Two flights, three panels and five beers later, I can say I had a good time at the Austin Film Festival. It was certainly the best time I’ve had in Austin, largely because I got off my ass and went to the parties and screenings. (Although some of the credit for that has to go to the amazing new [Google Maps for Treo](http://google.com/gmm), which made up for the notable lack of a map in the festival catalog.)
The strangest thing about a screenwriter-centric event is that for a few days I feel like a minor celebrity. Strangers recognize me, which [almost never happens](http://johnaugust.com/archives/2006/are-you-somebody) in Los Angeles. But in exchange for anonymity, I got lots of nice comments and even a t-shirt with my silhouette. Which kind of freaks me out, frankly. I don’t know that I’d wear it myself, and I’d be unnerved if I saw someone else wearing one.
Mike Curtis from HD for Indies [wrote up](http://www.hdforindies.com/2006/10/austin-film-festival-john-august-panel.html) what I talked about in my solo presentation yesterday, so props to him for the live-blogging. And best regards to all the panelists, organizers and attendees at the festival these next few days.