Austin Film Festival's On Story

On this week’s episode of On Story we’re exploring all aspects of comedic writing and performing. We’ll discuss writing animated features with Disney scribe Pamela Ribon and writing and performing stand-up and sketch comedy with SNL veteran Sasheer Zamata.

Pamela Ribon is a comedic writer who has worked in a variety of mediums. In addition to her work writing television and graphic novels, Ribon wrote two Disney animated films, Moana and Ralph Breaks The Internet. Both films were nominated for Best Animated Feature at the Academy Awards. I spoke with Ribon about subverting the princess trope and writing comedy that sometimes makes you sad.

Clips of Moana & Ralph Breaks the Internet courtesy of Disney Enterprises, Inc.

Clip of Samantha Who? courtesy of American Broadcasting Company (ABC)

Sasheer Zamata is a comedian, actress, writer and 4 season Saturday Night Live cast member. Zamata was listed in Cosmopolitan’s 13 Funny Women to Watch and Variety Magazine named her web series Pursuit Of Sexiness one of the Top 10 Web Series of 2013. I spoke with Zamata about writing and performing comedy live at the Moontower Comedy Festival in Austin, Tx.

Clips of Saturday Night Live courtesy of National Broadcasting Company, Inc.

Segments of this episode were filmed at KLRU Studio 6a, the original home of Austin City Limits. Special thanks to Chief Executive Officer and General Manager Bill Stotesbery, Production and Operations Director JJ Weber, and Production Coordinator Emily Steele. Audio captured by Randy Reynolds and Kevin J. Cochran.

The last segment of our show was filmed live at the Moontower Comedy Festival in Austin, Texas. Special thanks to Chief Executive Officer Jim Ritts, Festival Director Lietza Brass, Talent Producer Colleen McGarr, Festival Manager Maggie Hoffman and Programming Associate Kaetie Turner. 

 

 

Direct download: Pamela_Ribon_Sasheer_Zamata_Podcast_Mix.mp3
Category:Film and Television -- posted at: 11:12am CDT

Jeffrey Cranor is a partner in and co-founder of Night Vale Presents. He co-writes the podcasts welcome to night vale and within the wires. He co-wrote with Joseph Fink the novels Welcome to Night Vale and It Devours! An alumnus of the performance art collective the New York neo-futurists, Jeffrey also creates theater and dance with choreographer (and wife) Jillian Sweeney.

Clips of Welcome to Night Vale courtesy of You Tube, Inc.

For every established Hollywood producer there are countless up-and-coming writers desperately trying to get their work read. Despite the odds of ‘making it’ these people continue to write. In our podcast series, “Toiling in Obscurity” we hear from working writers on their day to day obstacles and what keeps them inspired to keep writing.

Michael Soll is an Austin Film Festival Finalist whose screenplay, Catalyst won the Drama Feature Category in 2016 and is currently in pre-production. At 17, Michael wrote his first screenplay, a teenage coming-of-age story. In addition to features, he also enjoys writing books. His novel, Scorched, was an Amazon Bestseller. We spoke with Michael during the Austin Film Festival to discuss what keeps him motivated to write and how AFF helped advance his script further in the industry.

Direct download: Jeffrey_Cranor_Podcast_FINAL.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00pm CDT

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