Jasia Ka admits to watching Vampire Diaries
Jasia Ka is an Emmy and Telly award-winning film+commercial director best known for turning the lens towards rebels and dreamers. Jasia is represented by Zero Gravity Management for film/television.
Jasia (pronounced Ya-Sha) weaves threads of comedy through an atmospheric, dynamic, and slightly surreal aesthetic. She grew up an All-American runner and dancer with a punk sensibility in downtown Philadelphia, a city that David Lynch described as a place where his imagination exploded, “fantastical…beautiful, if you see it the right way”. Her passion for visual narrative was inspired by a similar desire to explore and illuminate transformation in unexpected places. In her off time, you can find Jasia honing her artistic voice through jokes, performing standup at a comedy show near you.
What were you like as a teen?
Sleeper class clown, weirdly self-assured, track runner. I idolized Kathy Griffin and Larry David. I tried doing standup comedy for the first time in 11th grade at another school’s open mic night and got pulled off the stage after making a joke linking the Latin poet Catullus, koalas, and chlamydia. I was ahead of my time.
Did you have an un-sexy starter job?
Taking out trash at a post-production company for my first six months in NYC. As a filmmaker, it’s handy because I still have color-grading connections at that company. Also: great friends and free food. Enough money to rent a live-in closet. And I learned a ton.
What do you consider to be your biggest comedy achievement to date?
Creating and directing the new original BRIC-TV series GIRLS AREN’T FUNNY, starring Amamah Sardar, about how standup saves the lives of three young women comedians in an industry that will only make room for one of them.
When you were coming up in comedy, what helped you stick with it?
Persistent desire to make light of the insanity of existing. Especially in my early years in NYC and growing up and beginning to cope with past trauma, identity etc.
Taking full agency of my narrative and the vulnerability of making jokes was scary but exhilarating. Also pretty quickly, I was getting to know all the genius girls in comedy who were and still are dominating the mic and ultimately building a dream team to collaborate on GIRLS AREN’T FUNNY.
Have you ever dealt with trolls?
Men at shows love to explain comedy to me and it’s amazing. I’ve been condescended to, you know since I’m a girl, even though I’ve been doing standup off and on for many years.
I also play a sort of sarcastic ‘whatttt,’ off-the-cuff version of myself on stage and do things a bit unconventionally. So I’m even more of a prime candidate for that kind of unsolicited advice. It’s been great material for GIRLS AREN’T FUNNY. Occasionally handle it with some snark but usually, it’s not worth the energy.
On your deathbed, what transcendent advice would you croak at a young comedian?
Probably what my grandmother told me: Make your life what you want it to be.
And I’d add: shock them. It’s fun.
Best comedy advice you ever got?
Stay ahead of the audience.
Worst comedy advice you ever got?
“Just be more confident.”
How has being funny helped you in your life?
Being able to make a joke, and also take a joke has helped me connect with my family, with friends, with strangers. It’s definitely helped in my career as a film director and storyteller – especially on set. It breaks down tension and creates a feeling of camaraderie and play. On the other hand, being funny is also an effective way to tell someone off.
What specific things should a novice comedy writer do to shape their voice?
After you’ve come up with the initial joke, brainstorm more detailed words that could be subbed in. The more specific the detail the better. Go crazy.
Was there one person who inspired you to go into comedy?
It was a combination of comedians I loved and wanting to be like them, and friends telling me I “had to do it.”
Do you have a writing routine?
I’m very on and off again because filmmaking takes up most of my creative headspace. But when I’m on, I try to write one new joke a week to add in. Like I said…kind of a slacker!
What is your go-to show when you’ve had a bad day?
Right now I’m watching Vampire Diaries...should I admit to that?
What single word always cracks you up?
‘Determined’ because I didn’t know how to pronounce it growing up.