Disney+ adds a new streaming series, Just Beyond, for October’s spooky, fun-filled programming. The series is based upon the mind of R.L. Stine and the like-named graphic novels. A mysterious, creepy, kitschy, horror anthology of shows best viewed by tweens, teens, and their parents. Each episode has a Twilight Zone feel to it.

On the eve of the streaming debut of Just Beyond, creator Seth Grahame-Smith introduced his series for its world premiere at Disney+’s Hallowstream at the special drive-in screening event in Culver City last Tuesday. The crisp, cool fall air along with Disney’s detailed, decorated drive through entry experience helped to frame the night for Just Beyond’s spooky, horror series' debut. The debut premiered three episodes with many of Just Beyond’s cast and crew in attendance.

On the last day of the ATX TV Festival, there was a panel for the upcoming Syfy series, Surreal Estate, of which the first two episodes were made available to festival attendees. The panel, which was moderated by Jeannine Amber, featured stars Tim Rozon, who plays Luke Roman, and Sarah Levy, who plays Susan Ireland. 

On the series, Rozon and Levy play real estate specialists that sell the houses no one else wants to, because they are haunted or have some kind of supernatural energy. Each house has its own individual issues that they have to deal with. Having worked with each other in the past on Schitt’s Creek, they knew right away that they wanted to work with each other again on the series.

One of the shows highlighted for day eight of the ATX TV Festival was The Good Fight. Paramount+ provided an early screening of the season five premiere of the series, which returns June 24th. Following the episode there was a panel Q&A with the creatives and cast.

The panel, which was moderated by NPR’s Eric Deggans, included showrunners Robert and Michelle King, stars Christine Baranski, Audra McDonald, Charmaine Bingwa, and Mandy Patinkin.

The Kings started off by talking about Memo 618, which was named after their daughter’s birthday. They also explained about how they decided to do a stand alone story in the first episode, because they wanted to tell what the characters lived through in the last year and what it was like for them. They also used the episode to wrap up the stories for the characters of Adrian and Lucca and give them proper goodbyes, because they didn’t get to do that last season, because they were shut down because of COVID.

Tonight, as part of the ATX Television Festival, Shudder presented the panel “Horror Anthologies,” exploring modern series and why they are accepted by todays’ viewers. Panelists included Greg Nicotero, the showrunner/writer/executive producer/director of Creepshow, which will be going into its third season soon, Chloe Okuno, director of V/H/S 94, Tananarive Due and Steven Barnes, writers of Horror Noir, and Adam MacDonald, director of Slasher: Flesh & Blood. The panel was moderated by Damian Holbrook.

Panelists compared their influences in the horror genre and some of their favorites as well as why horror works so well in anthology format. Nicotero also gave his view on the reinvigorated genre of zombies.

On the second day of the ATX TV Festival, AMC+ presented a first look panel for its upcoming adult stop-motion animated series, Ultra City Smiths. The panel was moderated by Emily Aslanian from TV Guide magazine. The panelists included creator Steve Conrad, co-director David Brooks, and stars Jimmi Simpson, Hana Mae Lee, Luis Guzmán, and Chris Conrad.

The creator talked about wanting to work in animation but wanting to create something unique that didn’t look like anything else. He saw his friend Jeff Deidre’s art of taking baby dolls from yard sales and making them into adults, and he liked how it that aspect showed the infantile and childish side that exists in adults.

The series looks a lot like 1970s/early 1980s New York City. Crime is rampant and the police are corrupt; it’s a dangerous and hard town.

The programming schedule for day two of the ATX Festival has been released, so be sure to check it out. Panels today include those for series Hacks, Housebroken, David Makes Man, and Ultra City Smiths, as well as conversations, including one hosted by Ziwe. Be sure to also check out the VOD programming available to attendees, which includes shows to watch before the panels, interviews, and more. A lot of the series episodes are available via VOD to watch before the panels for you to binge watch! Day two releases include We Are Lady Parts, an interview with Lauren Oliver & Olivia Welch for Panic, Flashbacks from Friday Night Lights, and Home Before Dark. While we will only be covering certain panels here at SciFi Vision, we will be bringing you a few roundups and hopefully some interviews, such as for Kevin Can F*** Himself. Be sure to check out the full schedule for today's ATX programming below.

This year the annual ATX Television Festival is being held virtually so SciFi Vision is able to attend part of the event. The festival this year is spread across ten days, with evening programming during the week and day-long programming on the weekend. Unlike last year’s free three-day festival with panels available on YouTube, this year’s content is only available to paid attendees and press.

Today marked the first day of the festival and there were a few events to start it off.

First up was The Daily, which will air everyway, where festival co-founders Caitlin McFarland and Emily Gibson previewed how the festival would be running this year. They were also joined by directors of the festival, Jennifer Morgan and Laura Kincaid. Most of the panels and such is pre-taped, but there will also be live things to come, including surprise “pop-up” events.

ATX -- INSIDE THE WRITERS ROOM: BLINDSPOTTING
Saturday, June 19 at 1:30pm (CDT)
Starz, 45 min.

Panelists: RAFAEL CASAL (Creator/Executive Producer/Writer), DAVEED DIGGS (Creator/Executive Producer/Writer), ALANNA BROWN (Writer), NIJLA MUMIN (Writer), PRISCILA GARCIA-JACQUIER (Writer), BENJAMIN TURNER (Writer)
Moderator: ASHLEY RAY HARRIS, "TV, I Say" Podcast

Starz joins this year’s line-up with a look inside the writers’ room of their new summer series, “Blindspotting,” the television series inspired by the 2018 feature film from writers/producers/stars Rafael Casal and Daveed Diggs. The half-hour dramedy centers on Ashley, played by Emmy® nominee Jasmine Cephas Jones, who was nipping at the heels of a middle-class life in Oakland until Miles (Rafael Casal), her partner of 12 years and father of their son, is suddenly incarcerated, leaving her to navigate a chaotic and humorous existential crisis when she’s forced to move in with Miles’ mother Rainey (Helen Hunt) and half-sister Trish (Jaylen Barron). We'll enjoy a conversation about adapting the concept from film to TV, expanding Ashley and Miles’ world, and the unique musicality of the series, and get an early look at Episode 2 of the series. “Blindspotting” premieres June 13 on Starz.

ENTER A WORLD OF ILLUSION AND FANTASY AT THE ‘HALL OF MAGIC’ INSPIRED BY SYFY’S ‘THE MAGICIANS’

Aspiring Magicians, Aficionados of Illusion & NYC Adventure-Seekers Can Step Into a Mystical World of Sensory Exploration From January 20 - 29

Season 2 of THE MAGICIANS Premieres on January 25 at 9/8c on Syfy

WHAT: This January, the mystical world of Syfy's hit series THE MAGICIANS will come to life at the HALL OF MAGIC, an interactive experience transporting visitors through a gallery of sensory exploration and illusion. This immersive journey invites consumers into a fantastical place of mind control, levitation and spellcasting where magic is real and right at your fingertips.

FLICKS FOR FANS & WESTWOOD VILLAGE IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION PRESENT
"WESTWOOD VILLAGE CINEMA UNDER THE STARS: RED CARPET SERIES"

Los Angeles, CA – Flicks for Fans and the Westwood Village Improvement Association are pleased to present the upcoming, totally free… “Westwood Village Cinema Under the Stars: Red Carpet Series”. See the details below: