After attending the Music and Film festivals at SXSW for numerous years, I was very excited to participate in the Interactive festival. On my first day, I had the privilege of attending Bernie Sanders’s panel, alongside CNN’s Jake Tapper. It was truly inspiring to hear his perspectives on breaking the mold on issues such as money in politics, gun control policies, and the DACA program.
A high point of my experience was the This Is Us panel, which featured the series creator Dan Fogelman and cast members Justin Hartley, Mandy Moore, and Milo Ventimiglia. Fogelman said, “the fact that people across all spectrums of life are happy with a show that’s this openhearted and optimistic and romantic and inclusive, it gives me hope that maybe other stuff is going to fade away, or at least evolve.”
Being a big fan of reality television, I attended the live broadcast of Here to Make Friends, a podcast about The Bachelor franchise. They discussed what the show reveals about today’s world of dating. In addition, I had the opportunity to meet the hosts and interview them about their first-time experience at SXSW.
Another particular panel I enjoyed was Latinos: At the Intersection of Culture & Influence. Media professionals Virginia Lennon and Reny Diaz discussed how multicultural consumers are influencing tastes and trends. They believe it is essential for marketers to focus on understanding the variety of cultures that exist and emphasized the importance of incorporating new audiences, new technologies, and relevant storytelling into marketing and how this will become the new standard. “It’s no longer about marketing to multiculturals, it’s about marketing in a multicultural world,” commented Diaz.
When I needed a break, Mars Petcare, Austin Pets Alive, and Michelson Found Animals provided a safe haven from the SXSW whirlwind at the Leap Lounge. The event had puppies available for adoption, which attendees were able to pet and hold.
One of the major themes highlighted at the Interactive festival was creating your story. The countless panels inspired innovators, designers, writers, filmmakers, and inventors, among others, to create their own story. Hearing from such established professionals was extremely motivational. The array of panelists focused on how they got their start and demonstrated ways for individuals to go out in the world and execute their own ideas.
YouTube partnered with several creative agencies and hosted Story HQ, which focused on showing individuals how to expand their imagination. They featured innovations showcasing how to retell classic fairy tales. Moreover, the event demonstrated how to visualize a great story and explore the art of modern storytelling.
The DC Comics Pop Culture Experience, hosted by Warner Bros. and DC Entertainment, invited fans to meet legendary DC comic book writers and artists such as Jim Lee and Frank Miller. The event featured a step by step process on how to produce a comic book and create your own hero.
During the panel Journey to Star Wars, Rian Johnson described his first feature film Brick and how it shaped his filmmaking career. Special guest Mark Hamill joined the panel as well, and they both spoke about the creativity surrounding Star Wars VIII: The Last Jedi. Furthermore, they particularly focused on Johnson’s relationship with his actors and how this influences the storytelling process in his films.
Ethan Hawke discussed his most recent film Blaze during his panel. He explained how directing can be the work of an amateur. In other words, the film is done for love. Hawke said, “I was always waiting for the perfect moment, and the perfect moment never comes. Everything doesn’t have to go well to have a good experience.”
Film keynote speaker and Academy-Award nominated director Darren Aronofsky described how storytelling is experiential, and film continues to be a great tradition of ancient art. He introduced what he believes are the ten commandments of indie film. Aronofsky said, “I realized stories are a universal language we all share, and the most modern tool for storytelling is filmmaking.” Moreover, he advised aspiring filmmakers to focus on human love and help try to save the world and encouraged them to “go be artists and entertainers as well.”
The theme of creating your own story was prevalent throughout the Interactive festival’s panels. Numerous of the panels on the Film & TV Industry and Entertainment Influencers tracks demonstrated how to go forth and create your own passions. The speakers highlighted the importance of following your aspirations, not only as a filmmaker but as a creator in any form as well. I’m truly happy to say my experience at SXSW ended on an remarkably influential note.