HOW TO: Establish Your “Why” as a Comedy Filmmaker (with Ali Rosenthal)

[00:00:00] Speaker A: Not or just to be shock jocks. I'm making this film because I believe that the worship of the Virgin Mary as this figure that is pious, obedient, subservient, and somehow a virgin, but also a mother, has led to a stigmatization of female sexuality. And that's not okay with me. And I think religion can be beautiful, but not when it's used to oppress women and gay people. So we actually have something that we're trying to say with this. [00:00:37] Speaker B: I'm Luke Steinfeld. [00:00:39] Speaker C: And I'm Wyatt Sarkisian. [00:00:40] Speaker B: We made the 5050 podcast to support you on your filmmaking journey. [00:00:43] Speaker C: 50% business, 50% creative. [00:00:46] Speaker B: Every Tuesday, a new how to. [00:00:48] Speaker C: This week, we invite Ali Rosenthal into the 5050 studio. You know, as we near May 3rd's 5050 comedy festival, we thought it would only be fitting to invite a previous comedy fest winner onto the pod. And that's where Ally comes in. Her short, Teen Mary blends scathing satire and beating heart, the perfect combination for a calling card short that is turning execs heads all over the industry. [00:01:14] Speaker B: Giddy up, people. [00:01:14] Speaker C: It's Ali Rosenthal. [00:01:23] Speaker A: I want to talk about my day job, like, later. [00:01:27] Speaker B: Okay? Okay. Okay. Where are we returning back to? Setting the context. Setting. Setting the context of 5050 filmmaker. Comedy Teen Mary, you won. Got a trophy. Pretty awesome. [00:01:42] Speaker A: Kyle Mooney's award. [00:01:43] Speaker B: Kyle Mooney gave you that. [00:01:45] Speaker A: Gave me that trophy. [00:01:46] Speaker B: Wow. [00:01:46] Speaker A: It was probably, guys, the best night of my life. [00:01:50] Speaker C: It was really fun to surprise people with Kyle Mooney. [00:01:53] Speaker A: Like, the way that when you said there was gonna be a surprise guest that comedy people were gonna freak out over, and I was thinking, who could it be? Who could it be? [00:02:03] Speaker C: Who did you think? [00:02:09] Speaker A: I thought, nobody is good. I did not think it would be Kyle Mooney. I thought it would be, like, someone that's like. I don't know, like, we don't have to put names. Exactly. I did not think you could get Kyle. But if I could choose who I would want it to be, in my ideal world, it would be Kyle. But I wasn't even letting that enter my mind because I was like, there's literally no way. No way. Then the projector comes down. You start playing clips of Kyle's old stuff. I start freaking the fuck out. I start the girl, and I. The girl next to me, and I. The girl next to me, and I. We start grasping each other. [00:02:58] Speaker C: Did you know the girl? [00:03:00] Speaker A: She's. She's. It's Mary. Oh, Mary. Yeah. Yeah. [00:03:03] Speaker C: Wait, was she playing Mary. [00:03:05] Speaker A: No, no, no, no. Not Isabella. [00:03:07] Speaker C: She was there. [00:03:07] Speaker B: Oh, Maria. [00:03:08] Speaker A: Maria. [00:03:08] Speaker B: Foggy. [00:03:09] Speaker A: Maria. My new friend Maria. My new friend Maria. [00:03:11] Speaker B: Happy, happy, happy, happy, happy birthday. [00:03:13] Speaker A: Poop film. She's so funny. She's so great. We, like, became obsessed with each other. We're so obsessed with each other. And so she's sitting right here, and we start grasping each other. Like, grasping. And then sort of like, no, no, no. But it's like, it has to be Kyle. Like, they're playing Kyle's video. They're playing Kyle's videos. And then the screen comes up and I go. And I lean over to her and I go, if it's actually Kyle Mooney, I'm gonna actually shit my fucking pants. Because sort of like a double on. [00:03:40] Speaker B: Sort of like a double on horror [00:03:43] Speaker A: movie was about this girl shitting her pants. It was like, sort of like. And then the screen comes up and you guys are like, kyle Mooney. And he comes on stage and he's looking adorable. [00:03:54] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:03:54] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:03:55] Speaker A: And everything's electric. I think I stood up. I think I stood up. [00:04:00] Speaker B: There were. Yeah. People really. [00:04:01] Speaker C: I mean, there was definitely quite the ovation. [00:04:04] Speaker B: Awesome response. [00:04:05] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:04:05] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:04:06] Speaker A: And then there was this amazing talk in which I learned he has a baby. Like, I didn't know he is a baby. You know, I was like, he's a father. Like, made me love him even more. And then. Then he announced Teen Mary. I was like, yeah, those words in his mouth. Yeah, those words in his mouth. [00:04:21] Speaker B: That was cool. That was really cool. [00:04:24] Speaker A: He gave it to me. And then afterwards, we, like, talked and. Yeah, it was crazy. [00:04:28] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:04:28] Speaker A: So it was like, best night ever, for sure. [00:04:30] Speaker B: Yeah, he. He's awesome. Like, he was so nice with his time and, like, he. I don't know. [00:04:39] Speaker A: He. [00:04:39] Speaker B: He could have easily just showed up for the trophy and. And did the speech and left. He didn't have to announce the film. He didn't have to. You. Like, there were a lot of things. [00:04:47] Speaker C: He fully just, like, offered to do that I'll present the. [00:04:51] Speaker B: And he. He stuck around, though. Like, we had a car service for him and, like, car was there. Doubt he could he easily. And he was like, I am down to stay. Like, I'm. I'm talking to filmmakers. And, like, I don't know. It was. It was really, like, you have moments like that where it's just so genuine and it's. It's incredibly inspiring to see people at the highest level are like that, you [00:05:17] Speaker A: know, and it's maybe a little amount of their time, but it makes such A big impact. [00:05:24] Speaker B: Massive, massive. [00:05:25] Speaker A: Like everyone that at our level that like they talk to. I mean that was a night that I felt like it kept me going between the experience of the 5050 fest and how amazing that was and then the cherry on top Kyle, like it felt like, oh yeah, like I'm on the right path. And it really kept me motivated and kept me going with being like, this is why I'm doing this and I'm seeing the results and this is kind of beyond my wildest dreams. Like. Yeah, it was like a vision board kind of moment. [00:06:04] Speaker B: Can you say that one more time to the camera? I'm kidding. [00:06:06] Speaker A: No, no. The 5050 Fest. [00:06:08] Speaker B: No, but this is, this is like that's, that's exactly. Because I like obviously a joke, but like that's exactly. That's like the most like amazing compliment you could ever give us. Because that is what 5050 is literally here to do. [00:06:21] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:06:21] Speaker C: It's kind of just like a night, as you said, because when you're working on a short film for so long and then you put it out there and even when you're doing all these festivals and stuff, it can feel like disheartening and exhausting and all these things. But for you to be able to go to a place and whether it was meeting Kyle or being in the room at 5050 with all these people, like being able to like, maybe this gives me another week of like hope of energy or whatever. Like that's if we can, if Luke can provide. [00:06:51] Speaker B: Yeah, that's, that's that community though. Let's, let's talk about Teen Mary though. Yeah. [00:06:55] Speaker A: Can I say two more things about 50 50? [00:06:57] Speaker B: Sure, sure, please. [00:07:00] Speaker A: Like just the people I met there as well. Like Aiden and Adelaide. [00:07:05] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:07:06] Speaker A: Who are assistants at uta. I've since had like dinner and drinks with them like four times. We're great friends. They've come to like sketch shows. I'm in. They're gonna run this industry in 5, 10 years. Easy. Like easy. And like. Yeah. People reaching out from 50 50. Like Letterboxd reviews from 50 50. Yeah. DMs because of 50 50. Luke setting me up with like execs from 50 50. Things did happen because of 50 50. Yeah. [00:07:43] Speaker C: We want it to be like the start of something. [00:07:44] Speaker A: You know, it led to actual tangible things. [00:07:46] Speaker C: Not just a one time event. [00:07:47] Speaker A: Tangible general meetings came from that. Which was sick. [00:07:50] Speaker B: Geez. Thank you. [00:07:51] Speaker C: Great. [00:07:51] Speaker B: That's like so incredibly sweet. [00:07:55] Speaker A: And now I think what you guys are doing is incredibly special. And I cannot believe that it has Only been so long. Like, I'm very, very inspired by your drive and hustle and the inspiration that you are giving to our generation. You are creating a community, you are creating a family. And it's actually. It's working. It's working. [00:08:21] Speaker B: Okay. [00:08:22] Speaker C: We're seeing. We're seeing that in a lot of us. [00:08:24] Speaker A: So if you could just give. So I'll just take the money now, Head out. [00:08:28] Speaker C: Yeah, yeah, exactly. [00:08:29] Speaker A: So the joke there was that they paid me to say that. The funny part is they didn't. [00:08:33] Speaker C: We didn't. [00:08:34] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:08:35] Speaker A: Wow. [00:08:35] Speaker B: Yeah. Like, I. Thank you. [00:08:37] Speaker A: We can stop if you guys need to cry or something. [00:08:39] Speaker B: No, that's, like, very, like, seriously, thank you so much. It's true, but it's. [00:08:44] Speaker A: That's. [00:08:44] Speaker B: It's amazing to hear with, like, specifically the. You're making friends. It's not just, oh, yeah, like, transactional relationships that are very ephemeral and, like, short term. And just like, hey, we're doing a deal, like this project. And this. It's like, you go to dinner, you're getting drinks, and like, that's the. The original thought was put young filmmakers and execs or agents in a room, and we found quickly, like, yes, that's amazing. But something even more amazing is having Ali and then the Ali who works at uta, who's equally as passionate about her side, like, about the business side, you know? Yeah. [00:09:27] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:09:28] Speaker B: So I'm very happy that, like, you had that experience. And you also. You won, which is amazing. Like, the films were like that. That comedy fest, which was two festivals ago now, was. I was like, for 50 50, that was a really big step, like, because of a film like Teen Mary. That