Austin Film Festival's On Story

Adapting Period Pieces, with Alison Eakle and Evan Romansky Oct 30, 2024

This week on On Story, we explore finding the source material for a period piece, making decisions about historical accuracy versus creative liberties, and successfully marrying a modern audience with a bygone era.

AFF moderator Fabienne Harford speaks with Alison Eakle, Chief Content Officer at Shondaland and executive producer on Bridgerton, and Evan Romanksy, co-creator of Ratched about what it takes to research and create period pieces that maintain integrity and entertainment.

Alison Eakle oversees all Netflix streaming content for Shondaland. She joined Shondaland in 2013, helping develop the ABC dramas “How to Get Away with Murder,” “Station 19,” “For the People,” and “The Catch.” Prior to her time at Shondaland, Eakle was at Ellen DeGeneres’ production company, A Very Good Production. She began her career in features, working in development and production at Paramount Vantage and Columbia Pictures, as well as in marketing at Paramount Pictures. In 2016, Eakle was named one of Marie Claire’s New Guard: America’s 50 Most Influential Women, and in 2019 she was named an Ojai Fellow as part of CAA’s Convene. She is a graduate of Georgetown University and The University of Texas at Austin.

She’s joined by Evan Romanksy the co-creator and executive producer of Netflix's Emmy and Golden-Globe nominated series RATCHED. A graduate of Ohio University and Loyola Marymount University, Evan has sold both film and TV projects to Amazon and MakeReady Studios and is currently developing with Jason Bateman's Aggregate Films as well as Margot Robbie's LuckyChap Entertainment.

Both Evan and Allison have learned to successfully marry a modern audience with a bygone era.

Ratched, Queen Charlotte, and Bridgerton clips courtesy of Netflix.

Tales from Texas Film Offices, Presented by TXAFC Sep 11, 2024

This week on On Story, we’re joined by the film industry experts who connect Texas filmmakers with funding and resources including President of the Texas Association of Film Commissions, Drew Mayer-Oakes, Director of the Texas Film Commission, Stephanie Whallon, Director of the San Antonio Film Commission, Kimberly LeBlanc, and Director of the Houston Film Commission, Alfred Cervantes. The discussion of their professional histories and organizational goals shines a light on the many different ways these structured bodies provide support for Texas creators while simultaneously invigorating local economies.

A Conversation with Lee Eisenberg Aug 28, 2024

This week on On Story, a conversation with Lee Eisenberg about the launch of his comedy writing career. Eisenberg and his writing partner Gene Stupnitsky broke into the industry with their adventure-comedy screenplay, Year One, an irreverent retelling of the Book of Genesis in which they collaborated with the iconic comedian and filmmaker, Harold Ramis, who went onto direct the film for the Apatow Company. In tandem writing with Year One, Lee and Gene were staffed on season two of the notorious comedy television hit, The Office, where they wrote for five hilarious seasons. Masters of craft and discomfort comedy, stories that bring audiences right to the edge of unbearable cringe before easing them with a laugh, Lee and Gene wrote many celebrated teleplays for The Office, including Dinner Party, The Lover, and audience favorite Scott's Tots, in which Michael Scott realizes he cannot fulfill his long-time promise to pay the college tuition of local students. Eisenberg discusses his process of co-writing these scripts and the importance of leaving pathos and humanity into the most cringey comedic protagonists. Eisenberg also expands on his and Gene's process creating the out-of-the-box reality hoax sitcom, Jury Duty, in which Ronald Gladden, appearing as himself, was unaware that the entire case and jury proceeding had been staged. The one-of-a-kind comedy series was nominated for both Emmy and Golden Globe Awards. Lastly, Eisenberg elaborates on his latest project: developing the historical drama miniseries Lessons in Chemistry, based on the bestselling book of the same name. Eisenberg reveals how the artistry of the novel not only sparked his genre switch, but inspired him to subtly impart aspects of his lived experience into the Apple TV series. The Office clips courtesy of NBC. Jury Duty clips courtesy of Amazon Freevee. Good Boys clips courtesy of Universal Pictures. Lessons in Chemistry clips courtesy of Apple TV.

A Conversation with Karyn Kusama Aug 07, 2024

This week on On Story, Austin Film Festival moderator Harrison Glaser speaks with Karyn Kusama about her filmography, the evolution of her storytelling, and her focus on strong female protagonists.

In her debut feature, Girlfight, Kusama drew from her own experiences training in a boxing gym and living in New York City, building Michelle Rodriguez’s character from young women she encountered on the subway. Kusama discusses connecting to their guarded nature and writing a protagonist that her audiences could root for.

After the release of Girlfight, Kusama received critical praise and went onto direct her first studio film, Aeon Flux, co-written by Matt Manfredi and Phil Hay. Hay would become her husband and life partner, and her creative partnership with both Hay and Manfredi would lead to The Invitation and Destroyer.

Kusama also discusses her experiences in episodic storytelling. Her television credits include Halt and Catch Fire, Billions, and the genre-bending hit, Yellowjackets. She delves into the ways that directing television keeps her craft sharp, and discusses how she and Yellowjackets co-creators Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson infuse cinematic sequences into shorter film storytelling.

Throughout her illustrious career, Kusama has perhaps been best-known for the cult classic Jennifer’s Body, the black comedy horror film written by Diablo Cody and starring a young Megan Fox and Amanda Seyfried. In conversation at the Austin Film Festival, Kusama recounts her connection with Cody’s voice and their creative exploration of female friendship as the emotional core of that story.

Girlfight clips courtesy of United Artists.

Jennifer’s Body clips courtesy of 20th Century Studios.

The Invitation clips courtesy of The Invitation, LLC.

Yellowjackets clips courtesy of Showtime.

The Bikeriders, with Jeff Nichols Jul 31, 2024

This week on On Story, a conversation with Jeff Nichols, the acclaimed filmmaker behind Mud and Loving, to discuss his most recent film The Bikeriders, a moving character drama based on journalist Danny Lyons’ photobook by the same name. The Bikeriders chronicles the rise and fall of a Chicago motorcycle gang in the 1960s through the lens of bikerider wife Kathy, an open book played by Jodie Comer. Led by the strong and silent Johnny, embodied by Tom Hardy, the club devolves from a surrogate home for outsiders with no place to go to a violent crime organization. Its members, especially Austin Butler’s strong-willed, reckless Benny, are forced to grapple with their club’s decaying principles, their role in the organization, and by extension, their place in a changing world. The film captures distinct nostalgia from a bygone era, and summons enormous affection for its deeply flawed characters.

In conversation with the Austin Film Festival, Nichols recounts how he connected with the photobook’s images and anecdotes, and listened to voice recordings of the real-life vandals, to build a rich world and craft compelling characters.

The Bikeriders clips courtesy of Focus Features.

The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada, with Tommy Lee Jones Jun 12, 2024

This week on On Story, a conversation with the team behind The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada, a western that follows a ranch foreman's extraordinary trek to Mexico to bury his best friend's body in his hometown. Actor and director Tommy Lee Jones worked with writer Guillermo Arriaga to develop a moving, character-driven story inspired by true events about the shared border between Texas and Mexico. Jones, alongside 1st Assistant Director Phil Hardage, Unit Production Manager Eric Austin Williams, Post-Production Supervisor Larry Madaras, and actor Julio Cedillo discuss their decision to tell the story in a non-linear fashion, their experience filming on location, and how they incorporated sound effects and scoring to build the film's world and define its characters. The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada clips courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.

A Conversation with Katrin Benedikt Jun 05, 2024

This week on On Story, we're having a conversation with Katrin Benedikt. Co-writer of the non-stop political action thrillers Olympus Has Fallen, London Has Fallen, and Expendables 3, Benedikt lends a behind-the-scenes look into the realities of breaking into Hollywood as a writer, from pitching the same story for years on end, navigating relationships with co-writers, agents, and producers, to completing last-minute rewrites on set. A true lover of action movies, Benedikt discusses crafting characters for star-studded casts and working with genre experts Antoine Fuqua and Sylvester Stallone. Olympus Has Fallen clips courtesy of Film District. London Has Fallen clips courtesy of Millennium Media. Expendables 3 clips courtesy of Lionsgate Media.

Finestkind, with Brian Helgeland Apr 17, 2024

This week on On Story, a conversation with Brian Helgeland, the Academy Award-winning screenwriter who penned acclaimed movies including L.A. Confidential and Mystic River, and the director who brought to life beloved films such as A Knight’s Tale and 42. He lends a behind the scenes look at the making of Finestkind, a film mined from his relationship with his father and their experiences as deep sea fishermen.

The film, set in Helgeland’s own hometown of New Bedford, Massachusetts, tells the story of two estranged brothers’ navigating a splintered relationship in the high-stakes world of commercial fishing and drug dealing. Helgeland discusses grounding the story in setting, crafting character backgrounds with Tommy Lee Jones (who plays the boys’ father) and imbuing the film with his personal touch. Finestkind is now streaming on Paramount Plus.

Finestkind clips courtesy of Paramount Plus.

Past Lives, with Celine Song Apr 10, 2024

This week on On Story, AFF moderator Harrison Glaser speaks with Celine Song about her feature debut, Past Lives. Inspired by Song’s own experiences, Past Lives tells the story of two childhood friends who reunite as adults and reckon with the nature of the enduring bond between them. This multi-language film is a deeply personal exploration of the modern immigrant experience, unflinchingly confronting the “what-ifs” that plague lost love and paths not taken.

Celine Song began her writing career as a playwright in New York City, and joined fantasy series The Wheel of Time as a staff writer before her feature debut. The bittersweet romance premiered to critical acclaim and soared to Oscar nominations for Best Original Screenplay and Best Picture.

In conversation at the 30th annual Austin Film Festival, Song discusses creating complex identities for her characters, writing dialogue that feels true to life, and transitioning from playwright to filmmaker.

Past Lives clips courtesy of A24.

American Fiction, with Cord Jefferson Feb 28, 2024

This week on On Story, a conversation with Cord Jefferson on adapting the novel Erasure into his strikingly sharp debut feature American Fiction. Cord Jefferson is an Emmy-winning writer who earned his chops on some of television’s most formative shows in recent years: Master of None, The Good Place, Succession, and Watchmen. His debut feature, American Fiction, won the Audience Award at the 30th annual Austin Film Festival.

American Fiction is an adaptation of Percival Everett’s novel Erasure. The film introduces us to Thelonius Monk, played by Jeffrey Wright, a weary writer frustrated by the publishing industry’s obsession with reducing artists of color into stereotypes. In an effort to show the industry its own foolishness, Monk offers up a pandering manuscript that, much to his chagrin, becomes wildly successful.

Cord discusses bringing his own perspective and sense of humor to the source material, and marrying comedy and drama in one film. Clips of American Fiction courtesy of Amazon/MGM Studios.

The Bear, with Joanna Calo Feb 21, 2024

This week on On Story, a conversation with Joanna Calo, showrunner of the character-driven dramedy The Bear. Joanna delves into her experience sharing showrunning duties with creator Christopher Storer, and discusses their approach to incorporating real life events into the show’s deeply grounded characters and high stakes world.

As a television veteran, Joanna’s writing credits include Bojack Horseman, Hacks, Beef, and today’s subject, The Bear. The Bear tells the story of Carmy Berzatto, played by Jeremy Allen White, an award-winning chef who returns home to Chicago in the wake of his estranged brother’s suicide to find that he has inherited the family sandwich shop. Audiences fell in love with The Bear’s fast-paced dialogue, anxiety-inducing stakes, and deeply human characters in the show’s first season. In season 2, the show’s stakes raised even higher as Carmy attempted to open his own fine dining restaurant in Chicago. In today’s On Story conversation, Joanna share her insights surrounding the infamous mid-season episode Fishes featuring guest star Jamie Lee Curtis, as well as the well-crafted characters of Richie, played by Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Marcus, played by Lionel Boyce.

Clips of The Bear courtesy of FX.

Contact, with James V. Hart Feb 12, 2024

This week on the On Story Podcast a conversation with James V. Hart, writer of the science fiction drama Contact directed by Robert Zemeckis.

In his decades-long career, Hart has written beloved films including Hook, Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Tuck Everlasting, and August Rush. Hart discusses the process of adapting Contact from Carl Sagan’s novel about a scientist who discovers definitive proof of extraterrestrial life. From working with the author to discern his original intent and establishing a thematic purpose, to embedding a story with high stakes and finding the story’s emotional core, Hart lends us a close look at the intricacies of structuring a screenplay.

