Austin (Tex.)

Take part in this conversation with feature film writers who have successfully navigated writing for the hardest genre.

HBO’s new series The Deucetakes an immersive look at the evolution of the sex work industry in 1970s Manhattan. With a palpable griminess coating the city, this show builds a world big enough to explore the exploitation and power dynamics running rampant among its characters. Sit down with writing duo George Pelecanos and David Simon as they discuss their first time working as co-Creators, the importance of research for this period piece, and how setting influences theme and character.

The year 2019 seemed like a distant future when Blade Runnerwas released, but its complex themes about the nature of humanity ring true today. Join writers and fans of the original film as they deconstruct the layers of narrative, genre, and theme in this cult classic.

In a live version of the popular Scriptnotespodcast segment, John August, Craig Mazin, and special guests will read three pages of pre-selected registrant scripts and review them as only they can.

This is a frank discussion about the creative side of navigating our diverse landscape. Whitewashing. Representation. Writers and their identities are more central to the conversation than ever before. As creatives, we do not want to be limited to writing only our own experiences. As humans, we have an obligation to address the inequities in our industry and work towards equal representation. This panel will discuss the complex and nuanced questions of representation, responsibility, and creativity. In the end, it’s about making the best possible work, responsibly.

Eat your heart out, H.G. Wells. Sometimes it’s okay to tamper with time. Manipulating a narrative’s timeline can be a powerful structural device as well as a strong vehicle for emphasizing character, theme, and a writer’s voice. If employed correctly, unconventional temporal elements can enhance and liberate a story in ways traditional narratives cannot. Join this discussion on ditching the passé “beginning-to-end” model in favor of a more nuanced approach. While there are no set rules to successfully deconstructing a storyline, panelists will offer their best advice and techniques on how to create nonlinear structures.

Get the answers to all of your questions about finding and working with a manager. At what point do you need one? What can you expect from the relationship? Join this panel of established managers for answers to all these questions and more!

From character studies to blockbusters, legendary writer/director/producer Walter Hill as mastered the comedy, drama, thriller, and western genres. Join the 2017 Extraordinary Contribution to Film Award Recipient for an in-depth conversation moderated by Shane Black.

Are you getting stuck in the middle or end of a script? Craig Mazin, writer of Identity Thief and co-host of the popular ScriptNotes podcast, introduces a new way to think about structure. He’ll discuss how to build your plot as a function of character and theme, why beginnings are endings and endings are beginnings, and how the answer to solving your plot is to stop thinking about plot. After this panel, you'll never get lost in a script again!

Industry representatives in entertainment provide an overview of screenwriter agreements, contracts, and legalities, along with advice on securing the best deal, avoiding common mistakes, and knowing what a Writers Guild agreement has to offer.