This week on On Story, a conversation with Brian Helgeland, the Academy Award-winning screenwriter who penned acclaimed movies including L.A. Confidential and Mystic River, and the director who brought to life beloved films such as A Knight’s T

Past Lives, with Celine Song

17 days ago 32m 40s

This week on On Story, AFF moderator Harrison Glaser speaks with Celine Song about her feature debut, Past Lives. Inspired by Song’s own experiences, Past Lives tells the story of two childhood friends who reunite as adults and reckon with the

American Fiction, with Cord Jefferson

Feb 28th, 2024 22m 14s

This week on On Story, a conversation with Cord Jefferson on adapting the novel Erasure into his strikingly sharp debut feature American Fiction. Cord Jefferson is an Emmy-winning writer who earned his chops on some of television’s most format

The Bear, with Joanna Calo

Feb 21st, 2024 34m 23s

This week on On Story, a conversation with Joanna Calo, showrunner of the character-driven dramedy The Bear. Joanna delves into her experience sharing showrunning duties with creator Christopher Storer, and discusses their approach to incorpor

Contact, with James V. Hart

Feb 12th, 2024 19m 20s

This week on the On Story Podcast a conversation with James V. Hart, writer of the science fiction drama Contact directed by Robert Zemeckis. In his decades-long career, Hart has written beloved films including Hook, Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Tuck

Iron Man 3 w/Shane Black

Jan 31st, 2024 19m 43s

This week on On Story, a conversation with writer-director Shane Black about the making of Iron Man 3. Shane Black, the original creator of the Lethal Weapon franchise, is well-known for his irreverent comedic style and witty dialogue, as well

Dolemite is My Name w/Scott Alexander, Larry Karaszewski, and Craig Brewer

Jan 10th, 2024 32m 34s

This week on On Story, a conversation with celebrated writing team Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski, alongside filmmaker Craig Brewer, to discuss their collaboration on the hilarious, outrageous film Dolemite Is My Name. Scott Alexander

Lawmen: Bass Reeves w/Chad Feehan, Christina Voros, and Damian Marcano

Dec 6th, 2023 25m 14s

This week on On Story, a conversation with the creative team behind Lawmen: Bass Reeves, a show based on the incredible real life of Bass Reeves, a man who was born into slavery and later became a Deputy U.S. Marshal. He was the first black man

Justified, with VJ Boyd and Chris Provenzano

Nov 29th, 2023 24m 55s

This week on On Story, a conversation with two of the writers on Justified: City Primeval. VJ Boyd is a writer and producer. He did both on hits like Justified and S.W.A.T. He co-created and co-showran the crime drama Lincoln Rhyme: Hunt for th

A Conversation with Edward Neumeier

Aug 16th, 2023 31m 20s

This week on On Story, writer Edward Neumeier discusses his creative process behind the sci-fi cult classics RoboCop and Starship Troopers. Neumeier explores the particulars of writing for the genre, as well as his knack for disguising deep iss

'Never Have I Ever' with Lang Fisher

Jul 26th, 2023 30m 10s

This week on On Story, we're joined by Lang Fisher for a conversation on her process of co-creating, writing, and showrunning Netflix’s hit series, Never Have I Ever. Fisher has a long history of writing and producing funny yet intelligent tele

A Conversation with Noah Harpster & Micah Fitzerman-Blue

Jul 7th, 2023 45m 26s

This week on On Story, we're joined by writing partners Noah Harpster and Micah Fitzerman-Blue, known for their collaboration on projects such as the award-winning film based on the life of Mr. Rogers, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, their

A Conversation with Stephen Merchant

Jun 21st, 2023 48m 55s

This week on On Story, we're joined by the comedic genius Stephen Merchant for a conversation on his impressive career in television. Perhaps best known for co-creating (with Ricky Gervais) BBC's The Office, Merchant's work writing and directin

A Conversation with James Gray

Jun 8th, 2023 40m 57s

This week on On Story, a conversation with acclaimed writer, director, and producer James Gray to discuss not only his artistic process, but how he established himself as one the industry’s most talented writer-directors. A true visionary, Gra

Kandahar Q&A with Ric Roman Waugh

May 17th, 2023 19m 25s

This week on On Story we're joined by director Ric Roman Waugh for a post-screening deep dive into his newest action thriller, Kandahar. Formerly an actor and stuntman who appeared in countless films, including Universal Soldier, The Last of th

A Conversation with Alec Berg

May 4th, 2023 36m 59s

This week on On Story, AFF Moderator Harrison Glaser sits down with television writing legend Alec Berg for an in-depth conversation on his triumphant comedy writing career. Nothing short of a comedic genius, Berg's writing credits include some

The Inspection Q&A with Elegance Bratton and Raúl Castillo

Apr 19th, 2023 26m 59s

This week on On Story, AFF Moderator Andy Volk sat down with writer-director Elegance Bratton and actor Raúl Castillo for a post-screening Q&A of their latest feature film, The Inspection. Released last November by A24, The Inspection is an abs

Armageddon Time Q&A with James Gray

Apr 5th, 2023 25m 16s

This week on On Story, AFF Moderator and Senior Programmer, Andy Volk, sat down with writer, director, and producer James Gray for a post-screening Q&A of his coming-of-age drama, Armageddon Time. A deeply personal film inspired by Gray's child

Women Talking Q&A with Dede Gardner and Sarah Polley

Mar 15th, 2023 30m 33s

This week on On Story, it's all about Women Talking, and I'm not just referencing our powerhouse guests, Academy Award-winning producer Dede Gardner and Oscar-nominated writer-director Sarah Polley, but also their newest film collaboration and

Nanny Q&A with Nikyatu Jusu

Mar 8th, 2023 18m 12s

Austin Film Festival was proud to recognize Nikyatu Jusu during our annual Awards Luncheon as the 2022 New Voice Award recipient, an award intended to spotlight unique and captivating new voices in film, television, and new media. Nanny is a ps

The Whale Q&A with Samuel D. Hunter and Darren Aronofsky

Feb 22nd, 2023 24m 45s

This week on On Story we welcome writer Samuel D. Hunter, and director Darren Aronofsky for a deep-dive (no pun intended) into AFF’s 2022 Opening night film, The Whale. Samuel D. Hunter, recipient of the MacArthur Genius Grant Fellowship, is kn

A Conversation with David Self

Feb 2nd, 2023 26m

This week on On Story we’re joined by David Self, the writer behind films like Road to Perdition and Thirteen Days. In this episode, Self dissects his career breaking into the industry to writing crime and historical dramas. David Self, having

A Conversation with Glen Mazarra

Jan 26th, 2023 25m

This week on On Story we’re joined by writer & showrunner Glen Mazzara as he discusses the ins and outs of the industry, and how his experiences developed him into a versatile writer. Glen Mazzara is a writer and producer whose work includes A

'Miss Juneteenth' with Channing Godfrey Peoples

Dec 21st, 2022 24m 41s

This week on On Story, Miss Juneteenth writer/director Channing Godfrey Peoples discusses her feature directorial debut and her work as a multi-hyphenate independent filmmaker. Peoples is the writer-director of the 2020 drama Miss Juneteenth,

Writing 'John Wick' with Derek Kolstad

Dec 14th, 2022 24m 29s

This week on On Story writer Derek Kolstad, creator of the John Wick franchise reflects on his thrilling career, how he weaves emotion and humanity into action set pieces, as well as crafting characters you cannot help but root for. Derek Kolst