The actress made her comments at the end of the final panel of the ATX Festival after leading a script reading of ‘The O.C’ pilot episode.

The fifth annual ATX Television Festival ended on a somber note Sunday when actress and festival ambassador Arielle Kebbel took a moment to pay tribute to the victims of the Orlando nightclub shooting.

Kebbel, who hails from nearby Winter Park, Flo., opened up about the “devastating event” after a script reading of The O.C. pilot which she and other celebrities participated in. The shooting left at least 50 dead and 53 more injured.

“Now is the time for change,” Kebbel said after the end of the reading. The Vampire Diaries actress went onto to urge those in attendance to help facilitate that change through voting, through writing letters to the families of the victims, or “whatever feels comfortable for you.”

Kebbel went on to point to the laughter heard in the room during the script reading. “Laughter is a beautiful thing and I do believe that love and happiness and people coming together can change America,” she also said.

Earlier in the day, the festival canceled a panel on violence on TV that was set for Sunday morning in the wake of the shooting. In addition, a vigil will be held near festival headquarters in downtown Austin Sunday evening.

It’s a windy Valentine’s Day morning when Arielle Kebbel calls me. Although primarily based in Los Angeles, she is currently at a yoga retreat in Mexico. “I love it here, it’s very untouched,” she tells me. And despite her busy schedule, there is a sense of calmness in Kebbel’s voice, and I’m excited to dive into her mind.

Normally, I have phone anxiety. I can easily talk in person or through text or e-mail, but I despise phone calls. Something about them makes me feel oddly uncomfortable. But with Kebbel, it’s different. We’ve never spoken before and quite frankly, I don’t really know what to expect. Yet every word she speaks is so down-to-earth, like calling an old friend for a casual conversation. She also has a fascinating stillness about her that makes you want to know more.

So then, who exactly is Arielle Kebbel? Let’s just say that she always plays that one character you can’t get enough of. She portrays everyone’s favorite vampire Lexi on CW’s The Vampire Diaries, and she graces the screen as Carrie in 2006’s classic teen comedy, John Tucker Must Die.

Wondering where else you’ve seen her? How about American Pie? Gilmore Girls? Aquamarine? The list goes on.

Director Niels Arden Oplev’s hot streak continues with another pilot he directed going to series. NBC has given a series order to supernatural drama Midnight, Texas, based on the books by author Charlaine Harris who already has one hit supernatural drama series based on her novels to her credit — HBO’s True Blood. This is the third hourlong pilot to go to series at NBC, along with Chicago Justice and Dan Fogelman’s This Is Us. Midnight, Texas and Chicago Justice hail from Universal TV; This Is Us is from 20th TV.
The network continues tense negotiations with Sony TV for its three drama pilots, The Blacklist spinoff and Timeless, which look very good for a pickup, and Cruel Intentions, which also is in contention. The issue is in-season stacking rights, which NBC is demanding for all new series this season.

This is the third pilot directed by Oplev in the past year or so to go to series, following Mr. Robot at USA and Game of Silence at NBC.

Here is more info on Midnight, Texas:

Welcome to a place where being normal is really quite strange. From Niels Arden Oplev, the visionary director of Mr. Robot,and based on the hit book series from author Charlaine Harris (True Blood), comes a journey into a remote Texas town where no one is who they seem. From vampires and witches to psychics and hit men, Midnight is a mysterious safe haven for those who are different. As the town members fight off outside pressures from rowdy biker gangs, ever-suspicious cops and their own dangerous pasts, they band together and form a strong and unlikely family.

The cast includes François Arnaud, Dylan Bruce, Parisa Fitz-Henley, Arielle Kebbel, Sarah Ramos, Peter Mensah, Yul Vazquez and Sean Bridgers.

Actors Arielle Kebbel and Luke Grimes are spotted sharing a kiss on the set of ‘Fifty Shades Freed’ in Vancouver, Canada on April 27, 2016. Also on set was Director James Foley who had the set look like it was in Aspen, Colorado.

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