Loading…
2016 Austin Film Festival and Conference Schedule has ended
Back To Schedule
Sunday, October 16 • 1:15pm - 2:30pm
How to be an Ally

Sign up or log in to save this to your schedule, view media, leave feedback and see who's attending!

If the Emmys are any indication: inclusive writing reaps huge rewards. Just because you're white, or male, or cis gendered or able-bodied doesn't mean the work for greater inclusiveness leaves you out. In fact, we're gonna have a frank discussion about how greater inclusiveness improves the overall quality of the work. We will cover: writing stories from a different perspective, collaboration that challenges your work and pushes it to new heights and creating vibrant, interesting, nuanced characters.

Moderators
avatar for Emily Best

Emily Best

founder/CEO Seed&Spark; co-creator F*ck Yes!
Emily Best founded Seed&Spark to make a contribution to the truly independent community in which she would like to make moving pictures. Synthesizing subscription streaming and crowdfunding, Seed&Spark delivers sustainability for artists and diversity of content for audiences - and... Read More →

Panelists
avatar for Wendy Calhoun

Wendy Calhoun

writer/producer Justified, Revenge, Nashville, Empire
Wendy Calhoun is a series creator and executive producer with content currently in development at multiple digital and cable companies. This summer she wrote and directed  LEFT BEHIND, a virtual reality short with Project Empathy's VR series for social impact and criminal justice... Read More →
avatar for James Kaelan

James Kaelan

James Kaelan and Blessing Yen collaborate on the film culture print magazine BRIGHT IDEAS, and are founding members of the crowdfunding and distribution platform, Seed&Spark. Together, they directed the virtual reality short, "The Visitor" (Slamdance, SFiFF, SIFFx) and are in development... Read More →
avatar for Pamela Ribon

Pamela Ribon

writer Moana, Smurfs: The Lost Village, Untitled Wreck-It Ralph Sequel, Bears, Samantha Who?; comic book writer Rick and Morty, SLAM!
Pamela Ribon is a screenwriter, TV writer, comic book writer, author, and best-selling novelist (Why Girls are Weird, You Take It From Here). She has worked with Walt Disney Animation Studios as a writer on Moana and is writing with Phil Johnston (director/writer) on the upcoming... Read More →
avatar for Sanjay Shah

Sanjay Shah

writer/co-executive producer Fresh Off The Boat, Enlisted; writer South Park, King of the Hill
Sanjay Shah is a writer/co-executive producer at Fresh Off The Boat on ABC.


Sunday October 16, 2016 1:15pm - 2:30pm CDT
The Driskill Hotel, Citadel Room