Selena Warren

We're recording.

We're recording.

My bad. I'm just totally muffled that entire time. It wasn't good advice. Okay.

My bad. I'm just totally muffled that entire time. It wasn't good advice. Okay.

There it is. If you want to see what making your own that's a show that we pitched that like nobody bought and like we're like You know what?

There it is. If you want to see what making your own that's a show that we pitched that like nobody bought and like we're like You know what?

They just don't see it We gotta go make it and also for ourselves like sometimes if you have something you love and everyone says no like go make it you never know what the next iteration of it will be nothing's ever dead because everyone Ends up working at different companies like the people that said no won't be there in a year.

They just don't see it We gotta go make it and also for ourselves like sometimes if you have something you love and everyone says no like go make it you never know what the next iteration of it will be nothing's ever dead because everyone Ends up working at different companies like the people that said no won't be there in a year.

You go first. I say, like, be present. Let the present be your present. Try and, like, not be on your phones this holiday season and not focus on what everyone else is doing and really enjoy where you are.

You go first. I say, like, be present. Let the present be your present. Try and, like, not be on your phones this holiday season and not focus on what everyone else is doing and really enjoy where you are.

Yeah, thank you. Thank you. Are you kidding me?

Yeah, thank you. Thank you. Are you kidding me?

Yeah, I was Marissa's RA in college, in quotations. We went to AMDA, American Musical Dramatic Academy. We were tap dancing in leotards mostly. And drinking. So I got fired as an RA and Marissa got kicked out of student housing. And then we became best friends and we're like, we make great decisions together. And then we were both acting and we saw the future of our careers

Yeah, I was Marissa's RA in college, in quotations. We went to AMDA, American Musical Dramatic Academy. We were tap dancing in leotards mostly. And drinking. So I got fired as an RA and Marissa got kicked out of student housing. And then we became best friends and we're like, we make great decisions together. And then we were both acting and we saw the future of our careers

in the hands of other people. And we were like, this can't be sustainable. So we started to write our own material. And that's kind of how we started. And the first thing we sold happened to be like pretty quickly after we started writing together. And that was Foursome.

in the hands of other people. And we were like, this can't be sustainable. So we started to write our own material. And that's kind of how we started. And the first thing we sold happened to be like pretty quickly after we started writing together. And that was Foursome.

Four seasons on YouTube Originals.

Four seasons on YouTube Originals.

S&M! We're like, who?

S&M! We're like, who?

It was a dream. It's hard for me, because I never can just focus on being a performer. But it was a blast. Everyone did such an amazing job. So it was just a fun, joyous. But I'm constantly like, circle that line, remember that for later, rewrite that. It's never quite relaxed.

It was a dream. It's hard for me, because I never can just focus on being a performer. But it was a blast. Everyone did such an amazing job. So it was just a fun, joyous. But I'm constantly like, circle that line, remember that for later, rewrite that. It's never quite relaxed.

I'm not quite as much of a mess, well, I don't think I am, as she is. But we both are afraid of flying. We're both Jews. I have smoked a little weed in my life, but I wouldn't say I'm like a pothead. But I would be the exact same way if I went on Santa's sleigh.

I'm not quite as much of a mess, well, I don't think I am, as she is. But we both are afraid of flying. We're both Jews. I have smoked a little weed in my life, but I wouldn't say I'm like a pothead. But I would be the exact same way if I went on Santa's sleigh.

I would say a Christmas-Hanukkah hybrid.

I would say a Christmas-Hanukkah hybrid.

She's expensive. She's expensive. Although you could, there is a world in which, like, we were talking about making the short ourselves as a proof of concept, and there's a world in which you do, like, green screen night sky with, like, a sleigh. There's, like, a fun, cheaper version. Mm-hmm. But I think this is like a 20 million and above feature.

She's expensive. She's expensive. Although you could, there is a world in which, like, we were talking about making the short ourselves as a proof of concept, and there's a world in which you do, like, green screen night sky with, like, a sleigh. There's, like, a fun, cheaper version. Mm-hmm. But I think this is like a 20 million and above feature.

Rolling?

Rolling?

It feels like a theatrical or like a Netflix Christmas time release.

It feels like a theatrical or like a Netflix Christmas time release.

But this, yeah, and there's a lot of like, you know, special effects and stuff that happens, so...

But this, yeah, and there's a lot of like, you know, special effects and stuff that happens, so...

PG-13. Yeah. I think the weed automatically kind of makes it edgier. People tend to hear weed and they're like, uh-oh, it's... It's going to be like Pineapple Express, which it really isn't. You know, we just like legal just because it's not federally legal.

