AFF IS HEADED TO LOS ANGELES ON SATURDAY, MARCH 16TH!
For the fourth year, Austin Film Festival, in partnership with the Academy Education and Nicholl Fellowships Programs, is pleased to present panels dedicated to guiding your writing journey.
On Saturday, March 16, join us at the Academy’s beautiful Linwood Dunn Theatre in Hollywood for a day full of seasoned advice from industry professionals– from finding the time to buckle down and write to embracing failures and using them to harness continued success in the industry. In addition, we’re kicking off the day with our popular Roundtable Sessions where attendees will have the opportunity to meet face-to-face with industry folks to ask any burning questions about the business of writing for the screen.
Roundtable Sessions (10:00AM-11:30AM):
- Before the panels begin, we’re kicking off the day with our popular Roundtable Sessions—an in-demand event during our annual Writers Conference. Get in-depth answers to your questions about the art, craft, and business of writing for the screen. Come prepared with questions that focus on the importance of both the creative and business sides of breaking into and writing for film and television.
- How It Works: Participants will be seated at a table with a small group of other attendees along with one industry professional. After 12 minutes, panelists will rotate and move to another table. This will happen multiple times until all panelists meet with all tables. These are not pitch sessions, but rather casual table meetings where you are encouraged to ask specific questions about the business of writing for film and television.
- Please Note: Space is limited and guaranteed to fill up very quickly!
ROUNDTABLE SESSIONS SOLD OUT! AFTERNOON PANELS AND RECEPTION TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE AT WALK UP!
Find Our Panelists Below!
Karen Kirkland
Literary Agent
Abrams Artist Agency
Karen Kirkland, Literary Agent at Abrams Artists Agency, and an industry veteran, who over the past 27 years has been involved in various aspects of the film and television industry; stemming from an independent producing background, compiling over 50 commercial and music videos to her credit. She has been nominated for multiple MTV Music Video Awards, won an NAACP Image Award for Video of the Year, and served as the producer of the LA Film Festival, a preeminent cinematic event, showcasing compelling independent films, TV and episodic work from emerging storytellers, alongside filmmaker-driven studio titles.
Formerly, as Nickelodeon’s Vice President, Talent Development and Outreach, Karen spent 13+ years identifying, developing and staffing writing talent onto Nickelodeon network productions. Under her leadership, Nickelodeon’s Writing Program expanded worldwide and blossomed into one of the most competitive and well-respected vehicles for emerging television writers.
As one of the industry’s leading creative strategists for writers, Karen has helped to launch the careers of many successful creative visionaries including those who are currently at EP, Producer and Story Editor level at Nickelodeon, HBO, Comedy Central, ABC, Adult Swim, The CW, FOX, Amazon, Hulu and NBC/Universal.
Karen is an international speaker, having led writing workshops around the world. She has been a judge for numerous screenwriting award competitions including the BANFF World Media Festival, the UCLA Screenwriter’s Showcase and the Austin Film Festival Screenplay Competition.
Karen most recently founded The Breakk; a 3-day creative retreat for emerging female television writers from around the world.
Karen loves to connect with writers, so feel free to follow her on Twitter: @karenkirkland or on Instagram: @karen_kirkland
Adam Kolbrenner
Producer
Prisoners, Deadfall
Literary Manager
Lit Entertainment
Adam Kolbrenner is the founder of Lit Entertainment Group, a newly launched literary management and production company based in Century City, CA. Previously Kolbrenner co-founded Madhouse Entertainment.
Kolbrenner produced Oscar-nominated film, Prisoners, for Warner Bros/Alcon Entertainment, written by Lit client Aaron Guzikowski. Kolbrenner also executive produced Netflix’s recent holiday film, Christmas Chronicles starring Kurt Russell, written by Lit client Matt Lieberman based on an original idea by Designated Survivor creator David Guggenheim, another Lit client who also served as an executive producer on the film.
In film, Kolbrenner is next producing Fox’s Free Guy, along with Greg Berlanti and Sarah Schechter. The film, starring Ryan Reynolds and directed by Shawn Levy, is an original spec from Lit client Matt Lieberman that was sold in a competitive situation. Kolbrenner is also producing Skydance’s Ghost Draft, an original sci-fi tentpole film written by Lit client Zach Dean, with David Goyer also producing. Kolbrenner also will serve as executive producer on the recently ordered TNT/Scott Free sci-fi series, Raised by Wolves, with its first two episodes helmed by Ridley Scott. The original series hails from Lit client Aaron Guzikowski, who will serve as creator and showrunner.