Clips of Contact courtesy of Warner Bros.

Iron Man 3 w/Shane Black Jan 31, 2024

This week on On Story, a conversation with writer-director Shane Black about the making of Iron Man 3.

Shane Black, the original creator of the Lethal Weapon franchise, is well-known for his irreverent comedic style and witty dialogue, as well as turning established genre tropes on their head. Black does just that in Iron Man 3, a superhero film that sets aside hero's bravado to dissect the man inside the suit.

Barbara Morgan sat down with Black to discuss finding larger-than-life characters' interiority, navigating fan expectations, and working within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Clips of Iron Man 3 courtesy of Marvel Studios.

Dolemite is My Name w/Scott Alexander, Larry Karaszewski, and Craig Brewer Jan 10, 2024

This week on On Story, a conversation with celebrated writing team Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski, alongside filmmaker Craig Brewer, to discuss their collaboration on the hilarious, outrageous film Dolemite Is My Name. Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski are an accomplished duo best known for the “anti-biopic” - postmodern movies that defy genre expectations by focusing on lesser known people, like in their films Ed Wood, The People Vs. Larry Flynt, and Big Eyes. The pair have also earned critical and commercial success by fictionalizing well-known true stories in their hit TV show American Crime Story: The People Versus O.J. Simpson, and as we discuss today, their acclaimed account of the life of Rudy Ray Moore in Dolemite Is My Name. Craig Brewer’s career as a writer and director has spanned two decades, launched by his well-received debut The Poor and the Hungry and his Oscar winning sophomore feature Hustle & Flow. Brewer directed Dolemite Is My Name, a biographical comedy that chronicles Rudy Ray Moore’s making of beloved blaxploitation film Dolemite. Dolemite is My Name Clips Courtesy of Netflix.

Lawmen: Bass Reeves w/Chad Feehan, Christina Voros, and Damian Marcano Dec 06, 2023

This week on On Story, a conversation with the creative team behind Lawmen: Bass Reeves, a show based on the incredible real life of Bass Reeves, a man who was born into slavery and later became a Deputy U.S. Marshal. He was the first black man west of the Mississippi River to hold that title, and according to creator and showrunner of the series Chad Feehan, he was “arguably the greatest lawman in the history of this country.”

Taylor Sheridan is responsible for making it all happen, and this limited series is the latest installment in his television universe.

Creator Chad Feehan has written on shows known for their gritty realism, like Southland and Ray Donovan. A meeting with David Oyelowo made him obsessed with Bass Reeves. Enough to create this series. Oyelowo plays the title role. He had been trying to get a show made about Reeves for years.

Christina Voros is very familiar with the Taylor Sheridan universe. She directed and co-executive produced for megahits Yellowstone and 1883. She is the executive producer of the Bass Reeves series, and she directed the pilot beautifully.

Damian Marcano, director on the intense, fast-paced Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty and the neo-noir television series, American Gigolo, directed several episodes of Lawmen: Bass Reeves.

Barbara Morgan talked with Chad, Christina, and Damian about how they took on the material and some of the challenges that come from making historical fiction.

Lawmen: Bass Reeves Clips Courtesy of Paramount Plus.

Justified, with VJ Boyd and Chris Provenzano Nov 29, 2023

This week on On Story, a conversation with two of the writers on Justified: City Primeval.

VJ Boyd is a writer and producer. He did both on hits like Justified and S.W.A.T. He co-created and co-showran the crime drama Lincoln Rhyme: Hunt for the Bone Collector, and he’s currently showrunning The Madness, expected to release next year.

Chris Provenzano was a writer on the first season of Mad Men. Since then, he’s written on an incredibly diverse number of hits, from Archer to Justified to Silicon Valley.

Barbara Morgan spoke with the two at the Austin Film Festival.

Justified clips courtesy of FX Networks.

A Conversation with Edward Neumeier Aug 16, 2023

This week on On Story, writer Edward Neumeier discusses his creative process behind the sci-fi cult classics RoboCop and Starship Troopers. Neumeier explores the particulars of writing for the genre, as well as his knack for disguising deep issues within expansive and captivating stories.

Clips of RoboCop courtesy of Orion Pictures.

Clips of Starship Troopers courtesy of TriStar Pictures.

'Never Have I Ever' with Lang Fisher Jul 26, 2023

This week on On Story, we're joined by Lang Fisher for a conversation on her process of co-creating, writing, and showrunning Netflix’s hit series, Never Have I Ever. Fisher has a long history of writing and producing funny yet intelligent television, and Never Have I Ever is no exception. This fresh, coming-of-age series follows Indian-American teen, Davy Vishwakumar, who after a difficult year, is determined to heighten her social status at Sherman Oaks High Schools. Both co-created with and inspired by Mindy Kaling’s own childhood, the show's current three seasons are a remarkable masterclass on witty dialogue, a leader in diverse representation on screen, and adept at presenting relatable themes for teens and adults alike. The show's highly anticipated fourth and final season is scheduled to be released by Netflix on June 8th, 2023.

Prior to her work on Never Have I Ever, Fisher was a writer-producer for many comedy series, including Brooklyn Nine-Nine, The Mindy Project, and the final season of 30 Rock, where she co-wrote the episode “A Goon’s Deed in a Weary World,” which was named one of Variety’s “25 Best TV Episodes of the Decade.” Before venturing into television writing, Fisher used her humor to write for six years at the satirical news outlet, The Onion.

AFF moderator Casey Baron sat down with Lang Fisher to dive deeper into the process of writing and creating Never Have I Ever and to give our audience a craft conversation. Never have you ever learned so much on the art of comedy writing!

Clips of Never Have I Ever courtesy of Netflix.

A Conversation with Noah Harpster & Micah Fitzerman-Blue Jul 07, 2023

This week on On Story, we're joined by writing partners Noah Harpster and Micah Fitzerman-Blue, known for their collaboration on projects such as the award-winning film based on the life of Mr. Rogers, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, their work writing and producing the Amazon series, Transparent, and co-creating and co-showrunning their upcoming Netflix series, Painkiller.

Known for their talents writing stories based on true events, Painkiller is no different, as it's an honest exploration of the birth of the opioid crisis in the United States, starring Matthew Broderick and Uzo Abuda. Together, Harpster and Fitzerman-Blue have won the Peabody Award, the PEN award, and the Humanitas Prize for their collaborative work as screenwriters, in addition to receiving Emmy, Golden Globe, People’s Choice Awards, and WGA writing nominations.

AFF moderator Harrison Glaser sat down with both writers during the 2022 Writers Conference to discuss what makes a successful writing partnership, the process of crafting stories based on real events, and how to build a career that includes writing across genres, and within both television and film.

You know what they say - two heads are better than one, and the truth is stranger than fiction. Harpster and Fitzerman-Blue embody these timeless statements.

Clips courtesy of Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. and Amazon Studios.

A Conversation with Stephen Merchant Jun 21, 2023

This week on On Story, we're joined by the comedic genius Stephen Merchant for a conversation on his impressive career in television. Perhaps best known for co-creating (with Ricky Gervais) BBC's The Office, Merchant's work writing and directing the critically acclaimed show attributed to the series earning multiple comedy awards, including three BAFTA awards, two British Comedy awards, two Golden Globe awards, a Primetime Emmy, and a Peabody Award, all before Merchant served as the executive producer on the immensely successful adaptation. The US series was a long-running hit, receiving five Primetime Emmy awards and forty-two nominations of its own during its run on NBC.

Other pillars in Merchant's career include starring, co-creating, co-writing and directing the HBO series Hello Ladies, a sitcom based on Merchant's stand-up show of the same name. Currently, Merchant serves as the co-creator, executive producer, writer, director and star of his newest series, The Outlaws. Co-created with Elgin James, the crime thriller and comedic television show follows seven very different strangers who are sentenced to community service as payback for their various crimes. Yet things certainly take a turn when the group discovers a bag full of money, unaware of its dangerous owners, in this hit co-production from BBC One and Amazon Studios.

A pivotal creative in the world of comedy, AFF was delighted to honor Merchant as the recipient of AFF’s Outstanding Television Writer Award, a distinction awarded annually to recognize excellence in the television industry. Merchant certainly demonstrates excellence, not only from his impressive collection of awards and accolades, but also through his various titles, roles, and hats, including actor, stand-up comedian, writer, director, and producer, thereby cementing his reputation as one of the most versatile talents in TV and film.

Barbara Morgan sat down with Merchant during the 2022 Austin Film Festival for an in-depth conversation on both his creative process and career, eager to hear more on Merchant’s practice of crafting relatable characters, how he found comedic inspiration from drama, and most of all, how he established himself as one of television’s leading comedic voices.

So sit back and have a laugh as we talk all things comedy with Stephen Merchant.

Clips of The Outlaws courtesy of Amazon Studios.

Clips of Hello Ladies courtesy of Home Box Office, Inc.

Clips of The Office courtesy of British Broadcasting Corporation.

A Conversation with James Gray Jun 08, 2023

This week on On Story, a conversation with acclaimed writer, director, and producer James Gray to discuss not only his artistic process, but how he established himself as one the industry’s most talented writer-directors.

A true visionary, Gray made his directorial debut with his celebrated film Little Odessa, which earned him nominations for both Best First Feature and Best First Screenplay at the 1994 Independent Spirit Awards. Other esteemed features in Gray’s canon include The Yards, starring Joaquin Phoenix, who is in fact a frequent collaborator of Gray’s, and We Own the Night, starring Mark Wahlberg, in addition to his films, Two Lovers, The Immigrant, The Lost City of Z, and Ad Astra, all of which set the bar for both screenwriting and direction.

Gray’s most recent feature, Armageddon Time, is a deeply personal film inspired by Gray’s childhood. A reflection on the strength of family, the complexity of friendship, and the realities of class as seen through the eyes of a young Jewish boy growing up in 1980s Queens, the film’s star-studded cast includes leading actors Anthony Hopkins, Anne Hathaway, and Jeremy Strong.

In addition to speaking with Gray on his process of writing and directing each of his seven critically-acclaimed feature films, AFF was eager to honor Gray with our coveted Bill Wittliff Award for Screenwriting, an annual award presented to leading storytellers within film, television and new media. Gray adds this accolade to his five Palme d’Or nominations, as well as the Silver Lion Award.

During our annual Writers Conference, Barbara Morgan sat down with Gray to discuss how he became a pillar of American filmmaking.

Ad Astra clips courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation.

Little Odessa clips courtesy of Fine Line Features.

Lost City of Z clips courtesy of Sierra Afinity, LLC.

We Own the Night clips courtesy of Columbia Pictures.

Kandahar Q&A with Ric Roman Waugh May 17, 2023

This week on On Story we're joined by director Ric Roman Waugh for a post-screening deep dive into his newest action thriller, Kandahar.

Formerly an actor and stuntman who appeared in countless films, including Universal Soldier, The Last of the Mohicans, and Lethal Weapon 2, Waugh is certainly no stranger to action. Now known for his work as a writer, producer, and director, Waugh utilizes his background in stunt work to create many of today's leading thrillers, such as Felon, Snitch, Shot Caller, and Angel Has Fallen, serving on all as writer and director. Recently in 2020, Waugh directed Greenland, a disaster thriller starring Waugh's frequent collaborator, Gerard Butler, which follows the story of John Garrity, who must save the United States from imminent destruction by a comet.

Waugh's newest action thriller, Kandahar, was written by former U.S. Military Intelligence Officer Mitchell La Fortune, and follows the journey of undercover CIA operative Tom Harris, who along with his translator must flee hostile territory in Afghanistan after their covert mission is exposed. Both starring and produced by Gerard Butler, the film is based on LaFortune's own experience serving in Afghanistan during the 2013 Snowden leaks. Never short on suspense or excitement, Kandahar is a high-stakes race against time, set against the complex political background of the War on Terror.

So sit back - or, well more likely on the edge of your seat - as Barbara Morgan sits down with director Ric Roman Waugh to talk all things Kandahar.

Clips of Kandahar courtesy of Open Road Films.

A Conversation with Alec Berg May 04, 2023

This week on On Story, AFF Moderator Harrison Glaser sits down with television writing legend Alec Berg for an in-depth conversation on his triumphant comedy writing career.

Nothing short of a comedic genius, Berg's writing credits include some of television's most hilarious series, including his work writing, directing, and producing Larry David's Curb Your Enthusiasm, Mike Judge's Silicon Valley, and most recently, HBO's Barry, which he co-created with SNL legend Bill Hader.

