Today we’d like to introduce you to Jasmine Elist and Michael Burke.
Jasmine and Michael, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Michael: I started working in production in Brooklyn as an office PA for several TV and movie comedies. I quickly knew I wanted to work in this world, but not on the production side. One day, while driving Nick Kroll (as you do), I told him, “Hey Nick, I wanna be you when I grow up.” To which he very generously advised me to, “take improv classes, make friends in those classes, and make videos with those friends.” Six months later, I drove cross-country, moved to Los Angeles, started taking classes at the Groundlings Theatre and met Jasmine.
Jasmine: I started as an entertainment writer for the Los Angeles Times – I loved the world of film, television, and especially comedy. I quickly realized I didn’t want to be the person interviewing the comedy writer. I wanted to BE a comedy writer. I quit my job in journalism and started taking classes at the Groundlings Theater where I met Michael, and now we–
Michael: –finish each other’s sentences!
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?
Of course not. There are a lot of redirects. There are a lot of dead ends (hair included). A lot of missed baskets. A lot of (insert your own analogy for “sh*t storm” here). We’ve always been certain and confident in the bigger picture, so when setbacks come, we keep moving forward. When you boil it down, we’re doing what we love every hour of every day, and couldn’t imagine doing anything else.
Michael: Or with anyone else.
Jasmine: Yes Michael, that too. They know.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with HIATUS – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
We co-created the digital series, “HIATUS,” a comedy about how two people pick themselves up after a letdown… and another letdown… and then several more letdowns. FB.com/goHIATUS
We strive to operate as a fully-functioning production company (has anyone seen our LLC? We can’t find it anywhere). All jokes aside, we co-produced, co-wrote, and co-starred in “HIATUS”– from the conception of an idea to the execution, all the way through to its release, and beyond.
Front and center with this series was the fun. Because we’re improv-trained and we were bringing on so many actors who were as well, we wanted to make sure that we had room to have fun, to play and to improvise on set.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
We’ve filmed and released five digital episodes of “HIATUS.” This year we’re filming episode six of the digital series (the season one finale) and turning “HIATUS” into a half-hour series.
Beyond “HIATUS,” we have a monthly show performing improv comedy around Los Angeles. We are also writing and developing other half-hour scripts for both digital and television.
Jasmine: We’re also moving to Mykonos.
Michael: No we’re not. Don’t tell them that.
Contact Info:
- Website: FB.com/goHIATUS
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @jasmineelist, @dmichaelburke
- Facebook: FB.com/goHIATUS
Image Credit:
Molly Cranna, Director of Photography Carter Ross
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