2, Bears, Samantha Who?; comic book writer Rick and Morty, SLAM!

Russell Leigh Sharman

writer Bobbie Sue; writer/director Apartment 4E; author The Tenants of East Harlem, Nightshift NYC

Russell Leigh Sharman is a writer, filmmaker and anthropologist. He has written (and re-written) for Hollywood since 2008 when his screenplay BOBBIE SUE won a spot on the Hollywood Blacklist. He has since worked as a writer-for-hire for studios and production companies, including... Read More →

Community Partners

Story Bar

Thursday October 26, 2017 9:00pm - 10:30pm CDT
The Driskill Hotel, Ballroom

Conference, Panel

9:00am CDT

Indie Film Track: Big Stories in Small Packages

Composing an engaging story with clear characterization, dialogue, and structure is challenging when creating a feature film. Now imagine successfully placing these nuanced elements into a half-hour or less. You now understand the challenge of crafting the perfect short film script. To learn tips, tricks, and strategies for brewing the right storytelling potion, come hear from our panel of experienced short film filmmakers.

Moderators

Ashland Viscosi

moderator; founder Creatives Meet Business

Panelists

Liz Cairns

director His Name is Willy; writer/director My Favourite Season, Withering Heights, Sad Bear

Liz Cairns is a director from Vancouver, BC and a graduate of the Director’s Lab at the Canadian Film Centre. Her films have played at festivals internationally, including the TIFF, Austin Film Festival, Interfilm Berlin, Female Eye Film Festival and VIFF. Programmer Curtis Woloschukcommented... Read More →

Britta Lundin

writer Riverdale; author Ship It (2018), Riverdale (comic)

Britta Lundin is a writer on Riverdale on the CW. Her debut YA novel Ship It, will be published by Freeform Books in 2018, it is based on her script by the same name which won The Bitch List for the best Bechdel Test-passing screenplays. She has also written for the Riverdale comic... Read More →

Gabrielle Shepard

writer/director Queen, Candid; producer Electrogenesis, The Homecoming

Gabrielle Shepard is a Writer, Director and Producer based in Los Angeles, California. She earned an MFA in Film and Television Producing at Chapman University where she also studied Screenwriting and Directing. Her projects have been programmed in various film festivals including... Read More →

Friday October 27, 2017 9:00am - 10:15am CDT
InterContinental Stephen F Austin, Assembly Room

Conference, Indie Film Track

9:00am CDT

Morning Improv

It’s no secret. Writers, by nature, are, well…a bit more on the introspective side. Pitching your logline like a trained Shakespearean actor or approaching your screenwriting idol with confidence may feel a tad out of your comfort zone. Never fear—AFF is here! Back by popular demand, we're offering morning improv workshops during the Conference to help you warm up your inner Lone Star in order to “rise and shine” throughout the day. Hopefully, you’ll be given the opportunity to say “yes, and” to new skills, friendships, and that screenplay deal. No experience necessary!
This workshop is presented by The New Movement.

Panelists

Chris Trew

moderator; executive producer Air Sex: The Movie; Creative Director, The New Movement; content creator The New Orleans Pelicans, Uproxx, Comedy Underground

Chris Trew is a nationally touring comedian and improv teacher with one foot based in Austin and the other in New Orleans. He co-founded The New Movement, a comedy theater and training center that puts on several annual comedy festivals and shows every night of the week. He is the host of the wildly popular Air Sex Championships, author of Improv Wins, and can be seen creating comedy content for the NBA's New Orleans Pelicans... Read More →

Community Partners

The New Movement

Friday October 27, 2017 9:00am - 10:15am CDT
The Driskill Hotel, Victorian Balcony

Conference, Panel

9:00am CDT

Nothing Personal

Everyone’s a critic – especially in show business. As a writer, It can be easy to get bogged down in readers’ notes, but feedback is an essential part of improving your writing. If you’re only looking for praise, you’ll miss opportunities to improve your craft. Join panelists for an honest conversation on how to make criticism constructive, what to make of your notes, and how to keep moving forward.

Moderators

Tim Albaugh

moderator; professor UCLA; Director, Hollins University Graduate Screenwriting Program

Tim Albaugh is a writer/producer, and a graduate of the UCLA MFA screenwriting program. Albaugh has taught screenwriting at UCLA, UC Irvine, Hollins University, Pixar Animation Studios, and Walt Disney Feature Animation. His students have sold features to all the major studios and... Read More →

Panelists

Adam Pava

writer The Boxtrolls, The Lego Movie franchise, The Stuff of Legend, Clone High, Johnny Bravo, Foster's Home For Imaginary Friends

Adam Pava wrote the stop-motion hit The Boxtrolls, which earned a 2015 Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature. He is currently adapting the graphic novel series The Stuff of Legend for Walt Disney Studios, writing an original musical for DreamWorks Animation, and developing a... Read More →

Kira Snyder

writer/producer The Handmaid's Tale, The 100; writer Pacific Rim: Uprising

Kira Snyder is a writer and Co-Executive Producer on the TV show The Handmaid’s Tale for Hulu. Her other film and television work includes the upcoming movie Pacific Rim: Uprising, pilot scripts for Hulu and FX, The 100 on the CW, Incursion for Starz, Syfy’s Eureka and Alphas... Read More →

Emily Zulauf

former Development Associate, Pixar; script supervisor Inside Out; writer/film instructor

Emily Zulauf spent over seven years with Pixar Animation Studios, first as a Creative Development Associate and then a Script Supervisor on Inside Out, before moving to Seattle. She is currently a film instructor, writer, and co-executive director of a nonprofit that works with prisoners... Read More →

Friday October 27, 2017 9:00am - 10:15am CDT
The Driskill Hotel, Maximilian Room

Conference, Panel

9:00am CDT

Science Fiction vs. Science Fact

Science fiction is the ultimate creative canvas—any world you can imagine is possible. But there’s also a part where audiences can’t help but wonder—could this really happen? Join this discussion with writers and scientists alike on balancing fiction with fact and what’s required for viewers to truly suspend their disbelief so the appearance of truth is always within arm’s reach. After all, the science fiction of today could very well be the science fact of tomorrow.

This panel is presented by The Science and Entertainment Exchange.

Moderators

Rick Loverd

Panelists

Amy Berg

writer/executive producer Counterpart, Da Vinci's Demons, Caper, Eureka; writer Person of Interest, Leverage, The 4400

Amy Berg is a writer and executive producer for film and television. She's written for a dozen shows including Da Vinci's Demons, Person of Interest, Eureka, Leverage, and The 4400. She also created the award-winning digital series Caper. Along with her feature work, she's currently... Read More →

Kevin Hand

Deputy Project Scientist, Europa

Eric Heisserer

writer/director Hours; writer Arrival, The Thing, Final Destination 5

Eric Heisserer is a screenwriter and author who recently won the Writers Guild of America award for his screenplay Arrival, for which he also received an Academy Award nomination. The film, directed by Denis Villeneuve, and starring Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner, is a sci-fi thriller... Read More →

Doug Jung

writer Star Trek Beyond, God Particle, Big Love, Banshee

After graduating from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, Doug Jung’s first feature was Confidence starring Ed Burns and Dustin Hoffman. He’s written extensively for television as well as film, including HBO’s Big Love and as co-creator of TNT’s Dark Blue. Star Trek Beyond was... Read More →

Community Partners

The Science and Entertainment Exchange

Friday October 27, 2017 9:00am - 10:15am CDT
St. David's Episcopal Church, Bethell Hall

Conference, Panel

Tags On Story

9:00am CDT

Script-to-Screen: Snowpiercer

Join Snowpiercer co-writer Kelly Masterson as he dissects the story’s journey from graphic novel to script-to-screen. Masterson will reference specific scenes from the film—with clips projected throughout—and discuss writing for a multinational audience, the writer/director relationship with Joon-ho Bong, writing through language barriers, and the layered messages throughout the film.

Moderators

Dennis Bishop

Moderator; producer Dexter; Film Chair KD Conservatory, Dallas

Dennis created and is Chair of the Film Program at KD Conservatory, College of Film and Dramatic Arts, Dallas, Texas. KD Conservatory is a fully accredited college offering Associate of Applied Arts Degrees in Acting Performance, Musical Theatre, and Motion Picture Production. A... Read More →

Panelists

Kelly Masterson

writer Before the Devil Knows You're Dead, Snowpiercer

Kelly Masterson is a playwright/screenwriter. He wrote the screenplay for Snowpiercer, a post-apocalyptic thriller, with Korean Director, Bong Joon Ho. It starred Chris Evans, Tilda Swinton, Octavia Spencer, Ed Harris and John Hurt. Snowpiercer broke box office records in Korea and... Read More →

Friday October 27, 2017 9:00am - 10:15am CDT
The Driskill Hotel, Ballroom

Conference, Panel

Tags On Story

9:00am CDT

New Frontiers of Storytelling

Writers are rapidly finding new ways to break in and tell their stories. With the rise of digital series, video games, podcasts, virtual reality, and other emerging mediums, the traditional landscape of narrative fiction is changing. Learn how these panelists paved their own paths using new frontiers of storytelling as their calling cards, and how you can do the same.

Moderators

Evan Bregman

Director of Programming, Rooster Teeth, SCRIPTED DIGITAL SERIES JUROR

Evan Bregman is Director of Programming at Rooster Teeth Productions, a pioneering studio responsible for some of the biggest online series in history, such as the award-winning and longest-running web series, Red vs. Blue. In this role, he oversees the strategic release of over 7,000... Read More →

Panelists

Ryan Kaufman

Director of Narrative Design, Telltale Games

Ryan Kaufman is the Director of Narrative Design at Telltale Games, where he has worked on games like The Walking Dead, The Wolf Among Us, and Game of Thrones, striving to create and craft truly interactive narrative. Previously, he was a designer and creative director at LucasArts... Read More →

Mac Rogers

writer, The Message, LifeAfter; writer/producer Steal The Stars, The Honeycomb Trilogy

Mac Rogers is an award-winning audio dramatist and playwright based in New York City whose new audio thriller Steal the Stars is releasing episodes every Wednesday. His audio/podcast dramas The Message and Lifeafter have been downloaded over six million times. His stageplays include... Read More →

Ethan Stearns

Executive Producer, MWM Immersive

Ethan Stearns serves as the Executive Producer at Madison Wells Media (MWM) a diversified entertainment and media company focused on premium content creation in film, television, immersive media and live theater. With his background in feature production and technology coupled with... Read More →

Friday October 27, 2017 9:00am - 10:15am CDT
The Driskill Hotel, Crystal Room

Conference, Panel | Podcast Track, Panel

10:45am CDT

A Conversation with Keenen Ivory Wayans

The trailblazing linchpin of a sprawling African-American family of comic entertainers, it was the multi-talented writer/director/producer Keenen Ivory Wayans who was the first to achieve national prominence by successfully creating, launching, and hosting the landmark, Emmy award-winning, 1990s black-oriented comedy satire In Living Color. Join this conversation with the 2017 Extraordinary Contribution to Television honoree for an in-depth conversation about his creative baby— and ultimate “pièce de résistance”—and how In Living Color paved the way for so many other artists and projects.

Moderators

John Merriman

Moderator; actor Mustang Island, You Hurt My Feelings

John Merriman is an award winning filmmaker and actor. He starred in the New York Times Critic's Pick YOU HURT MY FEELINGS, the LA Film Fest winning feature GRETCHEN, and the indie comedies PICTURES OF SUPERHEROES and CINEMA SIX. He also acted in the acclaimed Sundance film PIT STOP... Read More →

Panelists

Keenen Ivory Wayans

2017 Extraordinary Contribution to Television Award Recipient

The trail-blazing linchpin of a sprawling African-American family of comic entertainers, it was multi-talented writer/director/producer Keenen Ivory Wayans (born June 8, 1958, in New York City) who was the first to achieve national prominence by successfully creating, launching and... Read More →

Friday October 27, 2017 10:45am - 12:00pm CDT
InterContinental Stephen F Austin, Ballroom

Conference, Panel

Tags On Story

10:45am CDT

Bloodline: The Family Noir

We all have our demons. The Rayburns seem to have more than most. With their storied, dynastic image of small business success and solid moral fiber, the Rayburns seem like the very picture of the American dream. But veiled beneath gentility and a respectable legacy lurk secrets so dark they could destroy the family reputation for good. With the family’s second son, a detective, as its protagonist and narrator, this critically acclaimed show fuses the family drama with the elements of an ominous television noir. Hear from Bloodline’s co-creator Todd A. Kessler about the genesis and development of this “family noir.”

Moderators

Greg Garrett

moderator; author; Professor, Baylor University

Panelists

Todd A. Kessler

co-creator/executive producer Bloodline, Damages

Todd A. Kessler most recently co-created and executive produced the 3 season run of Netflix’s Emmy award-winning Bloodline starring Kyle Chandler, Ben Mendelsohn, Linda Cardellini, Norbert Leo Butz and Sissy Spacek. Kessler co-created and executive produced 5 seasons of the FX/DirecTV... Read More →

Friday October 27, 2017 10:45am - 12:00pm CDT
St. David's Episcopal Church, Bethell Hall

Conference, Panel

Tags On Story

10:45am CDT

Indie Film Track: Crowdfunding to Build Independence

The only proven path to independence as an artist is a direct connection to your audience. Crowdfunding is becoming a fundamental piece of most financing plans for independent films. However, many filmmakers miss the opportunity to turn their film funding campaigns into audience-building opportunities that can last an entire career and provide the groundwork for theatrical distribution that you control. This class for film-related projects will provide the crowdfunding action plan most likely to create a lasting, flourishing, direct relationship with your audience. In this workshop, you'll learn how to find your audience, how to structure your crowdfunding campaign, how to pick the right goal and backer incentives, and much more. This class is the reason crowdfunding campaigns on Seed&Spark have the highest success rate in the world (over 80% in 2017).

This panel is presented by Seed&Spark.

Panelists

Emily Best

founder/CEO Seed&Spark; co-creator F*ck Yes!

Emily Best is the founder and CEO of Seed&Spark, an entertainment platform built to increase diversity and inclusion for filmmakers and audiences. Seed&Spark’s curated streaming platform is fed by its crowdfunding platform, which has the highest campaign success rate in the world... Read More →

Sponsors

Seed&Spark

Friday October 27, 2017 10:45am - 12:00pm CDT
The Driskill Hotel, Citadel Room

Conference, Indie Film Track

10:45am CDT

Inside the Writers Room: The People v. O.J. Simpson

It was the verdict heard around the world, and one that has continued to haunt our collective conscious. A master of dramatizing true life events, Scott Alexander will guide us through his journey of co-creating The People v. O.J. Simpson and how he tackled one of the most notorious American crime stories for the screen.

Moderators

R.B. Brenner

Moderator; Director of the School of Journalism, UT Austin

R.B. Brenner is a professor and the director of the School of Journalism at the University of Texas. He arrived at UT-Austin in August 2014 from Stanford University, where he joined the faculty four years earlier after leaving The Washington Post. At The Post, his roles included... Read More →

Panelists

Scott Alexander

writer Ed Wood, The People v. O.J. Simpson, The People vs. Larry Flynt, Man on the Moon, Big Eyes

Scott Alexander has been writing professionally since 1986. He met his writing partner, Larry Karaszewski, when they were roommates at USC’s School of Cinema. On a whim, they wrote a screenplay during their senior year, which sold a week after graduation. They are best known for... Read More →

Friday October 27, 2017 10:45am - 12:00pm CDT
The Driskill Hotel, Ballroom

Conference, Panel

10:45am CDT

It's the End of the World as We Know It: Writing Dystopian Stories

Panelists who flirted with (fictional) disaster in the most calamitous ways will discuss the research, rules, and resonance needed to successfully create dystopian worlds that are as rich as they are desperate. The success often lies in harnessing the fear of things not yet in existence, but easily imagined. From post-apocalyptic chaos to totalitarianism, writers will discuss the importance of outlining, psychology, and tone when capturing dystopia on the page.

Moderators

Fred Strype

moderator; AFF Screenwriting Award Winner; Filmmaking, Screenwriting & Moving Image Arts Program Chair, Sarah Lawrence College

Fred Strype is an award-winning screenwriter and filmmaker whose work has been screened and honored internationally. He is a tenured professor at Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, NY, where he is Chair of their Filmmaking & Moving Image Arts Program. In the past, he served on... Read More →

Panelists

Kelly Masterson

writer Before the Devil Knows You're Dead, Snowpiercer

Kira Snyder

writer/producer The Handmaid's Tale, The 100; writer Pacific Rim: Uprising

Friday October 27, 2017 10:45am - 12:00pm CDT
Central Presbyterian Church, Sanctuary

Conference, Panel

Tags On Story

10:45am CDT

The Writer/Agent Relationship

The what, where, and why of finding an agent: What can you expect from the relationship? Where do you find representation? And why is having an agent important? Join screenwriters and their agents for an in-depth exploration on how to find, keep, and make the most of this important relationship.

Moderators

Tim Albaugh

moderator; professor UCLA; Director, Hollins University Graduate Screenwriting Program

Panelists

David Boxerbaum

Senior Agent, Paradigm Talent Agency

A senior agent in the Lit Department at Paradigm, David represents high level writers, directors and producers for Film and TV. David began his career as an assistant at Jerry Bruckheimer Films. He then spent a year under the tutelage of producer Rob Fried, learning about development... Read More →

Alisha Brophy

co-writer License to Drive (2017), White Girl Problems, Swiped, United States of Fuckin' Awesome

Alisha Brophy is a small town girl who always ends up in big cities. She lives in Los Angeles, but you wouldn’t know it from her cowboy boots and New York accent. She is a recent Moth GrandSLAM champion, and you can hear her storytelling broadcast nationally on “The Moth” radio... Read More →

Scott Miles

co-writer License to Drive (2017), White Girl Problems, Swiped, United States of Fuckin' Awesome

Scott Miles lives for BBQ and cinema in equal measure. With degrees in both film production and screenwriting, he's quite comfortable switching hats between writer and director, so long as one of those is a fancy stovepipe hat like Lincoln wore. He thinks he’d look good in that... Read More →

Valarie Phillips

Literary Agent in Film and Television, Paradigm Talent Agency

Valarie Phillips has shepherded the careers of Jamie Linden (Money Monster), Anthony Jaswinski (The Shallows), and Matthew Sand (Deep Water Horizon). Through the years, Valarie has worked closely with director Kenny Ortega, guiding him through the Michael Jackson concert-turned-documentary... Read More →

Friday October 27, 2017 10:45am - 12:00pm CDT
InterContinental Stephen F Austin, Assembly Room

Conference, Panel

10:45am CDT

The Writer/Producer Relationship

What does it take to forge a strong collaboration? Join this candid conversation with Lindsay Doran, Scott Frank, and Craig Mazin on how to be a writer that producers love, and vice versa, as well as the inevitable hardships that go hand-in-hand with trusting others with your fate.

Moderators

Oren Uziel

writer/director Shimmer Lake; writer 22 Jump Street, Freaks of Nature, The God Particle

Panelists

Lindsay Doran

producer Stranger Than Fiction, Sense and Sensibility, Nanny McPhee, Dead Again; executive producer The Firm, Sabrina; former president/COO of United Artists

Lindsay Doran has worked in the movie business for more than 30 years as a studio executive and as a producer. She has served as the President and COO of United Artists Pictures and as the President of Sydney Pollack’s Mirage Productions. She currently divides her time between her... Read More →

Scott Frank

writer Dead Again, Out of Sight, Get Shorty, Minority Report, Logan; writer/director The Lookout, A Walk Among the Tombstones, Godless

Scott Frank graduated from UCSB in 1982 with a degree in Film Studies. Since then, he has written and or directed over fifteen feature films and television programs.In 2008, Scott Frank’s directorial debut, The Lookout, won the Independent Spirit award for “Best First Feature... Read More →

Craig Mazin

co-host Scriptnotes; writer Identity Thief, The Hangover Parts II & III, Scary Movie 3 & 4, RocketMan

Writer and producer Craig Mazin has made a name for himself as a screenwriter with a knack for appealing to broad audiences over the course of his twenty-year career. His hit films include The Hangover Part II and Part III and Identity Thief.Currently, Mazin is writing a whodunit-with-a-twist... Read More →

Friday October 27, 2017 10:45am - 12:00pm CDT
St. David's Episcopal Church, Historic Sanctuary

Conference, Panel

10:45am CDT

YouTube Red Presents: 'Do You Want To See A Dead Body?'

This comedy series follows comedian Rob Huebel (“Childrens Hospital,” “Transparent”) and his celebrity friends who join him on a quest to go check out a dead body he found. And then maybe they will go get tacos or something... Celebrity guest stars include Justin Long, Adam Scott, Judy Greer, Terry Crews, and John Cho along with many more. Huebel, Owen Burke, Nick Jasenovec, and Jonathan Stern serve as executive producers. The series is produced by Abominable Pictures and Funny or Die and will debut on November 15 on YouTube Red.

Join Rob, Owen, and Jonathan for a panel to discuss the development/making of the series, the funniest behind the scenes moments, comedy in the digital age, and more. Then, be sure to stop by the screening at 7:30pm to get a first look at three of the episodes.

OPEN TO FILM PASS HOLDERS

Moderators

Richard Whittaker

The Austin Chronicle's token Englishman, Richard is also a regular contributor to the OneOfUs.Net podcast network, covering new films and revival releases. His work has appeared in a multitude of diverse publications, including The Texas Observer, Fortean Times, Birth.Movies.Death, and Inked Magazine. He may also be the only working film journalist who is a pro-wrestling ri... Read More →

Panelists

Owen Burke

producer LA -> Vegas, The Chris Gethard Show, Drunk History

Owen Burke is a three time Emmy nominated Writer/Producer, currently running television for Will Ferrell and Adam McKay’s Gary Sanchez Productions. He is currently producing Fox’s upcoming comedy LA->Vegas with Steve Levitan, as well as THE CHRIS GETHARD SHOW for TruTV and Comedy... Read More →

Rob Huebel

creator/actor Do You Want to See a Dead Body?; actor Transparent, The House, Baywatch

Actor, writer, and comedian Rob Huebel has made a name for himself in both the television and film worlds. He is best known for his role as Dr. Owen Maestro on Adult Swim’s award-winning series, Childrens Hospital, for which he earned an acting Emmy nomination. He currently stars... Read More →

Jonathan Stern

executive producer Wet Hot American Summer, Childrens Hospital, Mystery Science Theater 3000, Burning Love, Hotwives of Orlando, Shrink

Stern has served as executive producer and/or co-creator on over 15 television or digital series and has produced on 10 feature films. Past projects include: “Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp” and "Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later" (Netflix), “Childrens... Read More →

Sponsors

YouTube Red

Friday October 27, 2017 10:45am - 12:00pm CDT
800 Congress

Conference, Panel

10:45am CDT

Script-to-Podcast-to-Screen

The road from script to podcast is an exciting one, but the journey doesn’t end there. Creating a podcast is only the first step on the road to the screen for these writers who are living evidence of the career opportunities in the emerging world of fiction podcasts.

Moderators

Fabienne Harford

Podcast Competition Director; Managing Director (2015-2016), Austin Film Festival

Panelists

Jenny Turner Hall

executive producer/writer/director The Unexplainable Disappearance of Mars Patel

Lauren Shippen

writer/creator The Bright Sessions

Lauren Shippen is the writer and creator of the science fiction podcast, The Bright Sessions. Since its debut in November of 2015, the podcast has won numerous awards, was named iTunes Best of 2016 and has been featured in Vox, Popular Science, Wired, The London Evening Standard... Read More →

Friday October 27, 2017 10:45am - 12:00pm CDT
The Driskill Hotel, Maximilian Room

Conference, Panel, Podcast Track | Podcast Track, Panel, Podcast Track

Tags On Story

1:30pm CDT

A Conversation with Walter Hill

From character studies to blockbusters, legendary writer/director/producer Walter Hill has mastered the comedy, drama, thriller, and western genres. Join the 2017 Extraordinary Contribution to Film Award Recipient for an in-depth conversation moderated by Shane Black.

Moderators

Shane Black

writer/director The Nice Guys, Iron Man 3, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang; writer Lethal Weapon, Last Action Hero

Shane Black has been responsible for creating a number of box office blockbusters, including the first two installments of the Lethal Weapon series and 1991’s The Last Boy Scout. In 1990, Shane sold his espionage script The Long Kiss Goodnight for a record sum of money. His directorial... Read More →

Panelists

Walter Hill

2017 Extraordinary Contribution to Film Award Recipient

During the course of his notable career, Walter Hill has been a writer, director and producer on projects ranging from classic westerns to action-packed thrillers and buddy comedies, all marked with his unique visceral style. A veteran director of twenty feature films, he has also... Read More →

Friday October 27, 2017 1:30pm - 2:45pm CDT
InterContinental Stephen F Austin, Ballroom

Conference, Panel

Tags On Story

1:30pm CDT

Between the (Paper) Sheets

If you’re a virgin to writing sex scenes, this panel is for you. When a writer opens the bedroom door (read: bathroom stall, kitchen floor, backseat of the car), they are exposing some of the most naked attributes of their characters—their vulnerabilities, desires, neuroses, and proclivities—thus providing a deeper understanding of their motivations. Panelists will explore the language between the (paper) sheets, the secrets of crafting chemistry, and how to write a hot and heavy scene that’s sexy and you know it.

Moderators

Etta Devine

Moderator

Etta Devine is an actor, filmmaker, and writer and one of 2017's Movie Maker Magazine's 25 Screenwriters to watch. With partner Gabriel Diani she directed, wrote, produced and starred in the feature film “Diani & Devine Meet the Apocalypse” which premiered at the 2016 Austin film... Read More →

Panelists

Colette Burson

writer/director/EP Permanent, Hung; writer The Riches

Colette Burson is a television writer, screenwriter, producer and director. She co-created, executive produced and was the showrunner of "Hung" for HBO, as well as wrote for "The Riches" on FX. She has written original television pilots and episodes for Showtime, FX, NBC, and Canal+/Europa... Read More →

Ben Lewin

writer/director The Sessions

Ben Lewin's career has encompassed award-winning documentaries, feature films, TV movies, mini-series and episodic programs. Lewin wrote and directed THE SESSIONS, a film about Mark O’Brien (John Hawkes) who was paralyzed by polio and confined to an iron lung, and who had a life-changing... Read More →

Tracy Oliver

co-writer Barbershop 3, Girls Trip, The Neighbors, The Start-UP, Survivor's Remorse; writer/producer/actress The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl

Tracy Oliver is an emerging writer in the TV, feature, and digital space. She recently co-wrote Barbershop 3 with Black-ish creator, Kenya Barris, as well as the Universal movie, Girl Trip. Her television credits include The Neighbors, The Start-Up, and Survivor's Remorse where she... Read More →

Guinevere Turner

writer American Psycho, The Notorious Bettie Page, Go Fish

Guinevere Turner is a writer, director and actor who has been working in film and TV since her 1994 debut film Go Fish, which she wrote, produced and starred in. She teamed up with director Mary Harron to write the films American Psycho and The Notorious Bettie Page. She was a writer... Read More →

Friday October 27, 2017 1:30pm - 2:45pm CDT
The Driskill Hotel, Maximilian Room

Conference, Panel

Tags On Story

1:30pm CDT

Research and Development at Disney and Pixar Animation Studios: Collaboration and Immersion

The development process at Disney and Pixar is unique in the industry and has led to critically-acclaimed and award-winning films like Disney's Moana and Zootopia and Pixar’s Toy Story 3 and Inside Out. Creative development team members Jessica Julius, Emily Mollenkopf, and Erika Schmidt will share insights on how research and development help create believable worlds, engaging characters, and compelling stories.

Panelists

Jessica Julius

Director, Creative Affairs at Walt Disney Animation Studios

Jessica Julius is a Director of Creative Affairs at Walt Disney Animation Studios. She has over 12 years experience in film development and production, most recently on Disney’s 2017 film releases Moana (nominated for two Academy Awards®) and the Oscar-winning Zootopia. She has... Read More →

Emily Mollenkopf

Development Executive, Pixar Animation Studios

Emily Mollenkopf is the Development Executive at Pixar Animation Studios. Emily joined Pixar in 2011 on Pixar’s first TV special; Toy Story of TERROR! She began her career at G4TV producing video game-centric television for X-Play and Attack of the Show. As Development Executive... Read More →

Erika Schmidt

Creative Development Associate, Pixar Animation Studios

Erika Schmidt is a Creative Development Associate at Pixar Animation Studios, where she works with directors in the earliest phases of their filmmaking process, conducting research to help deepen the worlds of their stories. She also supports the process of matching writers with Pixar’s... Read More →

Friday October 27, 2017 1:30pm - 2:45pm CDT
The Driskill Hotel, Citadel Room

Conference, Panel

1:30pm CDT

Screenwriters Agreements

Industry representatives in entertainment provide an overview of screenwriter agreements, contracts, and legalities, along with advice on securing the best deal, avoiding common mistakes, and knowing what a Writers Guild agreement has to offer.

Moderators

Fred Strype

moderator; AFF Screenwriting Award Winner; Filmmaking, Screenwriting & Moving Image Arts Program Chair, Sarah Lawrence College

Panelists

Stephen Clark

Partner, Lichter, Grossman, Nichols, Adler & Feldman

Bob Sobhani

co-founder and Partner, Magnet Management

After a stint as a story analyst/reader at the Sundance Writer's Lab, and later ICM, Bob took an internship at The Ladd Co. for producer Alan Ladd, Jr.In 1998, Bob started working at Zide/Perry Entertainment where he worked both in management and production. He worked on numerous... Read More →

Kay S. Wolf

WGAW Senior Representative

Kay S. Wolf is the Writers Guild of America West’s Senior Representative in Los Angeles. She conducts outreach to writers, encouraging them to use WGA contracts both domestically and in international markets, and is involved in WGA screenwriter matters within the Member Organizing... Read More →

Friday October 27, 2017 1:30pm - 2:45pm CDT
The Driskill Hotel, Victorian Balcony

Conference, Panel

1:30pm CDT

Structurally Sound

Are you getting stuck in the middle or end of a script? Craig Mazin, writer of Identity Thief and co-host of the popular ScriptNotes podcast, introduces a new way of thinking about structure. He'll discuss how to build your plot as a function of character and theme, why beginnings are endings and endings are beginnings, and how the answer to solving your plot is to stop thinking about plot. After this panel, you'll never get lost in a script again!

Panelists

Craig Mazin

co-host Scriptnotes; writer Identity Thief, The Hangover Parts II & III, Scary Movie 3 & 4, RocketMan

Friday October 27, 2017 1:30pm - 2:45pm CDT
The Driskill Hotel, Ballroom

Conference, Panel

1:30pm CDT

Tampering with Temporal Elements

Eat your heart out, H.G. Wells. Sometimes it's okay to tamper with time. Manipulating a narrative's timeline can be a powerful structural device as well as a strong vehicle for emphasizing character, theme, and a writer's voice. If employed correctly, unconventional temporal elements can enhance and liberate a story in ways traditional narratives cannot. Join this discussion on ditching the passé “beginning-to-end” model in favor of a more nuanced approach. While there are no set rules to successfully deconstructing a storyline, panelists will offer their best advice and techniques on how to create nonlinear structures.