Barry, which was recently renewed for a fourth season, is an Emmy-nominated dark comedy hit that follows down-and-out hitman Barry Berkman, played by Bill Hader. Barry's assignments bring him to Los Angeles, where he finds himself joining a local acting class for wannabe talent taught by Gene Cousineau, played by none other than Henry Winkler. Through this class and a budding relationship with aspiring actress Sally Reed, this not-so-cold-blooded killer finds himself amidst an existential crisis, asking as we all often do, what is it he really wants out of life?

Only Berg, a master of situational comedy, would think to put a hitman in a beginner's acting class and to make it lighthearted and funny, but as many of our listeners know, there's nothing lighthearted or easy about breaking into the world of comedy. Berg breaks down for our AFF audience his journey, which started by gaining inspiration from the tapes of prior comedy legends like Steve Martin, to his early work writing for Seinfeld, to expanding his credit from writer to writer-director, to ultimately making a career and name for himself as one of television's leading comedy creators and showrunners.

So get ready for a lesson in laughter from comedy legend Alec Berg.

Clips of Barry and Silicon Valley courtesy of Home Box Office, Inc.

Clips of Seinfeld courtesy of NBC.

The Inspection Q&A with Elegance Bratton and Raúl Castillo Apr 19, 2023

This week on On Story, AFF Moderator Andy Volk sat down with writer-director Elegance Bratton and actor Raúl Castillo for a post-screening Q&A of their latest feature film, The Inspection.

Released last November by A24, The Inspection is an absolutely heart-wrenching drama inspired by Bratton's own experience. The film follows Ellis French, a young, gay black man played by Tony-nominated actor Jeremy Pope who is rejected by his mother and family. With very few options for his future, Ellis joins the Marines, doing whatever it takes to succeed in a system that has cast him aside. This deeply moving film is a sharp look at how one can find strength, support, and a sense of belonging in the most unexpected places.

Just as inspiring as the film is Elegance Bratton's own artistic trajectory, which exemplifies perseverance and determination in creation. Bratton began making films while serving as a US Marine after spending a decade homeless. Now an acclaimed, boundary-breaking director, writer, and producer, Bratton's films have played at over two hundred film festivals worldwide, including Sundance, Outfest, BFI, New York City, Black Star Film Festival, and of course, at the Austin Film Festival. Beyond Bratton's festival success, he made his television debut as the creator and executive producer of the Viceland series, My House, which was nominated in 2019 for the GLAAD Media Award's Outstanding Documentary category. Additionally, his 2019 documentary, Pier Kids, made its streaming debut in August of 2021. Also in 2021, Bratton received the Film Independent Truer than Fiction Spirit Award presented to emerging directors of non-fiction features. And let's not forget that Bratton holds degrees from both Columbia University and the NYU Tisch Graduate School of Film. Yet summing up Elegance by merely his degrees, accolades, and awards does not provide the full picture. A master of harvesting film narratives and the overlooked stories right in front of us, Elegance uses his vision to highlight the universal power of our shared humanity.

Joining Bratton is actor, playwright, and Texas's own Raúl Castillo. Castillo stars in the film as Rosales, a drill instructor who takes French under his wing. Castillo's artful performance is a nuanced depiction of masculinity and vulnerability, subverting traditional narratives through the duality of Rosales's stern yet nurturing mentorship, a complexity Castillo was eager to explore. Known for his starring roles in Amexicano, Cold Weather, We Are the Animals, as well as his role as Richie Donado Ventura in the HBO series, Looking, Castillo is known for his truthful embodiments of complex masculinity. Originally a playwright, Castillo has brought authentic Latinx stories to off-Broadway stages through his plays Border Stories, a trio of one-acts about life at the US-Mexico border, Knives and Other Sharp Objects, which premiered at the Public Theater in New York City, and his dark comedic family drama, Between You, Me, and the Lampshade, developed with the Atlantic Theater Company.

We were thrilled to have both Elegance and Raúl, two exceptional storytellers, at the Austin Film Festival to speak to their creative process behind the film. So, do I have your attention yet? Are you standing at attention? Good. Let's dive deeper into The Inspection.

Clips of The Inspection courtesy of A24.

Armageddon Time Q&A with James Gray Apr 05, 2023

This week on On Story, AFF Moderator and Senior Programmer, Andy Volk, sat down with writer, director, and producer James Gray for a post-screening Q&A of his coming-of-age drama, Armageddon Time. A deeply personal film inspired by Gray's childhood, Armageddon Time is a reflection on the strength of family, the complexity of friendship, and the realities of class as seen through the eyes of a young Jewish boy growing up in 1980s Queens. Through the brilliant performances of its all-star cast, which includes leading actors such as Anthony Hopkins, Anne Hathaway and Jeremy Strong, Armageddon Time is a beautiful, detailed, and intimate portrait of how privilege, inequality, and prejudice are integral to the American experience.

AFF was ecstatic to welcome the preeminent writer-director James Gray, not only to speak more about the film but also to honor him as the 2022 recipient of AFF's coveted Bill Wittliff Award for Screenwriting, an annual award presented to leading storytellers within film, television, and new media. A true visionary, Gray made his directorial debut with his acclaimed film, Little Odessa, which earned him nominations for both Best First Feature and Best First Screenplay at the 1994 Independent Spirit Awards. Other acclaimed features in Gray's canon include The Yards, starring Joaquin Phoenix, who is in fact a frequent collaborator of Gray's, and We Own the Night, starring Mark Wahlberg, in addition to his films Two Lovers, The Immigrant, The Lost City of Z, and Ad Astra, all of which are critically acclaimed and set the bar for both screenwriting and direction.

So join us and the legendary director James Gray for a little trip back to the 1980s and a closer look at Armageddon Time.

Clips of Armageddon Time courtesy of AT Picture Ventures LLC.

Women Talking Q&A with Dede Gardner and Sarah Polley Mar 15, 2023

This week on On Story, it's all about Women Talking, and I'm not just referencing our powerhouse guests, Academy Award-winning producer Dede Gardner and Oscar-nominated writer-director Sarah Polley, but also their newest film collaboration and adaptation, Women Talking.

Women Talking is a drama feature based on Miriam Toews' critically acclaimed novel of the same name. Inspired by true events from a sequestered community in Bolivia, the film follows a group of women in an isolated religious colony as they struggle to reconcile their faith amidst a series of assaults committed by the colony's men. This raw and vulnerable look at domestic violence is ultimately a story of women's resilience, and it's beautifully portrayed by leading actors Rooney Mara, Claire Foy, Jessica Buckley, Judith Ivey and Frances McDormand.

Austin Film Festival was thrilled to include this powerful film in our 2022 film slate. But a little more on the women talking in this post-screening Q&A.

AFF was honored to award Dede Gardner with the 2022 Polly Platt Award for Producing, an Austin Film Festival award intended to recognize producers with a keen sense of story who have demonstrated a commitment to fostering new talent. Throughout her career, Gardner has produced many Academy Award and Golden Globe-winning films, including pioneering work such as Minari, If Beale Street Could Talk, Moonlight, The Big Short, Vice, Selma, 12 Years a Slave, And Terrence Malick's Palme d'Or winner, The Tree of Life. Her recent television releases include HBO's limited series, The Third Day, as well as the Amazon series, The Underground Railroad, and Outer Range.

Joining Gardner is Women Talking's writer-director, Sarah Polley. Formerly an actress known for her leading role in the television series, Ramona, Polley made her directorial debut with her film, Away from Her, which was Oscar-nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay. Polley also received the Writer's Guild of America Award for Best Documentary Screenplay for her doc, Stories We Tell. Most recently, she executive-produced and wrote the Netflix limited series, Alias Grace, which she adapted from Margaret Atwood's novel. In short, Sarah Polley is a master at taking existing stories and filtering them through a lens of her own.

AFF moderator Marissa Padden spoke with Dede Gardner and Sarah Polley after their screening at this year's Austin Film Festival to give our audience an insider's look at the art of adaptation and to host an honest conversation about tackling stories with difficult subjects. Sh! The women are talking, it's time to listen.

Clips of Women Talking courtesy of United Artists Releasing.

Nanny Q&A with Nikyatu Jusu Mar 08, 2023

Austin Film Festival was proud to recognize Nikyatu Jusu during our annual Awards Luncheon as the 2022 New Voice Award recipient, an award intended to spotlight unique and captivating new voices in film, television, and new media.

Nanny is a psychologically complex horror-thriller which follows Aisha, a recently-emigrated woman from Senegal who is hired to care for the daughter of an unbalanced white couple living in New York's Tribeca neighborhood. Through her work, Aisha begins to unravel, begging the question: When does the American Dream look more like a nightmare?

Barbara Morgan sat down with Nikyatu Jusu at a post-screening Q&A at the Austin Film Festival.

Clips of Nanny courtesy of Amazon Studios.

The Whale Q&A with Samuel D. Hunter and Darren Aronofsky Feb 22, 2023

This week on On Story we welcome writer Samuel D. Hunter, and director Darren Aronofsky for a deep-dive (no pun intended) into AFF’s 2022 Opening night film, The Whale.

Samuel D. Hunter, recipient of the MacArthur Genius Grant Fellowship, is known for his award-winning plays such as The Case for the Existence of God, A Bright New Boise, Greater Clements, and many more critically acclaimed titles. Darren Aronofsky is an Academy Award-nominated filmmaker known for his indie box office phenomenon, Black Swan, starring Natalie Portman. His previous directorial work includes the award-winning films The Wrestler, The Fountain, and Requiem for a Dream.

Based on Samuel D. Hunter's acclaimed play with the same title, The Whale stars Brendan Fraser and follows the story of a reclusive English teacher living with severe obesity who attempts to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter for one last chance at redemption. Andy Volk, Austin Film Festival's Senior Film Programmer, sat down with the creatives for a post-screening Q&A at the Austin Film Festival.

Clips of The Whale courtesy of A24.

A Conversation with David Self Feb 02, 2023

This week on On Story we’re joined by David Self, the writer behind films like Road to Perdition and Thirteen Days. In this episode, Self dissects his career breaking into the industry to writing crime and historical dramas.

David Self, having been born into an itinerant family of community college and high school teachers, he broke with family tradition and spent most of his waking hours trying to break into Hollywood. In 1994 he found success and was hired to pen the remake of the 1963 film The Haunting for Steven Spielberg. His credits also include Road to Perdition, Thirteen Days, and Wolfman. Crime and thriller film, Road to Perdition, is an adaptation of the DC Comics graphic novel series of the same name. Starring Tom Hanks, it follows the story of a mob enforcer's son in 1930s Illinois who witnesses a murder, forcing him and his father to take to the road down a path of redemption and revenge. Thirteen Days is a tale of truths about how the Kennedy administration struggled to contain the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. The Haunting is a story about how a study of fear escalates into a heart-stopping nightmare for a professor and three subjects trapped in a mysterious mansion.

Moderator Barbara Morgan sat down with David Self for a panel about his work at the Austin Film Festival.

Clips of Thirteen Days courtesy of Beacon Pictures.

Clips of Road to Perdition courtesy of DreamWorks Films & Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation.

Clips of Wolfman courtesy of Universal City Studios

A Conversation with Glen Mazarra Jan 26, 2023

This week on On Story we’re joined by writer & showrunner Glen Mazzara as he discusses the ins and outs of the industry, and how his experiences developed him into a versatile writer.

Glen Mazzara is a writer and producer whose work includes AMC’s The Walking Dead, The Shield, and Damien. Damien, a TV Drama based on the classic horror film, “The Omen”, follows the film’s protagonist, Damien as he copes with his life after finding out he is the prophesied Antichrist. The Shield, a Primetime Emmy Award-winning Drama series following the lives and cases of dirty cop Vic Mackey and the LAPD unit under his command. The Walking Dead, a post-apocalyptic drama made television history, winning 2 Primetime Emmys and becoming the only drama in television history to hold the #1 title for five consecutive years.

Moderator Harrison Glaser sat down with Glen Mazzara for a panel about his work at the Austin Film Festival.

Clips of The Walking Dead courtesy of AMC Entertainment

Clips of The Shield and Damien courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

'Miss Juneteenth' with Channing Godfrey Peoples Dec 21, 2022

This week on On Story, Miss Juneteenth writer/director Channing Godfrey Peoples discusses her feature directorial debut and her work as a multi-hyphenate independent filmmaker.

