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.
Anyone else tired of this weather? So gray, so rainy, so awful. Even Brando didn't want to go out for a walk. I'm sitting in my favorite coffee shop, surrounded by everyone else trying to get a pick-me-up. About to add some more pages to my script, hoping to finish by next week. Since I haven't blogged about it yet, let's talk about the amazing BILL TRUE and DEAN HYERS. ...
Today was a good day. #1 - I got to see Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. No spoilers here, I promise. I thought it started out a little slow and expositional, but Laura reminded me that they needed to set it up for the younger viewers. OK, I'll give her that one. I thought once the ol' hat and lasso were back in the picture, it was ...
I just got home from tonight's well-attended meeting starring the ovo-lacto Michael Hauge. After playing the opening clips from Brokeback Mountain and Wedding Crashers, he covered a lot of ground regarding openings, developing your hero, how to ask a question properly, and common mistakes that screenwriters make, including improper formatting and WAY too much dialogue. By the way, I offered up some pages from my brand-new script (concept tested in ...
Just got back from Blake Snyder's Beat Sheet Workshop at the Freehold Theatre. All twelve of us (9 NWSG Members, including a founding member/ex-Guild President) started with either a germ of in idea, a concept, or even a solid premise for three separate stories. We pitched them to the group and together we chose the strongest piece for each writer. Every one of us walked away with a completed BSBS ...
A quick apology regarding the Michael Hauge Workshop. I sent some incorrect pricing information out and caused some confusion. The workshop is in fact $75 for NWSG Members, NOT $50. So far we have 19 registrants, so there is plenty of room left. But, please register ASAP so we can prepare for this event.