parties

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2012 SECOND ROUNDER ITINERARY

SECOND ROUNDER PANEL

TV PANEL

RECOMMENDED PANEL

PARTIES

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17 PARTIES 10th ANNUAL FILM AND FOOD PARTY Separate ticket required 7:00pm Driskill Hotel 604 Brazos Austin, TX 78701 We are pleased to announce that Robert Rodriguez will be hosting the 10th anniversary celebration of our annual Film & Food Party. Held in the glamorous and historic Driskill Hotel, this evening of specialty cocktails and innovative cuisine, presented by some of Austin’s most notable chefs, brings together Austinites and visitors alike to celebrate the arts. Live and silent auctions present the very best in luxury items, trips and experiences. Proceeds benefit AFF’s Young Filmmakers Program.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18 OPENING REMARKS 12:00pm-12:30pm Driskill Hotel, Ballroom

Austin Film Festival welcomes you to its 19th annual celebration of storytelling through film. Bringing together industry icons, independent filmmakers, and everyone in between, this year’s panels feature intimate discussions, film premieres, special retrospective screenings, parties, and limitless networking opportunities. Join AFF staff and board members for opening remarks to learn more about the week ahead, lastminute additions, and special guests. AUSTIN PITCH PREP 1:00pm-2:15pm St. David’s Episcopal Church, Vestry Conference Room Are you ready to give your pitch? Get prepped to sell your script and yourself and ensure that your first pitch isn’t your last. Will you be in the select group that makes it through to the Pitch Competition Finale on Saturday night? Cindy McCreery, Gayla Nethercott, Stephanie Palmer AFF CONFERENCE: HOW TO WORK IT 1:00pm-2:15pm  Driskill Hotel, Citadel Room Join these writers who have attended the AFF Conference over the years and made the most of their time here – from networking and mingling to the competitions. They were once in your shoes and have made countless industry contacts to further their careers. Find out how to maximize your Badge and your time here at the Conference! Gene Langlais, Paul Langlais, Matt Dy MARKETING YOURSELF AND YOUR SCRIPT 1:00pm-2:15pm Driskill Hotel, Victorian Balcony The film industry is a tricky and fickle one, often based on first impressions and building relationships. In this panel, industry professionals will share everything from how to respond to script notes you totally disagree with, to being overlooked for a project, to what to expect from development meetings, and more. Should you try to establish yourself in a specific genre? Should you move to LA? Get a writing partner? Join us for a conversation on how to best market your script and yourself as a writer while successfully navigating your way through the ups and downs of the business. Eric Heisserer, Jeff Lowell, Pamela Ribon Second Rounders and Above Only  

 

A CONVERSATION WITH MARTI NOXON 1:00pm-2:15pm Driskill Hotel, Ballroom Take part in a conversation with Marti Noxon, a prolific television and film writer whose credits include Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Grey’s Anatomy¸ Mad Men, Glee, and the recent films I AM NUMBER FOUR and FRIGHT NIGHT. Moderated by Barry Josephson IMPROVE YOUR LOGLINE 1:00pm-2:15pm Stephen F. Austin, Assembly Room Learn the key components to getting your script noticed in Hollywood by crafting memorable and intriguing loglines. Bonus: Bring your loglines and the team will critique as many as there's time for! Scott Rosenberg, Terry Rossio, Kent Alterman, Ashley Miller SETIQUETTE 2:45pm-4:00pm Driskill Hotel, Citadel Room In addition to being able to write quickly and well, the successful television writer must also be versed at how to navigate the complex and often stressful social climate of a television show. This requires a skill set that empowers the writer to make quick and diligent adjustments to a script and re-write for changes in budget or location, while being able to master the art of communication with actors, directors, and producers. Understanding and respecting the laws of the social etiquette on the set - the “setiquette” - is essential for those who aspire to break into - and stay in - the writers’ room. Christine Boylan, Matthew Gross, Kyle Killen, Meta Valentic A CONVERSATION WITH KENT ALTERMAN 2:45pm-4:00pm Stephen F. Austin, Ballroom Kent Alterman, the head of original programming at Comedy Central and producer of such films as ELF, LITTLE CHILDREN, and A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE, joins us for an intimate discussion about his storied career.