Moderators

Greg Garrett

moderator; author; Professor, Baylor University

Panelists

Todd A. Kessler

co-creator/executive producer Bloodline, Damages

Oren Uziel

writer/director Shimmer Lake; writer 22 Jump Street, Freaks of Nature, The God Particle

Friday October 27, 2017 1:30pm - 2:45pm CDT
Central Presbyterian Church, Sanctuary

Conference, Panel

Tags On Story

1:30pm CDT

Television Comedy

Comedic TV writers are constantly required to work against the clock to produce fresh, funny material. The expectations to which they are held can sometimes seem like jokes themselves. Sit down with writers as they dissect how to overcome challenges and make people laugh.

Moderators

Courtenay Hameister

host/head writer PRI's Live Wire Radio 2003-2015; co-writer of The Benefits of Gusbandry (web series)

Panelists

Megan Amram

writer/producer The Good Place, Transparent, Silicon Valley, Parks & Recreation; writer The Simpsons; author Science...For Her!

Megan Amram is a comedy writer and performer currently working on The Simpsons as well as the NBC series The Good Place. Previously, Megan was a writer on the acclaimed Amazon series Transparent, HBO’s Silicon Valley, and the final three seasons of the NBC comedy Parks and Recreation... Read More →

Stefani Robinson

writer Atlanta, Man Seeking Woman, Deadpool (television show)

Stefani Robinson is a screenwriter whose credits include the Emmy-nominated FX series Atlanta and the FXX series Man Seeking Woman. She is currently working on the FXX animated Deadpool series and is also working on features for Sony and Fox Searchlight. She graduated from Emerson... Read More →

Friday October 27, 2017 1:30pm - 2:45pm CDT
St. David's Episcopal Church, Bethell Hall

Conference, Panel

Tags On Story

1:30pm CDT

The Managers

Get the answers to all of your questions about finding and working with a manager. At what point do you need one? What can you expect from the relationship? Join this panel of established managers for answers to all these questions and more!

Moderators

Linnea Toney

Moderator

Linnea is a Talent Manager and Executive Producer with projects spanning digital and traditional media including this year’s I HART FOOD which can be seen on the Food Network. Previously, Linnea worked at Ryan Seacrest Productions, developing comedy and drama projects such as ABC's Mixology and... Read More →

Panelists

Glenn Cockburn

President/Founder, Meridian Artists

Glenn Cockburn is the founder of Meridian Artists. Along with the rest of the Meridian Artists team, Glenn currently represents a select roster of some of Canada’s most talented writers, directors and producers. Glenn’s career started in 1996 when he began working as script reader... Read More →

Ryan Cunningham

Literary Manager, Madhouse Entertainment; producer Slender Man (2018)

Ryan Cunningham is a literary manager and producer at Madhouse Entertainment. Ryan began his career in physical production as a PA on several films and TV shows shooting in New Orleans while he attended Tulane University. After graduating, Ryan moved to Los Angeles where he worked... Read More →

Chris Emerson

Literary Manager, Magnet Management

Wheel of Fortune indirectly launched Chris' entertainment career when he won a speedboat as a contestant on the show and was unable to afford the taxes. So he took a job in television production and discovered a love for the behind-the-scenes machinations of the entertainment industry... Read More →

Daniela Garcia-Brcek

Literary Manager, Circle of Confusion

Daniela Garcia-Brcek is a literary manager at Circle of Confusion, a feature film & television production and management company with offices in New York and Los Angeles. Daniela identifies as a TCI – a third culture individual: Venezuelan-born, with a childhood in South East Asia... Read More →

Friday October 27, 2017 1:30pm - 2:45pm CDT
InterContinental Stephen F Austin, Assembly Room

Conference, Panel

3:15pm CDT

A Conversation with Misha Green

Writer-producer Misha Green isn’t afraid to push boundaries. Underground broke new ground in the historical drama by exploring American heroes through a unique blend of modern music and genre writing. Join Green for a conversation on her experience as a first time showrunner, having to say goodbye to a story before it’s finished, and what she’s working on next.

Moderators

Ya'Ke Smith

writer/director Katrina’s Son, WOLF, dawn., Hope’s War, One Hitta Quitta; Film Professor, UT Arlington

Ya’Ke Smith, known for his unflinching and veracious style of storytelling, is a rising voice in independent cinema.His films have received world-wide acclaim, screening and winning awards at over 90 film festivals. The Director’s Guild of America, the Student Academy Awards... Read More →

Panelists

Misha Green

writer/producer Underground, Lovecraft Country, The Mother

Misha Green is a writer, producer and showrunner currently working on HBO’s recently announced LoveCraft Country as well as the feature The Mother at Netflix. Most recently, she worked on WGN’s Underground, serving as the co-creator, an executive producer and a writer. The show... Read More →

Friday October 27, 2017 3:15pm - 4:30pm CDT
800 Congress

Conference, Panel

Tags On Story

3:15pm CDT

Deconstructing: Blade Runner

The year 2019 seemed like a distant future when Blade Runner was released, but its complex themes about the nature of humanity ring true today. Join writers and fans of the original film as they deconstruct the layers of narrative, genre, and theme in this cult classic.

Moderators

Scott Myers

writer K-9, Alaska, Trojan War; Assistant Professor, DePaul University School of Cinematic Arts,

Scott has written over thirty movie and TV projects at every major Hollywood studio and broadcast network. His screenwriting credits include K-9, Alaska, and Trojan War. From 2002-2010, Scott was an executive producer at Trailblazer Studios, overseeing the company’s original content... Read More →

Panelists

Jon Hoeber

writer Battleship, Red & Red 2, Meg (2018), Happytime Murders (2018), Naruto (2019)

Screenwriting brothers Jon Hoeber and Erich Hoeber have worked in a diverse array of genres and formats during their 20-year stint in Hollywood. First gaining traction with the 1998 Sundance hit Montana, the team began aprolific run in features, animation, and graphic novels,writing... Read More →

Doug Jung

writer Star Trek Beyond, God Particle, Big Love, Banshee

Anne Cofell Saunders

co-executive producer Timeless; writer Battlestar Galactica, 24; writer/producer Smallville, Revolution, Chuck

Anne Cofell Saunders first broke into television on the ground-breaking series 24, where she earned her first writing credit. From there, she staffed on the critically acclaimed re-imagining of Battlestar Galactica – where she earned a Peabody Award and was nominated for a Hugo... Read More →

Friday October 27, 2017 3:15pm - 4:30pm CDT
The Driskill Hotel, Ballroom

Conference, Panel

Tags On Story

3:15pm CDT

Demystifying the Development Process

Development can be a confusing time. What exactly goes into development, who’s involved, and how can a writer best prepare for the process? Join a panel of executives as they shed light on the development process.

Moderators

Scott Richter

moderator; President, Richter Scale Media

Panelists

Bryan Furst

President of Film and Television, Skybound Entertainment

Bryan Furst is the Co-President of TV and Film at Skybound Entertainment, a title he shares with brother Sean Furst. At Skybound, Bryan has leveraged the company’s vast library of IP to build a robust slate of film and television projects. He and his brother collaborate with the... Read More →

Jenny Marchick

Senior Vice President, Sony Pictures Animation

As Senior Vice President of Development for Sony Pictures Animation, Jenny Marchick is responsible for the creative supervision of a number of upcoming features for the studio, from inception to script through production.Her upcoming films include The Star, a faith-based feature directed... Read More →

Ashley Strumwasser

Director of Development, Hello Sunshine

Ashley Strumwasser is a Director of Development at Hello Sunshine, Reese Witherspoon’s company dedicated to telling female-driven stories across all platforms. Prior to Hello Sunshine, Ashley was a creative executive to the director James Griffiths, who has an overall deal at ABC... Read More →

Friday October 27, 2017 3:15pm - 4:30pm CDT
InterContinental Stephen F Austin, Assembly Room

Conference, Panel

3:15pm CDT

Funny Features

Take part in this conversation with feature film writers who have successfully navigated writing for hardest genre.

Moderators

John Merriman

Moderator; actor Mustang Island, You Hurt My Feelings

Panelists

Scott Alexander

writer Ed Wood, The People v. O.J. Simpson, The People vs. Larry Flynt, Man on the Moon, Big Eyes

Dana Fox

writer What Happens in Vegas, Couples Retreat, How to Be Single; creator/showrunner Ben and Kate; director New Girl

Dana Fox is a television and film writer, producer, and director. Dana graduated from Stanford University with a degree in English and Art History, and then went on to get her MFA in film and television producing from USC Film School's Peter Stark Producing Program. Among her credits... Read More →

Oren Uziel

writer/director Shimmer Lake; writer 22 Jump Street, Freaks of Nature, The God Particle

Herschel Weingrod

writer Trading Places, Brewster’s Millions, Twins, Kindergarten Cop, Space Jam; producer Falling Down, The Final Season; director Last Wishes

Herschel Weingrod has been a working screenwriter and producer for over twenty-five years. His credits include Trading Places, Twins, Kindergarten Cop, Brewster’s Millions, Falling Down, Space Jam, Pure Luck, and The Final Season. He is an alumnus of the University of Wisconsin... Read More →

Friday October 27, 2017 3:15pm - 4:30pm CDT
St. David's Episcopal Church, Historic Sanctuary

Conference, Panel

3:15pm CDT

Inside the Writers Room: The Deuce

HBO’s new series The Deuce takes an immersive look at the evolution of the sex work industry in 1970s Manhattan. With a palpable griminess coating the city, this show builds a world big enough to explore the exploitation and power dynamics running rampant among its characters. Sit down with writing duo George Pelecanos and David Simon as they discuss their first time working as co-creators, the importance of research for this period piece, and how setting influences theme and character.

Moderators

Michael MacCambridge

Moderator

From 1988-95, Michael MacCambridge was a columnist and critic at the Austin American-Statesman, writing about movies, music and popular culture. Since then, he has written and edited several books, including America's Game: The Epic Story of How Pro Football Captured A Nation, which The... Read More →

Panelists

George Pelecanos

novelist; writer/producer The Wire, The Deuce, Treme, The Pacific

George Pelecanos was born in Washington, D.C. He worked as a line cook, dishwasher, bartender, and woman’s shoe salesman before publishing his first novel in 1992. Pelecanos is the author of twenty books set in and around Washington, D.C.: A Firing Offense, Nick's Trip, Shoedog... Read More →

David Simon

writer/executive producer The Wire, Treme, Show Me A Hero, The Deuce

David Simon is a Baltimore-based journalist, author and television producer. A former crime reporter for the Baltimore Sun, he is the creator of the celebrated HBO series The Wire, which depicts the political and socioeconomic fissures in an American city. His other television credits... Read More →

Friday October 27, 2017 3:15pm - 4:30pm CDT
InterContinental Stephen F Austin, Ballroom

Conference, Panel

Tags On Story

3:15pm CDT

Is Your Script or Production in Jeopardy?

Making films can be a risky business, and filmmakers are often left in the dark when trying to navigate the gambles that go hand-in-hand with bringing their stories to life. Join industry experts for an interactive game of Jeopardy that addresses the common challenges filmmakers face when developing their projects. Jeopardy topics will include: dealing with idea theft, use of name and likeness, false light, issues around stories based on or inspired by true events, legal pitfalls when blurring fact with fiction, public domain and fair use complexities, and the critical role insurance plays in getting your story out there.
This panel is presented by Hiscox Insurance.

Panelists

Melissa Georges

Counsel, Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz

Melissa Georges is counsel to our Entertainment Group. For more than 15 years, she has helped award-winning film and television producers, directors, actors, writers, animators, and comedians resolve complex legal issues to get their projects cleared and distributed.Ms. Georges assesses... Read More →

Laura Lee Prather

Partner, Litigation Practice Group

Ms. Prather is a Partner in the Litigation Practice Group at Haynes and Boone, LLP in Austin, TX. Her practice includes First Amendment, intellectual property and media/entertainment litigation and appeals. She is an advocate at the Texas Legislature on First Amendment and open government... Read More →

Joanne Richardson

Practice Leader Media & Entertainment, Hiscox Insurance

Joanne Richardson has been underwriting media and entertainment liability for over 20 years and was designated a Chartered Property Casualty Underwriting (CPCU) in 1995. She spent nine years as an Underwriting Officer at Employers’ Reinsurance Corp./GE Capital (ERC), in New York... Read More →

Peter Rienecker

Vice President, Legal Affairs for Home Box Office, HBO

Peter Rienecker is Vice President, Legal Affairs for Home Box Office, responsible for legal matters concerning development, production, distribution and advertising of original programming, First Amendment issues, intellectual property and related labor concerns. In particular, he... Read More →

Sponsors

Hiscox Insurance

Friday October 27, 2017 3:15pm - 4:30pm CDT
The Driskill Hotel, Crystal Room

Conference, Panel

3:15pm CDT

Represent Yourself. Represent Others. Responsibly.

This is a frank discussion about the creative side of navigating our diverse landscape. Whitewashing. Representation. Writers and their identities are more central to the conversation than ever before. As creatives, we do not want to be limited to writing only our own experiences. As humans, we have an obligation to address the inequities in our industry and work towards equal representation. This panel will discuss the complex and nuanced questions of representation, responsibility, and creativity. In the end, it's about making the best possible work, responsibly.
This panel is presented by Seed&Spark.

Moderators

Emily Best

founder/CEO Seed&Spark; co-creator F*ck Yes!

Panelists

Tracy Oliver

co-writer Barbershop 3, Girls Trip, The Neighbors, The Start-UP, Survivor's Remorse; writer/producer/actress The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl

Kay Oyegun

writer This Is Us, Queen Sugar

Katherine (Kay) Oyegun is a drama writer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania by way of Lagos, Nigeria. She is currently a staffed on the NBC series This Is Us. She previously wrote on the OWN series Queen Sugar, from writer/director, Ava DuVernay. Kay has worked on the ABC series The... Read More →

Pamela Ribon

writer Moana, Smurfs: The Lost Village, Ralph Breaks The Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2, Bears, Samantha Who?; comic book writer Rick and Morty, SLAM!

Sponsors

Seed&Spark

Friday October 27, 2017 3:15pm - 4:30pm CDT
The Driskill Hotel, Citadel Room

Conference, Panel

3:15pm CDT

The Creative Career: Practical Tips for Starting Out

A panel of successful WGAW writers will discuss what you need to know in your career, how to avoid common pitfalls, and what the Writers Guild can do for you.

This panel is presented by the Writers Guild of America, West.

Moderators

Amy Berg

writer/executive producer Counterpart, Da Vinci's Demons, Caper, Eureka; writer Person of Interest, Leverage, The 4400

Panelists

Megan Amram

writer/producer The Good Place, Transparent, Silicon Valley, Parks & Recreation; writer The Simpsons; author Science...For Her!

Michael Green

co-creator/executive producer American Gods; writer Blade Runner 2049, Murder on the Orient Express, Logan

Michael Green is a television and film writer and producer. In 2017, Green wrote 20th Century Fox’s adaptation of Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express, directed by Kenneth Branagh, and co-wrote Blade Runner 2049, directed by Denis Villeneuve, Alien: Covenant, directed... Read More →

Eric Heisserer

writer/director Hours; writer Arrival, The Thing, Final Destination 5

Raamla Mohamed

writer/supervising producer Scandal

Raamla was born and raised in Los Angeles by her Somalian father and her South Bronx-ian mother. After graduating from Columbia University with a double major in English Literature and Film Studies, Raamla remained in NYC to work in off-Broadway theater. She then went on to receive... Read More →

Sponsors

WGA West

Friday October 27, 2017 3:15pm - 4:30pm CDT
Central Presbyterian Church, Sanctuary

Conference, Panel

Tags On Story

3:15pm CDT

The Three Page Challenge

In a live version of the popular Scriptnotes podcast segment, John August, Craig Mazin, and special guests will read three pages of pre-selected registrant scripts and review them as only they can.

