Gina Ippolito shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Good morning Gina, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What do you think is misunderstood about your business?
I think that there’s a major misconception about TV and film writing and that is that it’s easy and anyone can do it. I can’t think of another career that so many people think they can just DO, or pivot to, or pick up without putting in countless hours of training and hard work. Especially now, with the unfortunate rise of AI, everyone and their mom thinks they can just slap some words down or put a few prompts into a machine and spit out a story. But stories are unique and personal and stir something and shape societies and that’s not supposed to be simple.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m a comedian and writer who’s written TV, movies, graphic novels, Youtube and digital stuff, you name it. I write comedies and supernatural dramas, and everything in between. The Youtube channel I’ve been writing and producing for for the past few years, New Rockstars, just launched a horror channel called The Witching Hour, and it’s allowed me to add “host” to my resume. Along with the other hosts, we do essays on horror movies we love or about which we have a unique and interesting take. In addition to those channels, I also regularly appear on The Breakroom, another channel under the New Rockstars umbrella which is more of a comedian/talking heads panel-style show where we discuss everything from current nerdy industry news to our favorite Halloween candy.
For the past ten years, I’ve also hosted a podcast with two other comedians about cartoons of the 80s and 90s called Knowing is Half the Podcast.
If it’s funny or nerdy or unique in some way, I want to be writing for it. Case in point, I recently wrote a movie that is a Fraggle Rock / Walking Dead crossover titled “Fraggle Walk” and it made The Stunt List and The Dead List. If you like to read about puppets murdering zombies, you can check it out along with the trailer over at The Stunt List and Dead List websites.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
My earliest memory of feeling powerful was when I scaled the jungle gym during recess before all the other kids and lorded my victory over them like a strong but benevolent leader. I only held onto that position of power for a few minutes before the other kids ruined it by reaching the top and overthrowing my regime, but I’ve been chasing that high ever since.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
If I could say one kind thing to my younger self, it would be this: Don’t worry. Eventually, you WILL figure out what products you need to make your hair curly instead of frizzy, and those photos of you with a full on frizz mullet will be used, by you, to great comedic effect later in life.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
Speaking as someone who grew up in New Jersey with two parents who were public school teachers and didn’t have any even tenuous connections to the industry, one of the biggest lies the entertainment industry tells itself is that you can succeed on talent and hard work alone. Talent and hard work help, obviously, but there are certain things that offer BIG advantages – growing up in LA, knowing people in the industry, having parents who are well connected or have worked in that world, going to the right college, and having enough money that you don’t have to constantly have five jobs just to make ends meet will help you achieve your goals a LOT faster. When I moved out here, I spent the first 10 years or so just meeting people in the industry and working minimum wage jobs. I’m lucky enough now to be in several different unions and communities, but if you’re already out here living or going to college and if you know people who can give you the right introductions right off the bat, you’ll already be ahead of the game.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
Wearing sunblock.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ginaippy/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gina-ippolito-499321a/
- Twitter: https://x.com/GinaIppy
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@WitchingHourNR
Image Credits
Justin Olson, Cooper James