quality of production, that felt like for sure. I remember watching that submission here and my roommates all watched it and the whole team watched it, and everyone's like, this is like, this is gonna win one. But, like, this is crazy, you know, because that level we. We started as a sketch festival, right? And, like, that's where we started. And again, why Kyle was such a perfect kind of. [00:10:08] Speaker A: Right. [00:10:10] Speaker B: Guest. But, you know, just the evolution of 5050 to see it become a showcase and. And spotlight for filmmakers like you and who. You have a sketch background, but you're also pushing more into the shorts. And of course, I'm sure we'll talk about features in this conversation, but Teen Mary was like a massive step up for us. So a lot of gratitude on our end for you and for showing up and for being as amazing as you are and everything. I remember the first zoom Call we had with you of the team in New York. [00:10:45] Speaker A: That was so fun. [00:10:46] Speaker B: In New York. That was like. But let's, let's talk about the film. Let's talk about Dean, Mary and like afi I guess too. And even honestly before that maybe just like give us the whole rundown of like, who are you? You know, who am I, where are you from? You know, like that, all that good stuff. [00:11:05] Speaker A: Yeah. So my name's Ali Rosenthal. My name's not short for anything. [00:11:09] Speaker B: Okay. [00:11:09] Speaker A: So it's sort of a fun thing. [00:11:10] Speaker C: It's an important thing. [00:11:11] Speaker B: Yeah. Good to get other people think. [00:11:12] Speaker A: Oh, Alice and Alexandra. Alice. [00:11:15] Speaker B: No. [00:11:15] Speaker C: Don't be shocked when on the title of this episode it just says Ali. [00:11:19] Speaker A: Ali. Ali. [00:11:20] Speaker B: You should cut the last Cher. Yeah. [00:11:22] Speaker C: Ooh, there we go. [00:11:24] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:11:25] Speaker A: Spelled a L I. [00:11:26] Speaker B: Okay. [00:11:27] Speaker A: Like Muhammad Ali. Sort of. [00:11:28] Speaker B: That's great. [00:11:29] Speaker A: Unusual way to spell a name. [00:11:31] Speaker C: Okay. [00:11:32] Speaker A: My parents I think just like picked it and they were like, that's cute. And I'm named after some actress from the 70s, but even her real name wasn't Ally, so it gets confusing. Anyway, born and raised nyc, Baby city that never sleeps. The Big Apple, Manhattan, you know, first day of memories. 9 11, literally three and a half blacked in. Do you know what I mean? Like just like came into consciousness. [00:11:55] Speaker C: Wow. [00:11:56] Speaker A: Noises. Noises. [00:11:57] Speaker B: Oh my God. [00:11:58] Speaker A: Because we live two blocks away. So I was right there. Nobody like heard the building. So that's why I'm funny. [00:12:04] Speaker C: Do you have memories of that or. [00:12:05] Speaker A: Yes, I do. I do. It was like some like my first day of memories was 9 11. Crazy. Had to evacuate my home. [00:12:12] Speaker B: Oh my God. [00:12:12] Speaker A: I would assume home with the babysitter pushing me up the street, parents at work, whole day, no idea where I am. So scary. [00:12:18] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:12:19] Speaker A: Whoa. I low key thought it was fun though because I was going really fast in my stroller so I was like, woo. [00:12:25] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:12:26] Speaker A: But you know, I think that maybe that's why I like humor. Right? I mean you got. It's gotta come from somewhere. [00:12:35] Speaker B: Well, if you're. [00:12:36] Speaker A: I had a great childhood. Besides that, where did it come from? [00:12:39] Speaker C: There's a reason why the thing you mentioned when you talk about 911 is how fun the stroller was. [00:12:43] Speaker B: You know, like you're perspective. [00:12:46] Speaker C: It's about perspective, Right. The comedy of it all is that shines through. [00:12:50] Speaker A: I actually remember. It's so funny, like what a three year old remembers. I remember hearing one sentence that day, basically, except for things my babysitter was saying like what was that noise? You know, go look out the window. Yeah, I'm too short. I'm like, I can't see anything. She goes, she looks out the window. She's like, jesus Christ. Because she sees, like, the whole thing. Anyway, what I remember though, we're on the doorstep outside of our house. She's putting me in my stroller, facing uptown, so I can't see. And everyone on the street, I think at that point we thought it was a fire. Everyone on the doorstep to our building is, like, looking. And there was a toy store in the building in the basement of one of the buildings. And I remember hearing this woman go, oh, my God, the fire, the toy store. I was gonna go there later to buy my daughter an Easy Bake Oven. [00:13:38] Speaker C: That. That's the sentence. [00:13:39] Speaker A: And I remember being like. Like, that's when the reality of it hit me. I was like, that is so sad. Like three and a half. [00:13:48] Speaker C: I was like, there's nothing worse than [00:13:50] Speaker A: not being her daughter. Can't get an easy baked oven from the toy store. I was like, something's happening at the toy store. [00:13:57] Speaker B: You're like, this is serious. [00:13:58] Speaker A: I was like, this is. Guys, this is serious. Oh my gosh, it's so funny. That is the sentence I remember from that day. [00:14:04] Speaker B: Being in the city, I guess, like your introduction to comedy. Were you going to stand up shows? Were you seeing sketch perform? Like, what? [00:14:11] Speaker A: No, no, no. [00:14:13] Speaker B: Were you watching? [00:14:14] Speaker A: No. [00:14:15] Speaker B: You weren't watching? [00:14:15] Speaker A: I'm severely underwatched. [00:14:17] Speaker B: Okay. [00:14:18] Speaker C: Were you doing, like. [00:14:20] Speaker A: Okay, so here's how I got into everything. So from, from when I was a child, I was like, you know, writing little stories and whatever, but I didn't understand theater. Like when in the school plays, I thought it was about reading good. Like, get up there. And you're like, once upon a time there was, you know, like, you have to read your lines. Like, well, and I thought it was about sort of reading comprehension and. And public speaking. [00:14:43] Speaker C: I mean, it absolutely was at that point. [00:14:45] Speaker A: But so then I would get like the bad parts, like Ugly Duckling number three, whatever. [00:14:49] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:14:50] Speaker A: And then summer camp, went to a day camp in New Jersey. Cause you gotta get out of the city when you're a city kid. [00:14:57] Speaker B: Your parents are like, where in the city? [00:14:59] Speaker A: Touch grass? [00:15:00] Speaker B: I guess you were in. [00:15:01] Speaker A: In Tribeca. And then after 9 11, we moved to like Yorkville, like the Upper east side towards the East River. Beautiful. And when your parents raise you and your child in the city in the summer, they're like, please learn about trees, you know? Cause you don't know anything. So I took a Little bus to New Jersey and would play soccer at this place. And basically there were electives at camp. And one year they had a musical and it was Peter Pan. And my friends were like, we want to do the musical. And I was like, I want to do Go Karts. But I wanted to be with my friends in their electives. So they were like, just try out for the musical. So then we tried out for Peter Pan. And it was in that moment, I was nine years old. It was in that moment, summer before fourth grade, I guess, that I was like. Or summer before fifth grade, I was like, oh, acting is about entertaining the audience. And because I was auditioning for Smee, which is like the little drunk pirate. And so I was like supernatural for [00:15:58] Speaker B: you at that age. I was like, I was like, what [00:16:00] Speaker A: if I just made the adults like laugh in my audition? So I started like swaying around and like did a little voice. They're cracking up. I get the part. [00:16:09] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:16:10] Speaker A: Captain Hook, he's hot, by the way. At this point I go to an all girls school, so I'm like, yeah. Oh, woo. Guy. [00:16:18] Speaker B: Hubba hubba. [00:16:19] Speaker A: Yeah, his name was. Oh, Aiden, I think. Or like, yeah, shout out. Like something like that. He was so hot. Can't find him though online. In the years since I tried. But regardless, he was the captain, hooked up to me. [00:16:39] Speaker B: Okay. [00:16:40] Speaker A: And basically that's when I realized, like acting is about. Especially because I was a comedic character in that I was like, let me make the audience laugh. [00:16:47] Speaker B: Cool. [00:16:47] Speaker A: And it was absolutely electric. Absolutely electric. And then I got feedback. The counselors were like, that was really funny. You work out like, you should be an actor. I was like, okay, okay. [00:16:59] Speaker C: How good does that feel? [00:17:00] Speaker A: Then I shall. When you're nine and someone goes, you're a natural. [00:17:05] Speaker B: You should be acting. When you're 29 and someone, oh my [00:17:08] Speaker C: God, you should be an actor. It's like the greatest compliment ever. [00:17:11] Speaker B: It's like, oh, really? Like, wait, like, what do you. [00:17:14] Speaker C: Okay, no, no, that's not an option. [00:17:17] Speaker B: I've never thought about that. [00:17:18] Speaker A: Yeah, you know, so I went back to school, fifth grade, and I was like, I'm an actor. Cool. And I was like going to do all. I'm an actor now. And I took it very seriously. Middle school, high school. So I wanted to be an actor since I was nine. Okay. And I knew that. And then senior year of high school, I wanted to act in a movie. But no one. How, no one was making movies. [00:17:43] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:17:43] Speaker A: Apparently Wes Anderson came to. [00:17:46] Speaker B: I could so see you. And I said, wow. [00:17:49] Speaker A: Thank you. It's my funny. [00:17:50] Speaker C: You know, Yorgos came to our school. Really? [00:17:52] Speaker B: Yep. [00:17:53] Speaker C: That's gnarly. [00:17:53] Speaker A: Yep. [00:17:54] Speaker B: When did you try? [00:17:55] Speaker C: I auditioned. [00:17:56] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:17:56] Speaker B: Try out audition? Yeah. [00:17:59] Speaker C: I didn't get it. [00:18:00] Speaker B: For what? [00:18:00] Speaker C: Which one? Killing of a sacred deer. [00:18:02] Speaker A: Damn. That would have been cool. [00:18:04] Speaker C: I know. [00:18:04] Speaker B: Oh, you said this before. Yeah, on the pot. [00:18:07] Speaker A: Just like you're always talking about