Aadip Desai is a Los Angeles based new dad, sideburns enthusiast, comedy writer, producer/co-host of the On The Page screenwriting podcast, and drummer for The Spanglers, a comedy musical act.
He will be a recruit on the fourth season of the popular Food Network reality show, The Worst Cooks In America.
His writing has appeared on The Conversation with Amanda de Cadenet, in City Arts Tacoma Magazine, Geekweek, Los Angeles Or Bust, and he blogged as President of the Northwest Screenwriters Guild. His produced work includes an award-winning romantic short, a Get Out The South Asian Vote PSA, and a math rock music video starring Leuko. As a stand-up comedian, Aadip has performed at The Improv, The Comedy Store, Flappers, Red Rock, and Elderberries. He also performed musical comedy at the Improv Lab, Upright Citizens Brigade, Steve Allen Theater, and SF Sketchfest.
Aadip has also interviewed/moderated panels featuring EMMY and OSCAR-winning filmmakers at The Northwest Screenwriters Guild, Austin Film Festival, and Pacific Northwest Writers Conference.
In the music business, Aadip music supervised several action sports films for Ally, a feature film called Unsung, and several commercials. He has interned for Randy Jackson at Sony Music, Capital Public Radio (NPR), and assisted Jim Wilke at Jazz After Hours (PRI). He managed the $5m global music account for Starbucks Coffee Company and programmed music at Muzak.
As a trumpet player, he has performed with Ramsey Lewis, T.S. Monk, Pancho Sanchez, Stanley Turrentine, Arturo Sandoval, Cleo Laine/John Dankworth, Jack Sheldon, Reggie Watts, Easy Big Fella, toured with The Diablotones supporting The Voodoo Glow Skulls (Epitaph Records), and recorded on Gardener’s New Dawning Time on Sub Pop Records.
As a drummer, Aadip has recorded, performed, and/or toured as a member of several bands, including The Far West, Juhu Beach, Martian Memo To God, and Pint O’Guinness.
Aadip’s training includes classes and workshops at The Groundlings, Upright Citizens Brigade, Writers Homicide School, UCLA Ext. and UW Ext. He’s also taken courses from Robert McKee, Steve Kaplan, Ellen Sandler, Blake Snyder, Pilar Alessandra, Jen Grisanti, Michael Hauge, Marilyn Atlas, and Walter Dalton.
He holds a BA in Economics and a Minor in Music from The University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, WA
Aadip lives in Los Angeles with his universally adored wife, his sassy newborn daughter, and two reactive Malteses. He melts when animals who are natural enemies become friends, enjoys a good TV slap fight, and marvels at the plethora of items that can be stuffed into a pizza crust.
Here's a glossary I've written in an attempt to help get your head around the terminology often used in screenwriting, TV writing, and the film industry writ large. It is by no means comprehensive, and there is much debate about what some of the terms may mean. But, it's a start. Enjoy. Above The Line: Expenditures/costs negotiated/spent before filming begins, including source material rights (for adaptations) and salaries ...
One of my favorite comics of all time just passed away. When Laura and I merged our households, we had a few duplicate DVDs: Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, and Reservoir Dogs. Another thing we both shared was a love of stand-up comedy--Foxx, Pryor, Cosby, Murphy, Rock, Seinfeld, Rickles, Smothers Brothers, Newhart, Rivers, Carvey, Mac, Cook, etc. AND Kevin Smith films. George Carlin fits ...
I'm pleased to announce that the NWSG will be hosting Steve Kaplan's Comedy Intensive Workshop on August 1-3. From top stars to first time comedy screenwriters, TV writers, producers, directors and performers, Kaplan has worked with and coached the best. He has also served as a consultant to Dreamworks, Disney, HBO and others. I'm personally excited to invite such a well-regarded instructor to Seattle, once again bringing the best Hollywood ...
So, I'm back from California and glad to be in good old Seattle. The weather has been agreeable, buit the cold snap is starting to set in. We tried to keep the heat off until October, but we got frozen out while watching Godfather II. By the way, if you search for Godfather 2 in the myspace "tell us what you're...." section, it comes up with Caligula. Weird. Right now, some ...