Lisa Laureta, Ruby performer and pro photographer, will be hosting a heavily discounted headshot photo session day at the Ruby on August 11 from 12-5pm. This is an opportunity for groups or individuals who perform and/or take classes at the Ruby to get some fun shots. These shots can be used as basic headshots, promotional photos, or as covers to your team’s future memoire.

Each group or individual will have 20 minutes for $25! $5 from each session will go to the non-profit “A Different Drum,” an organization that empowers, inspires, and provides an inclusive space for lgbtq youth through music. More info can be found through their instagram @adifferentdrumLA

Headshot sessions have been blocked five minutes apart so it’s very important for you to show up on time for your slot. This means probably 15 minutes early. If the individual is not there on time, they forfeit their slot, and if all members of the team aren’t there on time, then the rest of the team will start without late member(s). That’s Hollywood baby! That’s also just being fair to everyone else who wants to take advantage of this sweet deal.

Why is this deal so sweet?

Because Lisa’s hoping that when you’re done you’ll have had so much darn fun that you have no choice but to recommend her to friends and tag her in any posts of photos she shot of you. But it’s also because she wants to help you out with your career and knows how expensive just living in this city can be, let alone trying to actually be creative and get work!

So come on by for some fun times and some cool shots. Bring props, or don’t! Come in makeup or pajamas! Just make sure to bring your fun self!

For samples of Lisa’s shots or to book a full session, head to her website here!
To book a slot please fill in your team/individual click the link below. Cash or Venmo will be accepted day-of.

Notebooks. They’re filled with your to do list, your sketch ideas, your improv notes from coaching (now THOSE are some weird notes to go back over). They’re very personal and very you. That’s why we asked three of our fave sketch writers to send us pics of their notebooks. And they did NOT disappoint. All three images match each writer’s hilarious personality to a T, if you ask me. Check each notebook out and find out what’s inside below!

Julia Bartlett (Money Pit)

What do you use your notebook for?
This notebook is for sketch team meeting notes and comedy brainstorms.

Do you keep all your old notebooks for the memories? Or do you Marie Kondo that sh*t?
Oh yeah, I keep all my notebooks for the memories. And they all spark joy.

Pick a random page in your notebook – what’s the funniest word (or phrase).
Anchovies on pizza bagels.

 

 

 

 

Kay Kaanapu (Money Pit / Branzino)

What do you use your notebook for?
To write down anything I need/want to remember because as my mother says – my memory is like Teflon, nothing sticks.

Do you keep all your old notebooks for the memories? Or do you Marie Kondo that sh*t?
I try to Marie Kondo my notes every once in a while but then end up saving them cause I need more time to figure out what they mean.

Pick a random page in your notebook – what’s the funniest word (or phrase).
Greed rhymes with seed.

Ruby Marez (Splash)

What do you use your notebook for?
I use it for everything: sketch notes, ideas, shopping lists, pricing out camper vans for a camping trip!

Do you keep all your old notebooks for the memories? Or do you Marie Kondo that sh*t?
I’d be lost without my notebooks and keep every single one. Sometimes i even create tabbed sections and an index on the front page so i know what is in said notebook for reference.
One day I may purge some but they feel like a part of me and I’m ok with that! I revisit my journals too!

Pick a random page in your notebook – what’s the funniest word (or phrase).
Pee Wee with magicalness!

If you’ve got an empty notebook sitting around that you’d like to fill up with hilarious thoughts – why not take one of our new stand up or storytelling classes?? We’ll fill those notebooks up for you right quick!

 

Please join us in welcoming our newest sketch team members – Kay Kaanapu and Jocelyn Manns to Money Pit and Vince Elra and Sarah Halle Corey to The Vanities!! Congrats all and thanks to all that submitted!

Ya’ll.  It’s here. It’s really here. Food from Hood Bruja. Comedy from these hilarious comedians. Hosting from Sister Mora Lee D’Klined. And a Consent Booth. (It’s like a kissing booth…. but it’s all about consent bb). And the proceeds go towards our Inclusion Program. Will we see you at our Queer Comedy Fest on Saturday?

