Ep 566: Vera Drew

PUBLIC VERSION. Filmmaker Vera Drew (THE PEOPLE’S JOKER) joins Adam, Joe, and Arwen in the ArieScope Studio to discuss her career journey and the making of her debut feature THE PEOPLE’S JOKER - in theaters now! From her work with Second City in college and her love of performing live comedy… to her first internship working with the amazing Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim… to going on to editing on show’s like Sacha Baron Cohen’s WHO IS AMERICA, TIM AND ERIC’S BEDTIME STORES, COMEDY BANG BANG, and I THINK YOU SHOULD LEAVE… to the moment that she realized it was time to move on and do her own thing… to how she came to the decision to tell her deeply personal story in the form of THE PEOPLE’S JOKER - a queer coming of age movie that parodies the characters of DC comics… to how she pulled off such a technically complex production while simultaneously feeling she was physically coming apart herself… to her film’s triumphant premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival and the legalities that followed which ALMOST set the film back… to the pros and cons of crowd funding and the delicate balance of managing a team of uniquely different visual artists… Vera truly opens up in this inspiring conversation that is both comical and touching.

Dr. Arwen provides “Hollywood Therapy” for a filmmaker trying to cope with the anxiety of directing, Vera gives sound advice on what to consider before going the “parody” or “fair use” route with a project, and Adam finally confronts Joe over an issue he’s had with him for years.

Meet Adam and Joe THIS WEEKEND at ASTRONOMICON in Livonia, MI (April 12th - 14th)! Adam will also be appearing at NEW JERSEY HORROR CON in Edison, NJ (April 19 - 21), TEXAS FRIGHTMARE WEEKEND in Irving, TX (May 17 - 19), MONSTERPALOOZA in Pasadena, CA (May 31 - June 2), and SCAREFEST in Lexington, KY (Oct 18 - 20)! More appearances for 2024 TBA!