Tag: Kristen Wiig

I just needed some Wisten Kriig


 Kristen Wiig and Cecily Strong, SNL

Sometimes you just gotta hand it to what you know. And what I know, is that Kristen Wiig is the most amazing of all.

Those who know me well know how much idolize Kristen and her abilities. Her characters and voices. Her silliness. Her smarts.

I’ve seen Bridesmaids more than I can even begin to count. I’ve lost track. (Sorry, I’m a fast moving Millennial and I will not be stopped!) In fact, at times I was watching the movie almost continuously. As in, I had the movie downloaded to my phone, tablet and laptop, as well as on blu-ray and DVD. I would watch it at home, waiting for class, at the gym, at the airport… I couldn’t get enough! Slash it was during a time when wireless passwords weren’t as loosey goosey at public places. And Netflix streaming wasn’t quite up to par! But, hold up. IT’S MY FAVORITE MOVIE.

Anyway, last weekend Kristen hosted SNL for the second time. The last time she hosted was in 2013, two years after Bridesmaids came out. And something occurred to me as I sat there and laughed and smiled throughout each sketch.

I’m smiling. No teeth, full force smile. From something I love.

It was good. I mean, I get smiles every day from my dogs, and of course, my Joshy. But, I needed those smiles from Kristen. They were long overdue smiles that I was craving like a chip and dip. I’ve realized, lately, how much I’m using my energy on things that really aren’t making an impact. It might be work, it might be people. It might also be me not doing enough. As my mom always says, “Use your energy for good” and “Don’t waste your energy.”  Amy Poehler could not have said it better:  “I am tired of being tired and talking about how tired I am.” I feel you, girl.

A Delight

Anyway, watching the SNL cast interact with Kristen is a true delight (the opposite of a crap, for my UX web people out there, wink wink). I could watch Cecily and Kristen argue in southern accents every week. Let’s just make that a recurring QVC sketch, ok? “On QVC on QVC!”

If you’re wasting your energy, get more of whatever is your delight. For me, that’s some Wiig.

Make your own box: Power of Story

Power of Story

At the Sundance film festival this year, there was a fantastic roundtable featuring four comedic trailblazing geniuses. Four people that have minds capable of absolutely amazing creativity and storytelling artistry.

And that is a consistent slam-dunk in my playbook.

The “dream come true” panel consisted of Mindy Kaling, Lena Dunham, Jenji Kohan and Kristen Wiig. Mics were hot as they sat with New Yorker critic Emily Nussbaum to discuss the Power of Story.

(The video is embedded at the end of this post.)

So essentially, a powerhouse lineup ready to answer all sorts of questions about what they do! Really, so good.

Right away, these serious ladies of comedy get into talking about their identities as writers and performers, and how gender complicates how people view their work. Because you know, they’re women.

It’s a double standard that’s not new, but the insights and key experiences you glean from listening to this whole conversation will shape how you approach storytelling and the subject at hand.

Lena starts off by saying, “Talking about being female isn’t in and of itself problematic. Identity is part of what all of us do. But there is a lazy set of questions presented to you by journalists…” She then gets into how journalists typically have a roster of questions for female entertainers, and how she sees that as lazy.

And it really is. Because women really do get those questions that always plug an identifier with the subject. Like in this case writing for a male character or producing a female comedy.

Take Bridesmaids, one of the very best movies on this earth. Kristen Wiig co-wrote and starred in the movie. And it’s usually described as a female comedy. I admit I have referenced the movie that way before. But Kristen mentions that when people talk about other comedies that have men in them, you never hear the identifier of “male comedy.” You just don’t.

“Female comedy” doesn’t really mean anything because it’s not a type of comedy. It’s not a style of comedy. It’s about pointing out the rarity of seeing many women together on-screen, making you laugh, and probably making you question why you’re laughing so much.

As I think about how this double standard transcends to the general working world, I find it relating to women who hold jobs and families getting asked the favorite question of all time: “How do you do it all?”

If I’m ever asked that question, my response shall be: “You know, I just don’t know! Every morning I think about how I’ll divide up my brainpower. Because as a woman, I only have so much to divvy up. Then I down a small coffee, pack in some protein, and begin my day! Ha ha ha. Ok, next question?”

A key takeaway comes from Jenji Kohan early on in the panel. Male or female, it shouldn’t be about gender when you pick your team. She says, “You want to work with whoever is the best at what they’re doing…It would be a bummer to limit yourself.”

Comedy writing has its challenges

Putting aside the fact that the panel does consist of all women, towards the end of the discussion, they talk about the challenge of comedy writing. I really like the takeaways Kristen presents.

She brings up the fact that you can’t please everyone with your comedy writing. With comedy you have two perspectives: your own voice and the audience. Rarely is it as effortless as it seems.

“In being creative, pleasing the audience shouldn’t be your number one goal… No one has your voice.”

Storytelling is an art. And that goes for any kind of storytelling, whether it’s for the laughs or for the raised eyebrows. When you create your own voice, people will respond to your new way of thinking. Don’t try to fit into a box that’s already there. “Make your own box” as Kristen says.

Image via hollywoodreporter.com