Ellie Shoja

The reschedule has finally happened for TOMORROW May 7th at 12:30pm. Who's going to be there?? We're interviewing the writers and directors of the latest indie film making waves through the festival scene, Legend Has It. This will be a great conversation of how the same comedy elements work in today's age, and how to direct action in comedy. Fun fact: the director is also in stunts and this helped him with directing action.

New comment 6h ago

Ellie Shoja

0 likes • 13h

@Jb Thompson Here's the Naked Comedy call I mentioned on a previous message. The zoom link is now on the calendar for tomorrow. Hope you can join.

Ellie Shoja

0 likes • 6h

@Jamie Aronson yay!

Jb Thompson

1d •

General discussion

Hello, I’m new here

During the dawn of self grandiosity. Hi, I’m JB, I really like movies. I have since I was about 8. I wanted to make movies and even went to college for it (probably forgotten most of the technicals by now). Then I talked myself out of it until 3 years ago. I have since written and directed some short films and narrative commercials worked with some seedy filmmakers and some great ones. I am at a point where I want to film a feature, so I began writing a script for a feature, a musical comedy. Knowing now that it needs to hit a broader audience, I arrive at your doorstep for information and direction from a group of people that admire the man that is responsible for my favorite films. (don’t worry, I’m not a fanboy, per se) anywho, my wife and I moved to Wisconsin in 2009 to be closer to family in their aging years. My wife was doing some acting and screenwriting in LA while I was slinging records (not sure what the kids call them now) for Warner Bros. Since then she and I have worked on a number of artistic projects, she started a community theater group and is honing a proof of concept script for a Hallmark Style Rom Com. I am here to be a student and learn all I can. Thank you for allowing me this opportunity.

New comment 6h ago

Ellie Shoja

0 likes • 15h

@Jb Thompson Yes, the Comedy Film Lab calls are for the 3 people who signed up for it. It's our VIP mentorship program where we help just a few filmmakers make their comedy short films. You just missed registration for it by a couple of weeks. The calls are happening now, and production weekend is at the end of this month. The Joke ER and Naked Comedy calls are open to all premium members. There will be a Naked Comedy tomorrow at 1PM. This will be added today to the calendar. It was scheduled for last week, but David got really sick and we had to push it. The next Joke ER is on May 27.

Ellie Shoja

0 likes • 6h

@Jb Thompson he’s much better this week. Thank you! 😃 Also, I’m so glad you’re enjoying the story development course. I use those worksheets every time I write a script also to help me focus my ideas.

Ellie Shoja

2d •

General discussion

Joke ER Recording is UP

We had another great Joke ER call where we dove deep into @Jamie Aronson and @Mazyar Gheiby's scripts. If you missed it, watch the recording here: #(Ep. 4) Why Comedies Need Character Transformation. If you were on the call, what was your biggest takeaway?

New comment 13h ago

Ellie Shoja

0 likes • 15h

@Johnny Osburn Tell you about the calls?

Ellie Shoja

0 likes • 13h

@Johnny Osburn haha, well, some of the Joke ER segments are in the classroom for all members to see and learn from. :D

Debbie Su

Aug '25 •

DZ Answers

Thoughts on Rule 1?

We would love love love to hear your thoughts on the first rule, Joke on a Joke! I feel like it's a cornerstone of the ZAZ writing style. Did it make sense to you? Do you apply it to your own writing? What other movies follow or violate this rule?

New comment 15h ago

Ellie Shoja

0 likes • 1d

@Jack Rain oh yes! Many of the rules can help with standup. Is that your primary focus? Or are you also writing scripts?

Ellie Shoja

0 likes • 15h

@Jb Thompson Oh that's pretty cool. That's how David, Jerry, and Jim would edit their films -- they'd cut to the laughs. If a joke didn't get an audience reaction, they'd lose it. Pretty interesting listening to the audience react.