Austin Film Festival's On Story

This week on On Story, we're joined by Mark Levin and Jennifer Flackett for a conversation on Big Mouth following its final season.
 
Big Mouth is a one-of-a-kind animated, coming-of-age, musical sitcom, which aired for eight seasons on Netflix. The series follows a group of middle schoolers as they navigate puberty and coming-of-age while being tormented by supernatural creatures which represent their swirl of new emotions, such as the Hormone Monsters, The Shame Wizard, The Depression Kitty, and The Anxiety Mosquito. 
 
Mark Levin and Jennifer Flackett created Big Mouth along with Andrew Goldberg, and its lead voice-actor Nick Kroll. Levin and Flackett began their careers writing for TV shows like The Wonder Years, LA Law, and Beverly Hills 90210. The duo later transitioned to writing for film, and co-wrote the screenplays for Madeline, Wimbledon, Journey to the Center of the Earth, and more. They co-created and executive produced both Big Mouth and its spinoff Human Resources, as well as their new animated show Mating Season.  
 
We're back with AFF moderator Harrison Glaser, who sat down with Mark Levin and Jennifer Flackett for a conversation on balancing raunchy humor with authentic emotion in Big Mouth, and a reflection on the show's eight-year run.
 
Big Mouth Clips courtesy of Netflix Worldwide Entertainment LLC.

This week on On Story, a conversation on the hit comedy The Studio, with co-creator and showrunner Alex Gregory.
The Studio stars Seth Rogen as Matt Remick, the newly-appointed head of a faltering production studio who must balance his love of film against the corporate interests of a profit-driven and risk-averse entertainment industry. The Studio's star-studded ensemble cast also includes Kathryn Hahn, Bryan Cranston, and Catherine O'Hara in her final on-screen performance, as well as cameos from Martin Scorsese, Jean Smart, and many more. The first season won 13 Emmys, including the award for Outstanding Comedy Series. It has been renewed for a second season. 
Alex Gregory created The Studio along with Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, Peter Huyck, and Frida Perez. Gregory began his comedy career as a writer for Spy Magazine. His other TV credits include The Late Show with David Letterman, The Larry Sanders Show, Frasier, King of the Hill, and Veep, where he earned his first two Emmy awards. Gregory co-created the miniseries The White House Plumbers for HBO. He has also drawn over 300 cartoons for The New Yorker. 
AFF moderator Harrison Glaser sat down with Alex Gregory for a conversation on how The Studio reflects the chaos of modern Hollywood, how the writers created high stakes without writing any villains, and the real executive that inspired Seth Rogen's character.
Clips of The Studio courtesy of Lionsgate Television.

This week on On Story, a conversation on Hacks with its co-creator and co-showrunner Jen Statsky.
Hacks follows the odd-couple antics of trailblazing standup comedian Deborah Vance, played by Jean Smart, and struggling up-and-coming comedy writer Ava Daniels, played by Hannah Einbinder, who's hired to help Deborah breathe new life into her worn-out routine. The pair form a close bond as Ava pushes Deborah to take risks and pursue her lifelong dream of hosting a late night talk show.  Hacks is packed with scene stealing supporting and guest performances by Meg Stalter, Paul W. Downs, Julianne Nicholson, Laurie Metcalf, and more. The final season received a record-breaking 24 Emmy nominations, including a nomination for Outstanding Comedy Series. 
Jen Statsky co-created Hacks alongside Lucia Aniello and Paul W. Downs. Statsky previously worked as a writer for Late Night With Jimmy Fallon, Parks and Recreation, Broad City, and The Good Place. 
I sat down with Jen Statsky for a conversation on crafting the pitch document for Hacks, building Ava and Deborah's explosive relationship, and the meta-challenge of writing a show that's all about the writing process.

This week on On Story, a conversation on Abbott Elementary with its co-showrunner Patrick Schumacker. Abbott Elementary is ABC's hit mockumentary sitcom set at a chaotic, underfunded elementary school in West Philadelphia. The show's creator and co-showrunner Quinta Brunson stars as optimistic and energetic second-grade teacher Janine Teagues. She works with the awkward but well meaning Jacob, her fiery no-nonsense mentors Barbara and Melissa, new hire Gregory, and the vain and outlandish Principal Ava. The show has been nominated for 30 Emmy Awards, and has won awards in the acting, writing, and casting categories. Abbott Elementary has run for five seasons on ABC, with a sixth on the way.  
Patrick Schumacher is the co-founder of Delicious Non-Sequitur Productions, which, along with Abbott Elementary, has produced HBO Max's hit animated series Harley Quinn, and its spinoff series, Kite Man: Hell Yeah! Schumacher's credits also include the network sitcoms Powerless, and Surviving Jack, as well as iZombie, Cougar Town, and How to be a Gentleman. 
I sat down with Patrick Schumacker to discuss his experience working with child actors and building the show's ensemble cast, and the benefits of writing 22-episode seasons.

This week on On Story, we're joined by Justin Simien, the writer-director of the film Dear White People, and the creator of the TV adaptation of the same name, which ran for four seasons on Netflix. The film follows Samantha White, played by Tessa Thompson, a media arts major at a fictional ivy league university who stirs controversy on campus by criticizing her white peers and their racist transgressions on her Dear White People radio show. The TV adaptation expanded in scope to focus on an ensemble of characters at the fictional Winchester University. 
 
Simien began working on the concept for Dear White People in 2006 as a response to his time studying film at a predominantly white institution. In 2012 he created a trailer as proof of concept, which he used as a centerpiece to launch a successful crowdfunding campaign. The film premiered in 2014 to critical and financial success, and the TV adaptation premiered on Netflix three years later. Simien went on to write and direct the horror comedy Bad Hair, and direct the horror comedy Haunted Mansion. Simien is currently executive producing TV projects through his production company Culture Machine. 
 
AFF moderator Casey Baron sat down with Justin Simien for a conversation on Simien's process of using social media to build an audience for Dear White People, his collaborations with Yvette Lee Bowser and Lena Waithe, and the pressures of social responsibility as a Black artist.