Speaking at the Austin Film Festival
After a fairly travel-free summer, I’m going to be headed to the Austin Film Festival from October 14-21, 2004, where I’ll be speaking on a few yet-to-be-determined panels.
Austin is great. I went a few years ago after Go, and really liked it. Of all the festivals, Austin is probably the most writer-centric; the list of panelists includes many of the best and busiest screenwriters working today.
A few of them I know pretty well: Les Bohem, John Lee Hancock, Anne Rapp and I all spoke at the Nashville Screenwriter’s Conference. Tom McCarthy and I sat a bunch of panels together while he was promoting The Station Agent and I was flacking Big Fish. I met Shane Black at the last Austin Film Festival, and Thomas Schlamme was attached to direct my very-first paid screenwriting job. Terry Rossio, who in addition to his screenwriting career runs the excellent WordPlayer site, will be there as well.
If you’re a screenwriter in Texas, or just looking for a good excuse to visit Austin, you should probably come. The organizers tell me that anyone who mentions this site when they register will get a 10% discount. And no, I don’t get a kickback or referral fee. But if I see you out at the bars, you’re welcome to buy me a beer.
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August 25th, 2004 at 9:29 am
Awww man…I wish I could go! Polly Platt is going to be there too and I need to thank her for producing some of my all time favorite films.
Austin is a GREAT city! The Alamo Drafthouse is the coolest movie theater on the planet. You can order burgers and beer while you watch the movie. A lil slice of heaven…
Have fun, John!
August 25th, 2004 at 9:33 am
That sounds like a lot of fun, but I don’t think I’ll be able to make it to Texas this fall. Do you have any plans to speak anywhere in Southern California for us locals? Let us know – I’d be happy to buy you a beer!
August 25th, 2004 at 9:34 am
Regarding John Lee Hancock: he wrote one of the very best scripts of the 90s, “A Perfect World”. Any aspiring screenwriter should give it a read asap.
June 4th, 2005 at 11:19 am
John,
I noticed that you’re speaking at this years Screenwriting Expo hosted by Creative Screenwriting Magazine (http://www.screenwritingexpo.com/). I can’t wait to see you and the other guests. I went to the first two expos and found the Guests of Honors much more educational than the classes.