Panelists

John August

writer Frankenweenie, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Big Fish, Charlie's Angels, Go; co-host Scriptnotes

John August’s screenwriting credits include Go, Big Fish, Frankenweenie, Corpse Bride, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and both Charlie’s Angels movies. His feature directing debut, The Nines, premiered at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival. He also wrote the book for the Broadway... Read More →

Cullen Conly

Literary Agent, ICM Partners

Cullen Conly is an agent at ICM Partners in the Motion Picture Literary department, based in New York. His clients include Sarah-Violet Bliss & Charles Rogers, Charlie McDowell, Sian Heder, Patrick Brice, the Zellner Brothers, Ben Dickinson, Andrew Ahn and Zachary Heinzerling, among... Read More →

Daniela Garcia-Brcek

Literary Manager, Circle of Confusion

Craig Mazin

co-host Scriptnotes; writer Identity Thief, The Hangover Parts II & III, Scary Movie 3 & 4, RocketMan

Friday October 27, 2017 3:15pm - 4:30pm CDT
The Driskill Hotel, Maximilian Room

Conference, Panel

9:00pm CDT

Scriptnotes, Live!

Grab a drink from the bar and join veteran filmmakers John August and Craig Mazin for a special late night recording of their incredibly informative screenwriting podcast, Scriptnotes. August, Mazin, and special guests will discuss craft and career, complete with audience questions, and other surprises.

Panelists

John August

writer Frankenweenie, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Big Fish, Charlie's Angels, Go; co-host Scriptnotes

Craig Mazin

co-host Scriptnotes; writer Identity Thief, The Hangover Parts II & III, Scary Movie 3 & 4, RocketMan

Friday October 27, 2017 9:00pm - 10:30pm CDT
The Driskill Hotel, Ballroom

Conference, Panel

9:00am CDT

A Conversation with Mark Frost

Take part in this conversation with novelist, TV creator, screenwriter, producer, and director Mark Frost. Frost served as a writer and executive producer on seminal police drama Hill Street Blues, and co-created the cult show Twin Peaks. Join Frost as he discusses his writing style, working across mediums, and his experience working on the forefront of television.

Moderators

Barbara Morgan

Executive Director, Austin Film Festival

Panelists

Mark Frost

co-creator/writer/executive producer Twin Peaks; author/filmmaker/producer

Mark created and Executive Produced Twin Peaks for ABC and Executive Produced Hill Street Blues for NBC. He has a large presence in the feature world where he wrote Fantastic Four and Fantastic Four 2 for Fox, The Greatest Game Ever Played for Disney, and Storyville for Fox which... Read More →

Saturday October 28, 2017 9:00am - 10:15am CDT
St. David's Episcopal Church, Bethell Hall

Conference, Panel

Tags On Story

9:00am CDT

A Conversation with Michael Green

With a TV show (American Gods) and multiple features (Blade Runner: 2049, Murder on the Orient Express) coming out this year, Michael Green is a busy man. Putting out three major projects can be even harder when they’re all adaptations. Sit down with Green for a conversation on how to successfully revamp a well-known story, handle the pressure of the accompanying high expectations, and balance a workload that would challenge even the best of time management skills.

Moderators

Christopher Boone

moderator; writer/director Cents; contributor No Film School

Christopher Boone is a screenwriter and filmmaker living in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He contributes to the blog No Film School (nofilmschool.com), where he shares lessons learned from professional screenwriters about the craft and business of screenwriting. His first feature film as writer/director, Cents, from his Academy Nicholl Fellowship semifinalist screenplay, is now available on VOD... Read More →

Panelists

Michael Green

co-creator/executive producer American Gods; writer Blade Runner 2049, Murder on the Orient Express, Logan

Saturday October 28, 2017 9:00am - 10:15am CDT
Central Presbyterian Church, Sanctuary

Conference, Panel

Tags On Story

9:00am CDT

Breaking in as an Assistant

There are a lot of ways into this industry, and not all are accompanied by the glitz and glam that most of us associate with Hollywood. For many, the road to the top is paved with more empty coffee cups and dry cleaning receipts than red carpets or writers rooms. Join panelists who weren’t afraid to get their hands dirty as they share their experiences breaking in, and how they ultimately transitioned from writer’s assistant to a working writer.

Moderators

Ashland Viscosi

moderator; founder Creatives Meet Business

Panelists

Bob Dearden

writer iZombie, Play It Again, Dick

Jono Matt

co-writer Captain Planet

Stefani Robinson

writer Atlanta, Man Seeking Woman, Deadpool (television show)

Saturday October 28, 2017 9:00am - 10:15am CDT
InterContinental Stephen F Austin, Assembly Room

Conference, Panel

9:00am CDT

Drafting Dialogue

Because film and TV are such visual mediums, it’s easy to forget one of your most important storytelling tools: good dialogue. Most of us talk to people every day, so why is putting it on the page so difficult? Join this panel of speech-focused scribes for a conversation on when to “show” and when to “tell”, why dialogue is key to character development, and how it is crucial to shaping the world of your story.

Moderators

Erin Hallagan

founder Story Bar; former AFF Creative Director

Panelists

Jason Fuchs

co-writer Wonder Woman, Ice Age: Continental Drift; writer Break My Heart 1000 Times, Pan

Jason, a screenwriter, actor and producer, is best known for co-writing Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012), which broke what was then the record internationally for highest grossing animated film, as well as Joe Wright's, Pan (2015). Jason co-wrote Wonder Woman, the newest chapter... Read More →

David Lowery

writer/director A Ghost Story, Pete's Dragon, Ain't Them Bodies Saints, Pioneer; writer Pit Stop

David Lowery is a filmmaker from Texas. His films include Pioneer, St. Nick, Pete's Dragon and A Ghost Story.

Kay Oyegun

writer This Is Us, Queen Sugar

Saturday October 28, 2017 9:00am - 10:15am CDT
St. David's Episcopal Church, Historic Sanctuary

Conference, Panel

9:00am CDT

Indie Film Track: Storytelling on Any Budget

Money isn’t the only thing separating the style and content of massive studio efforts and intimate indie productions. Finding a way to make the voice of the storyteller ring through in these seemingly opposite worlds can be difficult, but it is possible! Join panelists who have dabbled in both the indie and studio worlds.

Moderators

Dennis Bishop

Moderator; producer Dexter; Film Chair KD Conservatory, Dallas

Panelists

Toby Halbrooks

writer Pete's Dragon, Peter Pan; producer Ain't Them Bodies Saints, A Ghost Story, Old Man and the Gun, Upstream Color, Listen Up Philip, Person to Person

Toby Halbrooks is a filmmaker from Dallas Texas. He still lives and works there. Also, he is a Wizard.

Tom Large

director Bodies, Wounded, Beyond; producer Little, The Hex, Kidnapped

Tom Large is a Director and Producer from London. His credits include the award winning Wounded and AFF 2017 Dark Matters feature Bodies. He is currently producing Little, Celine Held and Logan George's debut feature and the feature film The Understudy starring Bill Milner.

Hanneke Schutte

writer/director Jimmy in Pienk, Meerkat Moonship

Hanneke is a multi-award winning South African writer and director. Her first short film Superhero debuted at the Durban International Film Festival and won two SAFTAs (South African Film and Television awards) for best Short Film and Best Cinematography. In 2013 she was the winner... Read More →

Chris Sparling

writer Buried, The Sea of Trees, ATM; writer/director Mercy, The Atticus Institute

Saturday October 28, 2017 9:00am - 10:15am CDT
The Driskill Hotel, Maximilian Room

Conference, Indie Film Track

9:00am CDT

Morning Improv

Panelists

Chris Trew

moderator; executive producer Air Sex: The Movie; Creative Director, The New Movement; content creator The New Orleans Pelicans, Uproxx, Comedy Underground

Community Partners

The New Movement

Saturday October 28, 2017 9:00am - 10:15am CDT
The Driskill Hotel, Victorian Balcony

Conference, Panel

9:00am CDT

The Showrunners

Overseeing a show entails a lot of responsibility, but the time and energy that goes into creating one is extremely rewarding. As the show travels from an idea into production to become a polished product, showrunners assume many different roles throughout this process. Showrunners will discuss their role in the show and on set, how they participate in the writers room, and their day-to-day duties during production.

Moderators

Linnea Toney

Moderator

Panelists

Misha Green

writer/producer Underground, Lovecraft Country, The Mother

Sarah Gubbins

writer/co-creator/executive director I Love Dick

Sarah Gubbins is the Co-Creator, Writer and Executive Producer of I Love Dick with Jill Soloway Co-Creating, Executive Producing and Directing. Sarah is a Chicago playwright who’s play’s include: The Kid Thing, Cocked, fml: how Carson McCullers’s saved my life, and The Drinking... Read More →

Courtney A. Kemp

creator/showrunner Power

Courtney A. Kemp is a highly regarded creator, showrunner, and producer in the television industry.Kemp is the mind behind Starz’ critically acclaimed gritty New York drama, Power. The series marks her debut as a creator and showrunner and follows the complex character James “Ghost... Read More →

Saturday October 28, 2017 9:00am - 10:15am CDT
InterContinental Stephen F Austin, Ballroom

Conference, Panel

Tags On Story

9:00am CDT

What Heroes Want

John August looks at how writers can best develop and communicate their heroes’ goals, both within a scene and over the course of the film.

Panelists

John August

writer Frankenweenie, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Big Fish, Charlie's Angels, Go; co-host Scriptnotes

Saturday October 28, 2017 9:00am - 10:15am CDT
The Driskill Hotel, Ballroom

Conference, Panel

9:00am CDT

Podcast Track: How to Make a Podcast

This workshop will focus on the nuts and bolts of developing a podcast, from the starting point of an idea, to a script, to a finished produced project.

Panelists

Kc Wayland

writer/director of We’re Alive; producer Bronzeville

Kc Wayland is an award-winning writer, producer, editor, director, and United States Army veteran whose film and audio work has been enjoyed around the world. His highly successful zombie audio Theater for the Mind, We’re Alive: A Story of Survival, appeared on the Nerdist Podcast... Read More →

Saturday October 28, 2017 9:00am - 10:15am CDT
The Driskill Hotel, Crystal Room

Conference, Podcast Track | Podcast Track, Podcast Track

10:45am CDT

#Screenwriters

These days, a good social media presence is an integral part of every writer’s toolkit. Different platforms can help you show off your work, interact with your audience, and reach new writing communities. The only catch is staying on top of it all. Join these writers to learn more about how to build a smart strategy when you’re networking online.

Moderators

Courtenay Hameister

host/head writer PRI's Live Wire Radio 2003-2015; co-writer of The Benefits of Gusbandry (web series)

Panelists

Megan Amram

writer/producer The Good Place, Transparent, Silicon Valley, Parks & Recreation; writer The Simpsons; author Science...For Her!

Tess Morris

writer Man Up

Jen Statsky

writer/producer Broad City, The Good Place, Parks and Recreation, Lady Dynamite

Jen Statsky is currently a Writer/Producer on The Good Place for NBC and Broad City for Comedy Central. Prior to that, she was an executive story editor on Parks & Recreation for NBC and Lady Dynamite for Netflix. Jen has also worked as a staff writer on HBO's Hello Ladies, Comedy... Read More →

Saturday October 28, 2017 10:45am - 12:00pm CDT
The Driskill Hotel, Citadel Room

Conference, Panel

10:45am CDT

A Conversation with Noah Hawley

Join this conversation with Noah Hawley, the man behind some of TV’s best dramatic series. From Bones to Fargo to Legion, Hawley is an award-winning screenwriter, producer, and director. Join Hawley as he explores the creation and execution of a limited series, writing across mediums, and making adaptations your own.

Moderators

Maya Perez

Moderator

Maya Perez is a writer and producer. Her work has appeared in The Masters Review, Electric Literature, and Misadventures, and she is co-editor of three books: On Story - Screenwriters and Their Craft (2013), On Story - Screenwriters and Filmmakers on Their Iconic Films (2016), and... Read More →

Panelists

Noah Hawley

creator/executive producer/showrunner/writer/director

Noah Hawley is an Emmy®, Golden Globe®, PEN, Critics’ Choice, and Peabody Award winning author, screenwriter, producer and director. He has published five novels and penned the script for the feature film Lies and Alibis. He created, executive produced, and served as showrunner... Read More →

Saturday October 28, 2017 10:45am - 12:00pm CDT
Central Presbyterian Church, Sanctuary

Conference, Panel

Tags On Story

10:45am CDT

A Conversation with the 2017 Awardees

Join this highly anticipated conversation with the 2017 Awardees, Walter Hill, Kenneth Lonergan and Keenen Ivory Wayans, as they discuss their careers and approaches to the art, craft, and business of storytelling through film and television.

Moderators

Barbara Morgan

Executive Director, Austin Film Festival

Panelists

Walter Hill

2017 Extraordinary Contribution to Film Award Recipient

Kenneth Lonergan

2017 Distinguished Screenwriter Award Recipient

Kenneth Lonergan's plays include This is Our Youth (1996), Drama Desk Best Play nominee, 2015 Tony Award Best Revival nominee (Steppenwolf); The Waverly Gallery (2000), Pulitzer Prize finalist; Lobby Hero (2001), Drama Desk Best Play nominee, Outer Critics Circle Best Play nominee... Read More →

Keenen Ivory Wayans

2017 Extraordinary Contribution to Television Award Recipient

Saturday October 28, 2017 10:45am - 12:00pm CDT
InterContinental Stephen F Austin, Ballroom

Conference, Panel

Tags On Story

10:45am CDT

Combating Common Challenges

Writer’s block, self-doubt, and procrastination are problems that all writers have. Panelists will discuss how to crush these common challenges in order to let your creativity flow. If you are experiencing any of these side effects of writing, this panel is sure to be the cure!

Moderators

Scott Myers

writer K-9, Alaska, Trojan War; Assistant Professor, DePaul University School of Cinematic Arts,

Panelists

Dana Fox

writer What Happens in Vegas, Couples Retreat, How to Be Single; creator/showrunner Ben and Kate; director New Girl

Eric Heisserer

writer/director Hours; writer Arrival, The Thing, Final Destination 5

Scott Rosenberg

writer High Fidelity, Gone in Sixty Seconds, Con Air, Beautiful Girls

Scott Rosenberg has written the screenplays Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead, Beautiful Girls, Con Air, Disturbing Behavior, Gone in 60 Seconds, and Highway.He co-wrote High Fidelity and Kangaroo Jack. As well as created and produced the Showtime series, Going to California... Read More →

Saturday October 28, 2017 10:45am - 12:00pm CDT
St. David's Episcopal Church, Historic Sanctuary

Conference, Panel

10:45am CDT

Indie Film Track: Distribution and Marketing

After the challenging post-production process, filmmakers are faced with perhaps the most important question they’ll come across: how do I get people to see my film? Festivals provide the starting point for exposure, buzz, and finding like-minded creatives who see the value of your film. Using that momentum to secure distribution is challenging, arduous work—but it is possible! Attend this panel to get valuable insight into the process from representatives who can guide you through the ever-changing distribution world. Learn distribution models, marketing strategies and practices, and how to work film festivals to secure your big break!

Moderators

Lindsey Ashley

Moderator

Since 2005, Lindsey Ashley has been on staff at the Texas Film Commission helping to market all of the resources available for creative industries in Texas. As a Production Consultant and Location Scout she has worked closely with Writers, Producers, Directors, Production Designers... Read More →

Panelists

Ajay Kishore

Founder/CEO of Stareable

Ajay Kishore is the founder and CEO of Stareable, the largest community of web series creators and fans. He is a fellow at the Made in NY Media Center, serves on the jury for digital content at Series Fest and Cynopsis Short Form Video Festival, advises Tribeca Film Festival’s digital... Read More →

Kelly Sanders

Kelly Sanders has been in the film industry for over 25 years. She is currently a programming consultant with Violet Crown Cinemas. She also serves as Executive Director of Truly Indie, a Wagner-Cuban company that assists filmmakers with self-distribution and has worked on film releases... Read More →

Saturday October 28, 2017 10:45am - 12:00pm CDT
InterContinental Stephen F Austin, Assembly Room

Conference, Indie Film Track

10:45am CDT

Script-to-Screen: Kubo and the Two Strings

Join Marc Haimes for a conversation about the samurai stop motion epic, Kubo and the Two Strings. Haimes will discuss the process of bringing to life this animated, original story, including the heavy research required to make the story fit perfectly into its ancient Japanese setting. For lovers of animation or celebrators of creativity, don’t miss the making of this magical film.

