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!

Let’s Go Camping!

Camping’s got to be one of the best parts about summer time. S’mores, campfires, no cell phones – it’s the raddest. But if you’ve never been camping before, it can also be intimidating. Have no fear! We talked to some house team members about their favorite camping experiences and places.

Tom Hamilton

What’s the number one thing you bring camping?
A tent.

How would you fight a bear in the woods? 
If it’s a black bear, tell it firmly to leave me alone. A grizzly bear, shoot it in the face with a shotgun. But if it’s a panda bear, give it a bundle of bamboo and slowly back away.

Randy Thompson

You guys. Last weekend was a demon. Walking out of the theater at 9 pm on Friday night felt like walking into a blow dryer. But the ac in the theater kept cranking along. (*chef’s kiss + knocks on wood). Ya’ll it’s July. It’s summer. But the heat in LA doesn’t usually get that bad until August or September. We need to get prepared. So we asked our wisest women for their tips on beating the heat!

Steph Garcia
Summertime expertise: Part Time Fancy Boat Lady and Current Valley Resident

 What’s the best way to beat that nasty heat?
Go see a movie (in a nice cold theater)! Might I suggest Incredibles 2.

What’s hotter right now, the sun or Lebron James announcing he’s moving to LA?
That sunny sun.

What should you do if you don’t have ac?
Cry. And then go see a movie.

Amanda Salvatore

What’s the best way to beat that nasty heat?
Head to the beach with your boo (and the rest of LA).What’s hotter right now, the sun or Lebron James announcing he’s moving to LA?
I honestly thought Lebron James was already living here.

What should you do if you don’t have ac?
Eat frozen grapes in your underwear. Trust me.

Everyone who applied had amazing applications. Thanks for letting us get to know ya’ll! And special congrats to winners –

Mo Aboul-Zelof, Janet Quinonez, Cristian Ramirez, Moni Oyedepo, Alexandrea Ortiz, John Polite, Carolina Hoyos, and Koschka Bahr!

Jeff Thompson is a regular Renaissance Dude. He’s a hilarious comedian, professor of Psychology, and he does people’s taxes. I did a face mask last night, so I guess we’re all doing something with our lives.  Here Jeff tells us what’s in his bag!

Jeff…What’s in your bag?

In my bag, I always have way too many pens and EXPO markers (I’m a teacher after all).  I’ve also been known to always have Scantrons (even on my off days so I never have to worry about packing them on test days), a textbook (for work) or a regular book (if I haven’t brought my 3DS), and of course, my trusty Surface Pro 4 loaded with Final Draft 9 (cuz I’m going to finish that script eventually)!

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

I can’t leave home without a good, reliable pen.

I will always have at least three different types of pens on me: one for really nice things (signing cards or important paperwork), one for menial and boring things (taking notes, grading papers, marking up a script), and a pencil (it’s like a pen, but erasable — and necessary for days with heavy Scantron use).

What’s the worst thing you’ve ever found at the bottom of your bag?

Can I say the word “condom” in this interview?  I’ll just assume that’s okay.  It was totally unused as still in the wrapper, but I was concerned because it almost dropped out of my bag as I was getting ready for a lecture.  I was embarrassed (not sure why, sex can be a beautiful thing and our shame about our sexuality is socially constructed) and was relieved that I didn’t get caught, and decided to never put condoms in that bag aga– just kidding, I’ve had two more condom-in-the-bag scares since then.  Some lessons are hard to learn.

The musicians behind The Fruit Flies, Molly and Danni, give us their best summer tips.

What’s the best road trip you’ve ever been on?

D: This wasn’t a road trip, but once we were flying from Chicago to Omaha for a show and we sat next to this super attractive man–which if I’m saying he’s attractive is saying a lot–
M: Because she’s gay and normally doesn’t even give men direct eye contact…
D: I literally need NOTHING FROM THEM THEY AREN’T WORTHY
M: You ain’t wrong dog, you ain’t wrong.
D: Anyways…Molly and I were laughing so hard about something…I don’t even remember what–
M: I think we were drinking smoothies and we both didn’t realize–
D: SEEDS!
M: We both had like 35 seeds in our teeth and we had been talking to everyone like that and didn’t know it.
D: YES! hahahahhahahahahha and we proceeded to laugh so hard about it next to this business man who was trying very hard to work the entire flight
M: But when we laugh really hard, Danni starts ugly sobbing and I do this really attractive hiss cackle!

D: For like the entire hour and 20 flight…
M: I don’t even want to know how we would handle an international flight!
D: Depends.
M: on what?
D: no, like the adult diapers.
M: HAHAHAHAHAHAH!

What’s your favorite summer jam? 

D: Hmmmm…that’s tough..
M: I’m thinking of one in my head and I’m gonna count to 3 and then we both have to say it.
D: Wait! I don’t have it….ok
M: 1-2-3-
M: Strawberry! D: Summer Son–
M: HAHAHAHAHAHA!
D: You’re so dumb! Why wouldn’t you promote our own song that legit is called SUMMER SONG!
M: Dad jokes for lyfe, baby! (Spell it with a “Y” so they know I’m hip…)

What’s the best way to break into somebody’s pool?

D: NAKED
M: HAHA! Sucker! Ugh, I don’t like breaking the rules, so no matter how I did it, the result is just me shitting my pants with anxiety.
D: You have to shit right now just thinking about it, don’t you?
M: YES!
D: AND THIS IS WHY WE NEED DEPENDS!

Thanks Fruit Flies!