PG-13. Yeah. I think the weed automatically kind of makes it edgier. People tend to hear weed and they're like, uh-oh, it's... It's going to be like Pineapple Express, which it really isn't. You know, we just like legal just because it's not federally legal.

that everybody needs help, that you have to accept help in order to get better. You can't grow without collaboration. So Santa needed Bernie to go on this journey to be refreshed and see Christmas through a new lens, and Bernie needed to accept all her family's help and Santa's help and learn a new lesson about herself to grow.

that everybody needs help, that you have to accept help in order to get better. You can't grow without collaboration. So Santa needed Bernie to go on this journey to be refreshed and see Christmas through a new lens, and Bernie needed to accept all her family's help and Santa's help and learn a new lesson about herself to grow.

That was gonna be my answer, because we're the same person. But another really fun part was the song, and collaborating with Jason to get the song, and thinking of a melody that felt both Hanukkah and Christmas. We're musical theater majors, so that was really fun to do.

That was gonna be my answer, because we're the same person. But another really fun part was the song, and collaborating with Jason to get the song, and thinking of a melody that felt both Hanukkah and Christmas. We're musical theater majors, so that was really fun to do.

And I would say I usually type. We collaborate. We'll sit across from each other and collaborate on final draft so that we both can see everything changing live. And then every time we finish a scene, like Marissa said, we'll reread it out loud. So it's basically a second draft before we move on.

And I would say I usually type. We collaborate. We'll sit across from each other and collaborate on final draft so that we both can see everything changing live. And then every time we finish a scene, like Marissa said, we'll reread it out loud. So it's basically a second draft before we move on.

We do better earlier. So we usually start at like nine o'clock. We'll ride our bikes to get your blood moving to get to the coffee shop and then work for about four hours. and then a break, and then maybe another two, three hours on.

We do better earlier. So we usually start at like nine o'clock. We'll ride our bikes to get your blood moving to get to the coffee shop and then work for about four hours. and then a break, and then maybe another two, three hours on.

And we try to map out what we're gonna write before we write it so that we'll know when it'll be done, as opposed to just being like, we'll just take our time and enjoy it. We're like, we're gonna do four cards a day to get this done by X date.

And we try to map out what we're gonna write before we write it so that we'll know when it'll be done, as opposed to just being like, we'll just take our time and enjoy it. We're like, we're gonna do four cards a day to get this done by X date.

And then I think there was this thing for Hulu called, Hulu does something called Huluween, and they do a Christmas, a holiday version of that. So we had to come up with a bunch of ideas for shorts, and we had a short idea about Santa going to the wrong house. And like, what if it was a Jewish person's house and what would their reaction be?

And then I think there was this thing for Hulu called, Hulu does something called Huluween, and they do a Christmas, a holiday version of that. So we had to come up with a bunch of ideas for shorts, and we had a short idea about Santa going to the wrong house. And like, what if it was a Jewish person's house and what would their reaction be?

I think we're more, we outline much more heavily now. Like I think our outlines used to be like, this kind of happens and now we know every beat and what the theme is before we go to write the script.

I think we're more, we outline much more heavily now. Like I think our outlines used to be like, this kind of happens and now we know every beat and what the theme is before we go to write the script.

fighting for an idea, but like we always, we either will be like, okay, you can have this one and we'll like come back to it later and be like, do I, was I just annoyed in the moment? Do I really care about that one wording of something? Um, and you never really do.

fighting for an idea, but like we always, we either will be like, okay, you can have this one and we'll like come back to it later and be like, do I, was I just annoyed in the moment? Do I really care about that one wording of something? Um, and you never really do.

So it's like, I think compromise and like letting the other person have a moment, we're both really good at being like, I'm not going to fight this battle.

So it's like, I think compromise and like letting the other person have a moment, we're both really good at being like, I'm not going to fight this battle.

Or like, even after you have a read-through, people have thoughts and notes, and you'll hear things. We usually have an assistant come, like a writer's assistant come, someone we're mentoring, someone we're teaching from school. come and do check marks for every time something gets a laugh. We write comedy.

Or like, even after you have a read-through, people have thoughts and notes, and you'll hear things. We usually have an assistant come, like a writer's assistant come, someone we're mentoring, someone we're teaching from school. come and do check marks for every time something gets a laugh. We write comedy.

And then we'll go back through and we'll look at pages and be like, how many laughs per page? Does it start to lag? So it's like a joke punch purpose. And also people have ideas and notes that make your script. Collaborating, that's why we're partners, is the most important piece of, I think, any creative endeavor.

And then we'll go back through and we'll look at pages and be like, how many laughs per page? Does it start to lag? So it's like a joke punch purpose. And also people have ideas and notes that make your script. Collaborating, that's why we're partners, is the most important piece of, I think, any creative endeavor.