PARTIES AUSTIN FILM COMMISSION OPENING NIGHT RECEPTION 5:00pm Rattle Inn 601 Nueces Street Austin, TX 78701 Producer Badges Only WGA WEST LATE NIGHT WELCOME PARTY 11:00pm III Forks – 111 Lavaca Street Austin, Texas 78701 Hosted by John August, writer of FRANKENWEENIE, CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, BIG FISH, CHARLIE’S ANGELS I and II, GO Producer and Conference Badges Only

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19 WRITING A SCRIPT THAT WILL STICK 9:00am-10:15am Driskill Hotel, Citadel Room Hear from veteran Hollywood producers regarding what they look for in a screenplay. Panelists will discuss trends in the industry, how to take your project to the next level, and the edge your script needs to really stick. Barry Josephson, Matthew Gross, Sean Robins, David Boxerbaum TELEVISION COMEDY 9:00am-10:15am Stephen F. Austin, Ballroom Writing comedy for television is uniquely challenging. Comedic writers in television 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 the pros as they dissect how they overcome these challenges and create successful television comedies such as Curb Your Enthusiasm, Everybody Loves Raymond, Party Down, The New Adventures of Old Christine, and original programming on Comedy Central. Alec Berg, Kari Lizer, Philip Rosenthal, Rob Thomas

FORMS OF TELEVISION DRAMA 10:45am-12:00pm Driskill Hotel, Citadel Room Drama is a very broad category in the television world. With different types of dramas come different expectations and different procedures. With titles like Bones, NYPD Blue, and The Haunting Hour under their belts, this panel's guests will discuss the pros, cons, and challenges of writing serial, procedural, miniseries, and anthology dramas. Billy Brown, Noah Hawley, Olivia Milch, Matt Olmstead THE BLACK LIST 2.0 10:45am-12:00pm Driskill Hotel, Maximilian Room  Black List founder and CEO Franklin Leonard will share a very special announcement and Q&A that will be of major interest to every aspiring screenwriter. ROUNDTABLE: THE CREATIVE SIDE 1:45pm-3:00pm St. David’s Episcopal Church, Crail Hall Get in-depth answers to your questions about the art, craft, and business of screenwriting. This session offers registrants exclusive access to professional screenwriters and filmmakers in an informal setting. This is your opportunity to ask for advice on what to keep in mind while writing your script, how to break into the business, deal with writers’ block, work in a writing team, work with a director, and more. Dan Angel, Kell Cahoon, Christopher Cantwell, Larry Doyle, Michael B. Druxman, Jay Wade Edwards, Casper Kelly, Malcolm Spellman, Jerry Stahl, Amy Talkington, Oren Uziel, Dana Steven Second Rounders Only and advanced sign-up required THE CREATIVE CAREER: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW 1:45pm-3:00pm Driskill Hotel, Ballroom A panel of successful professional writers will discuss what you need to know when setting out on your career as a writer, the common pitfalls to avoid, and what the Writers Guild can do for you. This panel is presented by the Writers Guild of America West. Nancy Pimental, Derek Haas, Etan Cohen, James V. Hart Moderated by Alec Berg

BREAKING A STORY 3:15pm-4:30pm Driskill Hotel, Citadel Club The most important part of a TV writer's job is breaking a story. It's the skeleton on which you can layer your characters, comedy, voice and theme. In this workshop, you will break a story as a group; figuring out the broad strokes, character arcs, individual story beats and act breaks. The group will examine the problems and pitfalls that come up along the way and how to overcome them. Led by Hilary Winston, this workshop will explore different styles of story breaking, like the unique style used on Community called the “story circle.” Hilary Winston Participants have been pre-selected HOW TO TAKE A MEETING & THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS 3:15pm-4:30pm Stephen F. Austin, Assembly Room Join these industry professionals for a conversation on what to expect when you take a meeting, how to respond to script notes you totally disagree with, and what the development process entails. Gayla Nethercott, Nancy Pimental, Herschel Weingrod

PARTIES FILM TEXAS BBQ SUPPER 4:45pm French Legation Museum - 802 San Marcos Street Producer Badges Only FILMMAKERS HAPPY HOUR Hosted by Elizabeth Avellan 11:00pm Ruth's Chris Steak House - 107 W. 6th Street Producer Badges only

