Fish Out Of Water: A Sketch Writing Podcast

In this episode, Catherine Donnelly, joined us to talk about getting web series into festivals and what goes into writing and producing internet content. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

iO west is dead. Jeremiah and Ryan were both performers there for years and we will miss it dearly. We decided to scream into the black void that is the internet on this week's episode. We both loved the opportunities that iO gave us, we loved the community and we loved our teams. We gained many, many things from the theatre and we owe it a lot. We get into all positives and negatives on the podcast and if gossiping like high school kids is your thing then this is the episode for you. #RIPIOWEST Check out our archives on Boardwalk Audio And Follow us on Twitter @foowpod See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Boy Howdy is it good to be back! Jeremiah and Ryan took a 4 month hiatus to make some videos, work some jobs and kick some ass and we're all out of video ideas. So here we are, ready to do season 2 of the Fish Out Of Water podcast! We got really lucky to have our first guest of the new season be Henry Kaiser. This is actually the lost episode from season 1 but we wanted to start here because it was such a good episode. Moving forward we are switching up the format to feel like more of writers room where we have our favorite writers and best friends come on and share sketch notes, stories, and all the crazy bullshit we do in the real world. We are going to still be accepting user submitted sketches to get notes from our esteemed colleagues and we will also be pitching ideas just like we always have. If you have ever wondered what a sketch team meeting feels like or want to get some quick tips to make all your sketches better then stay tuned because it's about to get real. Stupid. It's about to get real stupid. But also with notes. It's about to get stupid AND WITH NOTES. Whatever just subscribe to us HERE Follow us on Twitter and don't miss a beat*: @FOOWPod *That was a sketch joke. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eric Owusu (Wuwu) joins Ryan and Jeremiah to talk about how he got his literary agent. He also has written sketch shows and pilots and pitched them all over Los Angeles. After joining a sketch team in college and going to Washington D.C., he was accepted into the CBS diversity showcase and moved to Hollywood. Now he writes for Raven's Home on The Disney Channel and also for Dad Jean's at iO West. We also want to thank Hayley Ellman for sending in a sketch to read this week. Find Eric on Twitter HERE Find us on Twitter HERE Send us your sketches to read on the show at foowpod@gmail.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zora Bikangaga may possibly be our most interesting guest to date. This man has been on "This American life" because he pretended to be an Ugandan international student for an entire semester. After committing to the bit for so long he followed his new found love of acting and writing down to Los Angeles. I say down because he's from Northern California. Mr. B was a middle school teacher and a social issues theatre performer and talks about using some those real situations to create characters as well as write premises. Which just goes to prove that living a real life is just as important to comedy as being a comedian. Zora wrote, created and starred in HOA alongside the likes of Horatio Sanz and Cheri Oteri, he freelances for Cracked, he has worked on Drunk History, Adam Ruins Everything and he is a writer for the Upright Citizens Brigade maude team "New Deal". Listen to the this American life episode HERE Check out the trailer for HOA HERE Get tickets to see his maude team HERE See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Billy Merritt graced FOOW this week to talk about scientology, not writing for the Denny's Twitter feed and finding the deeper meaning in your sketches. We discussed writing material that appeals to all ages (and the fact that all kids across the world laugh at fart jokes) and using your "where" to help find the deeper meaning in your sketches if you're stuck while writing. Billy has been a performer, teacher and director with the UCB Theatre since it first opened in New York. He is a founding member of improv groups The Swarm, The Stepfathers and The Smokes. You can find Billy's improv workshop HERE Follow Billy on Twitter HERE Follow Billy on Instagram HERE Tickets to see Billy perform with The Smokes HERE Follow us on Twitter: @FOOWpod or click HERE Send us your sketches to critique at foowpod@gmail.com Check out our 1st Fish Out Of Water Digital Sketch HERE See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joe Hartzler, the master of comedic suspense, joins us to talk about taking the audience on a laugh voyage, not just a laugh bus ride. Mr. Hartzler wants comedians to start using every part of the bit, not just the funny part. He helped us explore the nature of our comedy by showing us the many paint brushes that we have artists - not just the obvious ones. Joe has been a performer at UCB since 2007 and taught improv there for several years. He was a member of one of the first maude teams - Up Up Up. You may have also seen him helping sell xbox's on your television, as well as all over youtube.com. Joe is a comedy genius and I don't use that term lightly. Watch acting Tips with Joe Hartzler here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6i57qG1DGY Trophy Case can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikBNRBTcU9A Follow Joe on Twitter: @joehartzler Follow us on Twitter: @FOOWpod See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