Tess Paras shares her thoughts on diversity, equity, and inclusivity (DE&I for all the newbies) in the entertainment industry in this short little interview!

How have you seen the industry change in the past few years, since it seems that people have become more aware of inclusive casting and diverse stories? Have studios really been working towards this goal, or is it all lip service?

The industry has changed for sure! There’s still a lot of work to do, but every year there are more and more opportunities for inclusion – whether that means a call to action to diversify writers’ rooms or have more inclusive casts that reflect the world around us. We owe a lot to recent projects like Black Panther, Get Out, and Crazy Rich Asians because they were phenomenal AND made a lot of money. That’s what creates attention at studios. However, at the same time, Hollywood doesn’t take risks on a lot of new faces — those projects came from creators who already had proven track record of incredible work – Ryan Coogler, Jordan Peele, Jon M. Chu. Even with CRA, it was a best-selling novel first, so now a lot of studios are looking at Asian authors and novelists to work off of that intellectual property. Furthermore, the Asian-American shows that are all the rage this pilot season are centered on the Chinese American experience because of the impact of CRA. It’s not all lip-service, but Hollywood still does a lot to stay within the framework of what’s familiar, whether it be a story or the people attached to it.

Where does the industry still need improvement?

On the buying side and on the creative leadership side. Folks who are buying scripts and developing at networks and studios are still majority caucasian. From my experience pitching, I’m constantly explaining what being a Filipino American is (Asian face + Spanish last name = mini colonial history lesson) when I share my story. That immediately makes me feel like it’s not a level playing field at all – I’m still “othered” when I walk into those rooms and have to work even harder to feel understood and equal. I want there to be more diverse buyers! Same thing with creative leadership – your Executive Producers, your Showrunners, your Directors — there need to be more diverse people in those positions, too! That’s when we’ll get better, more nuanced worlds, characters, and stories and less tokenism.

How are you celebrating Asian / Pacific American Heritage month?

So far, APAHM has been dope! I just had the world premiere of the short film I wrote and directed, The Patients, at the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival. I also spoke on a panel at their creative conference. I’ve been to this festival for years as an audience member and a student, taking notes in the back and aspiring to make my way creatively. So, to come back as a writer/director and actress has been full circle. I really love being a part of the filmmaking community and being able to give back! Plus, my mom said she was proud of me. And, if you’re the daughter of Asian immigrants, well, you know that’s like, hella rare.

We are now accepting performer submissions for our Ruby LA Queer Comedy Fest! Last year was a galvanizingly good time. The acts were all incredible. The shows were packed to the brim. The food truck was phenomenal. So you def. want to be there. The application is super easy to fill out. If you identify as LGBTQIA+ then we want to hear from you. Hurry! Applications close on April 30th!

And if you don’t identify as LGBTQIA+ you can still be there to support the action, you know, cuz you’re a good ally! We’ll open up our volunteer committees in May so keep your eye’s peeled for that announcement.

Christina Igaraividez has a strong passion for storytelling and has performed across various stages in L.A., taught storytelling at corporate seminars, won multiple StorySlam competitions at the Moth and is a Moth Mainstage performer. Woah. That’s some pretty incredible credentials. This is why we’re so excited she’s teaching our newest storytelling class – Storytelling for the Stage and Beyond. Here we go all TBT with her!

What’s the first thing you ever wrote and what’s your favorite line from that piece?
I wrote a book in the 4th grade which was about all the crazy things that dogs do to disrupt your life. It was a comedy. It was titled something like “The How and the What (Is He Doing’s) of Dogs”.

If you could go back in time and give yourself advice, what would you say?
Take an improv class. Now. Like as soon as possible. It changed my life and was my gateway drug to everything else I did after that, from a creative perspective. I only wish I had started sooner. (editor’s note – we totally agree)

What was your favorite book when you were a kid?
Goosebumps by R.L. Stine (if that is their real name) is literally what got me to read more often. I think we can all agree these were the best series of books ever made.