this. [00:18:08] Speaker C: She hasn't. [00:18:09] Speaker B: You know, I could have been in Killing Moonrise. Or is this for one of my [00:18:15] Speaker A: all time favorite movies? Thank you. [00:18:17] Speaker C: You have it. [00:18:17] Speaker B: He definitely went to Connecticut or something. It was probably two. [00:18:21] Speaker A: So I went to an all girls school and then for high school I went to a co ed school. But that co ed school, Trinity was also a K through 12 school. He went to that school to scout like the seventh graders. Like my year when I was in seventh grade. But I was at the all girls school to look for like those kids just mixed it. Just missed it. [00:18:41] Speaker C: Yeah, yeah, yeah. [00:18:43] Speaker B: But yeah, that would have. I mean that would have changed everything. Moonrise. Oh my God, that's such a good movie. [00:18:50] Speaker A: What if we just called it Kingdom? [00:18:51] Speaker B: I mean, Kingdom to be in Kingdom. [00:18:55] Speaker C: Kingdom. [00:18:55] Speaker A: Kingdom went hard. [00:18:57] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:18:57] Speaker A: I did a recreation of. Probably my first film I ever made was I recreated Moonrise Kingdom at summer camp. [00:19:03] Speaker B: Wow. [00:19:04] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:19:05] Speaker C: Was this a recurring summer camp that you would go to? [00:19:08] Speaker A: This was a different summer camp. [00:19:09] Speaker C: Okay. [00:19:09] Speaker A: This was an arts camp. [00:19:10] Speaker B: Did you have. Because there. There's usually a pattern of comedic filmmakers. Like, they're funny people that when they start getting into film, they think they have to be very serious and dramatic are very like. And so they make very. Because it's very serious and like film is very serious and you have to be very. [00:19:32] Speaker C: We talked to Maria about this, but then. [00:19:34] Speaker B: Yeah, but it's a very real thing of like you. It's like, no, comedy's like. But then you kind of find your way back of like, what am I doing? Like, are you kidding? Did you have a moment like that early on? [00:19:44] Speaker A: I would say so. I knew I wanted to be a director when in senior year of high school for an English class, we had to make a project based on like Gabriel Garcia Marquez's One Hundred Years of Solitude. [00:19:55] Speaker B: Sure. [00:19:56] Speaker A: Are you yawning? You want my coffee? [00:19:57] Speaker C: No, no, no. That title makes me yawn. [00:20:00] Speaker A: You want some Adderall? [00:20:02] Speaker C: I'm chilling. Thank you though. I know where to turn to. [00:20:06] Speaker A: Whoa. If you don't have a prescription, get the fuck away from me. Okay, sorry. So basically we made these projects and I decided I Was gonna make a film so that I could act in it. [00:20:17] Speaker B: Okay. [00:20:18] Speaker A: And meanwhile I start directing this little short film. I became obsessed. I spent like 80 hours on this project, all nighters editing it and I realized like, oh shit, I love directing as much as I love acting. Like I just became obsessed with making this project. And that one, it was probably the only like really serious film I ever made. It was like experimental. I was using the soundtrack from the Social Network. Like wow. Yeah, but like the skin, like the scary parts and yeah, it was so. But because of that I was like, I gotta make films. Then I went to college, was an English major. I went to Stanford. There was not really like a good film production program there. [00:21:01] Speaker B: Okay. [00:21:02] Speaker A: So then I made a film, a short film with my friends on campus. And I started in it. Right. Wrote it, I write it. [00:21:09] Speaker B: Stanford, Stanford education. [00:21:10] Speaker A: Yeah. And I directed it. And that one, we went to comedy. We went right to comedy. Oh, interesting. And since then, yeah, so I did like a campy thing. It was called the Ice Queen Society and it is online, like publicly available. It's actually kind of holds up. [00:21:26] Speaker C: We'll link it. [00:21:26] Speaker A: Yeah, okay. It turned into like a cult classic on the Stanford campus. Cause nobody else was making movies. And it was like a 30 minute movie about like a girl that starts a secret society on her college campus. They meet in the women's bathroom stall with the goal of breaking as many boys hearts as possible Called the Ice Queen Society. It's like a feminist revenge fantasy. And they wear matching juicy tracksuits. [00:21:53] Speaker B: Oh my God. [00:21:53] Speaker A: And it's like very campy. Yeah, yeah. [00:21:55] Speaker C: I could see how this could be like a cool classic. [00:21:58] Speaker B: Is that what you submitted to afi? [00:22:00] Speaker A: No, not at all. Oh, too technically like poorly done to submit to AFI was the first like. It was kind of. That was really like the first actual short film I made. [00:22:12] Speaker B: How so let's talk about it. That was your first actual short. How was that experience being on set with Friends? It sounds like the first one you did. They're very experimental score that was. Seemed very probably alone or this felt. [00:22:26] Speaker C: This feels more authentic to you or at least what you like to write [00:22:29] Speaker A: about and yeah, yeah, like I consider this one like my first ever scrap feel for him. I think we did like Kickstarter $5,000 shot several different weekends during the spring quarter. So basically booked out, I think like five or six weekends. And then so instead of like, like people would be going to parties and like going to the football games or not. That's not football season. I don't know anyway, then we would just be like, we're making our film shot on campus. No permission. Like not an ounce of permission. Like stole shots every day. [00:23:05] Speaker B: They don't have a film program or any sort of. Like, is it like a film studies? Like. Exactly, yeah. [00:23:11] Speaker A: Yes. So it's like a lot of film. Film studies. And then I think they do have a film production major. But at least when I was there, it was not very robust. Like, it was not about making projects. So I was just an English major. But what's really fun is that a lot of my friends that I made that with, like, are still making movies today. And some of my friends who acted in the Ice Queen Society, one of them acted in it for the first time. One of best friends. And he is now like an actor. Like, that's why he wanted to be an actor. And so like the cinematographers, like, still cinematographer. So, yeah, we kind of all like caught the bug. It was, it was really, it was like addictive. [00:23:53] Speaker B: How'd you find those kids? Was that like, was that a friend group? Was that just, it was just, it [00:23:56] Speaker A: was a friend, it was a friend group, like, kind of all in different grades and it was just people who had shown interest in like. [00:24:01] Speaker B: What was it like? You met class like in different classes? [00:24:04] Speaker A: Yeah, I met a lot of them in a Film studies. [00:24:06] Speaker B: There you go. Okay. [00:24:07] Speaker A: There you go. [00:24:08] Speaker B: Do you like that side of film as well? Like the what? Film studies. Was it more on, like the history side of things and like watching old films and like analyzing or talking about them or. [00:24:18] Speaker A: I do like that side of things for sure. Yes. I'm definitely a nerd for that. I took a class in senior year that was like feminist film studies and I ate that shit up. [00:24:26] Speaker B: So that. Because I know you said you weren't the most watched coming up, I assume that at Stanford you really probably consumed a bunch. No. [00:24:34] Speaker A: No. [00:24:35] Speaker B: Oh, interesting. [00:24:36] Speaker A: I'm still severely under watch. [00:24:37] Speaker B: Do you have, do you feel a curiosity to or. Curiosity to. Of course you do. [00:24:42] Speaker A: Okay. Of course. [00:24:43] Speaker C: Okay. [00:24:43] Speaker A: I am like constantly working on it, but it's like kind of embarrassing. Some of the movies I haven't seen. But it's low key. Cool. I'm rebranding it as cool. [00:24:51] Speaker B: Yeah, I agree with that. I know a ton of actors. I'm not, I'm just pointing at you because you're an actor. But I, I, I know a good amount of actors that take pride in not watching a bunch of movies, you know, take pride in. But they're just like, like I don't watch a lot of movies. Yeah. [00:25:10] Speaker A: I'm not, like, doing it on purpose. [00:25:12] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:25:12] Speaker A: I just think there's a lot of people who, like, grew up and they're like, I'm a freaking movie. [00:25:18] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:25:18] Speaker A: And, like, I was doing my homework. [00:25:20] Speaker B: I didn't. [00:25:22] Speaker C: I didn't grow up like that either. I mean, I watch a lot of tv. I would say I'm more versed in tv. It's what you choose to spend your [00:25:29] Speaker B: time doing, you know? [00:25:30] Speaker A: Want to know some of the craziest movies that I hadn't seen? [00:25:32] Speaker B: Yeah, sure. [00:25:33] Speaker C: List them off and then we can [00:25:36] Speaker B: say if we've seen him. Yeah, yeah, okay. [00:25:38] Speaker A: You will have seen him. Cuz I'm list. I'm listing things that it's like, not, you know. All right, all right. Fight Club. Never seen it. [00:25:45] Speaker B: Whoa. [00:25:45] Speaker C: Okay, okay. [00:25:49] Speaker A: Apocalypse Now. Never seen it. [00:25:51] Speaker B: How? Okay, don't. [00:25:55] Speaker C: Don't do the. [00:25:56] Speaker A: You want to know the craziest one? And this one is like, I really need to watch it, like, soon. And I know. I love it. I've only seen part of it. Pulp Fiction. Oh, my God, isn't that actually crazy? [00:26:09] Speaker B: Like, you. You turned it on and you're like, wait a second. [00:26:11] Speaker A: No, I just, like, only saw part of it in, like, a class or something. I was like, all right, I gotta. [00:26:17] Speaker B: Yeah, wait, more, more, more, more, more. [00:26:20] Speaker A: Why don't you hit me with some. [00:26:21] Speaker B: I'll tell you, like, big movies. [00:26:23] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:26:23] Speaker B: What about like, like Nemo or something? [00:26:25] Speaker A: Of course. [00:26:26] Speaker B: Okay, so you've seen. [00:26:26] Speaker A: Yeah, but. [00:26:27] Speaker C: But what I think about here is, like, you are a successful filmmaker. [00:26:31] Speaker A: You have to play catch up because the movies happen before you were born. [00:26:37] Speaker C: You're like, in the biz. A successful filmmaker. Nobody would see Teen Mary and be like, well, she