Kolbrenner is a member of the PGA. As the top representative (manager or agent) of all Black List screenwriters cumulative in the history of the annual Black List, Kolbrenner has distinguished himself in discovering new voices.
On the Lit management side, Kolbrenner reps top creators and filmmakers in the industry, including Dave Andron (Snowfall); Josh Campbell & Matt Stuecken (10 Cloverfield Lane); Mikki Daughtry & Tobias Iaconis (the upcoming The Children from New Line, and CBS Films’ Five Feet Apart); Craig Doyle (Grown-ish); Liz Garcia (Disney’s Princess Diaries 3, writer/director of One Percent More Humid); Aaron Guzikowski (Prisoners, Raised by Wolves); David Guggenheim (Safe House, Designated Survivor); Matt Lieberman (the upcoming Addams Family and Playing with Fire); Justin Marks (Disney’s Jungle Book, Top Gun 2 and Starz’s Counterpart); Sascha Penn (Creed 2); Nicole Perlman (Guardians of the Galaxy, Captain Marvel and writer/director of The Slows); Justin Rhodes (the upcoming Terminator film from Tim Miller; and Robocop from Neil Blomkamp); Ed Ricourt (Now You See Mefranchise); Greg Russo (Mortal Kombat); Hayley Schore & Dr. Roshan Sethi (The Resident); Kerem Sanga (First Girl I Loved, upcoming The Violent Heart); Jason Smilovic & Todd Katzberg (Condor, War Dogs); Gaia Violo (Absentia).
He lives in Encino, CA with his artist wife Loryn, their daughter Georgia and three dogs, Stella, Walter and Lucy.
Chuck Hayward
Writer
Dear White People (television series), 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 lame if I get a humidifier?”
Chuck was born and raised in the entertainment Mecca of Wilmington, Delaware in Huxtable-esque splendor. Next stop, Syracuse University where he majored in Television, Radio and Film and minored in Overindulgence.
Chuck then moved to LA where he worked as an assistant at production companies Spirit Dance Entertainment, and State Street Pictures before assisting on the hit shows Everybody Hates Chris and Entourage.
After years of perfecting the arts of scheduling, coffee orders, and lunch runs Chuck landed his first staff writing gig on the NBC series Bent. Afterwards, Chuck wrote a freelance episode of the Nickelodeon series, Fred: The Show. He then sold an untitled baseball project to Nickelodeon. He then wrote for the Nick at Nite sitcom Wendell &Vinnie. Chuck’s feature film script, Potluck, won the WGA’s 2012 Feature Access Project. In 2014 Chuck became a staff writer on the new NBC series, One Big Happy. Then in 2015 he worked on the Fox series, Cooper Barrett’s Guide To Surviving Life. In 2016, clearly the best year of his career thus far, he had two movies produced, Fat Camp (available on all on demand platforms) and Step Sisters (streaming now on Netflix), and sold The Untitled Urban Pitch Perfect Project to The Firm and PepsiCo. He’s currently a Co-Producer on the Netflix series, Dear White People, and a Producer on Marvel’s upcoming Untitled Scarlet Witch and Vision series.
On said TV shows, Chuck famously included a clause in his contract requiring his bosses to throw a fresh smelt into his mouth for each successful joke pitch. Smelt are very high in Omega-3’s. Call his agency, APA, or his management company, Heroes and Villains for more info on Chuck, or if you just want to chat.
Jayme Lemons
Executive producer
The Tale
Producer
Enlightened, Antiquities, Shine On with Reese
Jayme Lemons is an American television and film producer with two decades of experience in the entertainment industry. A native of Arkansas, she began her career as an assistant to Billy Bob Thornton and Laura Dern. For four years, she oversaw feature development at Courteney Cox’s production company, Coquette.
Lemons produced the critically-acclaimed HBO series, ENLIGHTENED, after which she and Dern founded their production company, Jaywalker Pictures. They now have projects in development at numerous networks and have most recently signed a multi-year, first look deal with Platform One Media, after having been in a pact with HBO for four years. Lemons was an Executive Producer of the Emmy-nominated HBO film, THE TALE, and produced the just-launched television series, SHINE ON WITH REESE, for Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine channel on DirecTv.