Peoples is the writer-director of the 2020 drama Miss Juneteenth, which follows a former beauty queen and single mom as she prepares her rebellious daughter for a life-changing pageant. Having grown up in Fort Worth, Texas, Peoples attended pageants where “Miss Juneteenth” is a real contest held there. A gripping story of poverty, the film has appeared on dozens of critics’ year-end top ten lists, including TIME, Washington Post, and IndieWire, among others.

Moderator Ya’Ke Smith sat down with Channing Godfrey Peoples for a panel about her work as a multi-hyphenate independent filmmaker at the Austin Film Festival.

Clips of Miss Juneteenth courtesy of Ley Line Entertainment.

Writing 'John Wick' with Derek Kolstad Dec 14, 2022

This week on On Story writer Derek Kolstad, creator of the John Wick franchise reflects on his thrilling career, how he weaves emotion and humanity into action set pieces, as well as crafting characters you cannot help but root for.

Derek Kolstad is the writer/creator of the popular John Wick franchise with the latest installment: John Wick: Chapter 4 set to be released in 2023. He also wrote on Marvel’s hit limited series The Falcon and Winter Soldier, which has been nominated for 5 Primetime Emmys. 2021 also saw the release of Derek’s action-thriller Nobody. Nobody sheds light on a docile family man struggling with aging and encroaching feelings of irrelevance as his children grow up. His new tv adaptation of the popular video game, Splinter Cell, is currently in production and will be airing on Netflix in the following year. Most recently, Kolstad produced the film The Princess for Hulu, which follows the action-packed story of a strong-willed princess who refuses an arranged marriage alliance to an especially cruel sociopath.

Barbara Morgan sat down with Derek Kolstad for a panel about his work at the Austin Film Festival.

Clips of John Wick courtesy of Thunder Road Pictures

Clips of Nobody courtesy of Universal City Studios

On Writing Pig with Michael Sarnoski Dec 14, 2022

Hey podcast listeners, this week on On Story we’re foraging for insight into Pig with writer and director Michael Sarnoski.

Michael Sarnoski is a writer, director, and a producer best known for writing 2020’s Pig. The film, starring Nicholas Cage, tells the story of a man searching for his pig, while dealing with the effects of prolonged grief. As director, Sarnoski revealed that he only had around twenty days to make the movie and there was no budget for re-shoots or delays. He is currently slated to direct the upcoming A Quiet Place: Day One, the anticipated prequel in the A Quiet Place series.

We sat down with Michael Sarnoski for a panel about the film at the Austin Film Festival.

Representing the Underrepresented with Stephanie Allain Nov 29, 2022

This week on On Story we’re talking to Hustle & Flow producer, Stephanie Allain for a conversation on producing.

Stephanie Allain is a producer, known for her work in both film and television. Her work includes Hustle and Flow, Beyond the Lights, and Dear White People, a political commentary turned dramedy.

Hustle & Flow follows a street hustler’s attempt to make it in the hip-hop industry, featuring several BET award-winning performances and appearances by rappers like Ludacris and Juicy J.

Beyond the Lights tells the story of a mentally-unstable woman who has been shoved toward stardom by her domineering mother and finds her trajectory changed when a young cop stops her from taking her own life.

Dear White People follows the stories of a group of black students trying to navigate life at a predominantly white, elite university.

In 2021 Allain attended the Austin Film Festival, where she received the Polly Platt Award for Producing.

Moderator Casey Baron sat down with Stephanie Allain for a panel about her work at the Austin Film Festival.

Clips of Hustle & Flow courtesy of Crunk Pictures LLC.

Clips of Beyond the Lights courtesy of Blackbird Productions, LLC.

Clips of Dear White People courtesy of Homegrown Pictures.

On Writing 'Dune' with Eric Roth Nov 23, 2022

This week on On Story we welcome screenwriter Eric Roth as he talks about about his process of adapting stories from beloved properties.

Eric Roth is a producer and writer, best known for penning the screenplays for 2021’s Dune, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and the Academy Award® winning adaptation, Forrest Gump.

Dune, tells a sci-fi driven hero’s journey of a young man traveling to the most dangerous planet to save his family’s future. The film took home 6 Oscars during the 2022 Academy Awards. Benjamin Button, starring Brad Pitt, follows the heart-wrenching story of a man living his life in reverse. The critically acclaimed film Forrest Gump, adapted from the Winston Groom novel of the same name, and which starred Tom Hanks, itself won 6 Oscars and became the top- grossing film in America during its theatrical run.

Clips of Forrest Gump courtesy of Paramount Pictures

Clips of Dune courtesy of Warner Bros. Entertainment

Clips of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button courtesy of Paramount Pictures

They've Been Waiting For You: A Halloween Special Oct 31, 2022

This week on On Story we’re joined by Lipscomb University filmmakers Melissa Forte & Sumner McMurtry talking about their journey from a chance encounter at Austin Film Festival to collaborating on a short film born out of a Ghost Story writing competition. Later, we’ll sit down with Bogle Family Vinyards VP of Consumer Relations, Jody Bogle, and get her insight on producing a film rich in family history and spooky occurrences.

Melissa Forte is a filmmaker and current chair of Lipscomb University’s Department of Cinematic Arts. After six years of industry work with the Walt Disney World company, Forte spent eight years at Tenessee State University (TSU), earning tenure and building a strong program. After that time, she made the move to Lipscomb University when she was invited to chair the Department of Cinematic Arts. The skills she gained through her years of production work gave her the ability to easily transition into leading academic teams including faculty and staff. Forte is an advocate for instilling the idea that we are part of a larger society and should work to use our gifts and talents to give voice to the underestimated and often overlooked members of our communities.

Sumner McMurtry is an award-winning filmmaker from Nashville, Tennessee. His short thriller, NOT CLICKBAIT, took home the grand prize in Lipscomb University's Five Minute Film Festival and was later screened at the Nashville Film Festival, the oldest running film festival of the south. His latest short film, THEY'VE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU, premiered at the Austin Film Festival in 2022. Sumner has had a passion for storytelling for as long as he can remember. He spends a great deal of his time creating an array of projects for clients across the Middle Tennessee area.

I recently spoke with Melissa & Sumner about their experience creating the short film Phantom which premiered at the Austin Film Festival and working with the Bogle Family as producers. They've Been Waiting For You is the story of the resident spirit which inhabits the cellars of the Bogle Family Vineyards and the rich family history that accompanies the legend.

Next, we’re talking to Jody Bogle, who served as producer on the film THEY’VE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU produced in collaboration with the Libscomb University Department of Cinematic Arts.

Jody Bogle is the Vice President of Consumer Relations, at Bogle Family Vineyards. In her role, she oversees hospitality at the family’s Home Ranch tasting room, direct-to-consumer sales, and internal and external communications and leads the winery’s international sales efforts in 40 countries around the globe. After a chance encounter with members of Libscomb University, Bogle set her sights on producing a short film in celebration of Phantom Wine from her family’s vineyards.

I recently spoke with Jody about her experience producing the short film with the Libscomb University crew.

On Writing Mare of Easttown Oct 27, 2022

Hey podcast listeners, This week on On Story we’re joined by Mare of Easttown writer Brad Ingelsby for a conversation on writing for the critically acclaimed television series.

Brad Inglesby is a screenwriter and producer known for 2013’s Out of the Furnace, 2020’s The Way Back and the subject of today’s episode, the HBO crime drama series, Mare of Easttown.

Mare of Easttown follows the story of a police investigator who tries to get to the bottom of a shocking murder, all while trying to keep her life together as personal drama begins to spiral out of control. A limited series consisting of 7 gripping episodes, Mare of Easttown packs a powerful punch through its tightly-crafted story spearheaded by a career-defining performance by Kate Winslet.

We sat down with Brad Inglesby for a conversation about his work at the Austin Film Festival.

A Conversation with David Koepp Sep 14, 2022

This week on On Story we’re joined by Jurassic Park and Spider-Man writer David Koepp for a conversation on adaptations, collaborating with Steven Spielberg, and creating blockbusters.

David Koepp is a screenwriter and director. His screenplays for Jurassic Park, a science fiction film about a wildlife park inhabited by dinosaurs, and Spider-Man, a superhero film adapted from the Spider-Man Marvel Comics series, helped the films set numerous box office records, becoming some of the highest grossing films of their time. In 2013, Koepp received the Ian McClellan Hunter Award for career achievement from the Writers Guild of America, East for his contributions to cinema.

Moderator Harison Glaser sat down with David Koepp for a panel about his work at the Austin Film Festival.

Clips of Jurassic Park courtesy of Universal City Studios.

Clips of Bad Influence courtesy of Epic Productions.

Clips of Ghost Town courtesy of DreamWorks Films.

Clips of Spider-Man courtesy of Columbia Pictures.

Westworld: A Conversation with Lisa Joy Sep 07, 2022

This week on On Story we’re joined by Westworld co-creator, writer & director Lisa Joy for a conversation on writing science fiction.

Lisa Joy is a screenwriter, director, and producer. Her recent work includes Westworld, a dystopian science fiction thriller, and HBO mega-hit. Westworld has received an outstanding 54 Emmy Award nominations, including 9 wins, and Joy’s writing and producing have earned her 3 Emmy nominations. Joy attended the 2021 Austin Film Festival’s Writers Conference.

Westworld is set in a futuristic amusement park where wealthy visitors are given the opportunity to experience their wildest fantasies through a mode of artificial consciousness and centers on a group of robot “hosts” who begin to diverge from their programmed scripts and exhibit abnormal behavior.

Moderator Casey Baron sat down with Lisa Joy for a panel about her work at the Austin Film Festival.

Clips of Westworld courtesy of Home Box Office Television

Clips of Reminiscence courtesy of Warner Brothers Pictures

Clips of Burn Notice courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Fact v Fiction: Exploring 'King Richard' & 'The Underground Railroad' Aug 18, 2022

Hey podcast listeners, I’m Barbara Morgan and you’re listening to Austin Film Festival’s On Story Podcast. This week on On Story we’re joined by The Man in the High Castle and Underground Railroad writer Jihan Crowther and King Richard writer Zach Baylin for a conversation on fact vs. fiction.

Jihan Crowther is a TV writer and playwright. Her work as a writer on The Underground Railroad, a powerful historical drama following runaway slaves in the old South, earned her a Writers Guild of America Awards nomination. She also helped write The Man in the High Castle, a dystopian take on what humanity would look like if the Axis powers had won World War II.

Zach Baylin is a screenwriter. He received an Academy Award nomination for his screenplay King Richard, a biographical drama about how Serena and Venus Williams’ father Richard pushed them to achieve their full potential on the tennis courts.

Moderator Casey Baron sat down with Jihan Crowther and Zach Baylin for a panel about their work at the Austin Film Festival.

Clips of The Underground Railroad and The Man in the High Castle courtesy of Amazon Studios

Clips of King Richard courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

Writing Shang-Chi with Dave Callaham Aug 11, 2022

Hey podcast listeners, I’m Barbara Morgan and you’re listening to Austin Film Festival’s On Story Podcast. This week on On Story we’re joined by Shang-Chi and Wonder Woman 1984 writer Dave Callaham for a conversation on writing blockbusters intertwined with personal experiences.

Dave Callaham is a screenwriter and producer. He co-wrote the screenplay for the highly praised Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, a superhero film adapted from the Marvel comic series, and Wonder Woman 1984, a superhero film based on the DC Comics character. Callaham attended the Austin Film Festival in 2021.

Shang-Chi tells the story of a martial arts master who is forced to revisit his past when he is confronted by members of a secret organization called the Ten Rings. A mix of action, adventure, and fantasy, Shang-Chi was not only an outstanding commercial success, but also a huge breakthrough in cinema as it marked Marvel’s first film with an Asian lead, director, and predominantly Asian cast.

Moderator Casey Baron sat down with Dave Callaham for a panel about his work at the Austin Film Festival.

Clips of Shang-chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings courtesy of Marvel Film Studios.

Clips of Doom courtesy of Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.

Writing IT: Chapter One with Chase Palmer Jul 28, 2022

This week on On Story we’re we’re taking a look at the work of screenwriter Chase Palmer who co-wrote It: Chapter One.

Chase Palmer is a screenwriter and director known for co-authoring the screenplay for IT: Chapter One with Cary Fukinaga, as well as 2021’s Naked Singularity starring John Boyega. His two award-winning short films, Neo-Noir and Shock and Awe, have played at film festivals worldwide with his feature film debut being the adaptation of the PEN-prize winning book A Naked Singularity by by Sergio De La Pava, with Ridley Scott as a producer.

I sat down with Chase Palmer for a panel about his work at the Austin Film Festival.

Clips of It: Chapter One courtesy of Warner Brothers Entertainment

Clips of Naked Singularity courtesy of 150 Degrees Pictures

A Conversation with 'The Office' showrunner, Michael Schur Jul 21, 2022

This week on On Story we’re joined by the showrunner behind The Good Place and Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Michael Schur.

Michael Schur is a screenwriter, producer and character actor. He got his start writing for Saturday Night Live before becoming a producer and writer for the comedy series The Office. Schur then went on to co-create Parks and Recreation with Office producer Greg Daniels for seven seasons, ending in 2015. Later, he created The Good Place, and co-created the comedy series Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Schur was also a producer on the Netflix series Master of None, starring Aziz Anzari.

I spoke with Michael Schur about his work at a panel at the Austin Film Festival.

Clips of The Office, The Good Place, and Parks & Recreation courtesy of National Broadcast Company

On Writing 'Minamata' with David Kessler Jul 07, 2022

This week we’ll hear from David Kessler, writer & producer of the docu-drama Minamata starring Johnny Depp.

David Kessler began his career as a stand-up comedian in the early 2000s before quickly deciding to focus on writing. After penning a spec script for Will & Grace, he switched over to drama, and optioned the life rights and book titled Minamata, written by Aileen Mioko Smith and W. Eugene Smith.

The film stars Johnny Depp as W. Eugene Smith, an American photographer who documented the effects of mercury poisoning on the citizens of Minamata, Kumamoto, Japan in the early 1970s.

The film went through various stages of development over many years before finally getting picked up by Johnny Depp’s production company.

I recently had the pleasure of speaking with David about the film’s journey to the big screen following it’s US release.

Clips of Minamata courtesy of Minamata Film, LLC

The Humans with Stephen Karam Jun 29, 2022

This week on On Story we’re joined by The Humans writer & director Stephen Karam for a conversation on adapting a play for the big screen.

Stephen Karam is a playwright, screenwriter, and director. His plays Sons of the Prophet, a comedy-drama about a Lebanese-American family, and the subject of today’s episode, The Humans were finalists for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 2012 and 2016, respectively. The Humans won the 2016 Tony Award for Best Play, leading to Karam adapting the play for the big screen in 2021. The film was shown at the 2021 Austin Film Festival.

Set inside a pre-war duplex in downtown Manhattan, The Humans follows the course of an evening in which the Blake family gathers to celebrate Thanksgiving. As darkness falls outside the crumbling building, mysterious things start to go bump in the night and family tensions reach a boiling point.

Moderator Casey Baron sat down with Stephen Karam for a panel about his work at the Austin Film Festival.

Clips of The Humans courtesy of A24.

Donnie Darko with Richard Kelly Jun 22, 2022

This week on On Story we’re taking a retrospective look at Donnie Darko with screenwriter Richard Kelly.

Richard Kelly is a screenwriter and director best known for writing the 2001 cult film, Donnie Darko. Known for its mind-bending themes and enigmatic ending, along with a stellar ‘80s soundtrack, Donnie Darko remains a cult phenomenon. Featuring a young, up-and-coming Jake Gyllenhall and exploring elements of time travel, mental health, and even a scary bunny-man, Richard Kelly’s 2001 film was not an immediate success but slowly wormed its way into the minds of teenagers all across the nation.

Moderator Christopher Boone spoke with Richard Kelly about the film at a panel at the Austin Film Festival.

Clips of Donnie Darko courtesy of Flower Films

The Sopranos with David Chase May 11, 2022

This week on On Story we’re joined by The Sopranos creator David Chase for a conversation on writing a hit television show.

David Chase is a screenwriter, showrunner, director, and producer, best known for writing and producing the HBO drama The Sopranos. Chase has also produced and written for such shows as The Rockford Files, I'll Fly Away, and Northern Exposure. He created the original series Almost Grown and has won seven Emmy Awards. Chase's film debut came in 2012 with Not Fade Away, followed by 2021’s The Many Saints of Newark, a prequel film to The Sopranos.

The Sopranos ran for six seasons from 1999 and 2007, and is widely regarded as one of the greatest television shows of all time. It is the first cable show to ever be nominated for, and win, the best drama series Emmy, and it helped to put HBO on the map and ushered in what some regard as the platinum age of television, which featured a slew of new shows and showrunners that could hold their own against the big screen.

Moderator Barry Josephson spoke with Chase about his work on the show at the Austin Film Festival.

Clips of The Sopranos courtesy of Home Box Office Television.

The French Connection with Vince Gilligan May 05, 2022

This week on On Story we’ll join Breaking Bad creator & showrunner Vince Gilligan for a retrospective look at the 1971 cult-classic The French Connection.

Based on a true story, William Friedkin's 1971 hit The French Connection, gave audiences its first taste at what a truly realistic cop film could be. Starring Gene Hackman as detective Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle, the film follows the story of a driven New York cop whose intuitive street sense allows him to sniff out the secret players in a colossal heroin import operation, bringing the drugs into New York from Marseille. At a time where drug addiction was at an all time high, The French Connection brought a sense of realism to Hollywood’s law enforcement films by throwing the proverbial book at them.

Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan, an avid fan of Friedkin’s work, sat down with me after a retrospective screening of the film at the Austin Film Festival.

Clips of The French Connection courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

On Writing the Dallas Buyers Club Apr 13, 2022

This week on On Story we’ll hear from screenwriter Craig Borten on writing the 2013 film Dallas Buyers Club which starred Matthew McConaughey. Borten is best known for his Oscar-nominated script for the 2013 film Dallas Buyers Club.

After hearing about Ron Woodroof, the original founder of the "Dallas Buyers Club" for the distribution of unapproved HIV medications, in the early 1990s, and interviewing Woodroof in 1992, Borten decided to write a screenplay about Woodroof and his buyer's club. He successfully sold the script in 1996, but shortly afterward the production company that had bought it dissolved. In 2001, he rewrote the script with Melisa Wallack and in 2009, Borten and Wallack were able to cast Matthew McConaughey and secure funding for the film's production. The film was released in 2013, more than two decades after Borten met Woodroof, and more than 15 years after selling his first version of the script. Dallas Buyers Club received numerous accolades, including Academy Award nominations for Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay.

Moderator Fred Strype spoke with Borten at the Austin Film Festival.

Clips of Dallas Buyers Club courtesy of Truth Entertainment & Dallas Buyers Club, LLC

On Writing Comedy with April Shih & Tripper Clancy Mar 24, 2022

This week on On Story we’ll hear from screenwriter April Shih who has worked on shows like Dave, You’re The Worst, and This is America and Tripper Clancy who wrote the script for 2019’s Stuber, and has worked on Netflix’s I Am Not Okay With This.

April Shih is a screenwriter and producer, known for You're the Worst, Mrs. America,starring Cate Blanchett and most recently served as supervising producer on FX’s Dave, which follows the semi-autobiographical story of American rapper Lil Dicky. April has also produced several films and plays including the Ovation Award-winning revival of Kiss of the Spiderwoman: The Musical.

Tripper Clancy is a screenwriter known for writing the scripts for Stuber which starred Kumali Nanjiani and Dave Bautista as well as Die Hart starring Kevin Hart and John Travolta. After working in the Fox Writers Studio in 2011, Tripper went on to write comedies and dramas of all shapes and sizes for Columbia Pictures, 20th Century Fox, Amazon, and is currently a writer on season one of I Am Not Okay With This, a half-hour show for Netflix.

Moderator Harrison Glaser spoke with the pair about their journeys as writers at the Austin Film Festival.

Clips of Dave courtesy of FX Productions, LLC.

Clips of You’re The Worst courtesy of Bluebush Productions, LLC.

Clips of I Am Not Okay With This courtesy of Netflix Studios, LLC.

Clips of Stuber courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation.

Greaser's Palace: A Retrospective Feb 16, 2022

This week on On Story we’re taking a look back at the 1972 cult classic, Greaser’s Palace with Legendary filmmakers Paul Thomas Anderson & Jonathan Demme.

In 1972, following a succession of truly unruly underground films, including 1968’s Putney Swope, Robert Downey Sr. gave the world a new take on the holy story of Jesus Christ in the form of the acid-western Greaser’s Palace. Featuring a brilliant mix of offbeat character actors and willing amateurs, Downey weaves a New Testament allegory against the backdrop of an absurdist Western parody.

Paul Thomas Anderson, director of 2021’s Licorice Pizza and the Silence of the Lambs joined director Jonathan Demme to pay tribute to Robert Downey Sr. 's cult classic after a retrospective screening at the Austin Film Festival.

Clips of Greaser’s Palace courtesy of Greaser’s Palace Company

Queens of Comedy Feb 09, 2022

This week on On Story we’ll join queens of comedy Katie Dippold, Liz Meriwether, & Paula Pell for a conversation all about writing for laughs. Actress, comedian, and screenwriter, Katie Dippold, wrote for NBC’s hit comedy series Park and Recreation as well as the comedy films, The Heat, starring Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy, and the 2016 Ghostbusters reboot.

Liz Meriwether is a writer, producer and television showrunner known for creating the Fox sitcom New Girl, and for writing the romantic comedy film No Strings Attached. She also created the ABC sitcoms Bless This Mess and most recently, Single Parents

Paula Pell got her start working in the writers room at Saturday Night Live in 1995 where she wrote for nearly 20 years before also working as a writer and producer for 30 rock. You may recognize from her cameos as “Paula”, Pete Hornberger’s wife, or as Parks and Rec’s “Tammy Zero,” Ron Swanson’s mother and very, skilled drinker. She performed in the 2015 Oscar-winning Birdman and Anchorman 2. Her body of work also includes writing credits on Bridesmaids, This is 40, and The Heat as well as the Tina Fey & Amy Pohler comedy, Sisters.

Moderator Paul Feig sat down with this panel of writers at the Austin Film Festival.

Clips of Bridesmaids courtesy of Universal City Studios LLC

Clips of The Heat courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

A Conversation with Mikki Daughtry and Tobias Iaconis Jan 05, 2022

Hi podcast listeners, I’m Barbara Morgan and you’re listening to Austin Film Festival’s On Story. This week on On Story we’re joined by screenwriting duo Mikki Daughtry and Tobias Iaconis discussing their journey writing films such as Five Feet Below, and the recent Netflix adaptation of the J.A. White fantasy-horror novel, Nightbooks.

Mikki Daughtry is a screenwriter and young adult fiction author. She is best known for writing, along with writing partner Tobias Iaconis, the films The Curse of La Llorona, Five Feet Apart, and Netflix’s Nightbooks.

Tobias Iaconis is also a screenwriter best known for his work with Daughtry, as well as 2009’s Behind Enemy Lines: Columbia. In 2012 he partnered with Daughtry for an adaptation of the Jack Kilborn action-horror novel Afraid.

Moderator Harrison Glaser sat down with the pair to discuss their process at the Austin Film Festival.

Clips of The Curse of La Llorona courtesy of Warner Brothers Pictures

Clips of Five Feet Apart courtesy of CBS Films

A Conversation with Dave Kajganich Dec 30, 2021

Hello podcast listeners, I’m Barbara Morgan and you’re listening to Austin Film Festival’s On Story. This week on On Story we’re joined by The Terror writer, Dave Kajganich discussing the elements of scare. Kajganich is a screenwriter and producer. He has written several films in the horror genre, including 2009’s Blood Creek and the AMC network television series The Terror, as well as 2018’s Suspiria, on which he collaborated with Italian director Luca Guadagnino.

I spoke with Dave Kajganich about his process of writing for the horror genre at the Austin Film Festival.

Clips of The Terror courtesy of AMC Studios

Bringing the Undead Alive in Your Screenplay Dec 22, 2021

Hi podcast listeners, I’m Barbara Morgan and you’re listening to Austin Film Festival’s On Story. This week on On Story the writers behind I AM LEGEND, TRUE BLOOD & THE WALKING DEAD discuss bringing the undead to life on screen.

Mark Protosevich is a screenwriter known for his work on the films Poseidon, Thor, Oldboy and most relevant to today’s episode, I Am Legend.

Alexander Woo is a screenwriter best known for writing several episodes of the HBO drama series True Blood. While also serving as Executive Producer on the show, True Blood earned an Emmy nomination, two Golden Globe nominations, and two NAACP Image Award nominations.