clearly hasn't seen Fight Club. You know, that's not. That's not. [00:26:48] Speaker A: She never. [00:26:49] Speaker C: Yeah, that's not like. I think it's fine. Like, I. I would never, like, knock someone down and I. [00:26:56] Speaker A: And I kind of like to talk about it because I think especially, like, it breaks down this film, bro. Culture. Yeah. Of like, yes. University, Fight Club. [00:27:06] Speaker C: And. Well, can I ask you this? Have you ever been in, like, a conversation at AFI or with a bunch of people? [00:27:13] Speaker B: I'm like, where? [00:27:14] Speaker C: They've been talking about Fight Club. And you're like, oh, yeah, totally. [00:27:17] Speaker A: No, so what I love to do. Yeah. [00:27:19] Speaker C: What do you do? Because I do that all the time. If it's like, half of this industry is just pretending that you've seen stuff, I Swear to God, I have a very. [00:27:27] Speaker A: Okay. One of my favorite things to think about ever in stories is the emperor's new clothes. In the Emperor's New Clothes, the book Emperor's New Clothes, the classic story [00:27:41] Speaker B: fairy [00:27:41] Speaker C: tale, almost [00:27:44] Speaker A: a sower comes to town and says to the emperor, a seamster. Yeah, A seamster comes to town, says to the emperor, I'm gonna make you an outfit made of the finest silk. It is magic. And only the smartest people can see this outfit. If you can't see it, it means you're an idiot. And the king's like, I'm gonna give you a lot of money to make this amazing, amazing. Let's do it. The seamster doesn't do anything. Takes the money and presents the king with absolutely nothing and is like. Like I said, you know, isn't it beautiful? Only, like, geniuses, like, and people who are smart can. Can see this outfit. And. [00:28:27] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:28:27] Speaker A: Like, and then the king goes on a parade in town and is wearing absolutely nothing, is completely naked, and the whole crowd is, like, told that, you know, if you can't see this outfit, it means, like, you're an idiot. And so they're all pretending. They're like, oh, isn't it beautiful? Wow. I mean, look at that outfit. That's amazing. Amazing. And then this little kid points at him, but he's not wearing anything. He's not wearing any clothes. He's naked. And it breaks like, the. The lie. And everyone is like, okay, yeah, thank you. Yeah, you know what? No, this is bullshit. He's naked. So I'm kind of that kid. So I like to. [00:29:10] Speaker C: That's a great way to put it. [00:29:12] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:29:12] Speaker A: I like to just call out the bullshit. And I don't know why I'm like this. [00:29:18] Speaker C: So you'll be like, okay, who's your favorite character? [00:29:20] Speaker A: Then? [00:29:21] Speaker C: Like, if you think someone's, like, bullshitting about. I'm not gonna see Fight Club. [00:29:25] Speaker A: I'm not gonna necessarily, like, poke holes in someone else's story if they're just trying to stay afloat, but I'm not gonna just pretend. So I'll literally be like, never seen it. Boy movie. I'll literally go, boy movie. Like, to call something that's critically acclaimed a boy movie, is actually really powerful. [00:29:45] Speaker C: That's great. [00:29:45] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:29:46] Speaker C: That's great. [00:29:46] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:29:46] Speaker C: I think we need more of that in the industry. [00:29:49] Speaker A: And then I'll be like, have you seen Confessions of a Shopaholic? [00:29:51] Speaker B: No. [00:29:52] Speaker A: And I'll be like, have you seen. But I'm a cheerleader. They talk to you. And you've seen that. [00:29:57] Speaker B: You've seen both of us. [00:29:58] Speaker C: No, No, I have not. Yeah, I have not. But I understand the type of thing. Like, these things culturally impacted you, you know, and made you into who you are. And you are capable of being influenced by that, making something that the Fight Club bros can like and watch. [00:30:14] Speaker A: Yeah. You know, and I do want to arm myself with the knowledge of having seen all these movies. You don't think I'm at home looking at, you know, the list of the top 100 and, like, being like, you gotta get through these, Ali. Like, I am. I am. I'm worried about it. I'm worried about it. It's keeping me up at night. But I'm just saying, watch, like, a [00:30:33] Speaker B: bunch of movies now. Like, are you watching? [00:30:35] Speaker A: I'm trying. I have, like, a. [00:30:37] Speaker B: Like, you have, like, a long list. [00:30:38] Speaker A: You have a. I have, like. I have, like. [00:30:40] Speaker C: Everybody will always have a long list. [00:30:42] Speaker B: It's true. [00:30:42] Speaker C: It's impossible. [00:30:43] Speaker A: It's. [00:30:44] Speaker B: It's impossible to get through. [00:30:45] Speaker A: I'm trying to work on, like, I think part of, like, my. So I have OCD and, like, this perfectionism thing where I go. I have to be in the right frame of mind to watch this movie. So I'm not. I'm not ever throwing a movie on. I've done that twice in my life. Like, I'm like, well, if I'm gonna watch Apocalypse Now, I better be well rested. [00:31:03] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:31:04] Speaker A: Paying attention, like, da, da, da. And it's. So then I miss out on watching movies because I don't think I can watch them well. So my mission lately is to just throw something on, even if I'm tired or maybe look at my phone or whatever. [00:31:17] Speaker B: Yeah. I've found that. Because I'm the same way. But I've since turned to the arrow. Right. Like the cinematic theater. Or like, certain theaters that are doing retrospectives, or, like, they're playing Apocalypse now, that's good. On Wednesday, and it's like, oh, maybe I will go see it. You know, 70 mil. [00:31:38] Speaker A: Like, whatever. [00:31:38] Speaker B: Like. And it gives you kind of, like, I don't know, not a reason to. But you kind of naturally. It's like, I'm waiting. Like, now you're there. You're with people. [00:31:48] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:31:49] Speaker A: Yeah. Like, what's playing at video? It's what's playing. [00:31:51] Speaker B: Exactly. Exact. [00:31:52] Speaker C: Exactly. [00:31:53] Speaker A: What's that newsletter we all get every week? [00:31:55] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:31:56] Speaker C: I don't know. [00:31:56] Speaker A: What's it called? Do you know what I mean, though? [00:31:57] Speaker C: The one with all the local theaters. I know what you're talking about. [00:32:00] Speaker B: Is that an east side thing? [00:32:02] Speaker A: I don't know. [00:32:03] Speaker C: I feel like Arrow's on it. [00:32:04] Speaker B: Arrow's on it is a CinemaTech newsletter. [00:32:06] Speaker A: It's like. But it's a. [00:32:08] Speaker C: It's a. It's also a website. I've. I've seen it. [00:32:10] Speaker A: The name is escaping right now. [00:32:12] Speaker B: I got, I got. [00:32:13] Speaker C: But yes, you're completely right. Of like. Or we're all talking about this thing of like, you don't need the perfect sort of scenario to watch the movie. Like just, just flip it on. I think we need to be more used to that. Or make an event out of it. [00:32:28] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:32:28] Speaker C: Which I think is the best way and why theaters are so amazing. [00:32:32] Speaker B: Totally 100. These, these retrospectives are interesting and like, for the most part, I don't know, like, you might meet some people there. You'll see a friend there that's like, [00:32:42] Speaker A: oh my gosh, you're exactly. [00:32:43] Speaker B: Yeah, it's fun. Like you said, kind of eventize it with Teen Mary. [00:32:48] Speaker A: Yes. [00:32:49] Speaker B: I want to ask about your process. [00:32:52] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:32:53] Speaker B: As a director, are you turning to films to comp or are you very much like, I'm going to beat this out of my head and then like get it on paper and do the whole thing. Like, what is your process in the early stages of production or I guess in ideation. [00:33:12] Speaker A: I'm totally turning to films to comp. And I don't know, like, comp means comparison and it's like a reference for your film. [00:33:22] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:33:22] Speaker A: Just so we don't. [00:33:23] Speaker C: And while we're explaining things, do you want to give us like a little one sentence? What is Teen Mary? [00:33:28] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:33:28] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:33:29] Speaker A: So Teen Mary is my thesis film that I made at AFI Conservatory, which is the American Film Institute Conservatory. It's a film school. It's a two year MFA program in Los Angeles, California and is very intense in person. You get split into disciplines. Directors, cinematographers, writers, editors, production designers, producers. I was in the directing program and at the end of the two years you make your thesis film. So I wrote and directed this film. It is 20 minutes long and it is like now my calling card for going into the industry. It got me representation. It's what I've been taking to festivals, what I took to the 5050 festival. And it's like the thing that I send out to be like, this is me as a director. According to the world. I never made anything before that, which is not true. [00:34:20] Speaker B: But it's like the thing you said, the calling. [00:34:23] Speaker C: Exactly. [00:34:25] Speaker A: And it is a retelling of the story of the Virgin Mary. So it takes place in five months BC in ancient Nazareth, full biblical set, costumes, but speaking in modern dialogue. And it is about the Virgin Mary, except that she's just a 15 year old teenage girl, she's not a virgin, and Joseph is her gay best friend. And they realize the town has run out of people to stone and they're up next. They're gonna be killed for their sexual transgressions. She's knocked up, not married, he's gay, hooking up with a Roman soldier. And they have to come up with way to convince the town not to kill them. And they decide to convince the town that Mary's pregnant with the Messiah and she is. [00:35:06] Speaker B: Maybe at the end. [00:35:06] Speaker A: Right, well, hey, okay. Don't give it away. Yeah, sorry. So sorry. Yeah, yeah, yeah. [00:35:14] Speaker C: And. And it's a, it's a comedy and it's a fresh take on a story that everybody knows to some extent. [00:35:19] Speaker B: It turns out. [00:35:20] Speaker A: She. [00:35:20] Speaker B: She. I won't lose she. [00:35:24] Speaker A: What is she today? [00:35:26] Speaker C: Sorry. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. [00:35:29] Speaker A: So. [00:35:30] Speaker C: So let's take it back. So. [00:35:31] Speaker B: Yeah, by the way, that was an awesome. [00:35:33] Speaker C: That was an awesome. Yeah, I'm sold. [00:35:35] Speaker A: Thank you. I mean, officially, like. Yeah, actually 300, 500 times. I don't even. [00:35:40] Speaker C: Have you developed that. That sort of like two sentence shtick [00:35:44] Speaker A: over time, I guess. Yeah, like a long time. [00:35:46] Speaker C: Yeah, it's. It's been refined probably like. [00:35:49] Speaker B: Yeah, that's when it happens is you forget it. You know, you learn. You do it so many times. You learn it, you learn it, you learn it, you forget it and then you're like a master of it. [00:35:59] Speaker A: Totally. [00:35:59] Speaker B: You know, there, like. [00:36:01] Speaker A: I don't know if I could describe it in a different way. [00:36:03] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:36:03] Speaker A: You know, that would kind of be a fun exercise. [00:36:05] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:36:06] Speaker A: How to describe it without saying any of the words I usually say? [00:36:08] Speaker C: Yeah, yeah. Like taboo. [00:36:10] Speaker A: A young lady in a different. [00:36:13] Speaker B: So were you watching a bunch of. So teenage. [00:36:19] Speaker A: So, yeah, so some of my reference films. So Life of Brian was a big reference for me and I actually had not seen Life of Brian before I turned. Before I made Teen Mary. What's funny is when I pitched a Life of Brian is made by the Monty Python guys. So they made Monty Python and the Holy Grail and they made Life of Brian, which is the same Monty Python tone, you know, the modern dialogue, the British jokes, whatever. Except it takes place in the time of Jesus and it's just about this guy named Brian. And through a mishap, basically, people start thinking he's The Messiah. And he gains this cult following in the ancient world, but he's just a regular guy, and he doesn't want the attention. [00:37:05] Speaker B: That's amazing. [00:37:06] Speaker A: It's amazing. So imagine I come up with this idea. I've never even heard of that movie. And then I'm pitching to the AFI faculty because they have to approve the project. Okay. Which was a little hard because some of them were real into it. Others were very angry, scared. [00:37:28] Speaker B: Really? [00:37:29] Speaker A: Yes. [00:37:29] Speaker B: Why did. [00:37:30] Speaker C: Being the religious institution that AFI is. [00:37:33] Speaker B: Well, but they put their name. Logo is on their. [00:37:38] Speaker A: Legally. I mean, their ass is on the line. [00:37:40] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:37:40] Speaker B: Do they own the. Those thesis films? [00:37:43] Speaker A: They technically own the film, but I own the idea. [00:37:47] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah, yeah. [00:37:48] Speaker A: So, yeah. [00:37:50] Speaker B: Like, if you were to. If that was a. If you were to make it, you would own the feature. They just own that. [00:37:56] Speaker A: And I am 20 minute something else. Which we'll talk about. [00:37:59] Speaker B: Yes. [00:38:00] Speaker A: Yeah. They just own, like, that thing. Yeah. [00:38:02] Speaker C: Okay. [00:38:03] Speaker A: But if we sell it, our team still gets the money or something like that. I don't know. [00:38:08] Speaker B: It only helps them, obviously. [00:38:10] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:38:10] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:38:10] Speaker C: It's a win. [00:38:11] Speaker B: Win. [00:38:12] Speaker A: So a teacher was like, have you ever thought about just maybe not doing this? Mm. I said, what do you mean? We're in, like, a paneled wood room. Like, we dressed up the full, like, board and faculty is in front of us, and where, like, this is our plan for the thesis project. And some teachers are like, hell, yeah. And this one guy's like, have you ever thought about maybe not doing this? And I'm like, what do you mean? And he's like, it just seems pretty disrespectful and potentially dangerous. Our name's online. I mean, you could get killed for this. [00:38:52] Speaker B: What? [00:38:53] Speaker A: You could get death threats. [00:38:54] Speaker C: Mm. [00:38:55] Speaker A: You could get killed for this if you thought about security. I mean, really, why do this? Why even do this? [00:39:03] Speaker C: And what's your. What's your answer? [00:39:06] Speaker A: Well, I said, well, we're not just doing this to punch down or, you know, just to be shock jocks. I'm making this film because I believe that the worship of the Virgin Mary as this figure that is pious, obedient, subservient, and somehow a virgin, but also a mother is. Has led to stigmatization of female sexuality, and that's not okay with me. And I think religion can be beautiful, but not when it's used to, like, oppress women and gay people. So we actually have something that we're trying to say with this. We're not just doing this satire, like, to be mean or funny. We're trying to say something about the danger of religion to oppress people. And so I think that is worth it. And I think that films that if you're not taking a risk with your film, why make it? Like, I'd be willing to die for this. Like, I don't care. [00:40:09] Speaker B: And what do you say? [00:40:11] Speaker C: He gave you the green light. Yeah. [00:40:14] Speaker A: Just saying you should think about security. Say, well, okay, then I'm sure we'll budget that in something like that. [00:40:19] Speaker C: And then what does security even mean? Like on set or during festival? [00:40:23] Speaker A: Like what? Yeah, I guess like Bodyguard or something. [00:40:25] Speaker B: Now that would be awesome. [00:40:27] Speaker A: Yeah, I will say, like, in terms of a short film at festivals, like, I knew that it wouldn't really be a problem because, like, what, Christian fundamentalists are visiting, like, film festivals? Do you know what I mean? It's just a slightly different culture. However, I will say let's invite the [00:40:48] Speaker C: Christian fundamentalists for 5050 now. [00:40:50] Speaker A: I don't know. Yeah, I will say, though, playing in certain places like it. It also hasn't really played like, places that it's played in mostly liberal places. But I will say, like a couple times the reaction's been a little different. Like in we played at the Miami Film Festival and like, I'm there and I'm realizing like, oh, people here are like mad Catholic and they all have like gold crosses and there was a lot of like, silence in the audience, I would say, but. But then at the end, because the end is like pretty spiritual. The end of the film is pretty spiritual and like, basically, I don't know, it affirms the existence of Jesus pretty much. While still agreeing that Mary was a slut. Like, then people, sigh of relief. Sigh of relief from the Catholics in the house. [00:41:41] Speaker C: Yeah, you got both sides. We'll be right back. [00:41:47] Speaker B: Are you sick and tired of spending months on short films that get seen by just your uncle? Are you sad and bored of editing all the time and all that footage for just 10 views? Well, now's the time to change that. Submissions for the 5050 Comedy Fest are open now. Get your work seen by professionals who can actually advance your filmmaking career. Not your uncle. Unless your uncle happens to be at a top tier talent agency like caa, UTA or wme. Check out the episode description for the submission link or head to filmfreeway.com and search for 5050 Comedy. 5050 Comedy is on May 3rd. Submitting to 5050 Comedy may lead to money, fame, fast cars, boats, planes, helicopters, cybertrucks and lifelong friendships. 5050 Comedy is on May 3rd, we look forward to seeing you there at 5050 Comedy. May 3rd. Your uncle is not invited unless he works at a top tier talent agency like CAA UTA. WME. May 3rd. 5050 comedy. May 3rd. 5050 Comedy. [00:42:40] Speaker A: Maybe. [00:42:40] Speaker B: May 3rd. We look forward to watching your comedic short film. May 3rd. I was gonna say, like, someone who might not laugh at that film can still, like, there's a story there too, with heart. [00:42:57] Speaker A: Right. [00:42:57] Speaker B: You know, like, it's. It's a. Although, like, the humor is the. The core of it, obviously, but I can understand, like, that sigh of relief is like, because you have that. Again, like you said, you're coming from a very. Like, you set out with a mission, like, with a real message with that film. You weren't just going in trying to bash something because it's funny or trying to be mean. Like, it's, you know. [00:43:26] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:43:26] Speaker B: But good for you for, like, even having, like, having those experiences, you know, and, like, seeing that, that's, like, quite, I think, rare and unique for young filmmakers to have to go through, you [00:43:38] Speaker A: know, and all credit to that teacher who said those things originally. He finally saw the finished product, and it was really big moment for me because I was like, what's he gonna think? And he was like, that was actually very well done. I thoroughly enjoyed it. And I was just worried that you would try to do this risky thing and that you would do it badly, but, like, you did it well. And so it's actually good now. And, like, it's still risky business, but, like, I stand corrected. And it was very. [00:44:11] Speaker C: And I think that we were Talking about how 5050 was kind of elevated by that film and the festival. And I think that, to me, so interesting that that spiel that. That you said to the guy who was sort of, you know, pushing back against your pitch, that in and of itself is like, kind of what separates it from being just like a satire sketch. [00:44:32] Speaker B: Right. [00:44:33] Speaker C: And it makes it into like, an actual, like, concept and an actual short film. And I'm curious because we. We've sort of touched on, like, the. The ideating part of it. [00:44:42] Speaker A: Yeah, yeah. [00:44:43] Speaker C: At what point does. I'm always curious with filmmakers, like, at what point? Because was it the concept first? And you don't really know why you have this idea, but there's something in you that's like, oh, this could be fun and this could be powerful. And at what point do you have the sort of words to say that spiel, you know? [00:45:01] Speaker A: Yeah, really good question. I remember sitting in a library, like, at home in New York City over winter break, my first year of afi. We were supposed to come up with some ideas for our thesis when we got back. And so I was sitting there brainstorming, and I was kind of doing, like, stream of consciousness