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 20 THE FIRST TEN PAGES

9:00am-10:15am Driskill Hotel, Citadel Club Join Academy Award-nominated producer Lindsay Doran (SENSE AND SENSIBILITY) as she explains — using the first ten pages each from pre-selected Second Round feature screenplays —what producers and moviegoers look for in those crucial first ten pages that either hook audiences or send them running for the hills. Lindsay Doran Participants have been pre-selected THE SHOWRUNNERS 9:00am-10:15am Driskill Hotel, Maximilian Room Showrunner is not a job for the weak of heart. Week after week, showrunners have to manage a very large staff, see each episode through from script to air, and make sure the show stays as consistent and high-quality as possible. Hear from four distinguished showrunners who have led the charge on shows like Everybody Loves Raymond, Pretty Little Liars, and The New Adventures of Old Christine about their roles, their effect on the direction of a show, and how they put together and work with their writing teams. I. Marlene King, Philip Rosenthal, Kari Lizer A CONVERSATION WITH ERIC ROTH 9:00am-10:15am Driskill Hotel, Ballroom One would be hard-pressed to find someone who hasn't seen a movie written by this year's AFF Distinguished Screenwriter Award Recipient, Eric Roth. With over 20 films to his name, Roth is responsible for such cinematic flagships as FORREST GUMP, MUNICH, THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON, and EXTREMELY LOUD AND INCREDIBLY CLOSE. Join us for an exciting and illuminating conversation with one of Hollywood's most celebrated screenwriters CHICAGO FIRE: A CASE STUDY 10:45am-12:00pm Driskill Hotel, Citadel Room Join creators and screenwriters Michael Brandt & Derek Haas (3:10 TO YUMA, WANTED, 2 FAST 2 FURIOUS) and executive producer and showrunner Matt Olmstead (Prison Break, NYBD Blue, Breakout Kings) for a screening of Chicago Fire and a walk-through of their process and experiences in putting together the pilot for their new NBC series. From crafting stories and characters to handling pitch meetings

and production to the network’s determining which shows to pick up and why, Derek, Michael, and Matt will share their mistakes and triumphs, breaking down the process in layman’s terms. Michael Brandt, Derek Haas, Matt Olmstead FINDING YOUR ANCHOR 10:45am-12:00pm Stephen F. Austin, Ballroom No matter how big, outlandish, loud, or fantastic your screenplay may be, if the audience can’t find a way to connect to it, it will never be successful. So how can you create a world that is unique and larger-than-life but still relatable? How can you anchor your story to the experiences and interests of your audience? This panel will feature action, sci-fi, and fantasy writing legends Damon Lindelof (PROMETHEUS, Lost), Zak Penn (THE INCREDIBLE HULK), and Scott Rosenberg (CON AIR), four writers who frequently confront this very issue and come out on top. Damon Lindelof, Zak Penn, Scott Rosenberg SCRIPT-TO-SCREEN: CHRONICLE 11:00am-1:00pm Driskill Hotel, Crystal Room With script in hand and film clips on the screen, writer Max Landis will dissect his critically acclaimed screenplay CHRONICLE, discussing his writing process, what worked, what didn't, what needed to be changed for film production and why. This case study will contain information that screenwriters and filmmakers can apply to their own works.    Extended Panel

SPECIAL EVENTS AFF AWARDS LUNCHEON Presented by Alice Kleberg Reynolds Foundation 12:15pm-1:45pm The Austin Club 110 East 9th Street Austin, TX 78701 The Awards Luncheon is an intimate event held annually at the Austin Club to celebrate screenwriters and filmmakers who have made significant contributions to the industry. Tickets are sold out. Check at Registration for any available tickets. Conference and Producer Badge Holders Only

ROUNDTABLE: TELEVSION 2:15pm-3:30pm St. David’s Episcopal Church, Crail Hall Get in-depth answers to your questions about the craft and business of writing for television. This session offers registrants exclusive access to TV writers, producers, showrunners, and directors in an informal setting. Nkechi Okoro Carroll, Larry Doyle, Michael Green, I. Marlene King, Kari Lizer, Brian McGreevy, Liz Tigelaar, Nancy Pimental, Jerry Stahl, Rob Thomas, Meta Valentic, Hilary Winston A STAGED READING OF AN UNAIRED EPISODE OF HBO’S LUCK 2:15pm-4:00pm Location: TBD Ric Roman Waugh will direct a staged reading of an unaired episode of the HBO series “Luck”. The episode was written by 2012 Distinguished Screenwriter Award recipient Eric Roth. A CONVERSATION WITH DAMON LINDELOF 3:45pm-5:00pm Driskill Hotel, Ballroom Get up close and personal with Damon Lindelof, PROMETHEUS writer and Lost cocreator. Responsible for some of the most celebrated and scrutinized works of science fiction over the past five years, Lindelof has experienced a level of celebrity rare among writers. Listen as he shares his stories and discusses the ups and downs that come with his reputation. SPECIAL WRITERS’ ROOM ROUNDTABLE 3:00pm-5:00pm Driskill Hotel, Citadel Club Writers' roundtables are famous in Hollywood for punching up the story and comedy of a script with a team of professional writers. The 2012 Sitcom Pilot winner will have the opportunity to participate in a special writers’ roundtable with leaders in the television field critiquing their script. Whatever jokes or changes the pros throw out, the winning writer will be able to cherry-pick what they think might be helpful to the teleplay. Alec Berg, Pat Hazell, Pamela Ribon, Malcolm Spellman, Tim Talbott