Moderators

Emily Zulauf

former Development Associate, Pixar; script supervisor Inside Out; writer/film instructor

Panelists

Marc Haimes

writer Kubo and the Two Strings, Nimona, Girl Who Drank the Moon, Untitled Mark Boal Project

Growing up in Bethesda MD, Marc's love of scary books, freaky comics, bad television and great movies propelled him out to Los Angeles… where he tripped and fell into a corporate dream job as a creative executive for Dreamworks Studios. However, in 2011 Marc tore off his tie and... Read More →

Saturday October 28, 2017 10:45am - 12:00pm CDT
The Driskill Hotel, Ballroom

Conference, Panel

Tags On Story

10:45am CDT

Singular Settings

Sure, we all know how essential good characters can be to a good story, but what about the setting? The INT/EXT of a screenplay can play just as important of a role, and some writers have made the unique choice to set their story in a single location. Join this panel for an exploration of the benefits and challenges of shooting in one location, how to approach setting as a character, and the ways it can inform the world, rules, and tone of a film.

Moderators

Fred Strype

moderator; AFF Screenwriting Award Winner; Filmmaking, Screenwriting & Moving Image Arts Program Chair, Sarah Lawrence College

Panelists

Frederick Mensch

writer Nightingale; proprietor MovieBytes.com

Frederick Mensch is a Chicago-based screenwriter, playwright, and web developer. He’s the writer of the Emmy- and Golden Globe-nominated HBO Film Nightingale, starring David Oyelowo, and the proprietor of the MovieBytes.com website for screenwriters, the Internet’s most comprehensive... Read More →

Brian Nelson

writer Hard Candy, 30 Days of Night, Devil, 11/22/63, Altered Carbon

Brian Nelson wrote the original screenplay for the Lionsgate release Hard Candy, which has won multiple awards including Best Picture and Best Script at the Sitges International Film Festival in Barcelona, Spain. He also scripted the Universal release Devil from a story by M. Night... Read More →

Chris Sparling

writer Buried, The Sea of Trees, ATM; writer/director Mercy, The Atticus Institute

Dwain Worrell

writer The Wall, Marvel's Iron Fist

Dwain Worrell is a Boston native with roots in Barbados. He graduated Georgia State University with a degree in dramaturgy, and continued his education abroad in Beijing, China where he studied Mandarin. Dwain currently lives in Los Angeles where he works as a professional screen... Read More →

Saturday October 28, 2017 10:45am - 12:00pm CDT
St. David's Episcopal Church, Bethell Hall

Conference, Panel

Tags On Story

10:45am CDT

The 2017 Screenwriters to Watch

Screenwriters are, of course, the perennially overworked, underappreciated artists whose hearts, souls, and lifeblood the movie world depends on. Since its inception in 1993, Austin Film Festival has worked diligently to erode the “underappreciated” element by championing screenwriters through the Conference, film programs, and screenplay/teleplay competitions. For the second year, AFF partnered with MovieMaker Magazine to highlight filmmakers with different backgrounds and at different stages in their careers: promising creators who possess original voices, keen storytelling sensibilities, and bright and buzzy futures. Join this panel to meet just a few of 2017’s “25 Screenwriters to Watch” as they impart major turning points in their careers and important lessons learned along the way.

This panel is co-presented by MovieMaker Magazine.

Moderators

Matt Dy

moderator; Screenplay/Teleplay Director Austin Film Festival

Panelists

Henry Jones

writer/director; 2016 Drama, Sci-Fi, and Enderby Entertainment Screenplay Award Recipient

A consummate raconteur from the hinterlands of Minnesota, Jones weighs in at 180lbs of pure literary fury. After stints as a Top 40 radio DJ, a steelworker, a furniture salesman, pizza delivery driver, video store manager and college drop-out, he hustled his way to Los Angeles. Over... Read More →

Louisiana Kreutz

writer/director Quaker Oaths

Louisiana was recently named one of MovieMaker Magazine's "25 Screenwriters to Watch in 2017". Her award winning feature comedy,Quaker Oaths, has played in 12 festivals around the country, including Phoenix, Orlando, Woods Hole, Breckenridge, and its premiere at the Austin Film... Read More →

Jono Matt

co-writer Captain Planet

Jimmy Mosqueda

writer Valedictorian, The House of Rodriguez; AFF 2015 Comedy Screenplay Finalist; AFF & MovieMaker Magazine's 25 Screenwriters to Watch

Jimmy Mosqueda is a lifelong California resident, the son of Mexican immigrants, and a graduate of Stanford University. His high school dark comedy VALEDICTORIAN was a finalist in the Comedy Screenplay category at the 2015 Austin Film Festival. After Austin, Jimmy took the script... Read More →

Trey Selman

moderator

A graduate of The University of Texas, Trey believes in slow-smoked brisket, Davy Crockett and Bigfoot. He's lucky to live in the hill country and works from a collection of ramshackle diners, small town coffee shops and anywhere else the people are friendly but the wifi never works... Read More →

Sponsors

Moviemaker Magazine

Saturday October 28, 2017 10:45am - 12:00pm CDT
The Driskill Hotel, Victorian Balcony

Conference, Panel

10:45am CDT

The Writer/Manager Relationship

The what, where, and why of finding a manager. What can you expect from the relationship? Where do you find representation? And why is having an agent important? Join a screenwriter and their manager for an in-depth exploration on how to find, keep, and make the most of this important relationship.

Moderators

Tim Albaugh

moderator; professor UCLA; Director, Hollins University Graduate Screenwriting Program

Panelists

David Birke

writer Elle

Ryan Cunningham

Literary Manager, Madhouse Entertainment; producer Slender Man (2018)

Saturday October 28, 2017 10:45am - 12:00pm CDT
The Driskill Hotel, Crystal Room

Conference, Panel

10:45am CDT

Podcast Track: Turning Your Story Into $$

A series of successful podcasters will share their journey into this medium and offer advice on how to harness the power of podcasting to make a living through your storytelling. Addressing the unique financial opportunity within this industry, these panelists will dive into the finacial nuts bolts of starting and selling your podcast.

This panel is presented by Authentic.

Moderators

Tim Street

Vice President Influence and Production, Authentic

Tim is a writer, director and is the producer of two podcasts to reach number one on iTunes. He also serves as Vice President of Influence and Production at Authentic. Tim began his career producing such Nickelodeon shows as All That and What Would You Do? and has created short form... Read More →

Panelists

Rob Gokee

host/creator Tacocity Podcast; composer Daddy, Tamar & Vince, Dueling Kapowskis

Los Angeleno Rob Gokee is an author and award-winning composer for television and film. Over the last 11 years, he’s written music for over 100 films and shows, including Wicked Tuna, Braxton Family Values, The New Adventures of Peter & Wendy, and acclaimed feature films Daddy... Read More →

Lauren Shippen

writer/creator The Bright Sessions

Sponsors

Authentic

Saturday October 28, 2017 10:45am - 12:00pm CDT
The Driskill Hotel, Maximilian Room

Conference, Podcast Track | Podcast Track, Podcast Track

12:30pm CDT

Scares, Suspense, and Screenplays

While many writers have found their entry into the industry via the horror genre, writing a script with all the necessary thrills and chills is no small task. This panel will explore the psychology of terror that taps into the root of our fears and anxieties—the depths of the unknown. Learn from these writers how to fold scares and suspense into the language of your screenplay while still managing to embrace originality in a genre that is seemingly oversaturated.

Moderators

Paul Alvarado-Dykstra

Moderator

Paul co-founded Fantastic Fest, and has worked with Oscar-nominated directors Guillermo del Toro, Frances Reid, and Emmy-nominated producer Scott Carter in development and/or production. Currently, he is producing an animated feature ﬁlm adaptation of Tad Williams’ best-selling... Read More →

Panelists

David Birke

writer Elle

Brian Nelson

writer Hard Candy, 30 Days of Night, Devil, 11/22/63, Altered Carbon

Saturday October 28, 2017 12:30pm - 1:45pm CDT
St. David's Episcopal Church, Bethell Hall

Conference, Panel

Tags On Story

12:30pm CDT

Speaking Truth to Power: How Entertainment Can Tackle the Thorniest Social Issues (and Change the World)

No one needs a reminder that social issues in America and worldwide are at a boiling point. In the words of Oscar Wilde,“If you want to tell people the truth, make them laugh, otherwise they’ll kill you.” Whether it’s a laugh, a jump scare, or just a really good story, you can engage and provoke a debate through entertainment and that is the privilege and responsibility of the artist. This panel discusses how film and television can reveal truth and change minds under guise of entertaining the audience. Or did someone tap a teacup?
This panel is co- presented by Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Educational Initiatives and ScreenCraft Media

Moderators

S. Craig Watkins

Moderator

S. Craig Watkins is a Professor at the University of Texas, Austin, in the Moody College of Communication. He received his PhD from the University of Michigan. Craig has written three books that examine the media entertainment industry. His work considers, for example, the... Read More →

Panelists

Effie Brown

producer Dear White People, In the Cut, Real Women Have Curves, Project Greenlight

Effie T. Brown is an award winning film and television Producer, known for her highly acclaimed, multi-platform repertoire as well as championing inclusion and diversity in Hollywood, both behind and in front of the camera.Through her company, Duly Noted Inc., Brown has produced several... Read More →

Reggie Rock Bythewood

creator Shots Fired; writer Notorious, Get on the Bus

Reggie Rock Bythewood grew up in the Bronx, NY. He attended the High School of Performing Arts and received a BFA in theater from Marymount Manhattan College. As a teen, he acted in the soap opera Another World alongside Morgan Freeman and Joe Morton. After acting in the John Sayles... Read More →

Barbara Stepansky

writer Flint; 2013 Nicholl Fellow

Barbara Stepansky is a 2013 Nicholl Fellow and an award-winning independent writer/director. Her work was short listed for the Academy Awards, garnered the DGA Diversity Award and the Student Emmy and was featured on the Black List. She is the recipient of the Mary Pickford Foundation... Read More →

Sponsors

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

ScreenCraft Media

Saturday October 28, 2017 12:30pm - 1:45pm CDT
InterContinental Stephen F Austin, Ballroom

Conference, Panel

Tags On Story

12:30pm CDT

The Heroine's Journey

Panelists will discuss the creative side of writing female characters and the business-related challenges of working in the male-dominated film industry.

Moderators

Courtenay Hameister

host/head writer PRI's Live Wire Radio 2003-2015; co-writer of The Benefits of Gusbandry (web series)

Panelists

Emily Ferenbach

Director of Development, Hello Sunshine

Emily Ferenbach is a Director of Development at Hello Sunshine, Reese Witherspoon’s company focused on telling stories with women at the center. Before this, she was a Creative Executive at Twentieth Century Fox where she worked on the latest entries in the Kingsman, Predator and... Read More →

Jason Fuchs

co-writer Wonder Woman, Ice Age: Continental Drift; writer Break My Heart 1000 Times, Pan

Kira Snyder

writer/producer The Handmaid's Tale, The 100; writer Pacific Rim: Uprising

Saturday October 28, 2017 12:30pm - 1:45pm CDT
The Driskill Hotel, Maximilian Room

Conference, Panel

12:30pm CDT

The Networking Lounge

Come get away from the bustle of the parties and events, in our NEW Networking Lounge: a space specifically intended to help streamline networking opportunities. Open to anyone looking for an area to set meetings, talk shop, or get some of those freshly inspired ideas down on the page, our Networking Lounge offers designated tables set up for writers to meet potential co-collaborators, conspirators, and creatives. Just some of the topics featured at the lounge include: writers seeking directors; registrants flying solo; playwrights; directors seeking producers; and many more. Caffeine and hydration included!

Saturday October 28, 2017 12:30pm - 1:45pm CDT
St. David's Episcopal Church, Sumners Hall

Conference, Networking Lounge

12:30pm CDT

The Writers Room Explained

The writers room can be a mysterious place for someone trying to break into television. It’s the place where good ideas, contentious debate, and a seemingly endless supply of snacks come together to create all of your favorite TV shows. But how does it work? What is the etiquette expected? What are some of the most common issues that occur? What is the difference between a writer’s assistant and a staff writer? Story editor and executive story editor? Different producing roles and the role of the showrunner? Perhaps more importantly, how does one work their wayup the chain of command? Panelists will provide a glimpse inside these closed doors, offering secrets, anecdotes, strategies, to-do’s, and not-to-do’s.

Panelists

Amy Berg

writer/executive producer Counterpart, Da Vinci's Demons, Caper, Eureka; writer Person of Interest, Leverage, The 4400

LaToya Morgan

writer/producer Into the Badlands, Turn: Washington's Spies, Carried By Six

Born and raised in Los Angeles, LaToya Morgan is a graduate of the American Film Institute Conservatory where she received a MFA in Screenwriting. She’s an alumna of several prestigious fellowships including the Warner Bros. Television Writers’ Workshop, the Producers Guild Power... Read More →

Bradley Paul

writer Lodge 49, Better Call Saul, Hawaii Five-0

Bradley Paul has been a writer on several dramatic series including: Better Call Saul, Hawaii Five-0, and AMC's upcoming Lodge 49, which will premiere in 2018. Before moving to Los Angeles and breaking into television, he was a script reader and short film screener for the Austin... Read More →

Ray Utarnachitt

writer DC's Legends of Tomorrow, The Tomorrow People, Person of Interest

Ray Utarnachitt is currently a writer/producer on DC’S Legends of Tomorrow. He is a Michigan native and like any good Asian student, was pre-med at the University of Michigan for 3 years. Much to his parents’ dismay, he switched tracks and graduated with a Film degree. Ray broke... Read More →

Saturday October 28, 2017 12:30pm - 1:45pm CDT
St. David's Episcopal Church, Historic Sanctuary

Conference, Panel

12:30pm CDT

Unpacking the Mysteries of the Mystery

The ingredients of a satisfying mystery are plentiful: secrets and suspicions; clues and corruption; crime and consequence… But if mixed together incorrectly, yourstory can fall subject to stale tropes and more error than trials. Join this scrupulous investigation of writing the mystery genre led by true detectives and experts in the field, and learn how to be hot on the trail of the next great whodunit.

Moderators

Greg Garrett

moderator; author; Professor, Baylor University

Panelists

Mark Frost

co-creator/writer/executive producer Twin Peaks; author/filmmaker/producer

Justin Lader

writer The Discovery, The One I Love

After receiving a film degree from the University of Central Florida, Justin went on to attend the American Film Institute (AFI) where he received his Masters in Screenwriting. While at AFI, Justin met Charlie McDowell who was enrolled in the directing program. Their partnership culminated... Read More →

George Pelecanos

novelist; writer/producer The Wire, The Deuce, Treme, The Pacific

Saturday October 28, 2017 12:30pm - 1:45pm CDT
Central Presbyterian Church, Sanctuary

Conference, Panel

Tags On Story

12:30pm CDT

Writing with a Partner

Whether they meet-cute or find themselves paired on the same case, writing partners have the same goal: get it done—preferably twice as fast as everyone else. Panelists will team up to talk about finding a writing partner, developing a collective voice, staying organized, and how to effectively apply the creative power of two minds.

Moderators

Beth Serlin

moderator; Associate Professor/Interim Graduate Director of Screenwriting, Loyola Marymount University

Beth Serlin is a screenwriter, educator and firm believer in the universal nature of film language. Her career started with Beyond Silence (Jenseits der Stille), winning Best Screenplay at the Tokyo Film Festival and a nomination for Best Foreign Language film in the 1998 Academy... Read More →

Panelists

Taylor Allen

writer/executive producer Chappaquiddick; editor The Simpsons

Taylor Allen is a writer and an editor living in lovely Los Angeles, California. In 2015, Taylor co-wrote Chappaquiddick with his writing and producing partner Andrew Logan. The script earned them a spot on The Black List (and also got him blacklisted from some presumably wonderful... Read More →

Andrew Logan

writer/executive producer Chappaquiddick

Andrew Logan is a writer and producer based in Austin, TX. As a writer, Andrew was listed on the 2015 Black List for the screenplay he co-wrote called Chappaquiddick, a political thriller that chronicles the true story of what is described as the seven most dramatic days of Senator... Read More →

Tim McKeon

co-creator/showrunner PBS Kids Odd Squad

Tim McKeon is a three-time Emmy winning writer. He is currently co-creator and showrunner for the PBS KIDS show Odd Squad and the spin-off webseries Oddtube. Other writing credits include Disney’s Gravity Falls, Cartoon Network’s Adventure Time and Amazon’s Will vs The Futu... Read More →

Adam Pava

writer The Boxtrolls, The Lego Movie franchise, The Stuff of Legend, Clone High, Johnny Bravo, Foster's Home For Imaginary Friends

Saturday October 28, 2017 12:30pm - 1:45pm CDT
The Driskill Hotel, Crystal Room

Conference, Panel

12:30pm CDT

Playwriting Track: Stage Write

Oh, the theater, with its brimming lights and energy, where every performance is unique and the words of the playwright are met with reverence. One of the oldest and purest forms of entertainment, the theater is a haven for brilliant dialogue, evocative themes, and raw storytelling. Join established playwrights as they pull back the curtain on this distinguished medium and break the fourth wall by sharing seasoned lessons learned throughout their careers.

Moderators

Sarah Saltwick

Moderator

SARAH SALTWICK is a playwright based in Austin, TX, a graduate of the Michener Center for Writers at UT Austin and was a Jerome Fellow at the Playwrights' Center in Minneapolis. Recent Austin productions include A Perfect Robot at The Vortex (nominated for 3 Austin Critic Table... Read More →

Panelists

Steven Dietz

playwright/director Fiction, Bloomsday, Becky's New Car, Lonely Planet

Steven Dietz's thirty-plus plays and adaptations have been seen at over one hundred regional theatres in the United States, as well as Off-Broadway. International productions have been seen in over twenty countries and his work has been translated into ten languages. Recent world... Read More →

Julian Sheppard

Julian is the Co-Writer of Complete Unknown, directed by Joshua Marston, and starring Rachel Weisz, Michael Shannon, Kathy Bates, and Danny Glover. It premiered at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival and was released theatrically by Amazon Studios later that year. He and Mr. Marston are... Read More →

Lisa B. Thompson

playwright/scholar Underground, Single Black Female, Mother's Day, Watch; author Beyond the Black Lady: Sexuality and the New African American Middle Class

Playwright Lisa B. Thompson’s credits include: Underground (Vortex Repertory Company, 2017 David Mark Cohen New Play Award from the Austin Critics Table), Single Black Female(New Professional Theatre, 2005 LA Weekly Theatre Award for Best Comedy nominee), Mother’s Day (FronteraFest... Read More →

Saturday October 28, 2017 12:30pm - 1:45pm CDT
InterContinental Stephen F Austin, Assembly Room

Conference, Panel | Playwriting Track, Panel

12:30pm CDT

Podcast Track: Mixer

Swing by the SFA bar and meet other podcasters and panelists involved in this year's programming! *Food and drink not provided

Panelists

Rob Gokee

host/creator Tacocity Podcast; composer Daddy, Tamar & Vince, Dueling Kapowskis

Jen Gunnels

Editor, Tor Books; co-founder Tor Labs

Jen Gunnels is an editor at Tor Books, where her authors include L. E. Modesitt, Jr., Richard Baker, Kit Reed, Emily Davenport, and F. Paul Wilson. Before coming to Tor she served as drama critic and Theater Editor for the Hugo nominated New York Review of Science Fictionand as a... Read More →

Jenny Turner Hall

executive producer/writer/director The Unexplainable Disappearance of Mars Patel

Ellen Horne

Executive Producer, Audible

Ellen Horne is an Executive Producer at Audible where she produces original content, including Ponzi Supernova, Mortal City, and Light Falls: Space, Time, and an Obsession of Einstein. Prior to Audible, Ellen started as an intern at WNYC’s Radiolab and stayed there for more than... Read More →

Marco Palmieri

co-founder Tor Labs; Senior Editor, Tor Books; podcast producer Steal the Stars; book acquisition The Craft Sequence; The Emperor's Blades; The Traitor Baru Cormorant; Slaves of the Switchboard of Doom

Marco Palmieri is a senior editor for Tor Books, Forge Books, and Tor.com Publishing, where he’s privileged to work with authors such as Seth Dickinson, Max Gladstone, Kameron, Hurley, David Mack, Una McCormack, Sunny Moraine, Ilana C. Myer, Bradley W. Schenck, Lawrence M. Schoen... Read More →

Mac Rogers

writer, The Message, LifeAfter; writer/producer Steal The Stars, The Honeycomb Trilogy

Lauren Shippen

writer/creator The Bright Sessions

Benjamin Strouse

CEO Gen-Z Media

Benjamin Strouse is the CEO of Gen-Z Media (gen-z.fm), a leading producer of original, high-quality audio programming for kids and family. In his previous career as an IP attorney, Ben worked extensively across the music, film and theater industries. He won a 2017 Peabody award for the podcast The Unexplainable Disappearance of Mars Patel... Read More →

Kc Wayland

writer/director of We’re Alive; producer Bronzeville

Saturday October 28, 2017 12:30pm - 1:45pm CDT
InterContinental Stephen F Austin, Bar

Conference, Podcast Track | Podcast Track, Podcast Track

12:30pm CDT

Script-to-Screen: Pete's Dragon

A lot has changed for Pete’s Dragon since the 1970s. Join writing duo Toby Halbrooks and David Lowery for a conversation on how they brought this adaptation to life, how fairy tales have changed since they were kids, and how they dealt with the responsibility of making something old into something new.

THIS PANEL HAS EXTENDED TIME AND WILL END AT 2:00PM.

Moderators

Christopher Boone

moderator; writer/director Cents; contributor No Film School

Panelists

Toby Halbrooks

writer Pete's Dragon, Peter Pan; producer Ain't Them Bodies Saints, A Ghost Story, Old Man and the Gun, Upstream Color, Listen Up Philip, Person to Person

Toby Halbrooks is a filmmaker from Dallas Texas. He still lives and works there. Also, he is a Wizard.

David Lowery

writer/director A Ghost Story, Pete's Dragon, Ain't Them Bodies Saints, Pioneer; writer Pit Stop

David Lowery is a filmmaker from Texas. His films include Pioneer, St. Nick, Pete's Dragon and A Ghost Story.

Saturday October 28, 2017 12:30pm - 2:00pm CDT
The Driskill Hotel, Ballroom

Conference, Panel

Tags On Story

2:45pm CDT

A Conversation with Courtney A. Kemp

Join this conversation with Courtney A. Kemp, a highly regarded creator, showrunner, and producer in the television industry, not to mention one of Marie Claire magazine’s picks for “Top 50 Most Influential Women in America.” With a resume that includes The Good Wife, The Bernie Mac Show, Justice, and creating the critically acclaimed gritty New York drama Power, Kemp knows her way around a successful TV show. Sit down for a session packed with information on the power dynamics in the television industry, the writers room, and a well-crafted story.

Moderators

S. Craig Watkins

Moderator

Panelists

Courtney A. Kemp

creator/showrunner Power

Saturday October 28, 2017 2:45pm - 4:00pm CDT
St. David's Episcopal Church, Bethell Hall

Conference, Panel

Tags On Story

2:45pm CDT

A Conversation with Robert Townsend

Writer, director, producer, actor, and comedian Robert Townsend has over 30 years of experience working in film and television. With credits such as Hollywood Shuffle, The Five Heartbeats, In the Hive and Playin’ For Love, Townsend has had a multi-faceted and successful career in front of and behind the camera. Join one of the “Godfathers of the Independent Film World” for a discussion on all things filmmaking.

Moderators

Barbara Morgan

Executive Director, Austin Film Festival

Panelists

Robert Townsend

writer/director/actor Hollywood Shuffle, The Five Heartbeats, In The Hive, Playin' For Love

“Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” – the Motown classic is the perfect song to describe Hollywood icon Robert Townsend. Townsend started out as an extra in movies and has since become a heralded actor, comedian, writer, director, producer, and cable network programming CEO... Read More →

Saturday October 28, 2017 2:45pm - 4:00pm CDT
The Driskill Hotel, Ballroom

Conference, Panel

2:45pm CDT

A Conversation with Scott Frank

Scott Frank is a writer’s writer, someone even the most successful scribe can turn to for inspiration. With a bulletproof and ever-growing body of work, including Out of Sight (for which he was nominated for an Academy Award®, Minority Report, Get Shorty, The Interpreter, Marley & Me, The Lookout, The Wolverine, Little Man Tate, A Walk Among the Tombstones, and Logan, Frank has made a name for himself, not for any gimmick or oddity, but simply for being damn good. Take part in this conversation as Frank explores the changing industry, his process for creating blockbuster films, and future endeavors.
Those who enrolled in the advance sign-up for this session are required to show up 15 minutes early and will be admitted first. The remaining seats will then open to badge holders.

Moderators

Craig Mazin

co-host Scriptnotes; writer Identity Thief, The Hangover Parts II & III, Scary Movie 3 & 4, RocketMan

Panelists

Scott Frank

writer Dead Again, Out of Sight, Get Shorty, Minority Report, Logan; writer/director The Lookout, A Walk Among the Tombstones, Godless

Saturday October 28, 2017 2:45pm - 4:00pm CDT
InterContinental Stephen F Austin, Ballroom

Conference, Panel

Tags On Story

2:45pm CDT

First Three Pages, Live!

Join AFF for an afternoon of live readings from some of your favorite writers featuring the first three pages of works-in-progress, forgotten screenplays, and a few other surprises.

Moderators

Jason Neulander

writer/director/producer The Intergalactic Nemesis; writer/director Hit & Run, Buttercup

Jason Neulander is an award-winning theatre artist, filmmaker, and producer based in Austin, Texas. He founded and was the artistic director of Austin’s premiere producer of new plays Salvage Vanguard Theater from 1994 to 2008. Over his tenure he grew the company from producing... Read More →

Saturday October 28, 2017 2:45pm - 4:00pm CDT
The Driskill Hotel, Citadel Room

Conference, Panel

2:45pm CDT

Indie Film Track: Writing for Digital Series

With the explosion of potential platforms to have your work seen on, digital storytelling has become an exciting new creative outlet for many storytellers. Adapting your ideas to meet the demands and wants of a global audience hungry for new content is key. Join our panelists in discussing the unique goals writers face when navigating digital storytelling.

Moderators

Evan Bregman

Director of Programming, Rooster Teeth, SCRIPTED DIGITAL SERIES JUROR

Panelists

Carrye Glazar

executive producer Kings of Atlantis; co-producer Game Change

As a native Texan who recently relocated back to Austin, Carrye has worked for over a decade in content development and production at various companies. After graduating from University of Texas at Austin with her Radio-TV-Film degree and a minor in Business Foundations, she worked... Read More →

Courtenay Hameister

host/head writer PRI's Live Wire Radio 2003-2015; co-writer of The Benefits of Gusbandry (web series)

Ya'Ke Smith

writer/director Katrina’s Son, WOLF, dawn., Hope’s War, One Hitta Quitta; Film Professor, UT Arlington

Allison Vanore

Head of Production, Canvas Media Studios; producer The Rainbow Experiment, 42 Seconds of Happiness, Daddy, Vanity

Allison Vanore serves as Head of Production at Canvas Media Studios. She is an Emmy-nominated producer of StyleHaul's revenge-filled drama Vanity. Outside of Canvas, Allison's series credits include Producing Juliet, Anyone But Me, and My Gimpy Life. Allison's feature film credits... Read More →

Saturday October 28, 2017 2:45pm - 4:00pm CDT
The Driskill Hotel, Crystal Room

Conference, Indie Film Track

2:45pm CDT

The Networking Lounge

Saturday October 28, 2017 2:45pm - 4:00pm CDT
St. David's Episcopal Church, Sumners Hall

Conference, Networking Lounge

2:45pm CDT

Write, Camera, Action!

Action sells! It delights! But without a good story to support it, it totally bombs. Even the most intricately choreographed chase sequence that romps across rooftops and cavorts through construction sites is only really effective if it furthers the story. In this action-packed panel, writers will address the importance of tension and pacing, plot twists and back kicks, believability and motivations, and how to convey all of this within the margins of your screenplay.

Moderators

Keith Maitland

director/producer TOWER, A Song For You: The Austin City Limits Story

Panelists

Christina Hodson

writer Transformers: Bumblebee (2018)

Erich Hoeber

writer Battleship, Red & Red 2, Meg (2018), Happytime Murders (2018), Naruto (2019)

Scott Rosenberg

writer High Fidelity, Gone in Sixty Seconds, Con Air, Beautiful Girls

Saturday October 28, 2017 2:45pm - 4:00pm CDT
St. David's Episcopal Church, Historic Sanctuary

Conference, Panel

2:45pm CDT

Playwrights in the Writers Room

Sit down for a conversation that ventures off the screen, onto the stage, and then back again. Featuring a panel of writers who have worked in both theatre, film, and television, this discussion will pull back the curtain on ways their experiences as playwrights have positively affected their craft as screenwriters.

Panelists

Sarah Gubbins

writer/co-creator/executive director I Love Dick

Tatiana Suarez-Pico

writer Snowfall, A Series of Unfortunate Events, Parenthood

Tatiana is a playwright and a screenwriter. She began her career as a freelance writer for publications around NYC. She also co-created BodegaAve.com, a webcomic that centered on multicultural teens living in Brooklyn, NY for which she received a “Groundbreaking Latina” Award... Read More →

Saturday October 28, 2017 2:45pm - 4:00pm CDT
The Driskill Hotel, Maximilian Room

Conference, Panel | Playwriting Track, Panel

2:45pm CDT

Podcast Track: Writing for Audio Fiction

What does it look like to tell a story that you cannot show? Listen as these writers who have worked as screenwriters and playwrights unpack the unique obstacles and opportunities of telling a story for the acoustic medium.

Moderators

Fabienne Harford

Podcast Competition Director; Managing Director (2015-2016), Austin Film Festival

Panelists

Zack Akers

writer/director Limetown; producer 36 Questions

Zack Akers graduated from Tisch School of the Arts with a degree in Film & Television. Zack’s work has appeared on HBO, ESPN, CBS, and NBC. In Summer 2015, he co-founded Two-Up with Skip Bronkie, and released Limetown, an audio drama reinvented for the podcast age. Limetown has... Read More →

Mac Rogers

writer, The Message, LifeAfter; writer/producer Steal The Stars, The Honeycomb Trilogy

Lauren Shippen

writer/creator The Bright Sessions

Kc Wayland

writer/director of We’re Alive; producer Bronzeville

Saturday October 28, 2017 2:45pm - 4:00pm CDT
Central Presbyterian Church, Sanctuary

Conference, Podcast Track | Podcast Track, Podcast Track

4:30pm CDT

Breaking into Hollywood

Whether it’s in features or television, there is no set path to a career in Hollywood. Hear from screenwriters in both TV and features about how they broke in, stayed in, and moved up the ranks to become producers. And as producers, find out what they’re looking for in a writing samples and résumés when staffing a room in TV—a quickly expanding landscape which has become a new frontier for “entry-level” writers.

