“Laughter is the best medicine”. It’s one of the world’s oldest sayings, yet we lose track and passion of it’s meaning. What’s laughter? What’s this medicine? Where can we get it? How expensive is it?
Fear not, for Austin Film Festival has got you covered. This festival is known for gathering the most talented writers and attendees can squeeze the knowledge from them and achieve great writing ourselves (but please don’t really squeeze the panelists, they’re fragile souls).
If you’re looking for a way to find someone to laugh at your script (in a good way!), you got to hit all these panels that will sure to tickle your funny bone.
Thursday, October 13th 2016
- 2:45pm: How Comedy Works
David Misch leading this panel step-by-step to going to be one of the exciting first dive into comedy this festival. Learning techniques and patterns and getting surprises from the Saturday Night Live writer himself.
Friday, October 14th 2016
- 9:00am: Morning Improv
Rise and shine! If you’re an early bird who is down to get the worm (or as the ability to chug down cups of jo), I would highly advise you attend this panel. Breaking out of your comfort zone is what this industry is all about, and for the second year, AFF is offering you to shape your craft and try new things for writers who want a challenge in the A.M.
(If you could be in two places at once, this would be one of the best times to use those powers because choosing between Saturday Night Live and Jason Segel like choosing between Ross and Rachel or Chandler and Monica)
- 10:45am: Live from New York: It’s the Saturday Night Live Writers
“To make it at SNL is practically the equivalent of earning a PHD in comedy”. Tim Herlihy, Michael McCullers, and Paula Pell: these veterans know what it takes to make it in the writers room on 30 Rockefeller Plaza. If you’re ready to embrace The Big Apple, don’t miss out on this panel.
- 3:15pm: How I Met Your Mother: A Conversation with Carter Bays
Carter Bays, co-creator of How I Met You Mother, discusses his success and how he broke the rules of sitcoms, and help create one of the most iconic shows of this time. You’re not going to want to miss any second of this panel because “it’s going to be legend–wait for it–dary”!
Saturday, October 15th 2016
- 12:30pm: A Comedian Walks into a Writers Room
Balancing being a comedian and writer? Or want to learn how to take on both? Sanjay Shah and David Misch teach the ways that helped them through South Park, Saturday Night Live, Fresh Off the Boat, and many other credits. If you want to learn these mediums, this panel is for you.
- 2:45pm: The Queens of Comedy
Beyonce even said it herself: girls run the world. Comedy queens, Katie Dippold, Elizabeth Meriwether, and Paula Pell share their conquers and victories in writing, and share their tips, tricks, and quirks on how to make it in this genre. I can honestly say I’m going to pee myself a little when I see these goddesses sharing one stage.
- 4:30pm: Script-to-Screen: I Love You, Man
Bro-mances have a special place in our hearts. John Hamburg, writer/director Along Came Polly, I Love You, Man, and Why Him?, knows the talent that must be possessed in order to handed this chemistry in writing and on-screen. This panel is everything you dream of this you dream two guys sharing secrets and roasting each other.
Sunday, October 16th 2016
(Again, I am in a tie-breaker, and my heart is breaking between Elizabeth Meriwether and Paul Feig)
- 1:15pm: Who’s That Girl? It’s Liz!
I have to give the crown to the queen, none another than herself, Elizabeth Meriwether. If you want to learn how to transition from mediums, how to create a quirky story, or just been in awe of her presence, attending this panel would be every New Girl’s dream.
Hope to see you here!
Jalitza Delgado