The Tv Campfire

Just as television creatives in the last year were faced with a choice to engage (or not engage) with the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, the industry faced a similar choice in the 1980s with the arrival of HIV & AIDS. As the virus progressed in real time, so did lack of information, fear, and ignorance -- which was often reflected on screen through early portrayals of HIV and AIDS that were problematic to the very communities most devastated by the virus. The ‘90s brought a rise in more educated and empathetic portrayals with ER and LIFE GOES ON, opening the door to even more nuanced storylines on BROTHERS & SISTERS, HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER, and LOOKING. All of these series allowed TV to explore HIV not as a death sentence, but as a medical condition to be managed and treated like any other, without stigmatization. This conversation explores TV’s complicated history in regards to HIV & AIDS storylines, and the ways in which it has dismantled stereotypes by showing those living with HIV and AIDS

ATX TV Festival’s Season 10 Opening Night included a 20th Anniversary panel for the groundbreaking Canadian series DEGRASSI: THE NEXT GENERATION presented by Tubi. Marking 20 years since the series premiere, the panel features creatives and cast from across the show’s 14-season run as they revisit iconic storylines and moments from the series, the show’s groundbreaking approach to young adult storytelling, behind-the-scenes stories, and more. All episodes of DEGRASSI: THE NEXT GENERATION are available to stream free on Tubi!This panel originally aired on June 11, 2021, as part of ATX TV Festival Season 10. PANELISTS:Linda Schuyler (Co-Creator/EP)Stephen Stohn (Executive Producer)Stefan Brogren (Producer/Director/Cast)Aaron Martin (EP/Writer)Aislinn Paul (Cast)Shane Kippel (Cast)Luke Bilyk (Cast)Lauren Collins (Cast)Munro Chambers (Cast)Jake Epstein (Cast)Daniel Clark (Cast)Andrea Lewis (Cast)Christina Schmidt (Cast)MODERATOR: Louis PeitzmanSUBSCRIBE to our official ATX TV YouTube Channel for more panels, conv

The past year has seen the fault lines of our country exposed and exploited, and we've seen loss to an unmatched degree. Through all the grief and introspection, the divisions of our country have been made crystal-clear. At this critical inflection point, the ACLU has launched "Systemic Equality", a bold platform which reimagines the broken systems that are woven into the fabric of our society. But imagining an anti-racist, healed America means not just bold policies, but bold storytelling. In this conversation, ACLU Texas Communications Director Darryl Ewing sits down with writers, producers, and showrunners to discuss how to repair inequitable systems and build a future through storytelling, both on and off the screen in TV today.Learn more about the ACLU's Systemic Equality platform HERE.This panel originally aired June 14, 2021, as part of ATX Television Festival Season 10. PANELISTS:Monica Macer (Producer/Writer, Queen Sugar, MacGyver)Little Marvin (Producer/Writer, Them)Ashley Nicole Black (Producer/Wri

A look back at the groundbreaking series OZ, which debuted in 1997 as HBO’s first original one-hour drama. In this special ATX retrospective, creator Tom Fontana and cast members Terry Kinney, Lee Tergesen, Dean Winters, Harold Perrineau, and Kirk Acevedo reflect on the show's creative and cultural impact, their favorite on-set memories, and the enduring friendship that resulted. This panel originally aired on June 14, 2021, as part of ATX TV Festival Season 10. PANELISTS:Tom Fontana (Creator/EP)Terry Kinney (Director/Cast)Lee Tergesen (Cast)Dean Winters (Cast)Harold Perrineau (Cast)Kirk Acevedo (Cast)MODERATOR: Eric Deggans (NPR)SUBSCRIBE to our ATX TV YouTube Channel for more panels, conversations & events with your favorite TV creatives and casts.Follow ATX TV: @ATXFestival on Twitter, Facebook, and InstagramFor more information on ATX TV Festival, visit: atxfestival.com

Native American and Indigenous storytellers long preceded the days of television, but have largely been excluded from the industry, stereotyped by inauthentic storytelling, or erased from the picture altogether. However, these creatives are changing TV for the better, and reclaiming their long-overdue seat at the table. Join us for a conversation with the Native American and Indigenous actors, writers, directors, and producers that are re-centering Indigenous storytelling and producing dynamic TV in the process.This panel originally aired June 14, 2021, as part of ATX TV Festival Season 10.PANELISTS:Sierra Teller Ornelas (Showrunner/EP/Co-Creator, Rutherford Falls)Sydney Freeland (Director, Rutherford Falls, The Wilds)Michael Greyeyes (Actor, Rutherford Falls)Kimberly Guerrero (Actor, Rutherford Falls, The Wilds)MODERATOR: Vincent Schilling (Indian Country Today)SUBSCRIBE to our ATX TV YouTube Channel for more panels, conversations & events with your favorite TV creatives and casts.Follow ATX TV