brainstorming. Just, like, writing down words that are interesting to me and, like, concepts that are interesting to me. I'm like, okay, I know I'm interested in, like, virginity and, like, female sexuality and, like, all this stuff. And then I started writing down some ideas, and that one came to me. I just said, virgin Mary, but she's not a virgin. Like, I think that's what I wrote down. Virgin Mary made it up, basically, which I've always sort of thought about and wondered about. And some feeling came over me that was like. I was exhilarated. It was like I was struck by lightning. Like, I felt like, yeah, full of, like. Like, I was, like, breathless. And I felt like, gotta do it. I had to do it. And then I. There was a little instinct to try to shut that down, where I was like, no, no, you can't do that. That's not appropriate. You can't. And then I said, I have to. And I just knew, Like, I just had a feeling in my body. And I think that's something I look for. Like, I look for this feeling of inspiration that, like, strikes me sometimes where I get, like, restless and I can't, like, sleep. Like, I won't be able to sleep thinking about something. Like, I'll feel like. It's hard to describe, but, like, I'll actually feel, like, adrenaline, like, running through my body thinking about an idea. And when I have that, I know, like, that there's something there and I have to get it out. And I might not know why, but I did kind of already know why with that idea, because I was like, yeah, what if she made it up? I knew that that would give her this power that, like, she doesn't have. Like, instead of it being this thing that happened to her, it's this girl that changed the course of history totally. And then because of the process of afi, we had to write these directors statements where we had to sit down and come up with the words to describe why. And I think that's something that everyone should do for every project. [00:47:11] Speaker C: We have not touched on that at all. [00:47:13] Speaker A: Yeah, you have to have the why, [00:47:15] Speaker B: because pitching yourself is really tough and awkward. Like, pitching a project is one thing. And like, knowing a log line, you know, and the synopsis or where the story's gonna go, or your characters or why you're doing it like the message. But like, okay, but like, what about you? And it's like, you know what I mean? And it's. You kind of piece that together and it takes time. That's a real skill in itself too. [00:47:40] Speaker C: And it's a good practice when you're up against that board and that, you [00:47:44] Speaker B: know, the wooden room or whatever. [00:47:45] Speaker C: Yeah, like that. That is stuff in the industry. Right. When people take out a project every time you're pitching it to someone, you're like, oh, this is a question that they asked. Let me incorporate into the pitch next time. [00:47:56] Speaker A: Absolutely. [00:47:57] Speaker C: So, like that, by him getting you to say that, I'm sure you were like, okay, this is an essential part of it and this is the mission. Let's incorporate it in that pitch more. [00:48:05] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:48:06] Speaker B: And maybe not just the mission of this project, but of like, I ally feel so deeply about statement as a filmmaker, this thematic core that, like, maybe this is what I want to touch on going forward. [00:48:17] Speaker A: You know, we had this class at AFI taught by this guy, Rob Spera. He's an amazing director and teacher and mentor. And he basically just like, lit the fire under the asses of like, our entire directing class. And he had this class where it was like, direct. It was talking about the year beyond IFI and like, pitching yourself as a director. And as part of it, we had to get really deep and think about, like, our past and basically why we are who we are and what is our core thing that we want to talk about. [00:48:56] Speaker B: Cool. [00:48:57] Speaker A: And I forget what he. Oh, it's. He called it. What's your Achilles heel? Like, what's like this original, like, maybe wound that happened to you that kind of created what you need to talk about in your work. And I already kind of knew what it was, but then as a result of that class, we had to put it into words. And so you learn kind of what your thematic through line is for all your work. And ultimately mine is. Is basically about, like, female sexuality and it's about using comedy to dismantle shame. [00:49:34] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:49:36] Speaker A: And that's because I went to an all girls school. I didn't have any brothers or whatever. I didn't know any boys. So I literally did not know what sex was until sex ed in sixth grade. Like, right before I was about to, like, get my period for the first time. And then it was like, you're gonna get and you're gonna bleed and you're gonna be a sexual object. And I was like. And so also growing up in New York and like, men start like on the street, when you're literally 13 and a half, it's like, okay, this is awful. And I just was like, all of a sudden, like, I'm scared. The world is about sex. And I didn't even know that. [00:50:09] Speaker C: So you just, you just. [00:50:10] Speaker A: It was a loss of innocence moment where it was like, everything's fine and the world is beautiful. And then it was like, there's this secret thing, sex, and it's been everywhere and it's like. And no one was telling you about it because it's bad. And it was a secret and we all knew. You didn't know. And it was like, cool. I'm so scared. [00:50:31] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:50:32] Speaker A: And then because of that, I developed this thing with my vagina where I would not open it, couldn't put in a tampon or anything called vaginismus. And so basically, the fear of, like, being a woman in the world wormed its way into my very psyche and being and caused actual panic, result, physical pain in my body that I didn't get over till I was 22 and had to go to a special place for. And so my journey with sex and sexuality as a woman, like, not to mention nobody talks about, like, girls masturbating or anything. Like, everything just felt like I'm an awful monster. It's like, can we just talk about this? Like, our society doesn't treat sex as a normal thing. It treats it as like, shh. It's like. And then when you're a child, obviously, like, you shouldn't be doing anything, but like, when you don't even know that exists and you're not told about it in, like, normal terms that make it seem safe, you're obviously gonna be terrified. Like, even when you grow up. [00:51:33] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:51:34] Speaker A: So anyway, and then I went to an all. And then I went to a co ed school for high school. I walk in. I went to an all girls school before. So I'm very like, hey, what's up? I'm Allie. I'm gonna be the star of the class. Raise my hand. And like, I'm in the student lounge and the boys are like, wait, can you. Can you touch your elbows together in front of your chest? Like, people can't really do that. And I'm like. And I'm like, what do you mean? And they're like, we lean over a little. Like, it's just, like, sick. Like. [00:51:59] Speaker B: Yeah, I've never. I've never. [00:52:01] Speaker A: Freshman year. [00:52:02] Speaker B: That must be some New York. That's. [00:52:04] Speaker C: Yeah, that's some New York right there. [00:52:06] Speaker A: They're like, wait, can you touch your elbows behind your back? Like, it's awful. [00:52:11] Speaker B: What am I doing? [00:52:12] Speaker A: Elite private school, New York boys. It's like a different breed of like, not okay. But in freshman year, a boy. A boy told everyone. When I was 14, a boy who I didn't even know told the whole soccer team that I sucked his dick. I had never even held his hand. It's messed up. [00:52:27] Speaker C: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, right? Did you find. I mean, because I'm imagining in that class where. Where you're all crafting your sort of, like, artistic identity. Was it harder for some people to find that? And I'm thinking specifically in the comedy space, right? Because a lot of comedians start off by just like, I think this is funny. So I'm gonna start making this, you know, and they don't really, like, fully understand or do that sort of like introspection. What do you think? I mean, what is that? Obviously for you with the comedy space, it's an art of, like, diffusing or, you know, whatever it is. Like, you. You've been able to verbalize it. But do you think it's hard for people in the comedy space to figure out exactly why they find something funny [00:53:14] Speaker A: or it's very interesting. I don't know. It may also be because, like, I was an English major and like, the whole training of, like, the message underneath the story. But I don't know. I mean, I sort of a maneuver sharer. I like to just say, let's get it out there. Let's talk about it. Like I said, I'm the kid who's like, the king is naked. Like, I'm trying to talk about the elephant in the room and be like, guys, let's not skirt around this. Yeah. Like, yeah, periods. Okay. But for some people in comedy, I don't know. Yeah, maybe. Yeah, I think. [00:53:53] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:53:54] Speaker A: I'm thinking people are like, yeah, well, that's kind of funny. And it's like, well, why is it funny? And I think instead of ruining the joke that, like, to explore it is maybe fun. But I don't know. [00:54:05] Speaker C: I have a sort of like half baked, like, sort of reverse idea about masculinity and stuff like that. [00:54:11] Speaker A: Let's go. Let's go. [00:54:12] Speaker C: I think about it in terms of, like, Tim Robinson, right? Like, we all love him. We all love. I think youk should leave as. As a sketch comedy show. And I think he's like. He's tapping into like, this character that's like, men are supposed to be so like, sort of. [00:54:26] Speaker B: I'm just laughing thinking about it. [00:54:27] Speaker C: But, like, I thought about this, like, you know, a little bit. Men are supposed to be so uptight and, like, perfect in a lot of [00:54:35] Speaker A: ways and just, like, not care. [00:54:37] Speaker C: Exactly. Exactly. [00:54:39] Speaker B: Okay, You. [00:54:39] Speaker C: You're one step ahead of me. Not caring. [00:54:42] Speaker B: And. [00:54:42] Speaker C: And for someone to be. For someone to be, like, unapologetically, like, exactly like that. That is, like, sort of flipping it on its head. But that must be his artistic statement or whatever you want to call it, right? Of, like. [00:54:56] Speaker B: Like, that's a dude, too, that, like, he taught improv, you know? Like, he. He's been totally developing that comedy, that