And we were like, oh, they'd want to go with all the way. So we were like, how do we get a Jewish person to go with Santa to deliver Christmas? We're like, got to drug them.

And we were like, oh, they'd want to go with all the way. So we were like, how do we get a Jewish person to go with Santa to deliver Christmas? We're like, got to drug them.

We didn't totally do it with Forsen. That was a traditional studio job where we pitched on an idea and they paid for it and made it happen and did all the hiring. But it surrounded us by influencers. So seeing them create their own work and also a lot of comedians like John Milhiser who did the reading. I think being surrounded by people who... make their own things, you get inspired.

We didn't totally do it with Forsen. That was a traditional studio job where we pitched on an idea and they paid for it and made it happen and did all the hiring. But it surrounded us by influencers. So seeing them create their own work and also a lot of comedians like John Milhiser who did the reading. I think being surrounded by people who... make their own things, you get inspired.

And that definitely led us to starting to make our own stuff.

And that definitely led us to starting to make our own stuff.

Same with like... you know, your team, your reps giving you ideas. Like, oh, you know, it's rom-coms right now is what everyone's like. Yeah, the mandates. We really need a rom-com. And it's like, by the time you write a rom-com, it's going to be something else. So, like, you got to do what, like, go for it and, like, write a rom-com. But at the same time, write something that you want to tell.

Same with like... you know, your team, your reps giving you ideas. Like, oh, you know, it's rom-coms right now is what everyone's like. Yeah, the mandates. We really need a rom-com. And it's like, by the time you write a rom-com, it's going to be something else. So, like, you got to do what, like, go for it and, like, write a rom-com. But at the same time, write something that you want to tell.

Like, we really wanted to do this hybrid story that nobody asked for. Yeah. And also, I would also say OWA is Open Writing Assignments. Sometimes you get these offers for these jobs that 40 people are pitching on that you don't own, so you have to spend a lot of time on something that you might have been doing for no reason. But you should do them.

Like, we really wanted to do this hybrid story that nobody asked for. Yeah. And also, I would also say OWA is Open Writing Assignments. Sometimes you get these offers for these jobs that 40 people are pitching on that you don't own, so you have to spend a lot of time on something that you might have been doing for no reason. But you should do them.

You should do everything because it's a good exercise for your creativity. It might lead to something else. You could always turn it into something. When you say, where is the industry going? Those are the things that are getting made right now.

You should do everything because it's a good exercise for your creativity. It might lead to something else. You could always turn it into something. When you say, where is the industry going? Those are the things that are getting made right now.

So in addition to making your own stuff and putting them up on stage and turning it into what you're doing with these read-throughs, sound designing them and making it so you're listening to the movie, that's what you have to do is create new ways of getting your material, original material, heard and seen. And to make money, do those other ways and do both.

So in addition to making your own stuff and putting them up on stage and turning it into what you're doing with these read-throughs, sound designing them and making it so you're listening to the movie, that's what you have to do is create new ways of getting your material, original material, heard and seen. And to make money, do those other ways and do both.

We're recording.

My bad. I'm just totally muffled that entire time. It wasn't good advice. Okay.

There it is. If you want to see what making your own that's a show that we pitched that like nobody bought and like we're like You know what?

They just don't see it We gotta go make it and also for ourselves like sometimes if you have something you love and everyone says no like go make it you never know what the next iteration of it will be nothing's ever dead because everyone Ends up working at different companies like the people that said no won't be there in a year.

You go first. I say, like, be present. Let the present be your present. Try and, like, not be on your phones this holiday season and not focus on what everyone else is doing and really enjoy where you are.

Yeah, thank you. Thank you. Are you kidding me?

Yeah, I was Marissa's RA in college, in quotations. We went to AMDA, American Musical Dramatic Academy. We were tap dancing in leotards mostly. And drinking. So I got fired as an RA and Marissa got kicked out of student housing. And then we became best friends and we're like, we make great decisions together. And then we were both acting and we saw the future of our careers

in the hands of other people. And we were like, this can't be sustainable. So we started to write our own material. And that's kind of how we started. And the first thing we sold happened to be like pretty quickly after we started writing together. And that was Foursome.

Four seasons on YouTube Originals.

S&M! We're like, who?

It was a dream. It's hard for me, because I never can just focus on being a performer. But it was a blast. Everyone did such an amazing job. So it was just a fun, joyous. But I'm constantly like, circle that line, remember that for later, rewrite that. It's never quite relaxed.

