Austin (Tex.)

With a TV show (American Gods) and multiple features (Blade Runner: 2049, Murder on the Orient Express) coming out this year, Michael Green is a busy man. Putting out three major projects can be even harder when they’re all adaptations. Sit down with Green for a conversation on how to successfully revamp a well-known story, handle the pressure of the accompanying high expectations, and balance a workload that would challenge even the best of time management skills.

There are a lot of ways into this industry, and not all are accompanied by the glitz and glam that most of us associate with Hollywood. For many, the road to the top is paved with more empty coffee cups and dry cleaning receipts than red carpets or writers rooms. Join panelists who weren’t afraid to get their hands dirty as they share their experiences breaking in, and how they ultimately transitioned from writer's assistant to a working writer.

Overseeing a show entails a lot of responsibility, but the time and energy that goes into creating one is extremely rewarding. As the show travels from an idea into production to become a polished product, showrunners assume many different roles throughout this process. These showrunners will discuss their role in the show and on set, how they participate in the writers room, and their day-to-day duties during production.

John August looks at how writers can best develop and communicate their heroes’ goals, both within a scene and over the course of the film.

Money isn’t the only thing separating the style and content of massive studio efforts and intimate indie productions. Finding a way to make the voice of the storyteller ring through in these seemingly opposite worlds can be difficult, but it is possible! Join panelists who have dabbled in both indie and studio worlds.

This workshop will focus on the nuts and bolts of developing a podcast, from the starting point of an idea, to a script, to a finished produced project!

Agents and managers will share their advice on how to start the process of finding representation, what agencies are looking for in a new writer, some of the most common problems they’ve encountered, and what a writer should expect from the relationship. Join this “Ask Me Anything” styled discussion for an inside look at the blood and guts of the business, and come prepared with questions on what you can do to best position yourself to transition from an aspiring writer to a working writer.

It’s no secret. Writers, by nature, are, well...a bit more on the introspective side. Pitching your logline like a trained Shakespearean actor or approaching your screenwriting idol with confidence may feel a tad out of your comfort zone. Never fear—AFF is here! Back by popular demand, we’re offering morning improv workshops during the Conference to help you warm up your inner Lone Star in order to “rise and shine” throughout the day. Hopefully, you’ll be given the opportunity to say “yes, and” to new skills, friendships, and that screenplay deal. No experience necessary!

Grab a drink from the bar and join veteran filmmakers John August and Craig Mazin for a special late night recording of their incredibly informative screenwriting podcast, Scriptnotes. August, Mazin, and special guests will discuss craft and career, complete with audience questions, and other surprises.

Writer-producer Misha Green isn’t afraid to push boundaries. Underground broke new ground in the historical drama by exploring American heroes through a unique blend of modern music and genre writing. Join Green for a conversation on her experience as a first time showrunner, having to say goodbye to a story before it's finished, and what she's working on next.