While overall representation of disabilities on TV is slowly but surely improving, many series still tend to depict characters with visible disabilities as the Tragic Victim or the Heroic Martyr -- but rarely are they depicted as people, with all the complexities that entails. We sat down with the writers and actors who are exploring the uncharted territory of the "messy middle," where characters with disabilities are just as flawed, funny, and despicable as anyone else. They also discuss how creatives can push beyond the fear of getting it “wrong” when it comes to disability representation, and what getting it “right” actually means. Co-presented by DREDF's Disability Media Alliance Project (DMAP) and The Syndication Project.This panel originally aired on June 12, 2021, as part of ATX TV Festival Season 10. PANELISTS:Steve Way (Actor, RAMY)Sofiya Cheyenne (Actor, LOUDERMILK)Ryan J. Haddad (Actor, THE POLITICIAN)Katherine Beattie (Writer/Producer, NCIS: NEW ORLEANS)Kayla Cromer (Actor, EVERYTHING’S GONNA BE O

AMC presents a conversation with the creator and stars of KEVIN CAN F**K HIMSELF, exploring the inspiration behind the new dark comedy, the cultural evolution of the sitcom wife, and the unique use of both multi-cam & single-cam formats to examine its character’s inner lives.Kevin Can F**k Himself Season 1 is available to stream now on AMC+. This panel originally aired on June 20, 2021, as part of ATX TV Festival Season 10.PANELISTS:Valerie Armstrong (Creator/EP)Annie Murphy (Cast)Mary Hollis Inboden (Cast)MODERATOR: Danielle Turchiano (Variety)SUBSCRIBE to our ATX TV YouTube Channel for more panels, conversations & events with your favorite TV creatives and casts.Follow ATX TV at @ATXFestival on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.Follow AMC at @AMC_TV on Twitter and Instagram, @AMC on Facebook.Follow KEVIN CAN F*** HIMSELF at @KevCanFHimself on Twitter and Instagram.For more information on ATX TV Festival, visit: atxfestival.com

SYFY presents a first-look conversation for their new summer series, SurrealEstate, starring former Schitt's Creek co-stars Tim Rozon and Sarah Levy. The 10-episode series from SYFY and Blue Ice Pictures follows real estate agent Roman (Rozon) and his elite team of specialists research, investigate, and attempt to “fix” haunted and possessed homes - all while dealing with demons of their own.SurrealEstate airs Fridays at 9/8c on SYFY.This panel originally aired on June 20, 2021, as part of ATX TV Festival Season 10.PANELISTS:Tim Rozon (Cast)Sarah Levy (Cast)MODERATOR: Jeannine Amber (Essence)SUBSCRIBE to our ATX TV YouTube Channel for more panels, conversations & events with your favorite TV creatives and casts.Follow ATX TV at @ATXFestival on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.Follow SYFY at @SYFY on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.For more information on ATX TV Festival, visit: atxfestival.com

...And we're back! Over the next few months, we'll be bringing you exclusive releases of some of our favorite conversations and Q&As from Season 10 of ATX TV Festival. This week we're diving right in with "Showrunner State of the Union," an impassioned and wide-ranging conversation with TV’s top showrunners about the current (and future) state of TV, production, and leadership within the industry. This conversation originally aired LIVE on Friday, June 18, 2021, as part of ATX TV Festival Season 10.PANELISTS:Angela Kang (Showrunner/EP, The Walking Dead)Steven Canals (Showrunner/EP/Director, Pose)Michael Waldron (Head Writer/EP, Loki)Courtney Lilly (Showrunner/EP, black-ish)Robin Thede (Creator/Showrunner/EP/Actor, A Black Lady Sketch Show)MODERATOR: Joanna Robinson (Vanity Fair)SUBSCRIBE to our ATX TV YouTube Channel for more panels, conversations & events with your favorite TV creatives and casts.Follow us @ATXFestival on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.For more information on ATX TV Festival, visit

Can you believe it’s already been a week since ATX TV..from the Couch! kicked off? Caitlin and Emily come back to close out the season with a look back at the weekend and everything that led up to it. They discuss the last minute changes, the difficult conversations to decide whether or not to continue on, and the in-front-of and behind-the-scenes moments that were full of much needed laughter and some equally needed tears. Also, there might be references to Reeses’ Eggs. Maybe. Tune in to find out. --WHERE TO FIND USFOLLOW us at @ATXFestival on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, and let us know your thoughts on this episode (or any episode!) using #TheTVCampfire #TVTogether!SUBSCRIBE to this podcast! More episodes coming your way each week!STAY UP TO DATE at http://atxfestival.com for info on ATX TV...from the Couch! Summer Series! Episode produced by: ATX Television Festival, AJ Meyers, and Anthony Luciani.ATXFestival.com  

Tomorrow starts the first ever ATX TV...from the Couch! Caitlin and Emily discuss the power of story and why they decided to continue to hold the virtual festival this weekend. They share their beliefs on television being a powerful platform and tool for change, and the need to not shy away from difficult conversations but rather to lean into and amplify them. They also highlight the stories being told during the festival that are needed now as much (if not more) than ever before. Then we release our Female Gaze panel recorded January 2020 out of LA’s YouTube Spaces! The male gaze,” largely acknowledged as “the act of depicting women and the world from a masculine, heterosexual perspective that represents women as sexual objects,” has been the dominant viewpoint since the beginning of art and culture -- but what happens when women become the subject instead of the object? This conversation explores the “female gaze” with actors, writers & directors who are reclaiming female agency by (figuratively an

We’re just one week away (or 7 days as Emily would say) from ATX TV...From the Couch! In this week’s episode of The TV Campfire, Caitlin & Emily discuss 9 years of working through Memorial Day, and watching other people kick into Summer gear as they’re full on sprinting towards the festival (taking a few food breaks along the way).  Then we release a 2017 panel all about friendships (something we need more than ever right now).  We all know love is complicated, but not every great relationship arc exists in the dramatic surroundings of romance and family. Some of the most compelling storylines on television are anchored in the loyalties and complexities of friendship and brother/sisterhood. The writers and actors behind some of TV's most indelible friendships discuss the rare mix of chemistry, great writing, and (we assume) a tiny bit of witchcraft that goes into earning (and maintaining) viewers' trust in these platonic soulmate relationships. Panelists: Mara Brock Akil (Being Ma

ATX TV...from the Couch! gets closer and closer as Caitlin and Emily continue to share programming, festival details, and stories of sleepless nights, FaceTime breakfast dates, and of course, more takeout and binge watching. Following that is our ATX Season 4 (2015) conversation with Marta Kauffman in an intimate discussion she looks back at a career which includes creating one of HBO’s first scripted series (Dream On), co-creating one of the highest rated (and most beloved) TV series of all time (Friends), and now the move into creating the best of the best in streaming content (Grace & Frankie). Fun fact: Marta is also confirmed for ATX TV...from the Couch!  So more TV goodness to come! Panelists: Marta Kauffman (Friends, Grace & Frankie) Moderator: Ben Blacker (Writers Panel)--WHERE TO FIND USFOLLOW us at @ATXFestival on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, and let us know your thoughts on this episode (or any episode!) using #TheTVCampfire #TVTogether!SUBSCRIBE to this p

Now, more than ever, we are working hard to adapt our lifestyles to a new normal with the hope that we evolve into some better ways of life -- whether that is reimagining our business, new ways to share a meal with friends, or even how we record this podcast. Adaptation in media is also an evolution -- with many of our favorite TV series transitioning to the small screen from books and movies. The hope in starting with these source materials is that the stories and characters can expand, exploring something new and different. In this episode, Caitlin and Emily continue to also explore more great TV in their Quarantine Queues and of course...all the food. This week their adventures include the trend of Quarantine bread making! But most importantly they announce ATX TV...from the Couch! Programming!  Following that is our Season 4 panel “To Adapt is to Evolve” with Graham Yost, Bryan Fuller and Noah Hawley. Adaptations are hard enough on their own -- honoring an original vision, satisfy

Caitlin + Emily (ATX Festival co-founders) continue to navigate through the wild west of Quarantine life.  They’ve been “at home” for 56 days here in Austin, and have 28 days to go until ATX TV...from the Couch! And they continue to have no idea what day of the week today is. This week they discuss launching registration (which is free!) and announced virtual programming, as well continuing through their quarantine queues and how they’re working their way through Austin’s takeout! Then they introduce Season 5’s panel Westerns: Then & Now and discuss how it came to have the first ever look at Westworld...plus, how they met Graham Yost! Original panel description:  In 1959, twenty-six series in prime time television were traditional Westerns featuring stories of cowboys, gunslingers, outlaws, and an overall sense of a hero vs. a villain. Over 50 years later, the same themes of this mid-century genre still exist, though on a much broader spectrum. From traditional representations like “He