DE-MYSTIFYING THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS 3:45pm-5:00pm Driskill Hotel, Jim Hogg Parlor The term "in development" can be a scary one for a writer, mostly because once a script goes into development, it's not a sure thing it'll ever come out. This panel will shed a light on the dark hole that development can be. What exactly goes into developing a script, who's involved, and how can a writer best prepare for the process? Included on this panel will be seasoned development executives, as well as a writer and manager, each with unique perspectives and tips on how to navigate this stage of bringing your story to life. Alex Litvak, Joyce San Pedro, Bettina Viviano, Emily Zulauf

PARTIES SCREENWRITERS’ HAPPY HOUR 6:00pm-7:00pm Driskill Hotel, Mezzanine – 604 Brazos Street This special happy hour is not posted anywhere and is by invitation only for Second Rounders and above in the Screenplay & Teleplay competitions. Matt Dy, the Screenplay Competition Director, and this year’s judges will also be in attendance. Stop by and have a drink as we close out the 2011 Competition. Second Rounders and Above Only PITCH FINALE PARTY 8:00pm Lucky Lounge 209 West 5th Street, Austin, TX 78701 Lone Star, Weekend, Conference, and Producer Badges only CONFERENCE WRAP PARTY Hosted by Franklin Leonard 11:00pm-1:00am Venue TBD Weekend, Conference and Producer Badges only

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 21

A CONVERSATION WITH AMERICA FERRERA 11:30am-12:45pm Driskill Hotel, Ballroom Catch up with celebrated television and film actress America Ferrera. The Ugly Betty and REAL WOMEN HAVE CURVES actress will discuss what she considers to be strong writing and how that plays into what she looks for when reading a script. SPECIAL WRITERS’ ROOM ROUNDTABLE 11:30am-1:30pm Driskill Hotel, Citadel Club Writers' roundtables are famous in Hollywood for punching up the story and comedy of a script with a team of professional writers. The 2012 Sitcom Pilot runner-up will have the opportunity to participate in a special writers’ roundtable with leaders in the television field critiquing their script. Whatever jokes or changes the pros throw out, the winning writer will be able to cherry-pick what they think might be helpful to the teleplay. Etan Cohen, Paul Simms, Hilary Winston A CONVERSATION WITH PAUL FEIG 11:30am-12:45pm Stephen F. Austin, Ballroom Looking back on Paul Feig's filmography, it's easy to see how much of an impact he's had on the comedy landscape of both TV and film. From co-creating the cult TV show Freaks and Geeks to directing BRIDESMAIDS to contributing to TV comedies like The Office, 30 Rock, and Arrested Development, Feig has left, and continues to leave, his mark on how we laugh. We are excited to welcome this accomplished writer/director/producer for a conversation on his works, his struggles, and what he has planned for the future. Moderated by Pat Hazell WRITING FOR HOLLYWOOD OUTSIDE OF HOLLYWOOD 1:15pm-2:30pm Stephen F. Austin, Assembly Room As the pace of technology catches up and film communities grow in cities throughout the world, writers are finding it easier and easier to work outside of Hollywood. Sit down with writers who maintain successful careers outside of LA and New York and discuss ways to sustain your writing career away from the main centers of film production.

This panel is Co-Presented by the Dallas Screenwriters Association Kell Cahoon, Ric Roman Waugh, Rob Thomas Moderated by Carolyn Hodge A STAGED READING OF “YOU’RE LUCKY YOU’RE FUNNY” 3:00pm-TBD Location: TBD Everybody Loves Raymond creator Phil Rosenthal directs a staged reading of his comedy script “You’re Lucky You’re Funny”. This will be a sure-to-be standing room only event so arrive early!

PARTIES “HAIR OF THE DOG” BRUNCH 10:00am-11:15am Ranch 616 - 616 Nueces St. Hosted by Michael Brandt and Derek Haas, writers of Chicago Fire, WANTED, 3:10 TO YUMA, 2 FAST 2 FURIOUS Producer Badges only