voice, and testing it. Like, you do sketch, you perform. Like, you have that live reaction. You have an audience. You're testing things. You bomb. You don't bomb. [00:55:13] Speaker C: Like, he knows exactly what. [00:55:14] Speaker B: He's been doing this for years. Not. He knows exactly. He knows it works for him. [00:55:18] Speaker C: He was refining it at Second City. [00:55:20] Speaker B: Exactly. [00:55:21] Speaker C: And then as a writer on snl. [00:55:23] Speaker B: Exactly. [00:55:24] Speaker C: And performer for years. Yeah, exactly. And now, like, that's. That's a whole career of nailing down exactly what his statement is. What he knows is exactly funny. And, like, he made, like, the best sketch show of all time. [00:55:38] Speaker B: All that to say, though, of, like, comedy filmmaker or dry, like. Or whatever, genre filmmaker, artist in general, people, period. Like, it takes a. It takes time to find your voice, and it also takes time on top of that to, like, put words to, like, explain or describe what that voice is, you know? [00:55:59] Speaker A: Totally. [00:56:00] Speaker B: And so I assume. I mean, I don't want to assume for you, but, like, do you feel like your thematic through line will evolve, or do you think that you, right now in that, like. Or was that Because I. I'm honestly personally curious about exercises that, like, the teacher or this professor would like, or, like, if there's one that really stuck with you, that he had you guys do, that was, like, really illuminating. [00:56:26] Speaker A: I'm not gonna be able to remember it off the top of my head, but I can send you what it was afterwards and we can link it or something. [00:56:33] Speaker B: Yeah, for sure. [00:56:34] Speaker A: But I do think that my. [00:56:37] Speaker B: Or is there one big takeaway of, like, oh, here's a question I can ask myself. [00:56:41] Speaker A: It was truly. It was like, find what is your original wound. [00:56:44] Speaker B: Okay. Yeah. [00:56:47] Speaker A: And that led people all sorts of places. I mean, it could be a very small moment about, like, that time that kid didn't let you play with them on the playground or something. And just this wanting to belong or something like that. I think when I make it more general, like using comedy to dismantle shame. That feels, like, almost better because it's broader. So more things could go into that umbrella. But I'm also very, like, idea based. And I have, like, 17 ideas for movies I want to make, like, written down. And there are things that just come to me and they give me that feeling of like, oh, my God. Oh, my God. Are you writing? [00:57:29] Speaker B: Do you like writing? [00:57:31] Speaker A: Okay, yes. And I'll get back to that in a second. But not all of these ideas, like, go with this through line at all. And some of them are completely different. [00:57:42] Speaker C: And people develop as an artist. [00:57:44] Speaker A: Exactly. [00:57:45] Speaker C: And in terms of wounds. Wounds happen through all of life. [00:57:48] Speaker A: It's true. [00:57:49] Speaker B: So you can. [00:57:50] Speaker C: Your way of reacting to those wounds through art, which is what we do, will change. [00:57:55] Speaker A: And not everything has to be your baby. Like, the feature that I'm making is more like my baby, but. And it's more about these topics that we've talked about. It's a Vaginismus road trip movie. It's like, it's like a sex comedy about female sexual dysfunction. It's kind of the vibe is, like, super bad meets Girls Trip meets, like, Little Miss Sunshine. [00:58:18] Speaker B: Are you in production or, like, where are you at in the process of [00:58:22] Speaker A: this pitching to companies? [00:58:23] Speaker C: Okay, nice. [00:58:24] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:58:24] Speaker A: Which has been really crazy and, like, exciting. [00:58:28] Speaker B: And is it refreshing to stop pitching Teen Mary? [00:58:34] Speaker A: Yeah, well, I haven't had to pitch Teen Mary in a long time, but [00:58:37] Speaker B: I guess, like, talk about it, you know, like. [00:58:38] Speaker A: Yeah, take your mom. Definitely. Definitely. And. Yeah, definitely. [00:58:45] Speaker B: Yeah, for sure. Yeah. [00:58:47] Speaker A: And the wound is kind of the same. Yeah, the wound is the same. So I could, like, the. The director's segment is the same. [00:58:53] Speaker B: There's overlap. [00:58:54] Speaker C: The wound is. [00:58:54] Speaker A: But it's funny because then especially with, like, how projects get. I'll be literally in, like, a boardroom in front of, like, male executives being like. And then my pussy didn't work, you know, and like, they're like, totally girl. [00:59:09] Speaker C: How has that pitching process been? Because this is also the first time you've really pitched something out to the town, right? [00:59:15] Speaker A: Yes, definitely. [00:59:16] Speaker C: As much as you're comfortable. Because I know it's in the process, right? [00:59:19] Speaker A: Totally. I love being in the room. I love pitching. [00:59:22] Speaker B: You're a performer, right? Yeah, exactly. [00:59:25] Speaker A: And so that feels electric. I think what's harder is, like, in the waiting for the pitches to be set up. Like, you send your script out to so many companies and you get passes. And I'm very proud of the script I worked. [00:59:42] Speaker B: Did you write by yourself? [00:59:43] Speaker A: I Wrote it by myself. I did eight passes of it with notes from my manager and from friends that I trust and everything. We did it until we felt like it was undeniable as, like, a first feature script. Because you don't want to go out. Do not be going out there with a first or second draft of your script and sending that to executives. Like, don't do that. You have one shot. You have one shot for your first project. Like, you have one shot. And so thankfully, I have a manager that's like, very. Like, he's like, it's not there yet. It's not there yet. It's not there yet. And I'm like, okay. And he's like, it's a 7.5 out of 10. It's an eight out of 10. It's an 8.5 out of ten. [01:00:24] Speaker C: It's an eight out of ten. It's back to an eight. [01:00:26] Speaker A: Back. Okay. It's back to a seven point. [01:00:28] Speaker C: We're at a six now. Let's go. [01:00:31] Speaker A: It's four. I don't know what you did. And so then we finally got it where he was like, it's ready to send out. It's ready. [01:00:39] Speaker B: Yeah. [01:00:40] Speaker A: And thankfully, I thought it was ready. It wasn't. Like, I was making changes, like, to make it what he wanted. [01:00:45] Speaker B: That's a whole conversation itself of, like, when is the script ready? And with notes and all that. But, like, what did you have in that on that eighth draft? You're like, okay. Because when you get so close to something, like, if I'm in an edit for 20, like, I can't see the thing anymore. [01:01:02] Speaker A: Oh, my God. I had to step away a lot. I had to. [01:01:06] Speaker B: Was this over a couple years you were writing that. [01:01:08] Speaker A: Okay, this was. So I wrote it over. Like, the first time I wrote it was over maybe like, nine months or something. And then I stepped away for a year. [01:01:17] Speaker B: Great. [01:01:17] Speaker A: Then came back and over eight more months, did like, basically eight page one rewrites. And wow. Because my first draft is 170 pages. You can't make a movie, which is too many. For the record. Yeah, for the record, it's like, should be max 120. But mostly, like, for a comedy, like, 90 pages. [01:01:39] Speaker B: What are you at right now? What's. [01:01:41] Speaker A: And now it's 109 pages. [01:01:43] Speaker C: That's fine. Get it down to 100. [01:01:46] Speaker A: Okay, chill. Okay, Chill. [01:01:47] Speaker C: That's okay. [01:01:48] Speaker A: Chill. It's been sent out months ago. [01:01:50] Speaker C: And by the way, like, I just. For the 30,000 foot view, like, as a writer, this is. This Is the job. You know, the job is not glamorous. The job is not selling the script. The job. The job is. [01:02:04] Speaker A: It depends. [01:02:05] Speaker C: Okay, for sure. [01:02:07] Speaker A: So it depends, Right. [01:02:09] Speaker C: But the job, like, for. I found just working with writers and writing myself. Like, for. To not drive yourself absolutely insane when you get passes. You need to consider it all part of the job. You know what I mean? [01:02:22] Speaker A: Yes, 100% no. Because it's surprising to me. It's like, this is my baby. I've worked so hard on it. This is one that I'm directing. This is going to be my first feature, and I'm trying to go into production on it in 2026. So we have preliminary budget. We have preliminary shooting schedule, and we're trying to attach producers, but we're gonna go. I have a deadline. Cause I'm like, I'm so tired of waiting. I'm so tired of waiting. I have a deadline for basically end of March where my manager knows that, like, we're getting crafty. I'm literally going to, like, rich gynecologists and asking them for money because I don't want to wait for permission to make this. This is my first feature. And especially due to the subject matter, it's very. Like, there are a lot of companies that have been like, oh, my God, this is hilarious. But, like, it's a little left and center for us because it's like a female sex comedy where it's about, like, a girl's pussy doesn't work. [01:03:25] Speaker C: Yeah. [01:03:26] Speaker B: And so Shiva, baby. [01:03:27] Speaker A: Yeah. [01:03:28] Speaker B: Like that movie. Are those girls behind it? [01:03:31] Speaker A: They love those girls behind it. [01:03:32] Speaker B: You should. I don't know. But they had a similar situation maybe if. If March comes. And they ended up really pushing for hitting everyone they've ever met in terms of raising money. And it worked out. They were just super. Obviously, it's one location for them, or it was a couple, whatever. [01:03:52] Speaker A: But, like, I know it sucks because mine is. [01:03:54] Speaker B: But it's a road trip. Like, I'm still, you know, figure it out, but that could be. Yeah, just exactly. [01:04:01] Speaker C: We've talked. Yeah, totally. We've talked on the show. Like, we talked with Jack Laure, mayor, who was talking about. He was talking. [01:04:07] Speaker B: I mean, he. [01:04:08] Speaker C: He produced. And he's like an indie producer, right? Where he. He has to figure out really crafty ways to find out money. And I think he was producing it for this writer director who was, like, part of this. Like, this. It wasn't a support group. It was like some sort of, like, you know, female business associator. Association or something like that. And he was like, just talk to every single person in that group. And they all like, they like. She got