Angela Kang is a screenwriter and producer currently serving as showrunner on the AMC horror drama series The Walking Dead. In addition to working on The Walking Dead and other shows, Kang also starred on the Talking Dead, a talk show about The Walking Dead and Fear the Walking Dead.

Moderator Greg Garett spoke with this seasoned panel of writers about their craft at the Austin Film Festival.

On Writing Horror Dec 15, 2021

Hello podcast listeners, I’m Barbara Morgan and you’re listening to Austin Film Festival’s On Story. This week on On Story, horror writers Akela Cooper and Owen Egerton discuss their love for the genre, setups and payoffs, emotional scares, and inspirational moments from classic horror films.

Akela Cooper is a television writer and producer whose work includes Hell Fest, American Horror Story; and Netflix’s Luke Cage. She began her career as the Writer’s Assistant on ‘Dexter’ and the Researcher on ‘Jericho.’ Following the programs, she landed her first staff writing job on the ABC series V. She then joined the NBC paranormal drama Grimm in 2012, as story editor and has since written for The 100 and Witches of East End, for which she also served as a co-producer. Cooper is currently set to write the next installment in James Wan’s Conjuring universe, Nun 2, produced by New Line.

Owen Egerton is the writer/director of Mercy Black, Follow, and Blood Fest as well as a novelist whose work includes Hollow, which was named one of the Best Books of the Year by NPR. Working in both horror and comedy, Egerton's screenplays have landed on the Black List and the Blood List, and have earned him writing work for Warner Brothers, Disney, and Fox Studios.

Moderator Paul Alvarado-Dykstra spoke with Cooper & Egerton at the Austin Film Festival.

Writing to Direct Big Budget Blockbusters Nov 10, 2021

This week on On Story we’ll join veteran screenwriters Shane Black and Ric Roman Waugh as they discuss what it takes to write and direct a big-budget blockbuster.

Considered one of the pioneer screenwriters of the action genre, Shane Black made his mark with his 1987 screenplay, Lethal Weapon. Black went on to pen the screenplays for such films as Nice Guys, Iron Man 3, Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang, and the latest addition to the Alien vs. Predator franchise: Predator.

Ric Roman Waugh is a former stuntman, director, writer, and producer, known for his work in Felon, Snitch, and Shot Caller. He wrote and directed the third installment of the Has Fallen series, Angel Has Fallen in 2019, and is currently in production of Night Has Fallen, the fourth installment in the series.

Moderator Harrison Glaser spoke with Shane and Ric at the Austin Film Festival

Creating "The Blair Witch Project" Nov 04, 2021

This week on On Story we’re diving behind the pages of the 1999 classic horror film The Blair Witch Project with screenwriter Daniel Myrick & his wife and research partner Julia Myrick. Daniel Myrick is a director and screenwriter, most known for co-directing and writing the 1999 psychological horror The Blair Witch Project with Eduardo Sánchez. Considered a seminal work in low budget, filmmaking, as well as being one of the highest grossing films in history, the film ushered in a new methodology of production and grass roots marketing that is still being utilized today. He later went on to pen the screenplays for Believers, which he co-wrote with his now wife, Julia Myrick, Solstice, The Objective and the 2020 sci-fi found footage horror film Skyman.

What Dreams May Come with Ron Bass Oct 13, 2021

This week on On Story we’re joined by Academy award winning screenwriter Ron Bass. In 1989, Bass won an Academy Award for co-writing Rain Man. The iconic road trip film stars Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman and took home 4 Oscars – including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor, in addition to Bass’ award for writing. Bass’ other writing credits include My Best Friend’s Wedding, The Joy Luck Club, and Stepmom. Over his 35-year career Bass has written 211 scripts which span a variety of genres. Ron Bass sat down with Film Programmer Casey Baron to discuss his process of writing the film What Dreams May Come after a retrospective screening at the Austin Film Festival.

Clips of What Dreams May Come courtesy of Polygram Filmed Entertainment & Universal Pictures Home Entertainment

On Writing City Slickers Oct 06, 2021

Hello podcast listeners, I’m Barbara Morgan and you’re listening to Austin Film Festival’s On Story. This week on On Story we’re taking a trip out west with Babaloo Mandel and Lowel Ganz, the screenwriting duo behind the classic American Western comedy, CITY SLICKERS. Lowell Ganz and Marc “Babaloo” Mandel are long-time screenwriting partners that began their careers writing for comedic television in the 1970s. The two New Yorkers met in a Hollywood comedy club where Mandel worked as a joke writer. Having both served on the writing staff for the sitcom THE ODD COUPLE they discovered that they had a lot in common, including their off-beat sense of humor and a love of Billy Wilder. Their creative partnership began with collaborations on Laverne and Shirley and the duo made their feature screenplay debut with the black comedy NIGHT SHIFT. They would go on to write hits such as PARENTHOOD, A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN, and the subject of today’s episode, CITY SLICKERS. I spoke with the pair at a year-round event presented by the Austin Film Festival.

Clips of City Slickers courtesy of Castle Rock Entertainment

Clips of Night Shift courtesy of The Ladd Company

Clips of Parenthood courtesy of Universal City Studios, Inc., and Imagine Films Entertainment, Inc.

Clips of League of their Own courtesy of Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc.

The Art of Storytelling Sep 22, 2021

This week on On Story writing duo, David Benioff & D.B. Weiss joins Catherine Reitman & Sarah Green in conversation about the Art of Storytelling. Catherine Reitman is a screenwriter, and actress known for her roles on Black-ish and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Most recently, Reitman served as the creator, executive producer, writer, and star of the CBC comedy series Workin' Moms. Sarah Green is a producer, known for her work on Terrance Malik’s The Tree of Life, and Jeff Nichols’ Mud, and Loving. Benioff and Weiss created GAME OF THRONES. Under their supervision the series ran for 8 seasons, won 59 Emmys, and became one of HBO’s most popular programs. Producer Barry Josephson spoke with them on a panel about the Art and Craft of Storytelling at the Austin Film Festival.

On Writing Game of Thrones Sep 15, 2021

This week on On Story we’ll hear from television writers, David Benioff & D.B. Weiss on their process of adapting the Emmy Award-winning HBO television series GAME OF THRONES. Benioff and Weiss created GAME OF THRONES, the HBO adaptation of George R.R. Martin’s series of books ‘A Song of Ice and Fire’. Under their supervision the series ran for 8 seasons, won 59 Emmys, and became one of HBO’s most popular programs.

Akeelah and the Bee: A Conversation with Doug Atchison Aug 25, 2021

Hi podcast listeners, I’m Barbara Morgan and you’re listening to Austin Film Festival’s On Story. This week on On Story we’ll hear from screenwriter and director Doug Atchison. Atchison is a writer-director best known for the 2006 film, Akeelah and the Bee which stars Keke Palmer and Laurence Fishburne. In 2000 the Atchison’s script won a Nicholl Fellowship in Screenwriting and the film later earned him a win at the 2007 Image Awards for Outstanding Writing in a Feature Film. Atchison went on to pen the screenplay for the 2018 biopic Brian Banks for which he won a Humanitas award. Moderator Alex Mitchell spoke with Atchison after a screening of Akeelah and the Bee at the Austin Film Festival.

Clips of Akeelah and the Bee courtesy of LionsGate Films

Hi podcast listeners, I’m Barbara Morgan and you’re listening to Austin Film Festival’s On Story. This week on On Story we’ll hear from screenwriter and director Doug Atchison. Atchison is a writer-director best known for the 2006 film, Akeelah and the Bee which stars Keke Palmer and Laurence Fishburne. In 2000 the Atchison’s script won a Nicholl Fellowship in Screenwriting and the film later earned him a win at the 2007 Image Awards for Outstanding Writing in a Feature Film. Atchison went on to pen the screenplay for the 2018 biopic Brian Banks for which he won a Humanitas award. Moderator Alex Mitchell spoke with Atchison after a screening of Akeelah and the Bee at the Austin Film Festival.

Clips of Akeelah and the Bee courtesy of LionsGate Films

A Conversation with Kemp Powers Aug 18, 2021

Hello podcast listeners, I’m Barbara Morgan and you’re listening to Austin Film Festival’s On Story. This week on On Story we’ll hear from award-winning screenwriter, playwright, producer and director, Kemp Powers. Kemp Powers is a Golden Globe-award winning, playwright, producer and director. In 2020 he co-directed and wrote the Academy Award Winning Pixar animated feature, Soul. He later wrote the critically acclaimed Amazon feature, One Night In Miami, which he adapted from his 2013 award-winning stage play. He was nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay at the 2021 Academy Awards. The film is a fictional account of one incredible night where icons Muhammad Ali, Malcom X, Sam Cooke, and Jim Brown gathered to discuss their roles in the Civil Rights Movment of the 60s. I spoke with Kemp Powers about his journey as a writer at a year round Austin Film Festival event that was co-presented with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Educational Initiatives.

Clips of One Night in Miami courtesy of Amazon Studios.

Clips of Soul courtesy of Walt Disney Pictures and Pixar Animation Studios.

Script to Screen: Snowpiercer Aug 04, 2021

This week on On Story we’ll hear from screenwriter Kelly Masterson as he takes on a journey from Script to Screen of the 2013 sci-fi action film, SNOWPIERCER, which was directed by Korean filmmaker Bong Joon-ho. The film follows the story of Chris Evans as Curtis Everett, one of the lower-class tail-section passengers of a train carrying the last remnants of humanity, as they rebel against the elite of the front of the train.

Moderator Dennis Bishop spoke with Masterson on a panel at the Austin Film Festival.

Clips of Snowpiercer courtesy of Moho Film & Opus Pictures

A Conversation with Neil Jordan Jul 28, 2021

This week on On Story we’ll hear from writer-director Neil Jordan who gave us the cinematic classics THE CRYING GAME, MICHAEL COLLINS, and INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE.

Neil Jordan is an Irish film director, screenwriter, novelist and short-story writer whose credits include THE CRYING GAME, MICHEAL COLLINS and INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE. In 1992 he won an Academy Award for best original screenplay for THE CRYING GAME. Most recently he wrote and directed 2018’s GRETA which stars Chloë Grace Moretz, as well as the television series RIVIERA. Producer Barry Josephson spoke with Jordan at the Austin Film Festival on a panel about his career as a writer-director.

Clips of Mona Lisa courtesy of HandMade Films

Clips of The Crying Game courtesy of Palace Pictures

Clips of Interview with The Vampire courtesy of Geffen Pictures

A Conversation with John Logan Jul 07, 2021

This week on On Story we’ll hear from three-time Academy Award-nominated screenwriter, producer, playwright John Logan, about his journey from writing for the stage to the screen. John Logan is a playwright, screenwriter, and television producer known for his work on Gladiator, The Aviator, and 2011’s Hugo. In 1999 he wrote Any Given Sunday which was directed by Oliver Stone. His other work includes Rango, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street for which he received a Golden Globe as well as the James Bond films Skyfall and Spectre.

Producer Barbara Morgan, spoke with Logan about his incredible journey on a panel at the Austin Film Festival.

A Conversation with Howard Gordon Jun 30, 2021

This week on On Story we’ll hear from television writer & producer Howard Gordon on his process of creating a hit television series. Howard Gordon is a television writer and producer best known for his work on the Fox action series 24 and the award-winning Showtime thriller Homeland which he co-developed with Alex Gansa. Gordon first gained national attention for his award-winning work on Fox’s groundbreaking series The X-Files, for which he won multiple Golden Globes. His other credits include Tyrant, Legends, Angel, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Beauty and the Beast, Sisters, and Spenser: For Hire.

Producer Barry Josephson spoke with Gordon at the Austin Film Festival at a panel about his process of writing for hit television.

Clips of Homeland, The X-Files, and 24 courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

A Conversation with Brenda Chapman Jun 23, 2021

This week on On Story, award-winning writer and director Brenda Chapman discusses how female perspective, a love of art, and an understanding of flawed characters influenced her writing in the animated classics The Lion King, The Prince of Egypt, and Brave.

Brenda Chapman is an American writer, storyboard artist, and director. In 1998, she became the first woman to direct an animated feature from a major studio, DreamWorks Animation's The Prince of Egypt. In 2012, she co-directed the Disney/Pixar film Brave with Mark Andrews, becoming the first woman to win the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. Writer and Professor Greg Garrett spoke with Chapman about her process of taking ideas from the drawing board to the screen at the Austin Film Festival.