Moderators

Trey Selman

moderator

Panelists

Albert Kim

showrunner Sleepy Hollow; writer/producer Nikita, Leverage, Dirt

Albert Kim is a television writer and producer who was most recently Executive Producer and Showrunner of the hit Fox drama Sleepy Hollow. Previously he spent four seasons as a writer and producer on the CW drama Nikita, for which he wrote several of the show’s most popular episodes... Read More →

Cormac Wibberley

writer National Treasure, National Treasure: Book of Secrets, Bad Boys 2

Cormac Wibberley is half of a married writing team with Marianne Wibberley. They both grew up in Southern California and attended the University of California, Los Angeles. After college, Cormac worked as an executive in children’s programming at ABC. It was during this time that he... Read More →

Marianne Wibberley

writer National Treasure, National Treasure: Book of Secrets, Bad Boys 2

Marianne is half of a married writing team with Cormac Wibberley. They both grew up in Southern California and attended the University of California, Los Angeles. After graduation, Marianne went on to receive her MFA in screenwriting from the UCLA Graduate School of Theater, Film... Read More →

Saturday October 28, 2017 4:30pm - 5:45pm CDT
The Driskill Hotel, Maximilian Room

Conference, Panel

4:30pm CDT

Crafting Character

How do you build a truly excellent character? When you imagine your characters as fully developed people, you can break out of archetypes and present someone who feels specific and believable. Sit down with this panel of professional screenwriters as they discuss why decisions drive your character’s arc, the importance of relationships, and how meticulous detail can create emotional depth.

Moderators

Greg Garrett

moderator; author; Professor, Baylor University

Panelists

Scott Alexander

writer Ed Wood, The People v. O.J. Simpson, The People vs. Larry Flynt, Man on the Moon, Big Eyes

James V. Hart

writer Hook, Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Contact, Tuck Everlasting, Muppet Treasure Island, August Rush, Epic, Crossbones; creator HartChart story mapping tool

Saturday October 28, 2017 4:30pm - 5:45pm CDT
St. David's Episcopal Church, Historic Sanctuary

Conference, Panel

4:30pm CDT

How to Take a Meeting

Don’t wait until after you’ve booked a meeting to panic. From honing your pitch to following up, learn what to expect and how you – and your script – can best be prepared.

Moderators

Scott Richter

moderator; President, Richter Scale Media

Panelists

Elizabeth Bassin

Feature Executive, Josephson Entertainment

Elizabeth began her career in physical production before transitioning into development. She spent two years at Mandeville Films, where she worked on such films as Insurgent and Wonder. She soon made the leap into an executive role moving over to Josephson Entertainment to head their... Read More →

Matt Cook

writer/co-producer Triple Nine, By Way of Helena; co-writer Patriots Day

Cook is a screenwriter, director, and producer of various studio and independent films and television. His work includes The Duel (formerly By Way of Helena), Triple Nine, and Patriot’s Day. Both By Way of Helena (2010) and Triple Nine (2012) made the top 10 of The Black List. Cook... Read More →

Chuck Hayward

writer Dear White People (television show), Fat Camp, Step Sisters,Cooper Barrett's Guide To Surviving Life

Chuck Hayward writes things. Occasionally they’re funny. But sometimes they’re just grocery lists or Yelp reviews. Every morning he wakes up and asks, “How can I mine the depths of my dysfunction for the amusement of others?” Every night he goes to sleep and asks, “Is it... Read More →

Maresa Pullman

executive producer The Polar Bears, Welcome to the Rileys, Cyrus, Robin Hood

Maresa Pullman started her career in the mailroom at the William Morris Agency as an Agent Trainee in 1999. Since then she has excelled as an executive and producer for talent-based companies. She acted as Executive Producer on The Polar Bears (2012) animated short for Ridley Scott... Read More →

Saturday October 28, 2017 4:30pm - 5:45pm CDT
InterContinental Stephen F Austin, Assembly Room

Conference, Panel

4:30pm CDT

Indie Film Track: Wearing Multiple Hats

Especially for indie filmmakers, wearing multiple hats during production isn’t just an act of ambition – it’s a near necessity. Knowing how to successfully multi-task without cutting creative corners is key to realizing your vision’s full potential. Attend this panel to hear from seasoned indie filmmakers who can layout the secrets of wearing multiple hats in a way that will lead to finesse and success!

Moderators

Ashland Viscosi

moderator; founder Creatives Meet Business

Panelists

David McCracken

writer/director/actor Bullitt Country; director OstrichLand

DAVID McCRACKEN is a Director, Writer, Producer, and Actor with a long and varied career in filmmaking and writing. He most recently earned his MFA in Film & Television Production at the USC School of Cinematic Arts. He also has a BA and MA in Creative Writing. McCracken has been... Read More →

Aldo Miyashiro

writer/director Atacada, Bleed. Scream. Beat!

Aldo Miyashiro is considered one of the most iconic personalities in Peru with various forays into Film, Theatre and TV as director, actor, teacher and nationally respected TV anchor. He wrote several plays, which awarded him national prizes and recognition. And with “Atacada... Read More →

Brooke Purdy

writer Hindsight, Friend Zone (2018); writer/co-director Quality Problems

BROOKE PURDY - A prolific writer/ director whose latest film Quality Problems is currently on the festival circuit earning great acclaim, Brooke has written and directed for companies including Def Comedy Jam and Def Pictures, HBO, Jamie Kennedy Productions and Showtime. An NYU... Read More →

Tini Tüllmann

writer/director/producer Freddy/Eddy

Tini Tüllmann studied directing at the Athanor Academy in Burghausen, Germany, then for one term at the London Film School till she got accepted at the Academy of Media Arts Cologne. She graduated in 2003. 2002 the omnibus film Friday Night won Gold at the International Munich... Read More →

Saturday October 28, 2017 4:30pm - 5:45pm CDT
The Driskill Hotel, Crystal Room

Conference, Indie Film Track

4:30pm CDT

Once Upon a Time in the West

Saddle up yer horse, harness your writing weapon, and get ready for an exploration of the great Western frontier. Truly a quintessential American genre, the art of the Western requires true grit so you can navigate the good, the bad, and the ugly in your writing. Come learn the ropes and lasso the truth about the common pitfalls to avoid, world-building techniques to embrace, and how to craft a story that could survive any shoot-out.

Moderators

Barbara Morgan

Executive Director, Austin Film Festival

Panelists

Scott Frank

writer Dead Again, Out of Sight, Get Shorty, Minority Report, Logan; writer/director The Lookout, A Walk Among the Tombstones, Godless

Walter Hill

2017 Extraordinary Contribution to Film Award Recipient

Saturday October 28, 2017 4:30pm - 5:45pm CDT
Central Presbyterian Church, Sanctuary

Conference, Panel

4:30pm CDT

Script-to-Screen: American Psycho

From novel to film to Broadway, American Psycho has had a controversial run. This scathing satire on the vanity of men ignited a flurry of debate over its depiction of violence towards women. Join screenwriter Guinevere Turner for a conversation on the process of adapting such a contentious novel into a movie, the decisions made in bringing the story to the big screen, and how she sees the role of women in both the story and the production.

Moderators

Fred Strype

moderator; AFF Screenwriting Award Winner; Filmmaking, Screenwriting & Moving Image Arts Program Chair, Sarah Lawrence College

Panelists

Guinevere Turner

writer American Psycho, The Notorious Bettie Page, Go Fish

Saturday October 28, 2017 4:30pm - 5:45pm CDT
The Driskill Hotel, Ballroom

Conference, Panel

Tags On Story

4:30pm CDT

The First Three Sips

Join AFF for an intimate cheese and wine tasting. Following an afternoon of live (three page!) readings from some of your favorite writers, come un-wine-d, mingle, and toast to the works read aloud.

Saturday October 28, 2017 4:30pm - 5:45pm CDT
The Driskill Hotel, Citadel Room

Conference, Panel

4:30pm CDT

The Networking Lounge

Saturday October 28, 2017 4:30pm - 5:45pm CDT
St. David's Episcopal Church, Sumners Hall

Conference, Networking Lounge

4:30pm CDT

Get Your Play Published!

You’ve written a play, you’ve had it produced, and now you are interest in the next step: exploring the publishing and licensing world. Representatives from Stage Rights, the Dramatist Guild and Samuel French discuss the in-and-outs of this section of our industry including common misconceptions, how to submit your work, and what to look for in a publishing and licensing agreement. Come with questions!

Panelists

Roger Bean

playwright; President of Stage Rights

ROGER BEAN is the Founder and President of Stage Rights. Established in 2000, Stage Rights has fast become one of the leading independent theatrical publishers of new plays and musicals in the United States, administering stock and amateur performance rights throughout the country... Read More →

Amy Rose Marsh

Literary Director – Samuel French, Inc.

Amy Rose Marsh is the Literary Director of Samuel French, where her responsibilities include overseeing acquisitions and licensing strategy for plays and musicals, as well as management of the day-to-day operations of the literary department. While at Samuel French, Amy Rose has helped... Read More →

Abbie Van Nostrand

Director of Corporate Communications, Samuel French, Inc.

Abbie Van Nostrand recently celebrated her 33rd Anniversary with Samuel French, the world’s leading publisher and licensor of plays and musicals. As Director of Corporate Communications, Abbie supervises customer partnerships with educational, community and professional organizations... Read More →

Tari Stratton

Director, Education & Outreach, Dramatists Guild of America

Tari Stratton is currently the Director of Education & Outreach for the Dramatists Guild of America, and the Associate Editor of The Dramatist magazine, the only magazine dedicated to the theatrical writer. She is also an administrator and instructor at the Dramatists Guild Institute... Read More →

Saturday October 28, 2017 4:30pm - 5:45pm CDT
The Driskill Hotel, Citadel Club

Conference Playwriting Track

4:30pm CDT

*Roundtable: The Art, Craft, and Business of Podcasting

*Get in-depth answers to your questions about the art, craft, and business of writing for narrative fiction podcasts.

How do you write for a purely acoustic medium? What's the best equipment to use to produce your own podcast? How do you keep listeners interest? This roundtable session offers registrants exclusive access to writers, directors, and producers in an informal setting. Come prepared with questions that focus on the importance of both the creative and business sides of breaking into and writing narrative fiction podcasts.

*This Roundtable requires advance registration at the Roundtable Sign-up Table in the Driskill Mezzanine; the Roundtable takes place at St. David's Episcopal Church's Crail Hall, located at 301 E 8th Street. Only one roundtable sign-up slot per registrant. Registrants must have the day-appropriate badge.

ROUNDTABLE SIGN UP HOURS:
Registrants must sign up for Roundtable Sessions in the Mezzanine of the Driskill Hotel!
Wednesday, October 25 | 12:00PM-5:00PM
Thursday, October 26 | 8:30AM-5:00PM
Friday, October 27 | 8:30AM-5:00PM
Saturday, October 28 | 8:30AM-3:00PM

ROUNDTABLE FAQS

Panelists

Skip Bronkie

producer Limetown; Creative Director, Facebook, Pinterest (2010-2015)

Skip Bronkie graduated from Tisch School of the Arts with a degree in Film & Television. He was a creative director and commercial filmmaker at Facebook and Pinterest. In Summer 2015, he co-founded Two-Up with Zack Akers, and released Limetown, an audio drama reinvented for the podcast... Read More →

Rob Gokee

host/creator Tacocity Podcast; composer Daddy, Tamar & Vince, Dueling Kapowskis

Jen Gunnels

Editor, Tor Books; co-founder Tor Labs

Jenny Turner Hall

executive producer/writer/director The Unexplainable Disappearance of Mars Patel

Ellen Horne

Executive Producer, Audible

Marco Palmieri

Mac Rogers

writer, The Message, LifeAfter; writer/producer Steal The Stars, The Honeycomb Trilogy

Lauren Shippen

writer/creator The Bright Sessions

Tim Street

Vice President Influence and Production, Authentic

Benjamin Strouse

CEO Gen-Z Media

Kc Wayland

writer/director of We’re Alive; producer Bronzeville

Saturday October 28, 2017 4:30pm - 5:45pm CDT
St. David's Episcopal Church, Crail Hall

Conference, Podcast Track, Roundtable | Podcast Track, Podcast Track, Roundtable | ROUNDTABLE, Podcast Track, Roundtable

4:30pm CDT

The Psychology of Storytelling

Back by popular demand, producer Lindsay Doran will explore what the field of Positive Psychology has to teach us about the secrets of creating a satisfying script.

THIS IS AN EXTENDED PANEL THAT WILL END AT 6:00PM. Those who enrolled in the advance sign-up for this session are required to show up 15 minutes early and will be admitted first. The remaining seats will then open to badge holders

Panelists

Lindsay Doran

producer Stranger Than Fiction, Sense and Sensibility, Nanny McPhee, Dead Again; executive producer The Firm, Sabrina; former president/COO of United Artists

Saturday October 28, 2017 4:30pm - 6:00pm CDT
InterContinental Stephen F Austin, Ballroom

Conference, Panel

11:30am CDT

A Conversation with Virgil Williams

Writer and producer Virgil Williams joins AFF2017 as the creator of this year's Centerpiece film Mudbound. Join Virgil for a discussion on transitioning from writing for film and television.

Moderators

Matt Dy

moderator; Screenplay/Teleplay Director Austin Film Festival

Panelists

Virgil Williams

co-writer Mudbound;

MUDBOUND marks Virgil Williams’ first feature film as screenwriter. Williams has an extensive resume in television, having served as writer and producer on such acclaimed shows as ER, THE CHICAGO CODE and 24. Most recently, Williams wrote and executive produced for six seasons of... Read More →

Sunday October 29, 2017 11:30am - 12:45pm CDT
InterContinental Stephen F Austin, Assembly Room

Conference

11:30am CDT

Indie Film Track: Splicing the Script

In the world of cinematic storytelling, the editor is rarely recognized for what they truly are: the unsung and crucially important second screenwriter. Their ability to craft the footage into a cohesive story that captures the project's vision is crucial to the film's success. Join our panel of seasoned editors as they lay out the key considerations to be addressed when syncing, bridging, and slicing a film together.

Moderators

Dennis Bishop

Moderator; producer Dexter; Film Chair KD Conservatory, Dallas

Panelists

Trysta A. Bissett

writer/executive producer/editor Ruin Me; writer A Teacher's Obsession

Trysta A. Bissett is a writer, producer, and editor. She worked for many years as a producer and post production supervisor for SSS Entertainment. She co-produced the feature film WHITE RABBIT, starring Nick Krause (THE DESCENDANTS), Sam Trammell (TRUE BLOOD), and Britt Robertson... Read More →

Bruno Mourral

writer/director Kafou, Kidnapping Inc.

Born on July 18th 1983, Bruno Mourral is a director and producer. While studying film in Paris, he started directing commercials for Blue Mango an advertising agency in Haiti. In 2007, he returned to Haiti where he founded Muska Group, one of the leading company in audiovisual production. B... Read More →

Jay Nelson

Jay Nelson is an award-winning editor known for his creative contribution to national and international commercials, films and videos. Originally from Ohio, Nelson moved to Los Angeles and began his career as a writer and director for the C.A.G. theater company, which soon blossomed... Read More →

Nicholas Verso

writer/director/editor Boys In The Trees, The Last Time I Saw Richard

In 2016, Nicholas’ debut feature film, Boys In The Trees, made its world premiere at the 73rd Venice International Film Festival before screening at festivals around the world including Toronto, Busan, Sitges and winning Best Narrative Feature at the Austin Film Festival. The... Read More →

Sunday October 29, 2017 11:30am - 12:45pm CDT
The Driskill Hotel, Crystal Room

Conference, Indie Film Track

11:30am CDT

Script-to-Sketch:Writing for Animation

Animated features, like any other film, require good stories to be successful. If you’re looking to write the next animated hit, stop by and listen to our panelists discuss their creative processes, from the inception of an idea to the execution of the project.

Moderators

Trey Selman

moderator

Panelists

Kristine Belson

President, Sony Pictures Animation

Kristine Belson is the President of Sony Pictures Animation and is responsible foroverseeing the development and production of all films on the Sony Pictures Animation slate. The studio is following its worldwide comedy hits—the record-breaking monster comedies Hotel Transylvania... Read More →

Marc Haimes

writer Kubo and the Two Strings, Nimona, Girl Who Drank the Moon, Untitled Mark Boal Project

Adam Pava

writer The Boxtrolls, The Lego Movie franchise, The Stuff of Legend, Clone High, Johnny Bravo, Foster's Home For Imaginary Friends

Sunday October 29, 2017 11:30am - 12:45pm CDT
The Driskill Hotel, Citadel Room

Conference, Panel

11:30am CDT

The Women in the Room

Women make up a small percentage of writers in Hollywood, and working toward a full-time career in the industry requires a lot of flexibility and persistence. While this can certainly lend itself to a demanding journey, female artists are continuously changing the landscape of film and television for the better. Come chat with these devoted writers about their stories, viewpoints, and advice.

Moderators

Emily Ferenbach

Director of Development, Hello Sunshine

Panelists

Christina Hodson

writer Transformers: Bumblebee (2018)

Kay Oyegun

writer This Is Us, Queen Sugar

Pamela Ribon

writer Moana, Smurfs: The Lost Village, Ralph Breaks The Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2, Bears, Samantha Who?; comic book writer Rick and Morty, SLAM!

Sunday October 29, 2017 11:30am - 12:45pm CDT
The Driskill Hotel, Maximilian Room

Conference, Panel

11:30am CDT

A Conversation with Kenneth Lonergan: The 2017 Distinguished Screenwriter

Coming off his Academy Award win for Best Original Screenplay for Manchester by the Sea, join this conversation with 2017 Distinguished Screenwriter honoree Kenneth Lonergan. Accomplished writer, director, and playwright, enjoy this in-depth conversation on writing internationally acclaimed stories across mediums.

Moderators

Barbara Morgan

Executive Director, Austin Film Festival

Panelists

Kenneth Lonergan

2017 Distinguished Screenwriter Award Recipient

Sunday October 29, 2017 11:30am - 12:45pm CDT
InterContinental Stephen F Austin, Ballroom

Conference, Panel | Playwriting Track, Panel

Tags On Story

11:30am CDT

Script-to-Screen: Arrival

Once considered "unfilmable" Arrival scored big at the box office last year. This cerebral sci-fi thriller plays down its action potential in favor of an intense, emotional narrative. Join screenwriter Eric Heisserer to find out how a short story became a hit feature film, why it took over a decade to bring the adaptation to life, and the challenges he faced along the way.

THIS IS AN EXTENDED PANEL THAT WILL END AT 1:00PM. Those who enrolled in the advance sign-up for this session are required to show up 15 minutes early and will be admitted first. The remaining seats will then open to badge holders.

Moderators

Christopher Boone

moderator; writer/director Cents; contributor No Film School

Panelists

Eric Heisserer

writer/director Hours; writer Arrival, The Thing, Final Destination 5

Sunday October 29, 2017 11:30am - 1:00pm CDT
The Driskill Hotel, Ballroom

Conference, Panel

Tags On Story

1:15pm CDT

A Conversation with Dan Gilroy

Take part in this conversation with the Academy Award nominated writer/director of Nightcrawler, co-writer of The Bourne Legacy, and the mind behind this year's Centerpiece film Roman J. Isreal Esq. Join Dan Gilroy as he discusses his process on all things filmmaking.

Moderators

Barbara Morgan

Executive Director, Austin Film Festival

Panelists

Dan Gilroy

DAN GILROY (Director / Writer) made his feature directorial debut with Nightcrawler in 2014. He also wrote the film. Starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Rene Russo and Riz Ahmed, Nightcrawler resulted in an Academy Award® nomination for Best Original Screenplay. Gilroy also co-penned... Read More →

Sunday October 29, 2017 1:15pm - 2:30pm CDT
InterContinental Stephen F Austin, Ballroom

Conference

1:15pm CDT

Based on a True Story

Join panelists for a discussion on the challenges of finding the best story within a true story. Writers will discuss various research methods, ways to emerge as an authority of your subject matter, and balancing truth, fact, and fiction while capturing the essence of real-life subject matter.

Moderators

John Spong

Moderator; Former Senior Editor at Texas Monthly

A staff writer at Texas Monthly from 2002-2017, Spong was nominated for a National Magazine Award for his December 2009 story celebrating Texas dance halls, “Step Right Up,” and twice won the Texas Institute of Letters’ O. Henry Award for Magazine Journalism—for “Holding... Read More →

Panelists

Taylor Allen

writer/executive producer Chappaquiddick; editor The Simpsons

Matt Cook

writer/co-producer Triple Nine, By Way of Helena; co-writer Patriots Day

Andrew Logan

writer/executive producer Chappaquiddick

Sunday October 29, 2017 1:15pm - 2:30pm CDT
800 Congress

Conference, Panel

Tags On Story

1:15pm CDT

Maintaining Your Voice: Television

When working in a heavily regulated medium such as television, your voice can easily be lost in the stream of network notes and revisions. This panel will discuss the importance of collaboration in the writers room, how to keep your voice relevant, and how to portray your story with as little limitations as possible.

Moderators

Courtenay Hameister

host/head writer PRI's Live Wire Radio 2003-2015; co-writer of The Benefits of Gusbandry (web series)

Panelists

Chuck Hayward

writer Dear White People (television show), Fat Camp, Step Sisters,Cooper Barrett's Guide To Surviving Life

Britta Lundin

writer Riverdale; author Ship It (2018), Riverdale (comic)

Anthony Sparks

co-executive producer Queen Sugar; writer/producer, The Blacklist, Undercovers

Anthony Sparks is an award winning television writer-producer and a cutting edge scholar of media, performance, and African American studies. Originally from Chicago’s South Side, Anthony has worked on multiple television drama series over the last 15 seasons, including "The Blacklist... Read More →

Jen Statsky

writer/producer Broad City, The Good Place, Parks and Recreation, Lady Dynamite

Sunday October 29, 2017 1:15pm - 2:30pm CDT
The Driskill Hotel, Maximilian Room

Conference, Panel

1:15pm CDT

Script-to-Screen: American Gods

With a huge list of characters, ambitious flashbacks, centuries’ worth of mythology, and constant epic battles between gods—all within the confines of a television series, adapting Neil Gaiman’s seminal novel American Gods was no small feat. Writer, co-showrunner, and executive producer Michael Green will walk through the series’ script, discussing topics like staying true to and expanding the world that Gaiman created, establishing the show’s signature tone, and how he wrote THAT scene (you know the one).

Panelists

Michael Green

co-creator/executive producer American Gods; writer Blade Runner 2049, Murder on the Orient Express, Logan

Sunday October 29, 2017 1:15pm - 2:30pm CDT
The Driskill Hotel, Ballroom

Conference, Panel

Tags On Story

1:15pm CDT

Playwriting Track: From Script to Stage - The Playwright's Journey

If all the world’s a stage, then why isn’t it easier to get a play produced? While there’s no one way for your words to find their way under the bright lights, navigating the backstages and inner-workings of the theater scene can be as confusing as the ending of Cats. Join this panel for an exploration of a play’s journey from script to stage, and the people, process, and politics involved along the way.

Moderators

Donna Hoke

playwright The Couple Next Door, Safe, Brilliant Works of Art, Elevator Girl

Resident playwright at Road Less Traveled Productions, Donna’s work has been seen in 43 states and on five continents. Plays include The Couple Next Door (Princess Grace semi-finalist), Safe (winner of the Todd McNerney, Naatak, and Great Gay Play and Musical Contests), Brilliant... Read More →

Panelists

Nan Barnett

Executive Director, National New Play Network

Nan Barnett is a new play developer and producer, and an advocate for theater-makers and the theater they make. She is currently the Executive Director of National New Play Network, the country's alliance of more than 100 theaters with a dedication to the development, production... Read More →

Liz Engelman

dramaturg; Head of Playwriting and Directing, UT Austin; Director, Tofte Lake Center

Liz Engelman is the head of the Playwriting and Directing area at UT Austin. As a dramaturg, Liz splits her time between the school year at UT Austin, and summer in Ely, MN, where she is the founder and director of Tofte Lake Center at Norm’s Fish Camp, a creative retreat center... Read More →

Katie Goan

Managing Director, Sweetwood Creative; writer/co-creator Kidnapped By Craigslist; producer/instructor/arts administrator

Katie Goan is a producer, writer and arts administrator, and has worked in show business for more than twenty years. She currently serves as Managing Director of Sweetwood Creative. Katie came to Austin after many years in New York City where she was Managing Director of The People’s... Read More →

Allison Gregory

co-founder Austin ‘Wrights; playwright Wild Horses

Allison Gregory’s plays have been produced all over the country, and she has received commissions, grants, and development from Oregon Shakespeare Festival, South Coast Repertory, The Kennedy Center, Indiana Repertory Theatre, the Skirball-Kenis Foundation, ACT Theatre, Seattle... Read More →

Sunday October 29, 2017 1:15pm - 2:30pm CDT
InterContinental Stephen F Austin, Assembly Room

Conference, Panel | Playwriting Track, Panel

1:15pm CDT

Live Script Reading: Jenna Descending

Jenna's a geologist and cave-diver who just ran out of funding. Her father runs a megachurch facing financial collapse. But Jenna just found an awful secret underground that might solve both their problems... if it doesn't kill them first.

Script by: Mac Rogers

Panelists

Mac Rogers

writer, The Message, LifeAfter; writer/producer Steal The Stars, The Honeycomb Trilogy

Sunday October 29, 2017 1:15pm - 2:45pm CDT
The Driskill Hotel, Citadel Room

Conference, Podcast Track | Podcast Track, Podcast Track | Script Reading, Podcast Track

3:00pm CDT

Black to the Future: Closing Remarks with Shane Black

After four days full of panels, making new contacts, rekindling with old friends, and packing your notebook full of screenwriting secrets, what do you do next, and how do you utilize your new arsenal full of writing resources? Join Black for a candid conversation on how to transition “Black to the Future” from a writer’s retreat to retreating to the blank page.

Panelists

Shane Black

writer/director The Nice Guys, Iron Man 3, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang; writer Lethal Weapon, Last Action Hero

Sunday October 29, 2017 3:00pm - 4:15pm CDT
InterContinental Stephen F Austin, Ballroom

Conference, Panel

Tags On Story

3:00pm CDT

Great Adaptations

Book-to-film adaptations may sound like they’re a walk in the park – they’re equipped with a thorough storyline, highly developed characters, and of course, a built-in fan base – but the art of writing them is as advantageous as it is demanding. Characters in novels have an elaborately developed inner life, and visually depicting subtext and nuance in a compelling narrative can be a challenge, especially within the constraints of a 90-minute film. Screenwriters behind some of recent history’s greatest adaptations will discuss translating themes and literary devices to the screen, working with authors, and where and when to take creative liberties.

Moderators

Barbara Morgan

Executive Director, Austin Film Festival

Panelists

Sarah Gubbins

writer/co-creator/executive director I Love Dick

Marc Haimes

writer Kubo and the Two Strings, Nimona, Girl Who Drank the Moon, Untitled Mark Boal Project

Eric Heisserer

writer/director Hours; writer Arrival, The Thing, Final Destination 5

Sunday October 29, 2017 3:00pm - 4:15pm CDT
The Driskill Hotel, Ballroom

Conference, Panel

Tags On Story

3:00pm CDT

Indie Film Track: The Actor/Director Relationship

In the world of independent film, everyone on a production does, well, everything: directors write, actors produce, and someone’s mom does props. But on a shoot, amidst the chaos of doing a million other jobs, building a good actor-director relationship is crucial to making the film a success. As a director, how can you be an effective creative leader, even as you’re setting locations and dealing with last-minute script changes? And as an actor, how can you put in the focus necessary for your craft even while you feel pressure to pick up other duties on a production? Seasoned independent filmmakers will give you tips on how to make the most of this delicate dynamic.

Moderators

Erin Hallagan

founder Story Bar; former AFF Creative Director

Panelists

Amy Acker

actor The Gifted, Person of Interest, Angel, Much Ado About Nothing, Sironia, The Cabin In The Woods

Amy stars in the female lead role of, “Kate Strucker” in the FOX series THE GIFTED, based on the Marvel Comic’s X-Men. She is known to millions of fans throughout the world for her long-running starring roles as “Winifred ‘Fred’ Burkle/Illyria” in Joss Whedon’s hit... Read More →

David Arquette

actor Scream franchises, Never Been Kissed, Ready to Rumble, Eight Legged Freaks, Sigmund and the Sea Monsters; producer – The Tripper, Just Before I Go, Dirt, Cougar Town, Celebrity Name Game

David Arquette is a fourth generation actor, writer, producer from one of the most prestigious acting families in Hollywood. Arquette was discovered in 1997 at Sundance for his role in JOHNS. Since that time, he has acted in dozens of feature films, including the SCREAM films, HAMLET... Read More →

Brandon Dickerson

writer/director Sironia, Victor, Amanda & Jack Go Glamping; writer Benji the Dove; director A Single Frame

BRANDON DICKERSON is an award-winning writer/director honored for his work in features, commercials, and music videos—including the coveted Cannes Gold Lion. Turning his focus to writing and directing feature films, Dickerson has been at the helm of four features in the last seven... Read More →

David Haskell

director The Outdoorsman

Brent Morin

actor How to Be Single, Undateable, The Outdoorsman

Sasheer Zamata

actor The Outdoorsman, Saturday Night Live

Sunday October 29, 2017 3:00pm - 4:15pm CDT
800 Congress

Conference, Indie Film Track

3:00pm CDT

Writing a Worthy Nemesis: Your Protagonist's Shadow

There is nothing like a well-drawn nemesis to enliven a screenplay by functioning as a worthy foe to the protagonist and creating the story’s central conflict.

In this presentation with Scott Myers, you will learn the key principles to crafting a nemesis who goes beyond the stereotypical bad guy to a living, breathing, and powerful antagonist figure.

Learn how to think of the nemesis as a projection of your protagonist’s shadow, enabling you to create a psychological connection between these two pivotal characters.

Panelists

Scott Myers

writer K-9, Alaska, Trojan War; Assistant Professor, DePaul University School of Cinematic Arts,

Sunday October 29, 2017 3:00pm - 4:15pm CDT
The Driskill Hotel, Maximilian Room

Conference, Panel

4:00pm CDT

Endings: The Good, the Bad, and The Insanely Great - The Movie

Some movies leave you indifferent, some leave you satisfied, and some leave you feeling euphoric—walking on air and seeing the world through new eyes. What, then, is the difference between a bad ending, a good ending, and an insanely great ending? Join screenwriter Michael Arndt for a work-in-progress screening of the new video version of his lecture: Endings: The Good, The Bad, and the Insanely Great. In this cinematic version of an AFF favorite, Arndt explores how great endings work with a close analysis of the climaxes of Star Wars, The Graduate, and his own screenplay, Little Miss Sunshine. Stick around after the screening for an extended Q&A with Arndt.

Panelists

Michael Arndt

writer Little Miss Sunshine, Toy Story 3

Michael Arndt wrote the screenplays for Little Miss Sunshine (2006) and Toy Story 3 (2010). He also received shared screenplay credit for Oblivion (2013), and The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013), and Star Wars: The Force Awakens(2015). He lives in New York.

Sunday October 29, 2017 4:00pm - 6:00pm CDT
Paramount Theatre

Conference, Panel

Timezone 2017 Austin Film Festival and Conference Schedule
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