Screenwriting : Austin Film Festival Roll Call & Webcast Q&A! by Ashley Renee Smith

Ashley Renee Smith

Austin Film Festival Roll Call & Webcast Q&A!

Hey Screenwriters!

We’re just days away from one of the biggest events of the year — Austin Film Festival! Whether you’re attending in person or planning to go in the future, we’ve got something special for you.

Join us TODAY, Monday, October 20th for our free Stage 32 webcast, How To Navigate Austin Film Festival! Hosted by Geoff Faugerolas (Director of Development Services) and myself (Head of Community), this session will help you make the most of your festival experience — from planning your schedule to networking like a pro.

Not registered yet? Don’t worry! You can join live or receive the full recording by signing up here:

https://www.stage32.com/education/products/navigating-film-festivals-join-the-stage-32-team-to-prep-for-the-austin-film-festival

Now we want to hear from you:

Are you planning to attend Austin Film Festival this year, or hoping to in the future?

What do you want to know about AFF or film festivals in general?

What makes you most nervous about networking or attending in-person events?

Drop your answers and questions below, Geoff and Ashley will be pulling some of them to answer during the webcast! This is also a great place to start networking and getting to know your fellow attendees!

Lisa Isaacson

Hi! Lisa in NYC - this will be my 4th AFF and I'm always eager to hear advice on how to make it even more worthwhile and productive.

Renee Clinton

Hi I’m a reader for AFF and I live in Las Vegas. Excited for another year at the festival!

Christopher Wells

Located in Brooklyn, excited to network and support other filmmakers. This will be my first time at AFF.

Karlyle Tomms

My screenplay is a second rounder. I live in Corpus Christi.

Joohee Lee Muromcew

Excited to connect with fellow writers and filmmakers. I've been working on my own and would love to find a little community. My first film fest.

David Paculdo

Located in San Francisco. Excited to meet everyone at my first AFF

Renee Clinton

Sched also has a QR code you can update with your info!

Carolynn Cecilia

I've been told that the Driskill will still be closed for renovations

Joohee Lee Muromcew

How early is early to line up for the more popular panels/sessions?

Karlyle Tomms

Networking. In other words, be real just like you would meet a friend of a friend at a party.

Christopher Wells

Any advice on writer directors who are looking to package their projects to investors, EP’s?

Christopher Wells

I shot a Proof of concept and looking to raise money for the script

Lisa Isaacson

Can we pre-print our loglines to drop in the fishbowls? My writing is atrocious. Also, should we include our name and number or email on it? Seems kind of obvious but want to do this right.

Geoffroy Faugerolas

Lisa Isaacson sure can! our template will ask for name + email so we can contact you if an exec requests your script

Christopher Wells

physical cards vs digital cards

Joohee Lee Muromcew

Can you talk a little about the pitch sessions?

Renee Clinton

Love the round tables because you get some great FaceTime with people you don’t get in other panels

Lauren Hackney

Good luck to everyone going - soak up the vibe, learn as much as you can and enjoy the experience. Will be cheering you all on from Down Under! :)

Carolynn Cecilia

Spite (psychological drama with horror elements) will have it's World Premiere on October 25th (Saturday) at 9:30pm. Rollins Theatre. SpiteFilm.com

K B

congratulations to all of the writers, etc... who have films at AFF. great webcast as well.

Bryan Matthews

Thank you everyone. See you in Austin.

Lisa Isaacson

Carolynn Cecilia will really try to make this!! Just incredible. Congrats!

Lisa Isaacson

Hey everyone - please follow me on Instagram and I'll follow back. @teeteeinthecity (and my projects @sleepoutsideseries @coolheadedgirl @countyhinterland)

Ashley Renee Smith

The Success Team email that we shared is: Success@Stage32.com!

I'll also be sharing live updates on Instagram from our Stage 32 accounts- @Stage32 and @Stage32Scripts. You should also follow our CEO RB Botto to keep up with him at @Rbwalksintoabar.

Can't wait to see you all in a few days!

Vanessa Chattman 2

Ashley, I'm sorry I can't attend this year. The Zoom meeting was awesome about the Austin Film Festival, what time does the webcast start?

Ashley Renee Smith

Vanessa Chattman 2, the Zoom was the webcast for AFF. But we have another Free Webcast on Wednesday if thats the one you're referring to: https://www.stage32.com/education/products/short-films-big-plans-buildin...

Meriem Bouziani

This is such a great opportunity to develop connections and showcase your talent and ideas. I really hope I can participate one day in the future — it would be a perfect way to share my stories.

Vanessa Chattman 2

Thank you, Ashlely, I think I registered for the webcast on Wednesday, I will check my email, but thanks for the reminder.

Ashley Renee Smith

Some essentials to consider having on hand:

- Comfortable shoes

- Pocket hand sanitizer

- Sun block (Austin is hot, ya'll, and the sun don't play, it's supposed to be high 80 degrees all week)

- Sunglasses

- Allergy meds (the pollen count is high right now, so if you're someone who gets sneezy, bring Claritin)

- A light rain jacket (rain is predicted for Saturday)

Christopher Wells

Ashley Renee Smith If we have a script in the festival, does that mean our scripts are available for producers/agents to access and read? Is there a script data base where they can access and if so, can we update the script with a newer version?

Christopher Wells

what are people doing for the 1PM conference block? Theres so many good ones to choose from I was curious what people thought?

Vanessa Chattman 2

That's a good question.

Chris Churilla

I'm a screenwriter who's in his 50s but I'm fairly new to this, and I would like to connect with other writers in a similar situation here at AFF. I'm wearing a black T-shirt with Black Philip on it. #iykyk

Jaye Viner

Here at AFF from Omaha, Nebraska!

Ashley Renee Smith

The Stage 32 Team is hanging at the Omni Hotel Bar tonight!

Vanessa Chattman 2

Stuck here at home in Houston Texas sadly missing AFF.

Saviour Samuel Bhig SsA

That's great

Karlyle Tomms

Chris Churilla - I’m 70 and just starting as a screenwriter. I assume you will be at the Stage 32 gathering Friday night. Today, Friday, I’ll be walking around in a white and blue Hawaiian shirt.

Chris Churilla

Karlyle - I think I passed by you at the Stage 32 table yesterday. I'll be going to the mixer on Friday night. I'll be wearing a white T-shirt today with "Vampyr" written on it and a picture of Count Orlok from the original "Nosferatu".

Karlyle Tomms

I am not sure about the rooftop at Speakeasy. Is it outside, inside? If it’s outside, are there contingencies for rain?

Karlyle Tomms

And Chris…Nosferatu! Yeah!

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