I'm not quite as much of a mess, well, I don't think I am, as she is. But we both are afraid of flying. We're both Jews. I have smoked a little weed in my life, but I wouldn't say I'm like a pothead. But I would be the exact same way if I went on Santa's sleigh.

I would say a Christmas-Hanukkah hybrid.

She's expensive. She's expensive. Although you could, there is a world in which, like, we were talking about making the short ourselves as a proof of concept, and there's a world in which you do, like, green screen night sky with, like, a sleigh. There's, like, a fun, cheaper version. Mm-hmm. But I think this is like a 20 million and above feature.

Rolling?

It feels like a theatrical or like a Netflix Christmas time release.

But this, yeah, and there's a lot of like, you know, special effects and stuff that happens, so...

PG-13. Yeah. I think the weed automatically kind of makes it edgier. People tend to hear weed and they're like, uh-oh, it's... It's going to be like Pineapple Express, which it really isn't. You know, we just like legal just because it's not federally legal.

that everybody needs help, that you have to accept help in order to get better. You can't grow without collaboration. So Santa needed Bernie to go on this journey to be refreshed and see Christmas through a new lens, and Bernie needed to accept all her family's help and Santa's help and learn a new lesson about herself to grow.

That was gonna be my answer, because we're the same person. But another really fun part was the song, and collaborating with Jason to get the song, and thinking of a melody that felt both Hanukkah and Christmas. We're musical theater majors, so that was really fun to do.

And I would say I usually type. We collaborate. We'll sit across from each other and collaborate on final draft so that we both can see everything changing live. And then every time we finish a scene, like Marissa said, we'll reread it out loud. So it's basically a second draft before we move on.

We do better earlier. So we usually start at like nine o'clock. We'll ride our bikes to get your blood moving to get to the coffee shop and then work for about four hours. and then a break, and then maybe another two, three hours on.

And we try to map out what we're gonna write before we write it so that we'll know when it'll be done, as opposed to just being like, we'll just take our time and enjoy it. We're like, we're gonna do four cards a day to get this done by X date.

And then I think there was this thing for Hulu called, Hulu does something called Huluween, and they do a Christmas, a holiday version of that. So we had to come up with a bunch of ideas for shorts, and we had a short idea about Santa going to the wrong house. And like, what if it was a Jewish person's house and what would their reaction be?

I think we're more, we outline much more heavily now. Like I think our outlines used to be like, this kind of happens and now we know every beat and what the theme is before we go to write the script.

fighting for an idea, but like we always, we either will be like, okay, you can have this one and we'll like come back to it later and be like, do I, was I just annoyed in the moment? Do I really care about that one wording of something? Um, and you never really do.

So it's like, I think compromise and like letting the other person have a moment, we're both really good at being like, I'm not going to fight this battle.

Or like, even after you have a read-through, people have thoughts and notes, and you'll hear things. We usually have an assistant come, like a writer's assistant come, someone we're mentoring, someone we're teaching from school. come and do check marks for every time something gets a laugh. We write comedy.

And then we'll go back through and we'll look at pages and be like, how many laughs per page? Does it start to lag? So it's like a joke punch purpose. And also people have ideas and notes that make your script. Collaborating, that's why we're partners, is the most important piece of, I think, any creative endeavor.

And we were like, oh, they'd want to go with all the way. So we were like, how do we get a Jewish person to go with Santa to deliver Christmas? We're like, got to drug them.

We didn't totally do it with Forsen. That was a traditional studio job where we pitched on an idea and they paid for it and made it happen and did all the hiring. But it surrounded us by influencers. So seeing them create their own work and also a lot of comedians like John Milhiser who did the reading. I think being surrounded by people who... make their own things, you get inspired.

And that definitely led us to starting to make our own stuff.

Same with like... you know, your team, your reps giving you ideas. Like, oh, you know, it's rom-coms right now is what everyone's like. Yeah, the mandates. We really need a rom-com. And it's like, by the time you write a rom-com, it's going to be something else. So, like, you got to do what, like, go for it and, like, write a rom-com. But at the same time, write something that you want to tell.

Like, we really wanted to do this hybrid story that nobody asked for. Yeah. And also, I would also say OWA is Open Writing Assignments. Sometimes you get these offers for these jobs that 40 people are pitching on that you don't own, so you have to spend a lot of time on something that you might have been doing for no reason. But you should do them.

You should do everything because it's a good exercise for your creativity. It might lead to something else. You could always turn it into something. When you say, where is the industry going? Those are the things that are getting made right now.

So in addition to making your own stuff and putting them up on stage and turning it into what you're doing with these read-throughs, sound designing them and making it so you're listening to the movie, that's what you have to do is create new ways of getting your material, original material, heard and seen. And to make money, do those other ways and do both.