ATX TV Fest 2016: What is YA TV?

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The young adult genre expands across mediums such as books, television, and film. With so much material out there, where do the classifications, the storylines, and the audiences of young adult novels and young adult television start and end? ATX TV Festival explores these questions through its “What is YA TV? Exploring the Difference between Subject and Audience” panel on Friday June 10 at the Stephen F. Austin Intercontinental Hotel.

Recap and photos by ChinLin Pan

The moderators were Carina MacKenzie and Jarett Wieselman. The panelists included writer/producer Anna Fricke (“Dawson’s Creek,” “Everwood,” and “Men in Trees”), writer/producer Liz Tigelaar (“Life Unexpected” and “Casual”), writer/producer Carter Covington (“Faking It” and “Greek”), and producer Rebecca Serle (“Famous in Love”).

Being a young adult and representing it on television

YA television? What does that mean? @mrcartaire says "what happens to us in that time period is so universal." #ATXTVs5 @ATXFestival #panel

— Shuffle Online (@shuffleonline) June 10, 2016

"If people knew the true me, would they still accept me? We all know what that feels like," @mrcartaire says. #ATXTVs5 @ATXFestival #panel

— Shuffle Online (@shuffleonline) June 10, 2016

@liztigelaar says the teen years feel like so much freedom and possibility. #ATXTVs5 @ATXFestival #ya #yagenre #tv #atx #panel #writing

— Shuffle Online (@shuffleonline) June 10, 2016

Writing and audience

@RebeccaASerle of @FamousInLoveTV says "what really matters in tv adaptations is characters and relationships." #atx #ATXTVs5 #famousinlove

— Shuffle Online (@shuffleonline) June 10, 2016

@liztigelaar says as a writer you need to commit to your vision and not focus on navigating all the feedback. #ATXTVs5 @ATXFestival #writing

— Shuffle Online (@shuffleonline) June 10, 2016

https://twitter.com/ScreenplayStory/status/741329965392625664

@liztigelaar says teen characters should be all things, they shouldn't be just one thing. Though some ppl do want labels. #ATXTVs5 #panel

— Shuffle Online (@shuffleonline) June 10, 2016

"Treat the teen character the same as you treat an adult character. Don't talk down," @liztigelaar says. 👏 #ATXTVs5 @ATXFestival #yatv

— Shuffle Online (@shuffleonline) June 10, 2016

Though @mrcartaire argues you can start w/ archetypes and then flesh them out. #ATXTVs5 @ATXFestival #writing #panel #yatv #yalit #tv #atx

— Shuffle Online (@shuffleonline) June 10, 2016

Social media

@mrcartaire says if they remake #TheBreakfastClub, it'd be five teens on their phones. So true though. #ATXTVs5 @ATXTVInfo #panel #tv #film

— Shuffle Online (@shuffleonline) June 10, 2016

@RebeccaASerle says the intensity of teen experiences elicits engagement. @ATXFestival #ATXTVs5 #yagenre #yatv #atx #panel

— Shuffle Online (@shuffleonline) June 10, 2016

Engaging with fandom has changed but what's also changed is how teens live their lives. #ATXTVs5 @ATXFestival #yagenre #yatv #panel

— Shuffle Online (@shuffleonline) June 10, 2016

What books would you adapt to television?

If you could adapt any #YA novel? @RebeccaASerle says "I'll Give You The Sun." #ATXTVs5 @ATXFestival #yalit #yatv #panel #atx #tv

— Shuffle Online (@shuffleonline) June 10, 2016

If you could adapt any #YA novel? #AnnaFricke says "The Age of Miracles." #ATXTVs5 @ATXFestival #yalit #yatv #atx #tv #panel

— Shuffle Online (@shuffleonline) June 10, 2016

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— Barbi Barbee (@BarbiBarbee) June 10, 2016