Clips of Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King & The Rescuers Down Under courtesy of Walt Disney Pictures

Clips of The Prince of Egypt courtesy of DreamWorks, LLC

Clips of Brave courtesy of Pixar & Disney Enterprises, Inc.

Creating Compelling Characters Jun 16, 2021

This week on On Story we’ll hear from veteran screenwriters John Lee Hancock, Brian Helgeland and Robin Swicord on the process of creating compelling characters. And later, award-winning writer and director Brenda Chapman discusses how female perspective, a love of art, and an understanding of flawed characters influenced her writing in the animated classics The Lion King, The Prince of Egypt, and Brave.

Characters are the emotional anchor for all great stories. No matter how intricate the plot, well-developed characters are crucial ingredients for engaging an audience and encouraging them to invest in a story's journey. I spoke with a group of veteran screenwriters about their process of crafting compelling characters at the Austin Film Festival. John Lee Hancock is a director, writer and producer most known for his work on The Blind Side, A Perfect World and his latest film The Little Things. Brian Helgeland is a screenwriter, producer and director. His writing credits include L.A. Confidential, Man on Fire, and A Knight’s Tale. Robin Swicord is the writer of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Memoirs of a Geisha and Little Women.

Clips of A Knight's Tale courtesy of Columbia Pictures

Clips of A Perfect World courtesy of Warner Brothers Pictures, Inc

Clips of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button courtesy of Paramount Pictures and Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc.

Clips of Man on Fire courtesy of 20th Century Fox Film Corporation & Regency Entertainment

Creating Compelling Characters Jun 16, 2021

This week on On Story we’ll hear from veteran screenwriters John Lee Hancock, Brian Helgeland and Robin Swicord on the process of creating compelling characters. And later, award-winning writer and director Brenda Chapman discusses how female perspective, a love of art, and an understanding of flawed characters influenced her writing in the animated classics The Lion King, The Prince of Egypt, and Brave.

Characters are the emotional anchor for all great stories. No matter how intricate the plot, well-developed characters are crucial ingredients for engaging an audience and encouraging them to invest in a story's journey. I spoke with a group of veteran screenwriters about their process of crafting compelling characters at the Austin Film Festival. John Lee Hancock is a director, writer and producer most known for his work on The Blind Side, A Perfect World and his latest film The Little Things. Brian Helgeland is a screenwriter, producer and director. His writing credits include L.A. Confidential, Man on Fire, and A Knight’s Tale. Robin Swicord is the writer of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Memoirs of a Geisha and Little Women.

Clips of A Knight's Tale courtesy of Columbia Pictures

Clips of A Perfect World courtesy of Warner Brothers Pictures, Inc

Clips of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button courtesy of Paramount Pictures and Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc.

Clips of Man on Fire courtesy of 20th Century Fox Film Corporation & Regency Entertainment

Script to Screen: The Outpost Jun 02, 2021

Hello podcast listeners, you’re listening to Austin Film Festival’s On Story. This week on On Story we’ll hear from the filmmakers behind The Outpost. The film, which stars Scott Eastwood and Orlando Bloom, was adapted from Jake Tapper’s book The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor which follows the story of a team of American soldiers as they valiantly work together to survive behind enemy lines. The panel included writers Eric Johnson and Paul Tamasy, director Rod Lurie, and producer Paul Merryman. We spoke with the team behind The Outpost at the Austin Film Festival.

Clips of The Outpost courtesy of Millennium Media & Screen Media Films

On Writing BARRY with Alec Berg & Bill Hader May 26, 2021

Hello podcast listeners.This week on On Story we’ll hear from Bill Hader and Alec Berg, the creators of HBO’s hit crime show, Barry. Alec Berg is a writer, producer and director whose credits include Seinfeld, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Silicon Valley and Barry which he co-created with Bill Hader. He’s been nominated for eighteen Emmys, ten Writers Guild awards and a Razzie. Bill Hader is an actor, writer and producer best known for his work on Saturday Night Live, for which he received four Primetime Emmy Award nominations and Peabody Award. We spoke with Alec Berg and Bill Hader at the Austin Film Festival, at a panel about their process of creating the hit HBO series Barry, which stars Bill Hader as a hitman who travels to Los Angeles to kill someone and finds himself drawn towards human connection in the form of a group of aspiring actors.

Clips of Barry courtesy of Home Box Office Television

A Conversation with Scott Alexander & Larry Karazsewski May 19, 2021

Hello podcast listeners, I’m Barbara Morgan and you’re listening to Austin Film Festival’s On Story. This week on On Story we’ll hear from Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski. Alexander & Karaszewski are a screenwriting duo, best known for their unusual biopics with larger-than-life characters. Their film credits include: The People vs. Larry Flynt, American Crime Story: THE PEOPLE V. O.J. SIMPSON, and Ed Wood. Their first commercial success was 1990’s Problem Child, which later spawned two sequels. In 1994 they released the biographical dramedy Ed Wood which was directed by Tim Burton and won two Academy Awards. Their first foray into television was American Crime Story: THE PEOPLE V. O.J. SIMPSON, a true crime anthology drama based on the O. J. Simpson murder trial. The show went on to win nine Primetime Emmys after it aired on FX in 2016, with Alexander and Karaszewski nominated for Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series, Movie, or Dramatic Special. Producer Barry Josephson spoke with Alexander & Karaszewski at a panel at the Austin Film Festival.

Clips of Problem Child courtesy of Universal City Studios & Imagine Entertainment

Clips of Ed Wood courtesy of Touchstone Pictures & The Walt Disney Company

Clips of The People vs. Larry Flynt courtesy of Columbia Pictures Industries

Clips of American Crime Story courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation & FX

Clips of Man on the Moon courtesy of Universal Pictures

Seinfeld: A Retrospective May 12, 2021

Hello podcast listeners, I’m Barbara Morgan and you’re listening to Austin Film Festival’s On Story. This week on On Story we’ll hear from Seinfeld writer David Mandel. David Mandel was the executive producer and showrunner of the Emmy Award-winning TV show Veep, and was also an executive producer and director of Curb Your Enthusiasm. He was a writer for several seasons of Seinfeld and also co-wrote the screenplay for the 2003 film adaptation of The Cat In The Hat. Comedian John Merriman spoke with Mandel at a retrospective screening of episodes of Seinfeld at the Austin Film Festival.

Clips of Seinfeld courtesy of NBC

A Conversation with Gillian Flynn May 05, 2021

This week on On Story we’ll hear from Gone Girl author and screenwriter Gillian Flynn.

Gillian Flynn is the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Gone Girl, for which she wrote the Golden Globe-nominated screenplay. She is also the author of the New York Times bestsellers Dark Places and Sharp Objects. Flynn later adapted and executive produced the Emmy-nominated SHARP OBJECTS for HBO in 2018, which starred Amy Adams and Patricia Clarkson. Also in 2018, Flynn co-wrote, with director Steve McQueen, the screenplay for the heist thriller WIDOWS, starring Viola Davis, Michelle Rodriguez, and Cynthia Erivo. Most recently, Flynn wrote and executive produced UTOPIA for Amazon. I spoke with Gillian Flynn at the 2020 Austin Film Festival about her creative process of writing across mediums and adapting her own work.

Clips of Gone Girl & Widows courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation & Regency Entertainment

Clips of Sharp Objects courtesy of Warner Brothers Television & HBO

Clips of Dark Places courtesy of A24 & Denver & Delilah Films

A Conversation with Ed Solomon Apr 28, 2021

This week on On Story we’ll hear from Ed Solomon, the screenwriter behind Men in Black and the co-writer of the Bill & Ted series. Solomon has had a major film released in each of the last 5 decades starting in 1989 with his first feature Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, which he co-wrote with Chris Matheson. That film has spawned 2 sequels, both written by Solomon and Matheson, Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey, and 2020’s Bill & Ted Face the Music. Solomon wrote Men in Black, Now You See Me, and HBO’s interactive series Mosaic. I spoke with Solomon about his writing and the process behind deciding which ideas to pursue at the 2020 Austin Film Festival.

Research - A Writers Best Friend...Or Worst Enemy Mar 31, 2021

This week on On Story, a conversation with The Queen’s Gambit co-creator, Scott Frank and Chernobyl researcher Mimi Munson. Frank is an Academy Award nominated screenwriter whose recent project, The Queen’s Gambit, won Best Miniseries at the Golden Globes. I spoke with Frank and Munson at the 2020 virtual Austin Film Festival about their frequent collaboration and how research plays a crucial part in developing projects.

A Conversation with Damon Lindelof Mar 24, 2021

This week on On Story, Emmy-award winning television creator and screenwriter Damon Lindelof joins us for a conversation about the HBO series Watchmen. The series was nominated for 26 Emmy awards - ultimately winning 11, including Best Limited Series.

Clips of Watchmen courtesy of DC Comics, Home Box Office, and Warner Brothers Television

Clips of The Leftovers courtesy of Warner Brothers Television and Home Box Office

A Conversation with Kevin Willmott Mar 03, 2021

This week on On Story, critically acclaimed writer, Kevin Willmott, joins us for an in-depth conversation on balancing messages of social justice with entertainment. His filmography includes collaborations with filmmaker Spike Lee on Da 5 Bloods, Chi-Raq, and BlacKkKlansman – which one the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay 2019. Greg Garrett spoke with Willmott at the virtual Austin Film Festival.

Clips of The Searchers courtesy of C.V. Whitney Pictures, Warner Brothers, and HBOMax

Clips of Destination Planet Negro courtesy of Candy Factory Films

Clips of BlackKklansman courtesy of Focus Features, Universal Pictures Home Entertainment, and 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks

Clips of the 24th courtesy of New Slate Ventures and Vertical Entertainment

Clips of She’s Gotta Have It courtesy of 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks and MGM Home Entertainment

Clips of Chi-Raq courtesy of 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks and Amazon Studios

Clips of Da 5 Bloods courtesy of Netflix

The Obituary of Tunde Johnson Feb 24, 2021

This week on On Story, filmmakers Stanley Kalu and Ali Leroi discuss the journey of bringing The Obituary of Tunde Johnson from a screenplay competition to the screen. The film follows an African-American teenager that is trapped in a terrifying time loop after being shot to death by police. Ali LeRoi is an Emmy Award-winning writer who is best known for co-creating the hit series Everybody Hates Chris. Stanley Kalu, is a screenwriter and former USC student - Tunde Johnson is his first produced screenplay. The pair spoke with Senior Film Programmer, Casey Baron, at the 2019 Austin Film Festival.

Clips of The Obituary of Tunde Johnson courtesy of Wolfe Releasing.

A Conversation with Akiva Goldsman Feb 10, 2021

This week on On Story, a conversation with industry veteran, Akiva Goldsman. Goldsman has written across multiple genres -- from superhero movies to biographies tackling mental health issues. Some of his most recognizable film credits include Batman Forever and Batman and Robin, The Client, The Da Vinci Code, and the four-time Academy Award Winner A Beautiful Mind, which earned Goldsman a win for Best Adapted Screenplay. Recently, Goldsman has worked as a writer, director, and producer for the newest addition to the Star Trek television franchise, Star Trek: Picard.

On Writing The Little Things Feb 03, 2021

This week on On Story, John Lee Hancock discusses writing and directing The Little Things. The film stars Denzel Washington, Jared Leto, and Rami Malek, and follows two police officers in pursuit of a serial killer terrorizing Los Angeles in the 1990s.

A Conversation with Amy Talkington Jan 13, 2021

This week on On Story, a conversation with award-winning screenwriter, director, and author Amy Talkington. In 2020, she wrote the series finale episode of Hulu’s Emmy-nominated hit series Little Fires Everywhere, which she also co-executive produced. 2020 also saw the release of Valley Girl, a musical remake of the 80s cult film, which Talkington wrote. Sarah Lawrence professor Fred Strype, spoke with Talkington about Little Fires Everywhere and her career starting out as an independent filmmaker at the Austin Film Festival.

Clips of Little Fires Everywhere courtesy of ABC Signature Studios, Be Sunshine LLC, and Disney Enterprises Inc

A Conversation with Gina Prince-Bythewood Jan 06, 2021

This week on On Story a conversation with Gina Prince-Bythewood. Prince-Bythewood is an award-winning writer, director, and producer who has been working in film and television for over 20 years. As a writer/director Prince-Bythewood has released three feature films; Love & Basketball, The Secret Life of Bees, and Beyond the Lights.

Clips of Love & Basketball courtesy of New Line Cinema, 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks

Clips of Beyond the Lights courtesy of BET Films and Relativity Media

Clips of The Old Guard courtesy of Netflix

A Conversation with Christopher McQuarrie Dec 30, 2020

From Austin Film Festival this is On Story, a look inside the creative process from today’s leading creators, writers and filmmakers. I’m your host, Barbara Morgan.

Academy Award-winning screenwriter Christopher McQuarrie’s films include Jack Reacher, The Way of the Gun, and the two most recent Mission: Impossible films – Fallout and Rouge Nation. His writing credits include Edge of Tomorrow, Top Gun: Maverick, and The Usual Suspects. The Usual Suspects garnered McQuarrie an Academy Award and the BAFTA for Best Original Screenplay, as well as the Edgar Allan Poe and Independent Spirit Awards. It has since been named one of the 100 greatest screenplays of all time by The Writers Guild of America. I spoke with McQuarrie at an Austin Film Festival virtual event that was co-presented by The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Writing in a Winter Wonderland Dec 23, 2020

From Austin Film Festival this is On Story, a look inside the creative process from today’s leading creators, writers and filmmakers. I’m your host, Barbara Morgan.

From Christmas classics to modern holiday hits, the magic of storytelling seems to be stronger during the holiday season. We spoke with the writers behind some of the most celebrated modern Christmas films to discuss writing stories set during the most wonderful time of the year. Karen Schaler wrote 2017’s A Christmas Prince which was Netflix’s first original Christmas film and spawned two sequels. Matt Lieberman wrote 2018’s The Christmas Chronicles, also released by Netflix, which starred Kurt Russell. Lieberman also wrote the sequel, The Christmas Chronicles 2. David Berenbaum wrote the 2003 holiday hit Elf which stars Will Ferrell. The three writers spoke with moderator Fabienne Harford at the Austin Film Festival.

Greenland Dec 16, 2020

From Austin Film Festival this is On Story, a look inside the creative process from today’s leading creators, writers and filmmakers.

Ric Roman Waugh is a director, writer, producer, and former stuntman. As a writer/director, Waugh’s work include Felon, Snitch, and Shot Caller. In 2019, he co-wrote and directed Angel Has Fallen, the third film in the Fallen film series, with Gerard Butler reprising his role as Secret Service agent Mike Banning. In 2020, Waugh directed the apocalyptic disaster film Greenland, which also stars Butler as a family man trying to find sanctuary from a planet-killing comet that threatens to destroy Earth. I spoke with Waugh about the film after an advance screening in Austin, Texas.

A Conversation with Ron Bass Dec 09, 2020

From Austin Film Festival this is On Story, a look inside the creative process from today’s leading creators, writers and filmmakers. I’m your host, Barbara Morgan.

In 1989, screenwriter Ron Bass won an Academy Award for co-writing Rain Man. The iconic road trip film stars Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman and took home 4 Oscars – including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor, in addition to Bass’ award for writing. Bass’ other writing credits include My Best Friend’s Wedding, The Joy Luck Club, and Stepmom. Over his 35-year career Bass has written 211 scripts which span a variety of genres. Ron Bass spoke about his illustrious career with former AFF Creative Director Erin Hallagan at the 26th Austin Film Festival where he was awarded the Bill Wittliff Award for Screenwriting.

Clips of What Dreams May Come courtesy of Polygram Filmed Entertainment & Universal Pictures Home Entertainment

Clips of Rain Man courtesy of United Artists & 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment

Clips of My Best Friends Wedding courtesy of TriStar Pictures & Sony Pictures Entertainment

Clips of The Joy Luck Club courtesy of Buena Vista Home Entertainment

Clips of When a Man Loves a Woman courtesy of Touchstone Pictures

Clips of Black Widow courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

A Conversation with Phil Hay Nov 25, 2020

From Austin Film Festival this is On Story, a look inside the creative process from today’s leading creators, writers and filmmakers. Phil Hay is a screenwriter and producer. Hay’s writing partner Matt Manfredi and director Karyn Kusama made the 2019 Los Angeles crime drama Destroyer which starred Nicole Kidman. In 2015, the three made the horror film The Invitation – the film follows a man as he becomes increasingly suspicious of his ex-wife’s motives while attending a dinner party hosted at their old house. Hay spoke about the film at the 26th annual Austin Film Festival with moderator Maya Perez.

On Writing Horror Nov 18, 2020

This week on On Story, from suspenseful scares to urban legends and classic movie monsters, horror stories rely on the psychology of fear to thrill and chill us with the things that we fear most. Paul Alvarado-Dykstra discusses the scripts behind the scares with Akela Cooper, the writer behind the Conjuring spinoff, The Nun 2 and American Horror Story, and horror writer/director and author Owen Egerton.

Liz Hannah + Sarah Green Sep 09, 2020

This week on On Story we’ll hear from screenwriter Liz Hannah whose first screenplay, The Post, became an Academy Award nominated film. And later Oscar and Emmy nominated producer Sarah Green discusses her approach to producing and her frequent collaborations with filmmakers Jeff Nichols and Terrence Mallick.

On Writing Sci-Fi Aug 05, 2020

This week on On Story we’ll talk with science fiction writers and filmmakers to discuss writing futuristic, out of this world stories. The team behind Skyman will discuss the freedom behind shooting a faux-documentary film. And later the writers behind Rogue One and Jurassic World: Dominion will talk about their experience writing big budget franchise films.

The Power of True Stories to Drive Change Jul 08, 2020

This week on On Story we’ll look at how true stories are told on the screen. From narrative films adapted from true events to documentaries that explore real individuals and incidents. We’ll talk with filmmakers and writers about the challenges behind balancing fact and fiction while staying true to the heart of the subject’s story.

Kieran Fitzgerald is a writer behind several projects based on true stories. He wrote the screenplay for 2016’s Snowden which depicted the events of American whistleblower Edward Snowden and co-wrote the miniseries Wormwood which examined the mysterious death of scientist and CIA employee Frank Olson in 1953. In 2007, Fitzgerald wrote and directed the documentary The Ballad of Esequiel Hernandez. The film, which is narrated by Tommy Lee Jones, investigates the killing of Esequiel Hernandez Jr. who was shot and killed by an active United States Marine near the US-Mexico border. The 1997 incident marked the first time an American civilian had been killed by an on duty military personal since the 1970 Kent State shootings. I recently spoke to Fitzgerald about the research required behind bringing true stories to the screen and films ability to highlight the emotional truths behind real events.

Next up, screenwriters behind biopics and true-life narratives discuss the power that films have to drive change. David Rabinowitz, who won an Academy Award for co-writing BlacKkKlansman, Barbara Stepansky writer of Flint, and Doug Atchison writer of Brian Banks spoke with moderator Matt Dy at Austin Film Festival in a panel co-presented by Screen Craft and The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

GLOW + Crazy Ex-Girlfriend May 27, 2020

This week on On Story we’re bringing you discussions with the creative teams behind two hit comedy series. Liz Flahive and Carly Mensch will discuss their Netflix series – GLOW, which chronicles the lives of the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling - a 1980’s women's wrestling circuit. And later, creators Aline Brosh McKenna and Rachel Bloom join filmmaker Katie Hyde to discuss the musical comedy series Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and the documentary Oh My God I Think It’s Over - which chronicled the creation of the final season.

Clips of GLOW courtesy of Netflix

Clips of Crazy Ex Girlfriend courtesy of CBS Studios Inc. and Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc, and The CW Network

On Story is part of a growing number of programs in Austin Film Festival’s On Story Project, including the On Story PBS series, The On Story radio program and podcast and the On Story book series. To find out more about On Story and Austin Film Festival, visit www.onstory.tv or www.austinfilmfestival.com

On Story is brought to you in part by the Alice Kleberg Reynolds Foundation, a Texas family providing innovative funding since 1979.

This project is supported in part by the Cultural Arts Division of the City of Austin Economic Development Department, the Texas Commission on the Arts, the US Institute of Museum and Library Services and Texas Library and Archives Commission.

This program is also made possible in part by a grant from Humanities Texas the state affiliate for the National Endowment for the Humanities.

On Story is supported in part by DePaul University's School of Cinematic Arts.

The show is produced by Barbara Morgan, our associate producers are Colin Hyer, Maya Perez, and Kaetie Turner. Our editors are Jamal Knox and Travis Neeley. Audio capture by Travis Kennedy. Music is by Brian Ramos. Production assistance comes from Sound Lab Inc. Travis Kennedy and KUT 90.5 in Austin. Go to AustinFilmFestival.com to find out more about the Austin Film Festival & Conference in October.

AFF at Home: Wrapping Up May 27, 2020

This week on On Story, Scott Rosenberg (writer Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle), Victoria Strouse (writer Finding Dory), and Jeffrey Lieber (writer Lost) discuss finishing scripts, trusting your gut, and finding your ‘Fade to Black’.

AFF at Home: Animation May 20, 2020

This week on On Story, join Netflix’s Seis Manos co-creators Alvaro Rodriguez (From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series), Brad Graeber (CEO, Powerhouse Animation), and director Willis Bulliner for a conversation on writing, developing, and animating the adult anime series. In this podcast, the team will discuss the collaborative process for creating an animated series.

If you are looking for a little inspiration or motivation to get back to your script – We are here to help. Austin Film Festival has over 26 years of archived panels that we will be curating and releasing every Wednesday to help you work through challenges you might be facing in your work.

Looking for more resources? Check out austinfilmfestival.com for more audio, streaming suggestions, writing prompts, and more. See you next week.

AFF at Home: Fiction & Nonfiction Adaptation May 13, 2020

This week on On Story, Alex Tse (co-creator Wu-Tang: An American Saga), David Gleeson (writer Tolkien), and Micah-Fitzerman-Blue & Noah Harpster (co-writers A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood) discuss strategies for writing an effective biopic and the art of balancing fact and fiction while staying true to the heart of your subject’s story.

If you are looking for a little inspiration or motivation to get back to your script – We are here to help. Austin Film Festival has over 26 years of archived panels that we will be curating and releasing every Wednesday to help you work through challenges you might be facing in your work.

Looking for more resources? Check out austinfilmfestival.com for more audio, streaming suggestions, writing prompts, and more. See you next week.

On Writing Veep + Beverly Hills Cop Apr 29, 2020

This week on On Story we’ll bring you conversations with two comedy titans. VEEP showrunner and Seinfeld writer David Mandel will discuss the widely successful HBO series that wrapped in 2019 and legendary screenwriter Daniel Petrie, Jr. will examine the 1985 comedy classic Beverly Hills Cop which earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay.

Clips of Veep courtesy of Home Box Office, Inc

Clips of Beverly Hills Cop courtesy of Paramount Pictures Corporation

On Story is part of a growing number of programs in Austin Film Festival’s On Story Project, including the On Story PBS series, The On Story radio program and podcast and the On Story book series. To find out more about On Story and Austin Film Festival, visit onstory.tv or austinfilmfestival.com

On Story is brought to you in part by the Alice Kleberg Reynolds Foundation, a Texas family providing innovative funding since 1979.

This project is supported in part by the Cultural Arts Division of the City of Austin Economic Development Department, the Texas Commission on the Arts, the US Institute of Museum and Library Services and Texas Library and Archives Commission.

This program is also made possible in part by a grant from Humanities Texas the state affiliate for the National Endowment for the Humanities.

On Story is supported in part by DePaul University's School of Cinematic Arts.

The show is produced by myself, Barbara Morgan, our associate producers are Colin Hyer, Maya Perez, and Kaetie Turner. Our editors are Jamal Knox and Travis Neeley. Audio capture by Travis Kennedy. Music is by Brian Ramos. Production assistance comes from Sound Lab Inc. Travis Kennedy and KUT 90.5 in Austin. Go to AustinFilmFestival.com to find out more about the Austin Film Festival & Conference in October.

AFF at Home: Action & Description Apr 22, 2020

This week on On Story, we’re exploring action & description with the writers behind 22 Jump Street, Watchmen, and Jurassic World 3.

If you are looking for a little inspiration or motivation to get back to your script – We are here to help. Austin Film Festival has over 26 years of archived panels that we will be curating and releasing every Wednesday to help you work through challenges you might be facing in your work.

Looking for more resources? Check out austinfilmfestival.com for more audio, streaming suggestions, writing prompts, and more. See you next week.

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