Today we’d like to introduce you to Aysha Wax.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I’m a creative LA native through and through. I was raised in Encino just like Encino Man, but have made my way to the other side of the hill and now reside in WeHo. I’ve always been someone who loved performing, writing and making comedy. Over the last few years, I’ve gone from performing at UCB, Groundlings, and the Pack theater to creating more and more original things on my own. I love doing stand up, storytelling and making movies.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I felt like I was on a pretty straightforward journey as a performer after college. I did shows at UCB, I did commercials, and I wrote constantly. I was digging deep and it felt like it was paying off. But in 2014, my dad was diagnosed with lung cancer. He lived near Pasadena and I juggled performing with taking care of him. in 2017, he passed away and I didn’t know how I would create anything again. I took a big break. I was really concerned that taking this step away would mean I could never step back into the limelight. But what I would tell myself and any aspiring creative is that there will always be opportunities waiting for you. The time away gave me the clarity to make my first short film Grief Vigilantes about the grief process. This short film has brought together all of my loves including writing, directing and producing. It is the first thing I have made that feels thoroughly mine funny and poignant.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I like to make work that features women’s stories and to tell my own hilarious stories. I have done sketch comedy and improv for years. I also do stand up and storytelling. I think I’m known for my takes on Judaism. I was a Hebrew school teacher for eight years and I wrote a one-woman show about the experience called Hebrew School Horror. I have a deep well of Jewish knowledge as I also went to Jewish day school, so I am more than happy to laugh at a bris, bar mitzvahs, and bagels. I also have a lot of experience in the digital world making fun digital campaigns for different brands including Wowwee toys and Ovation TV. I am so proud of the way I can make fun content across platforms that brings people joy and is consistently wacky.
Do you feel like there was something about the experiences you had growing up that played an outsized role in setting you up for success later in life?
When I was growing up, my dad was pretty intense when it came to work ethic. He told me that if I loved something if I am passionate about it, I should dive in and pursue it with my full heart. He had a later in life career change from consumer electronics to psychotherapy. I saw that you can live the life you’ve always wanted, even if it is risky and adventurous. My name Aysha means woman of passion and so I try to infuse every minute of my life with fire and excitement.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ayshawax.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/ayshawax
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/ayshawax
- Other: https://griefvigilantes.wordpress.com/
Image Credit:
Robyn Van Swank, Matthew Misisco
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