This is gonna be a total mess of words and grammatical nightmare but whatever here we go!
I had such an amazing time last night, and to get a bit personal, my love for what I do was reaffirmed in the best way. I’m quite young, still in school, but I’m the age that people “in the industry” are expected to be getting pretty active if there’s any hope for success. I’m a comedy writer and performer, and while I’ve had some medium breaks over the past couple of years (documentary work shown in local theaters, some well received stand-up gigs, all that kinda stuff) it can be hard to maintain faith that I’ll ever get a chance to do what I really want to with my career.
Going to that Bullseye taping last night was exactly what I needed right now, all of the guests had so much faith in the stories they tell and their ability to keep telling these stories. It’s no secret that this is a bad time for the United States, and artists who acknowledge this are being treated in an unamerican manner. I’m more of a Seth Meyers person, but when Colbert and Kimmel were cancelled I was terrified. I have always taken my unique right to speak truth through art for granted, and these awful actions on Trump and the FCC’s part were a brutal wake up call on this front.
I love comedy more than anything else. I have loved comedy since I knew what television was. Comedy is, along with my loved ones, the most important thing in my life. I wake up everyday, and the knowledge that I can laugh, or make other people laugh, is what gets me out of bed. We possess wonderfully human superpower that transcends time and language. Adam Scott was on The Good Place, the show that made young Keely know I just had to be a comedy writer. I grew up on his work, and all of his projects completely reaffirm my love for what I do. Especially the Schur shows he’s in, where no joke is without a biting thesis on how we treat other people. Boots Riley is also a huge inspiration to me, because he’s obviously a musical and filmic legend. We’re also from the same place, I love all his work, and like Adam Scott, he’s done something pretty rare for entertainment, and hasn’t silenced his beliefs in the name of making more money.
Meeting both of them was amazing, and I remembered why I have to keep striving for creative excellence. Big breaks are stupid and made up. What makes us human is our ability to never stop growing, and all of the people I heard speak (and met) yesterday were perfect examples of this. If you’re passionate, smart, and kind, trying and failing is all you need to do. I’ve been completely reinvigorated by this weekend, and I’m so ready to keep trying, and keep writing.
♡ Keely
