5 Panels and Screenings I’m Excited for at ATX Season 8
It’s my favorite time of year as ATX Television Festival is upon us. The festival brings together fans and industry professionals together to celebrate the television medium with a variety of panels and screenings.
This year’s lineup features so many things that are right up my alley as a television fan. Here are some of the panels and screenings I’m most looking forward to:
Resistance, Inclusion and Creating Authentic Muslim Narratives presented by MPAC’s Hollywood Bureau (Thursday 6/6 at 4:15pm — Trinity Hall)
One of the reasons ATX stands out from all other festivals is their willingness to tackle important television-related topics that are very rarely discussed elsewhere. This panel is no different.
During this panel, Carina Adly MacKenzie, Mohammed Amer, Nikohl Boosheri, Nijla Mu’min and Sue Obeidi will discuss how they’ve impacted the industry in the last two years by raising the quantity and quality of Muslim characters; their efforts to increase visibility on and off-screen; and the forward-thinking importance of turning this moment into a sustained movement.
Good Trouble (Friday 6/7 at 10am — Alamo Drafthouse)
Good Trouble is without a doubt my favorite new show of the last year. So I was THRILLED when it was announced as a part of this year’s programming at ATX.
Not only will they be screening the season 2 premiere, there will also be a panel discussion featuring creator/executive producer/writer Joanna Johnson and cast members Maia Mitchell and Cierra Ramirez.
If you aren’t familiar with the show, it follows the Adams Foster siblings, Callie and Mariana, as they embark on the next adventure in their lives in Los Angeles.
Greek Reunion (Friday 6/7 at 4:30pm — State Theatre)
Nobody does reunions like ATX! Although I’m only two years removed from my college days, I’m so excited to head back to Cyprus-Rhodes University for an hour for a reunion with the cast & creatives of Greek!
There’s a stellar lineup for this reunion as creator/executive producer Patrick Sean Smith, executive producers Shawn Piller and Lloyd Segan and cast members Spencer Grammer, Amber Stevens West and Jacob Zachar will all be in attendance. However, I’m personally still holding out hope that Paul James and Dilshad Vadsaria will be added back to the lineup and that Scott Michael Foster and Jake McDorman will decide to grace us with their presence.
But regardless of who’s in attendance, I’m excited to hear from some of the cast and crew who made such a fantastic series.
Veronica Mars (Saturday 6/8 at 10:30am — Paramount Theatre)
A long time ago, we used to have Veronica Mars. And as it turns out, we still have Veronica Mars. Hulu has revived the series for eight episodes, which are dropping on Friday, July 26.
Ahead of those new episodes dropping later this summer, creator/executive producer Rob Thomas and cast members Enrico Colantoni, Jason Dohring and Percy Daggs III will all be in Austin for a panel discussing the revival.
I absolutely adore this show so I’m so excited to be in the same room as some of the cast members and the creator.
Let’s Talk About Sex (Scenes) (Saturday 6/8 at 12pm — SFA Ballroom)
Let’s be real: we all remember each and every time our favorite ship had sexy time on screen. However, many writers, actors, and directors still struggle with how to safely navigate scenes that contain intimate or sexual content.
During “Let’s Talk About Sex (Scenes)”, Tanya Saracho, Nicki Micheaux, Alicia Rodis, Kathleen McCaffrey, and Matt Lauria will have an honest discussion about empowering both writers and actors, and improving safe “sex” practices behind the camera.
Yet another topic ATX is tackling that’s rarely discussed elsewhere. I know I personally don’t really have any knowledge about this topic so I’m super excited to learn more about this behind-the-scenes aspect of the industry.
This year’s festival takes place June 6-9, 2019. You can purchase a badge here. Follow the festival on Twitter to stay up-to-date on all of the different programs taking place during season seven!