like 100k from like whatever. [01:04:38] Speaker B: Yeah. [01:04:38] Speaker C: So it's like you kind of. The gynecologist route is like a great route. [01:04:42] Speaker A: Yeah. [01:04:42] Speaker C: Like, you know, like you have to be really crafty with which. And figure out a great partner to do it with. Because we were talking even off air about how, you know, you, you know, producing is not like the thing you want to be doing someday. You're more so a director. So figuring out what sort of partner to do that with. [01:04:59] Speaker A: Yeah. So it's been, it's been a process of. It's been a long process. It's a hurry up and wait situation because it was very much gotta get the script ready to go out there. Da da da da. But not till it's ready, but like da da da da. And eight passes. Like finally. We finally, finally, finally send it out in late September to bunch of different companies and we still haven't heard back from some. And that's like normal. And it's, as we speak, February. [01:05:27] Speaker C: That's crazy. [01:05:27] Speaker A: And gotten a lot of passes. Some of my favorite passes. A lot of nice passes. A lot of passes that have turned into meetings. Which is awesome. [01:05:36] Speaker C: Exactly. I was gonna say, like now they know your voice as a writer, which when they have. [01:05:40] Speaker A: This one's not for us. But can we. What do you do? [01:05:42] Speaker C: Exactly. Exactly. And let's meet you, let's know who you are. Make sure you're not like a weirdo. [01:05:47] Speaker A: Yeah. [01:05:47] Speaker C: You know, like. And now we know Ally and she's. [01:05:50] Speaker B: Who do you. You like put on a. What do you do? You put on a tomb. [01:05:54] Speaker C: Yeah. Are you wearing a three piece suit or. [01:05:56] Speaker A: I want more three piece suits. I have a Pinterest board called Generals and it's just like a lot of like. Yeah. Sort of. I want my vibe in Generals to be kind of like I'm coming in with flared pink corduroys and like a cool 70s top, you know. You guys watch in the studio. [01:06:15] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah. [01:06:16] Speaker A: You know what Quinn in the studio wears? [01:06:18] Speaker B: Yeah. [01:06:18] Speaker A: Her fits are fire. Yeah, yeah, I'm trying to wear that. [01:06:20] Speaker C: Okay, cool. [01:06:22] Speaker A: That's kind of what I'm trying to wear is like a sort of 70s businesswoman kind of look. [01:06:25] Speaker B: You should tag that too, if you're cool with sharing that. [01:06:27] Speaker A: Like in my Pinterest board for General, that's actually. [01:06:31] Speaker B: Well, we're talking about the future. We get the project. We got all projects called Virgin child of the universe. Virgin universe. And we also have spoken about where you're from. Have you made your way and Stanford and AFI and these films in between. The question we ask all of our guests at the end of the episode, very simply, what is the dream? [01:06:56] Speaker A: Hold my hand, guys. Hold the hand. [01:06:59] Speaker C: What's the dream, Allie? [01:07:00] Speaker A: What's the dream? [01:07:03] Speaker C: This is gonna be tough, besides being on the show, to be right here [01:07:07] Speaker A: with you guys right now. [01:07:10] Speaker B: Thank you. [01:07:12] Speaker A: The dream. The dream. The dream is to be a writer director, who acts in my own stuff, but more so other people's stuff. I never wanna lose the fact that I'm an actor, which has been taking a back seat over the past couple years. However, I've also realized that the way that I like to direct is so kind of like I gotta be behind the camera. So I don't know how I could like star in my own stuff. Although that was my original dream was kind of the. Sorry, but I can say it because I'm a girl. The kind of Woody Allen, like Greta Gerwig, like Taiko Waititi way of doing things like. These are my. Mel Brooks. Love him. That was gonna be so loud for you guys. [01:07:57] Speaker C: Yeah, we'll figure that out. [01:07:59] Speaker A: Yeah, you'll figure that out. I'll kinda take that down. Or just leave it. And the dream. Oh my God. I sent Mel Brooks office a letter begging him to watch Teen Mary. I just really want him to watch it before he dies. Yeah, guys, if you can get my movie to Mel Brooks, I'll pay you $200. Yeah, $200. [01:08:18] Speaker B: That's a bunch of money. Yeah, yeah. [01:08:22] Speaker C: Can everybody tag Mel, Mel Brooks. [01:08:24] Speaker A: Mel in the comments below? Yeah, yeah, Mel. Hang in there, okay? He's so old, you guys. He's 98. Come on. [01:08:31] Speaker B: He has to watch. [01:08:32] Speaker A: He's. [01:08:33] Speaker C: But that youth energy. [01:08:34] Speaker A: I know. He's so evil. He's amazing. [01:08:37] Speaker B: The dream. [01:08:38] Speaker A: The dream. [01:08:39] Speaker C: Dick Van Dyke is really old too. [01:08:40] Speaker A: Oh God. [01:08:42] Speaker C: Over a hundreds talk about sen. Whoa. I'm actually not going to talk about it. Centenarian. [01:08:48] Speaker A: Centenarian. Very nice. Right? [01:08:50] Speaker C: Centenarian. [01:08:52] Speaker B: Yeah. [01:08:52] Speaker C: Talk about centenarians. [01:08:57] Speaker A: Yeah. Talk about sentient and nering. [01:08:58] Speaker C: Okay, so the dream goes to. [01:09:01] Speaker A: As far as the dream goes. [01:09:02] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah. [01:09:04] Speaker A: So do I want to act in my own stuff? Yeah. Am I going to act in my future? I'm going to give myself a cameo, this small role at the end. Because I don't know if I can be the maker. Yeah. Because I want to like focus. So the dream is to be a Writer, director, actor. And the dream is to work with people that I love and people who are my friends. And the dream is to make movies. Now I'm turning Teen Mary into a TV show. I'm developing it as a TV show with a Canadian company. I'm very excited for it to be a pilot. We're doing this series, Bible, right now. We're gonna start pitching that so I could be a little. In the TV world. I like to have a story be finished. So I like to be in movies. Like, that's what most of my ideas are for. But I wanna make things that are making people laugh that are. Listen, I'm a lover, not a fighter. I am gonna ultimately be. If there's an apocalypse, I'm, like, entertaining the camp around the fire. [01:10:01] Speaker C: Yeah, you're like the jester. [01:10:02] Speaker A: That's why I'm putting on. [01:10:03] Speaker C: I've always thought I would be the jester too. [01:10:05] Speaker A: Yeah. [01:10:05] Speaker B: Yeah. [01:10:06] Speaker A: I'm put here on Earth to make people laugh by telling them stories and performing for them and bringing them joy. So that's what I'm here to do. And that's the dream. And then eventually, my dream, one day I'm gonna have baby's tail, bring them on set. So imagine. [01:10:26] Speaker B: Put them in the movies. [01:10:27] Speaker A: No, no, Imagine this. How sexy they're loving crap. [01:10:30] Speaker B: Yeah, right. [01:10:31] Speaker A: Baby on my chest, strapped to my chest, wearing baby headphones because the set's loud. [01:10:37] Speaker B: Yeah. [01:10:38] Speaker A: I don't give a fuck. [01:10:38] Speaker C: And you're wearing your headphones as I'm wearing. [01:10:40] Speaker A: I'm on comms. I'm sitting on the fucking crane. [01:10:43] Speaker B: Yeah. [01:10:43] Speaker A: The baby's there asleep. I'm like, action. Like, how sick would that be? Right? [01:10:49] Speaker B: Yeah. [01:10:50] Speaker A: Yeah. Then I get the photo op. I'm like, okay, take it. Like. I'm just kidding. I'm just kidding. [01:10:53] Speaker B: Yeah. Yeah, you're kidding. You could have the baby hold the monitor, too. [01:10:57] Speaker C: Yeah. [01:10:58] Speaker A: So cute. It drops it. Monitor break. $3,000 monitor. [01:11:02] Speaker C: Whatever. Yeah, yeah. [01:11:03] Speaker A: But I just, you know, I do want it all and. And I. [01:11:07] Speaker C: And you're gonna get it all. [01:11:09] Speaker A: I hope so. [01:11:10] Speaker C: Absolutely. [01:11:10] Speaker A: You guys be there along the ride. [01:11:12] Speaker B: We'll be here. Right here on this couch. [01:11:14] Speaker A: Right here on this couch. [01:11:15] Speaker B: Seriously, we'll all be here. [01:11:16] Speaker C: We're contractually not allowed to leave this couch, though, so. [01:11:18] Speaker A: Do you think we'll be friends to our scented nin airy? [01:11:20] Speaker C: We'll be. [01:11:21] Speaker B: Seriously, we'll be. We're just gonna be right here, so. [01:11:24] Speaker A: Okay, good. [01:11:25] Speaker B: Yeah. [01:11:25] Speaker A: Yeah. [01:11:26] Speaker C: This has been awesome. Really. Thank you for coming on this has been so fun. This episode was so. I mean, it was like, for some reason, it was unexpected in terms of how deep we got with the artistic purpose and all of that. Like, it inspires me as an artist. I know it inspires Luke, and I feel like it. Yeah, well, Luke, I won't speak on. [01:11:46] Speaker A: Yeah, please don't speak for Luke. She was disinspired. [01:11:49] Speaker C: But. But thank you so much for coming into the studio. [01:11:53] Speaker A: Thank you for having me. [01:11:54] Speaker B: Yeah. [01:11:55] Speaker A: I'm having a good chat here for so long. [01:11:57] Speaker B: Are you ever going to make short films again? Or is this. It was Teen Mary. You're done. I have said I've reached the top. I'm done. [01:12:03] Speaker A: I mean, I think, like, ultimately the goal is features, but I do have a couple ideas. I'm like, why not? My batteries are right. [01:12:10] Speaker B: Yeah. [01:12:10] Speaker A: I have this idea based on something that happened to me once when I was in the hospital. Actually, yesterday was Valentine's Day. Actually, on Valentine's Day, two years ago, I was in the hospital for, like, a crazy fever I was having. And they told me I was pregnant and I wasn't pregnant, but they mixed up my pee with somebody else's. And it was an Absolutely insane 5050 comedy. [01:12:31] Speaker B: May 3rd. [01:12:32] Speaker A: Okay. Gotta make it and then submit it. [01:12:34] Speaker C: And by the way, that's when the festival is. May 3, 5050 comedy. [01:12:37] Speaker B: 5050 comedy. [01:12:38] Speaker A: May 3. [01:12:39] Speaker B: 5050 comedy. May 3rd. [01:12:41] Speaker A: So on May 3rd, there's this thing, it's called 5050 comedy. It's on May 3rd, 2026. [01:12:45] Speaker C: What do we think? 5:00pm, 6:00pm, 6 to 10. [01:12:48] Speaker A: 6 p. Tempe, 6 p. 10 p. Yeah. [01:12:58] Speaker B: Did you learn something? I'm like your mom. Did you learn something in this episode? I hope so. Or not. That's okay. Thanks for hanging. Make sure you follow us at the 5050Fest on Instagram and give us five stars, because. Why not? Why not subscribe? Why not? You know why not. Okay, bye.