TV Fans Unite! Snakkle Speaks to Co-Founders of the ATX Television Festival
TV fans everywhere who may be overwhelmed by the hugeness of Comic-Con, rejoice! If it's TV you love, there is a new festival from June 1-3 that promises incredible programming to TV fans of several genres. The first ever ATX Televsion Festival in Austin, TX was founded by industry vets Caitlin McFarland and Emily Gipson and Snakkle asked them how this huge undertaking went from an idea to reality. And, tickets are still available! By Erin FoxOverwhelmed by the massive throngs of comic book lovers, film and TV buffs at Comic-Con? Want to revel in the glory of TV fandoms alone? Well, you’re in luck. TV industry vets and self-proclaimed mega-fans Caitlin McFarland and Emily Gipson have created the ATX Television Festival just for people like you! And… tickets are still available!
Just to give you a little taste of the goods at ATX: You can not only attend a panel with executive producer of Friday Night Lights and Parenthood (Jason Katims), you can later bring lawn chairs and come watch the “Pilot” and finale “Always” with cast members of FNL. Did we mention that there will be live music provided by FNL alumns Jesse Plemons (Cowboy and Indian), Alicia Witt and Dora Madison Burge (Tigerbone)? Plus, a screening of the new Explosions in the Sky music video “Postcard from 1952.” That’s right, Panther fans: Time to “Squee.”
Snakkle spoke to McFarland and Gipson about how this seed of an idea grew into a full blown festival in Austin, TX. They had met while working at Fox Studios and had bonded over their love of all things cult favorite film, music and TV in the last in the last couple years. And after McFarland spent some time working the festival circuit (including Sundance and Tribeca), she said, “I fell in love with festivals, and Emily is no stranger to music festivals, and we both would just talk about how great we felt. These friends that we would make. This community that was created. Sort of camps for grown-ups.” The pair realized they may have an opportunity to do something similar, but for TV instead.
The idea for ATX was born, and using their industry connections, they quickly assembled a list of board members, show-runners and cast members that were willing to participate in the three day festival, from June 1-3.
Gipson was particularly thrilled with the eager response from their friends in the business, and the support they received from their Kickstarter campaign. “It was amazing the response that we got … we were just in awe of the people that responded and came on board immediately. People like Julie Plec (show-runner, The Vampire Diaries) and Liz Tigelaar (creator, Life Unexpected; consulting producer, Revenge) who came on almost immediately. There was an ‘Oh, people are really responding to this. You really have something here.'”
The schedule is varied and has a little something for everyone, including opening night screening of summer hits like Suits and Royal Pains from USA, a Saturday morning cartoon screening (bring your pjs!) brought to you by The Hub, as well as panels called “The Creators” featuring Noah Hawley (The Unusuals, My Generation), Kyle Killen (creator, Awake, Lone Star), Kevin Biegel (co-creator, Cougar Town), Mark Schwahn (creator, One Tree Hill), Liz Tigelaar (creator, Life Unexpected), and “Women in Television” featuring Tigelaar again as well as TV heavy-hitters Jane Espenson (creator/writer, Husbands, Warehouse 13, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Battlestar Galactica), Erica Messer (showrunner, Criminal Minds) and Julie Plec, (writer/creator, The Vampire Diaries, Kyle XY, Dawson’s Creek).
And if this year’s festival works out well, what happens June 4th? “It’s going to involve very large margaritas!” says McFarland. “We literally cannot see past the end of June 3rd so don’t ask us anything until June 4th because we have no idea what happens until that day.” We have a feeling this will not be the last we hear of this awesome TV love fest.
For more information on scheduling and tickets and badges, visit the ATX Television Festival website.