Eric Tovell
VP of Creative Development
Sony Pictures Animation
Eric Tovell is a Vice President of Creative Development for Sony Pictures Animation. He has overseen a multitude of animated films such as HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 2, HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 3: SUMMER VACATION, SPIDERMAN: INTO THE SPIDERVERSE, and the upcoming ANGRY BIRDS 2. He seeks out and acquires new material to be developed from the conceptual stage, through story development and production, working with writers, directors and artists at all stages. Prior to joining Sony Pictures Animation, Eric worked as a creative executive at Walden Media working on THE CHRONCILES OF NARNIA franchise as well as JOURNEY 2: THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Josh Hutcherson.
Gesumino Rulli
Senior Manager, Global Talent Development & Inclusion
Universal Filmed Entertainment Group
A proud Hoosier and native of Indiana, Gesumino Rulli is Senior Manager of Global Talent Development & Inclusion where he has helped develop and relaunch the Universal Writing Program and the Universal Directors Initiative. Prior to joining GTDI, Rulli served as Creative Executive for filmmaker Nick Weiss’ Dormfire Productions’ ABC Studios overall deal. His responsibilities at Dormfire included overseeing the company’s digital slate, as well as working on the development of both feature film and television comedies.
Rulli launched his career as a talent management assistant at Untitled Entertainment. Among his responsibilities were working closely with clients such as actor Jeremy Renner’s production company, and director Gabrielle Muccino (The Pursuit of Happyness, 7 Pounds). He later transitioned into development at Mandeville Films where he assisted the Senior Vice President of Film.
Rulli received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Indiana University Bloomington where he studied Film & Television Direction, and achieved a double minor in Communications & Culture and Music.
Finding the Time (1:00PM-2:15PM)
The pursuit of creativity isn’t always easy, especially if you need to juggle a full time job “on the side”. Join panelists as they discuss essential time-management skills necessary to balance working in the real world with one’s creative endeavors, along with the benefits of entertaining the creative mind while keeping up a nine-to-five.
Find Our Panelists Below!
Taylor Allen
Writer
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 Kennedy family soirees for which he was otherwise sure to have received an invitation).
The script hurtled into production with John Curran (The Painted Veil) directing and Jason Clarke (Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, Zero Dark Thirty), Ed Helms, Kate Mara, and Bruce Dern starring.
From nine to five, he also edits for The Simpsons which is, in fact, a weird process.
Alisha Brophy
Writer / Moth GrandSLAM Champion
White Girl Problems, License to Drive, “The Moth” Radio Hour
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 hour. Her projects are often inspired by her backstory that includes carnival work, and
competitive dog training. She received her MFA in Screenwriting from UT-Austin, where she
met her co-writer, Scott Miles. Alisha and Scott won the Academy’s 2014 Nicholl Fellowship with their comedy United States of Fuckin’ Awesome. They followed this with the feature White Girl Problems, for Elizabeth Banks’ Brownstone productions and Lionsgate, which has attached Nahnatchka Khan (Fresh Off the Boat) and Danielle MacDonald (PattiCake$). They’ve also developed animation with ShadowMachine (BoJack Horseman), sold an original pitch to CBS Films, and their DIY animated shorts have been featured on Funny or Die, IndieWire, AV Club, Huffington Post, and GQ. They’ve recently wrote the new License to Drive for Fox and Davis
Entertainment, and are currently writing for LEGO. They’re repped by Paradigm and Circle of Confusion. More info can be found at brophyandmiles.com
Charmaine DeGraté
Writer / Supervising Producer
The 100, Chambers
Writer/Supervising Producer of The100 and Netflix’s Chambers, set to premiere in 2019.
Charmaine DeGraté is a screenwriter and television producer. Currently, Charmaine is writing and producing two television shows: the sixth season of the critically acclaimed science fiction drama The 100 and Netflix’s soon to be released psychological thriller, Chambers.
Charmaine attended Vassar College where she spent summers working as a Congressional Aide in Washington, DC and producing plays at The Powerhouse Theatre. She graduated from Vassar with a double major in English Literature and Political Science.
A recipient of The August Wilson Fellowship, Charmaine is also an alum of the Austin Film Festival, a graduate of The Warner Bros. Television Writers’ Workshop and an active member of Women In Film.
Matt Dy attended the University of Texas at Austin and received a Bachelor of Science in Radio/TV/Film with a focus on screenwriting. He recently joined Adam Kolbrenner’s newly formed Lit Entertainment Group as a literary manager. Previously, he worked at Austin Film Festival (AFF) since 2008 where he served as the Director of Script Competitions and facilitated the evaluation of thousands of annual script submissions reaching a record 10,580 submissions in 2018. During his time at AFF, he helped shepherd the careers of countless writers and connect them with various top agents, managers, and producers.
Overcoming Obstacles (2:30PM-3:45PM)
Join a conversation on the mistakes and missteps made by some of Hollywood’s most successful screenwriters and how they used these hardships as major learning opportunities. In an industry wrought with “no’s”, learn how to overcome rejection and turn failure into success
Find Our Panelists Below!
Wendy Calhoun
Writer / Producer
Warner Bros TV, Station 19, Empire, Nashville, Justified
A writer and executive producer with an exclusive overall deal at Warner Bros. Television Studios. Most recently, Wendy served as Consulting Producer for ABC’s GREY’S ANATOMY firefighter spinoff STATION 19. She has developed new series pilots with NBC, the CW, Netflix, FX, 20th TV Studios, and ABC Signature. Her past credits include Co-Executive Producing and writing the historic first season of Fox’s megahit series EMPIRE. In addition, she’s written and produced for ABC’S NASHVILLE, FX’s JUSTIFIED, ABC’s REVENGE, and NBC’s LIFE. Calhoun wrote and directed the virtual reality short, LEFT BEHIND, sponsored by Google, and honored as “Best in VR” at Digital Hollywood. She served as the Narrative Consultant for Electronic Arts’ BATTLEFIELD HARDLINE video game. Calhoun received a 2010 Peabody Award and WGA Best New Series Nomination for JUSTIFIED. She received her second WGA Best New Series Nomination in 2012 for NASHVILLE. Born and raised in Dallas, Texas, Calhoun studied film and television at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts.
Carly Wray
Screenwriter
Mad Men, Westworld, The Leftovers, Mindhunter
Co-Executive Producer
Watchmen
Co-Creator
You Know You Want This
Carly Wray is an award-winning television writer, producer, and screenwriter. A graduate of Reed College and USC’s School of Cinematic Arts, Wray got her start on MAD MEN, where she began as the writers’ assistant and ultimately won a Writers Guild Award for the show’s final season. She has since written on THE LEFTOVERS and MINDHUNTER, and received her first Emmy nomination as a writer-producer on season two of WESTWORLD. Wray is currently Co-Executive Producer on Damon Lindelof’s upcoming adaptation of WATCHMEN.
Wray is engaged in a multi-year overall deal at HBO and is the EP and co-creator of YOU KNOW YOU WANT THIS, an anthology series set up at the network about sex, gender, and power. Wray is also the writer and EP of an upcoming feature based on the New York Times Magazine article “The Incarcerated Women Who Fight California’s Wildfires.” Margot Robbie is attached to produce.
Karol Ann Hoeffner is the Graduate Director of Screenwriter and Assistant Professor for Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles where she oversees two program tracks: Writing for the Screen and Writing and Producing for Television. Before coming to LMU, she worked full-time as a screenwriter in Hollywood where she wrote original movies as well as novel adaptations for television mini-series and movies-of-the-week. In 2006, she completed her first young adult novel, All You’ve Got, which is based on the screenplay for the MTV premiere movie. Hoeffner also sold an original feature script Welcome Wagon to Disney. Among her other writing credits is Winning London starring Mary-Kate and Ashley. Her second young adult novel, Surf Ed. was singled out by Barnes and Noble for a nationwide campaign. Her third novel, Knee Deep, will be in Fall 2020 by Regal House and she is currently developing a limited historical drama series for streaming.
Networking Reception (4:00PM-5:30PM)
As a ticket holder for the event, you are also invited to attend our happy hour mixer following the last panel discussion in the lobby of the Linwood Dunn Theater. Complimentary snacks and drinks will be provided courtesy of the Academy Education Program and the Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting.
AND DON’T FORGET to enter your script in the Screenplay Competition by the March 29 Early Deadline before the entry fee goes up for the April 19 Regular Deadline and May 15 Late Deadline. All entrants will receive FREE Reader Comments and special discounts to attend the annual Festival & Conference.