It’s that time again, time to sign up for our micro Sketch Festival! Get all the festival info you need here.
And check out some videos from our past festivals below!
Today we talked with Lisa Timmons – the teacher for our newest writing class – Creating a Scripted Podcast! And got the real scoop about murder podcasts.
First off, what do you think is the biggest difference between a scripted podcast and a regular screenplay?
In screenwriting, writers are told, “Show, don’t tell.” However, in a scripted audio podcast, it’s the opposite: “Tell what you can’t show.” Whether it’s through the device of a narrator, through slightly expository character dialogue or through creating a distinct audioscape, you’re forced to shift your storytelling tools from a visual to an audio perspective.
What are some of your favorite scripted podcasts out now?
At the moment, I’m really loving Alice Isn’t Dead, My Dad Wrote a Porno, and the classic Welcome to Night Vale.
How much murder does a person’s podcast need to have to make it in the podcasting biz? How much murder should they have if they’re in the murder biz?
Crime podcasts seem to be multiplying faster than a pair of unsupervised elementary school guinea pigs. And that’s because like sex, murder sells! You can never have enough murder in your podcast! But in all seriousness, humans have been passionate about murder and crime since forever (read the Bible lately?) and the intimacy of the audio podcast format only seems to heighten the creepiness you can achieve in your storytelling. I’m not saying that you have to write a murder-based audio podcast, but if the podcast idea burning a hole in your soul has murder in it, I certainly wouldn’t kick it out of bed…or out of my ears.
Ever need to create a character for a sketch video or TikTok but can’t think of a damn thing? Well, we made a Random Character Generator for all your sketchy sketch needs. Hit refresh on this baddie if nothing is causing comedic genius. You can also take our Character Class here to learn how to really flesh out these new Tiktok personas.
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What is Ruby TV? Ruby TV is the one-stop place for all your comedic sketches, series, and shorts all written and acted in by our hilarious performers! We’re so proud of them!
If you’d like to check out Ruby TV head here. And you can subscribe to The Ruby LA youtube channel here to check vids out as soon as they are published!
Sid Raskind from our own sketch team The ‘Burbs and Tiktok fame sits down and chats with us all about creating vids.
What made you decide to start doing Tiktok videos?
I decided to make TikToks to break up the day to day of my office job. I could make them on my breaks or make them fast at my desk. It was a creative outlet that helped my ADD brain feel less confined.
How often do you produce content? And what tips do you have for getting over Tiktok writer’s block?
I make three to five videos a day when I have a thought or feel inspired. My biggest tip is make your first TikTok and your writer’s block will be cured.
The magic of TikTok is that writer’s block is solved for you by the platform. TikTok is based on sounds and trends that are made to be repeated in different ways. You get the opportunity to create and move past the block to unlock your creativity.
You’re also a writer and performer on The ‘Burbs! What’s your favorite Burbs memory?
I am! The burbs and I have been together longer than I’ve known my wife so there are a lot of good memories. My favorite memory involves fire, Toy Story, and seeing my life flash before my eyes. Sign up for the class and I’ll tell you the whole story ?
@sidneyrazapplying to millennial TikTok ##over30tiktokers ##millennialtiktok♬ millennial TikTok – sidneyraz
Brooke Purdy is a writer and director who’s worked with Def Comedy Jam and DefPictures, HBO, Jamie Kennedy Productions, Lifetime and Showtime. She’s also written and directed her own film Quality Problems which is out on the festival circuit now. Here we get some tips and tricks on how to stand up for your ideas and see them through to the end.
What’s the number one thing you need to get started writing?
Belief in yourself and that you have a voice that needs to be heard.
What’s the hardest thing about executing an idea from its first kernel to the finished product?
Perseverance. All the tools and technical knowledge can only take you so far. It’s about writing on the days where you are “not feeling it” and JUST. STAYING. THE. COURSE. 95% of the struggle is just finishing.
Do you have any tips on making sure your ideas get heard in a room full of dudes?
KNOWING that you are the best person to tell YOUR story. If you believe in it 100% it will be undeniable. It will power you past the (many) NOS until someone recognizes your passion. (Also having your CHEERLEADERS on hand to help along the way.)
Thanks for the tips Brooke! You can learn a lot more from Brooke Purdy by signing up for her class here.
Take this quiz to find out which witch you REALLY are….
On our most recent episode of The System is Broken, Hosts Randy Thompson and Lindsey Barrow talk with Ruby LA board member and Hella in Your Thirties Podcast Host / Creator Muriel Montgomery about actor exploitation in Non-Union Commercial work. Casting associate Kim Kalish joins and talks all about how the business works to hurt the folks with the least amount of power. And what she thinks those folks can do to get their power back.
Listen below on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.