David Baldy, who has had many writers jobs and various production jobs in Hollywood, was kind enough to stop in and talk to us for damn near 2 hours. This episode is loaded with tips on how to get that staff writer job you've always wanted. Mr. Baldy, took calculated risks but also made sure he was prepared for the job he wanted. He started as a writers assistant and worked through the ranks until he reached the level of Co-Executive Producer. He shared with us how he got started and also how he navigated through the maze of the writing industry. Most of the stuff he talks about is actionable and replicable. Give this episode a listen with a pencil near by because you might just need it, Also, he's into Crossfit, so of course we talked about that. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Anna is a phenomenal writer and one of the funniest people we've had on our podcast BUT that pales in comparison to how hard of a worker she is by all accounts. So, obviously we were very appreciative that she made time in her busy schedule to come on and talk with us. And talk she did, we spoke about the best practices for getting to be a part of the CBS diversity showcase. She explained how she puts a packet together, what should and should not go into it, how long it should be and also some of the lesser known requirements. Madam Cecilia also gave us a brief tutorial on taking notes when they are given to you. Spoiler Alert: You're argument against taking them is almost always wrong. Anna was also a staff writer for Awesome TV, a writer on the teams Sugar and Bombardier at UCB, a writer/performer on the team Jet Jaguar at iO West, and she now coaches iO West house team, Wilton. Get tickets to Maude Night: https://sunset.ucbtheatre.com/performance/50635 Follow Anna on Twitter: https://twitter.com/theannacecilia Visit her website: http://annacecilia.net/Anna_Cecilia/Home.html You can follow Fish Out Of Water on Twitter: https://twitter.com/foowpod You can send us your scripts to read and critique: foowpod@gmail.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our old friend, Hal Rudnick, joins us this week and talks about his process in creating characters and writing sketches. You may know Hal from "The Midnight Show", "Screen Junkies", and "Tournament of Nerds" plus he's been all over your TV and internet. BUT THAT'S NOT ALL, Hal is in the next season of "America's Got Talent" doing an original character he calls Eric Jennifer. Mr Rudnick is a character expert. He would have a PHD from Harvard in character creation - if that was a thing. Hal teaches Character 101 and 201 at the Upright Citizens Brigade in Los Angeles. he also teaches sketch and improv and holds the record with most Harold teams. I believe it's 6. Anywhoo, get to know Hal by: Following him on Twitter @HalRudnick Watch him on Screen Junkies - https://www.youtube.com/user/screenjunkies And Most importantly, follow Eric Jennifer on twitter @EricJennifer007 Also follow us: @FOOWpod And send us your sketches to go through on the podcast with our guest at foowpod@gmail.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Andy Harris is a freelance Comedy Writer for Radio Shows all over this glorious country. He has over a decade of experience and has worked with many, many clients. His job consists of writing and producing up to 20 bits a day, so naturally we talked to him about his idea generation process. Andy guides us through how he comes up with so many, nearly 100, topical sketches a week. His process is very different than what we usually do on this show and he even presents us with a finished product of what we come up with. Its pretty exciting, guys! So hold onto your butts! Listen to Andy on The Comedy Couple: https://www.facebook.com/comedycouple/ Follow Andy on Twitter: @THEAndyHarris Follow The Comedy Couple on Twitter: @thecomedycouple ‏ Follow Fish Out Of Water on Twitter: @FOOWpod See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Making Canale, the Managing Director, as well as one of the main voices in putting together sketch teams at iO West talked to Ryan about what goes into deciding who has got the goods during the audition process. We talk about what you should put into a writing packet and how to approach both a scene and solo character audition. We also talk about enjoying what you do. Mike brings up how important having fun is to the process. This was a great episode, even if Jeremiah was in Portland. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kate Huffman, ladies and gentlemen! She is a Writer/Performer for the team Drug Money at iO West and also a Writer/Performer for the team Sidekick who you can see at The Second City. Kate also recently premiered a one woman show called "I'm Too Fat For This Show" which will be having a run at the Los Angeles Fringe Festival June 2nd, 10th, 18th, 19th, and 25th (link below for more info). Kate was kind enough to talk to us about the process of writing a one women show and all the challenges that come with creating it. She opens up about the emotions that both go into the topics of the show and also feelings that arise that make it difficult to move forward when writing a full piece by yourself. Then we pitch dick jokes. A thoughtful, heartwarming story of triumph AND dIck Jokes? What more could you ask for. Check out "I'm Too Fat For This Show": http://www.hollywoodfringe.org/projects/4586?tab=tickets Check out Drug Money: http://ioimprov.com/west/shows/drug-money/ Check Out Sidekick: http://www.secondcity.com/shows/hollywood/sidekick/ See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices