Today we’d like to introduce you to Elizabeth McIrvin.
Hi Elizabeth, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up in North Carolina and for some reason still really unknown to me, I was heavily compelled to create and express myself through filming. I also started to do stand-up in the limited spots available in the state to do it, filming my own sketches and short films but feeling like I needed to be around more like-minded people, I decided to come to Los Angeles. I’ve been here since 2017 with a focus on comedy and directing. I was heavily into the improv community for my first four years, meeting fellow artists, producing projects, and immersing myself in the search for my voice as an artist. During that time, I was eager to start something, a project, something I could call my own and use it as a platform for my creativity. I decided to combine two of my long-time loves, the golden age of Hollywood and improv comedy. In 2018, I created and hosted my very first podcast, “Mystery in the Radio Waves”. It’s a podcast that revives classic radio plays from the 1950s and has comedians improvise a parody based on that play. It combines theatrical performance and classic comedy techniques that retell old stories for a modern audience. As I’m typing this, I have published 72 episodes. Unlike a typical podcast with one interviewer and one guest, I cast upwards 5-12 performers per episode. I’ve had over 200 actors and comedians grace my podcast with their talents. I feel like I’ve done the work, I’m so grateful for the listenership that I’ve grown, and I know, or at least I hope I know, that the next chapter will be even more exciting.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
I think any artist putting themselves into a vulnerable arena understands the reality of the hardships to come. I truly believe that every struggle and hardship that I’ve been through has contributed to who I am as a person, which in turn, has solidified my voice, what I have to say and what I have to create. Reclaiming spaces in which men were primarily the creators, hosts or writers is a large part of my endeavour. I enjoy taking old stories and transforming them with a new lens at which to view them. This in itself, with everything else, is a challenge in which I relish.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I primarily direct short films. This year I got accepted into my first-ever film festival with my short “Birthday Wish”, a story about a Massage Therapist who seeks vengeance against a deranged customer. I’ve learned throughout the years that my primary goal to direct films requires a little knowledge about a lot of things. I do photography, acting, modeling, editing, writing and podcasting. I’ve been hosting, producing and editing “Mystery in the Radio Waves” since 2018. As of this moment, becoming the best podcast host and audio engineer I can be, is something that I’m excited to work on for years to come.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I think that if you’re an artist living in Los Angeles, pursuing a stable and paid career in the entertainment industry, have no connections to sed industry and are working to live, you are taking a massive risk. Struggling with money, living paycheck to paycheck and having no real option of a backup plan is incredibly damaging to one’s mental health. Having to create beautiful art for people to enjoy while not knowing if you are going to have a roof over your head next month is almost crippling. Everyone wants to pretend that they’re not struggling, that they are moving along life with opportunity after opportunity but it’s fake and we all know it’s fake. I know that talking candidly about money makes some people uncomfortable but there really is no reason to hide it except for pride and ego. I’ve found that the more open I am with my fellow artist friends, the more we can lean on each other for love and support.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elizabethmcirvin/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@elizabethmcirvin
- SoundCloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/e5gu7
Image Credits:
colored portaits of me by Lauren Luft