This week Caitlin + Emily (ATX Festival co-founders) start by discussing their quarantine queues (and what they’re eating while they watch), but then share some breaking news on ATX TV...from the Couch! They also deep dive into how ATX became a destination for reunions while reflecting on some of their favorite past gatherings and how they all came together!The second half of the episode is the entire Season 4 (2015)’s Closing Night Reunion…Gilmore Girls!The conversation starts with just the girls—Amy Sherman Palladino, Lauren Graham, Alexis Bledel, and Kelly Bishop—before inviting the rest of Stars Hollow to join in!Panelists:Amy Sherman Palladino Lauren GrahamAlexis Bledel Kelly Bishop Scott PattersonJared PadaleckiMilo VentimigliaMatt CzuchryKeiko AgenaYanic Truesdale Liz TorresLiza WeilJackson DouglasTodd LoweJohn CabreraDanny StrongDaniel PalladinoModerator: Jessica Shaw (Entertainment Weekly Radio)--WHERE TO FIND USFOLLOW us at @ATXFestival on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, and le

We’re back and bringing y’all some of our favorite past conversations along with behind-the-scenes stories of how they were put together. Caitlin and Emily give you up-to-date insight into what’s happening with this year’s virtual festival: ATX TV...from the Couch!It’s like a flashback episode and a spoiler alert all rolled into one. This week’s episode has our co founders sharing their current quarantine queues and discussing how leadership plays a part in the current crisis. Whether it is the President of a country, a network, or a festival this is a time we all are in need of strong leaders. Following this week’s chat, we are re-releasing The Presidents of the State of TV (2017, Season 6): From network to cable to streaming platforms, these individuals are deciding the fate of your current and future favorite programming. As we continue to live in a perpetual state of ""Peak TV,"" how does a network or studio decide what content to create? How do they balance their brand, while continuing to grow

Caitlin and Emily return by bringing y’all some of their favorite past panels along with behind-the-scenes stories of how they were put together. They also give you up-to-date insight into what’s happening with this year’s virtual festival...ATX TV...from the Couch!It’s like a flashback episode and a spoiler alert all rolled into one. This week’s episode has the first look at going virtual, a look inside 2017’s Complex, Not Complicated panel, and of course, updates on what holiday candy is getting them through quarantine. About Complex, Not Complicated: Now more than ever, television is home to a range of increasingly complex female characters: ones that are bold, funny, fierce, sensitive, loyal, fragile, complicated, and kick ass (sometimes all in the same moment). Prepare to be awestruck as these powerhouse creatives and actors discuss the legacy of female characters before them, the necessity of women’s stories at this particular moment in pop culture, and why there’s no one way to write a “stron

The “male gaze,” largely acknowledged as “the act of depicting women and the world from a masculine, heterosexual perspective that represents women as sexual objects,” has been the dominant viewpoint since the beginning of art and culture -- but what happens when women become the subject instead of the object? This conversation will explore the “female gaze” with writers & directors who are reclaiming female agency by (figuratively and literally) shifting viewers’ perspectives, and telling stories that unapologetically place women and their world view at the center.Panelists: Tanya Saracho (Creator/Executive Producer, Vida)Kim Raver (Executive Producer/Director, Tempting Fate)Joy Blake (Producer/Writer, Outlander)Jenny Bicks (Creator/Executive Producer, Men In Trees)Moderator: Tara Ariano (Extra Hot Great)--DISCOUNT for Podcast Listeners:Get 15% OFF of your Season 9 (June 4-7) Badge using the promo code: TVCF2020. Go to ATXFestival.com/Buy-A-Badge and follow links to purchase!For detai

A look into the depictions of classes in America, and TV’s relationship to the ever-changing definition of the working & middle classes.Panelists:Laura Chinn (Creator/Executive Producer/Actor, Florida Girls)Dee Harris-Lawrence (Showrunner/Executive Producer, David Makes Man)Jenniffer Gomez (Writer, Vida)Gladys Rodriguez (Writer, Vida)Moderator: Tara Ariano (Extra Hot Great)--DISCOUNT for Podcast Listeners:Get 15% OFF of your Season 9 (June 4-7) Badge using the promo code: TVCF2020. Go to ATXFestival.com/Buy-A-Badge and follow links to purchase!For details on THE PITCH COMPETITION, please visit: atxfestival.com/pitchWHERE TO FIND USFOLLOW us at @ATXFestival on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, and let us know your thoughts on this episode (or any episode!) using #TheTVCampfire!SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel to watch full panels (like this one) and Q&As from Season 8 and past festivals!BUY A BADGE at atxfestival.com/buy-a-badge and join us next June fo