The cast of Men in Trees, one of the shows highlighted at next year’s ATX Television Festival

ATX Television Festival has just announced a remarkable gathering of the leadership behind various professional guilds that help make and shape the TV you watch.

The festival, which runs June 6-9, 2019, will host the Presidents of the Guild panel, featuring SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris, WGAW President David A. Goodman, and DGA President Thomas Schlamme. Expect these power players of the entertainment industry to give some real insights into what’s actually happening at networks and what the future holds for professionals.

Also added to the lineup today:

• Remember Men in Trees? ATX Television Festival recalls the short-lived ABC sitcom, and will celebrate it as part of the “Cancelled Too Soon” thread, with creator/showrunner Jenny Bicks, writer/co-EP Anna Fricke, writer/producer Chris Dingess, producer Antonia Ellis, and cast members James Tupper, Emily Bergl, Suleka Mathew, Cynthia Stevenson, and Lauren Tom in attendance.

• In the wake of USA renewing The Purge TV show for a second season, Blumhouse Television co-presidents Marci Wiseman and Jeremy Gold will discuss “The House That Horror Built: Inside Blumhouse Television.”

• The Inside the Writers’ Room series continues with a spotlight on Starz’s Vida, with creator/showrunner Tanya Saracho and members of the all-Latinx writing team onhand.

• Saracho will also be part of the “Let’s Talk About Sex (Scenes)” panel, which the festival describes as “an honest discussion about empowering both writers and actors, and improving safe ‘sex’ practices behind the camera.” The panel will be moderated by ATX Advisory Board member Glen Mazzara (Damien, The Shield) and actor Nicki Micheaux (Animal Kingdom), with more participants to be confirmed.

Expect more guests soon, and catch the full announcement at www.atxfestival.com.

This article appears in November 2 • 2018.

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The Chronicle's first Culture Desk editor, Richard has reported on Austin's growing film production and appreciation scene for over a decade. A graduate of the universities of York, Stirling, and UT-Austin, a Rotten Tomatoes certified critic, and eight-time Best of Austin winner, he's currently at work on two books and a play.