Today we’d like to introduce you to Brad Gage.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Like most people in comedy, I attribute my career to Austin Powers. “Yeah, baby!”, “Oh Behave” “Fat Bastard Left a Floater”. You know, the HITS. It’s definitely dumb. Its bits are so old and overdone by now that they function more as nostalgia. But at its core, Austin Powers is the best kind of silly. My favorite kind of comedy. When I was a kid, I was the classic example of making up for my lack of coolness and personality with comedy. The only way I’ve ever gotten people to like me was by making them laugh, so I memorized all the funny lines from Austin Powers and SNL and Chappelle’s Show and Old School and Pablo Francisco’s DVD special “Bits and Pieces” until people finally wanted to hang out with me. I went to film school at the University of Miami but made less film and more “CSI: Miami” parody sketches. It was “kind of my bag, baby”. I’ll stop now.
Since moving to LA 9 years ago, I’ve taken the basic mandatory improv courses at UCB and Groundlings, performed standup all around the Southwest US, and performed sketch comedy in a group called Family Sandwich (featuring current SNL cast member Heidi Gardner). It’s a very common story among performers out here. BUT the thing that makes my journey special and kickass in particular are the friendships, partnerships, and teams of incredibly talented, chill-ass people who I know can help me make any project – whether it be a web series on Fullscreen (the app doesn’t exist anymore) to a micro-budget feature (I’m working on it). Who you know is definitely the most important thing, and luckily, I know some of the best people.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The main struggle as an actor/writer is that you can’t just be an actor/writer. You have to be an assistant, a PA, an editor, a caterer, a dog-walker, a nanny, and then find the energy and time to create. No matter if you’re under a Marvel contract or making comedy on Instagram, I think the struggle is always gonna be dealing with self-worth and worrying who is going to give you your next job.
It doesn’t end in LA until we die (or somehow build enough savings to retire). But I made this choice and I’ve never regretted it. This is the most interesting industry in the world to me. That’s why people are always so interested in the players who are a part of creating it. I get to make things, and be weird, and say what’s on my mind, and sometimes people pay me for it, so I’m always doing pretty well.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
This doesn’t TOTALLY apply to me because my business is myself. I specialize in playing douchy bros, smug guys, silly-yet-innocent dudes, and put-upon balls of insecurity. I’m most proud of my Fullscreen show SEARCH BAR because it was political, personal, and timely (and still is).
But the unfortunate side of making content out here is that sometimes no one sees your work and, if the platform goes away like it did in this instance, no one will. That’s why you have to have a million good ideas. The one you just made can’t be your last or even your best. You have to believe that the NEXT one will be.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Tenacity is key. The belief that you will reach your goals no matter how long it takes allows you to roll with the constant rejection that goes with the entertainment industry. I never give myself enough time to get down on the last “no” because I’m working on the next thing. Working hard is helpful. Working smart is the tough part.
Nobody wants to ever admit they’re a success out here because they fear it might jinx them. Your momentum can be stopped at any time by something not in your control just as easy as it can be by yourself. If you create your own momentum, others want to join, and that’s really what success means to me. A bunch of like-minded people making something cool for roughly the same reasons.
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