You might know Rebekka Johnson as wrestler Dawn Rivecca on Netflix’s Glow! But round here we know her as a dang improv babe. She taught the very first level 1 class back at the Nerdist School and she’s back with us at The Ruby to teach part of our newest improv class. Here she talks about her very first improv team.

What was the name of your very first improv team and how did ya’ll decide on the name?

My first improv group was Possible Side Effects. They started the group before I got to college. I saw them at my orientation in 1997 and basically stalked and charmed them until they let me in. We still perform together sometimes and they are some of my best friends!

What’s the absolute worst place you’ve ever done improv?

We got hired to do a bar mitzvah. The show was so terrible that I called the first set after 15 minutes thinking it had been 30. Time drags nearly to a halt when no one is laughing at your make em ups.

What’s your most favorite thing about improv?

I love when you lock in with someone and your subconscious takes over. When you find patterns and heighten without even thinking about it.

Note from Rebekka: The photo (is) of 3 of us from PSE (Jim Festante, Rhea Ramey and myself) . Our shirts say “Free Sex” from far away but up close they say, “Possible Side Effects”. We were THAT funny.

Now announcing! Meme Club!

It’s a totally chill relaxed new club led by Jacky Tran and Jamee Lind! Want to learn the art of editing, writing blackouts, acting? That’s what this club will do! The goal of the club is to walk away with a completed small piece of content after every meeting. We’re going to explore short form storytelling in lots of different formats and probably make lots of best friends in the process!

Interested in coming to the first meeting on September 23rd @ 3 pm? RSVP here. Everyone is welcome!

Lindsay Stidham has been doing this writing thing a long time. So when we caught up with her, we had to get the deets on some of her first writing gigs.

What’s the first thing you ever wrote?

The first content I ever made was taped radio shows starring me and my Dad on my Fisher Price Tape recorder. The first screenplay I wrote was while I was working a summer desk job at an apartment rental agency in undergrad about a group of people connected through Publisher’s Clearing House sweepstakes. A short film script about suffragettes and their underground correspondence got me into the American Film Institute.

What’s your favorite line you’ve written?

Favorite line of dialogue from a recent script: I keep rescuing cats to see if I can make myself cry.

If you could go back in time and give yourself advice, what would you say?

Never give up your best studio apartments in Los Angeles. Stay there as long as you can and do your best writing. 🙂

When you got your first paycheck from a writing gig, did you buy yourself a present? What was it?

I paid off bills and in the days before ObamaCare I took care of so many healthcare things I put off because at that time I didn’t have health insurance! Now I’d likely finance a small project to direct.

 

Tess Paras! Woman about town! You know her from Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and her hilarious viral videos. And when she’s not bouncing through auditions, you can find her teaching a new acting class at The Ruby LA! We caught up with Tess in between meetings and scoped out her bag.

What’s in your bag?

Today, I’m carrying around: a pair of blue suede heels, my iPad, my cosmetic case (a concealer, palette, lip stuff, cheek stuff, mascara), mini water bottle that (I promise I reuse it and will recycle it when the time comes!), highlighter, blue pen, audition sides, and my wallet with way too many frequent coffee-buyer punch cards inside.

What’s the number one thing you can’t leave home without?

Obviously, my phone, which is so gross and sad because most of the time I wish I didn’t have to be attached to that freakin’ thing.
What can I say? I’m a big texter. I love to texty, text, text, text! Beyond that, I usually have chapstick or a tinted lip balm on me. This is an interview for InStyle Magazine, right?

Are you a crossbody, over one shoulder, or gimme a clutch kind of chic?

Most days I’m a canvas tote bag person. I use one that I got for free from the gym that’s relatively nondescript. I also use this leather tote bag for audition days. It’s the same shape, but I feel slightly more presentable. When I’m writing and hopping around from coffee shop to coffee shop, I usually lug everything in a backpack. However, on the weekends, I just put things in my giant denim jacket. It’s got a million pockets and I can fill it with so much stuff, I feel like Mary Poppins… Filipino-American Mary Poppins.

Kara Lee Burke – dog owner, writer, and regular rad lady gives us a little sneak peek of her desk. And her super cute pup!

What thing do you have to have to start working?

My dog needs to have been walked. I need to be caffeinated. Daily emails need to be taken care of. And I often decide while on deadlines that my work space / entire house needs to be in order (which is really just procrastination / a way to lose an entire day to cleaning).

What’s your favorite thing in your desk area and why?

See picture and you tell me. 🙂

What is a just punishment for people who steal pens?

I have stolen my share of pens…so when people steal pens from me I figure it’s just karma.

Thanks Kara Lee Burke!