Hey, film buffs! The Austin Film Festival is preparing for its 2024 Writers Conference and has unveiled the first 10 panels for the event. The lineup includes a chat with Craig Mazin. Remember him? He's the genius behind HBO's zombie apocalypse series, “The Last of Us”.
About The Conference
This mind-blowing conference is spread across four fun-filled days dedicated to the art of writing. It's a golden chance for aspiring writers to learn, grow, and kick-start their careers. The conference will feature over 150 panels with more than 200 experts from the film industry. Plus, there will be over 20 networking events for screenwriters, TV writers, and budding storytellers.
The Mega Event Date
The 31st installment of this great fiesta, the Austin Film Festival & Writers Conference is set for October 24-31. Besides Craig Mazin, panelists include Kathleen Kennedy, Shane Black, Ronald D. Moore, and Meg LeFauve. Each panel is a deep dive into these celebrated writers' works, their particular films or TV shows, and a general chat about the film industry's current trends.
The First Ten Panels
Here's a quick teaser of the first 10 panels announced by the festival.
1. On The Last of Us: A Conversation with Craig Mazin
Here, Craig Mazin, shakes down how he transformed the popular video game into an Emmy-winning series. A treat for fanatics of “The Last of Us”, no doubt!
2. On Vida: A Conversation with Tanya Saracho
The creator and showrunner of family drama “Vida”, Tanya Saracho, will delve into an authentic portrayal of gentrification, family dynamics, and sexuality.
3. Navigating the Great Contraction
A discussion on the changing foundations of the entertainment industry. Panelists include industry experts sharing advice on how writers can adapt and thrive in this new environment.
4. “Deconstructing Dirty Harry with Shane Black”
Shane Black, the creator of “Lethal Weapon”, unravels one of the 20th century's greatest action movies, “Dirty Harry”, and its impact on his work.
5. “Inside the Development Process: Television”
TV executives discuss the ins and outs of the development process. Find out what studios are looking for and get advice on breaking into the industry.
6. “On The Simpsons: A Conversation with Matt Selman”
Take a trip to Springfield with show-runner Matt Selman of the iconic animated comedy “The Simpsons”. Get insights into the writer's room and character creation.
7. “A Conversation with Meg LeFauve”
Oscar-nominated screenwriter Meg LeFauve shares her career details, including her work on “Inside Out”, “Captain Marvel”, and “The Good Dinosaur”.
8. “The World of YA: A Conversation with Julie Plec”
Writer and show-runner Julie Plec discusses her work on the fantasy teen drama, “The Vampire Diaries” and its spinoffs.
9. “Get the Greenlight: Financing Your Film”
Dive into the business side of filmmaking and learn about assessing a script's financial potential from Glen Basner, CEO of FilmNation.
10. “A Conversation with Marissa Jo Cerar”
Emmy-nominated writer-producer Marissa Jo Cerar shares her journey from working on “The Handmaid's Tale” to creating the acclaimed series “Black Cake” and “Women of the Movement”.
More panels will be rolled out in the coming weeks, so stay tuned!
Regardless of whether you're an aspiring writer, established screenwriter or just a film lover, the Austin Film Festival 2024 Writers Conference is a must-visit event!
