Meet Courtney Karwal | Writer and Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Courtney Karwal and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Courtney, why did you pursue a creative career?
I chose an artistic career, writing and directing, for a million reasons. I love the feeling of spending a long time creating something, spending months shaping and crafting it, and then seeing it come to life. I love collaborating with other people and being the person who gets to use their unique skills and vision to bring the project to life. There’s so much comraderie on set, and the feeling of fulfillment that comes from working as a team is so much greater to me than simply working alone.

I feel like myself when I’m directing. It’s very freeing to be able to produce something that is an expression of who I am. It can be a tremendous amount of work but the end result is always worth it. I’m grateful to be able to do it.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I started at the UCB Theater and Groundlings Theater, and went on to perform as a stand up for over a decade. This process of spending a long time refining a live performance led me to an understanding about what works and doesn’t comedically, both on and off screen. My directing style is a youthful perspective that finds the funny in the mundane, and I try to create a delicate balance between heartwarming and cringe-inducing. A lot of my work rejoices in the small wins in life which I feel is a universal feeling that isn’t always depicted on screen, as these moments can sometimes be lost in favor of a more grandiose plot.

Getting here wasn’t easy, but it was fun. Like any artistic endeavor, the craft develops over time. It takes a lot of attempts to figure out what works and what doesn’t. Even in instances when something does work, it may not fit with your specific voice, which also takes a lot of exploration to find. The biggest key for overcoming challenges for me has been to just keep going. Keep creating stuff, even if you may look back on it years down the line and find it embarrassing, it helped you get to where you are today.

In a way, that’s also key to my brand or story. Embracing awkward, uncomfortable moments and leaning in to them is an important part of my work and of life in general.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’m an eastsider, so my recommendations are mainly focused on NELA, but I’d spend at least one day at the beach. RAT beach in Torrance has a beautiful view of Palos Verdes, and El Matador up north is great as well. I LOVE boogie boarding, and I’ll get in the water no matter the time of year.

Another non-extreme outdoor activity I love is pickleball. I grew up playing it, and now there are tons of great places to play. Go to the park and make some friends (and enemies)!

For restaurants, I think Hippo in Highland park has the best food in the city. For a more party focused night, I’d go to get a gigantic margarita and sit in a red leather booth at Casa Vega in the valley, and then maybe grab a tiki cocktail at Tonga Hut while I’m in the area.

The Dresden has an amazing lounge that feels stuck in the 50s, and the Tam O’Shanter is my favorite spot to take my grandparents during the holiday season.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d love to shoutout an amazing film and TV editor named Kelly Soll. When I was a humble production assistant years ago, she was a friend from the first day we worked together. She helped me learn how to edit, which has provided me a stable income while also allowing the time to pursue writing and directing. Her kindness and mentorship is incredible, as are her editing skills!

Two other people to whom I owe a great deal are Amanda Brooke Perrin, and my frequent writing partner Lee Rubenstein. Lee co-wrote my first short film “Lipstick City” with me, and not only is he a fantastic writer, he’s a great listener and collaborator. His insight into what works and what doesn’t in a script is unmatched. Amanda wrote my most recent short “Margot’s off the Market” and I was so happy she trusted me to bring her script to life.

Finally, I need to acknowledge Rachel Forman, my friend and the writer of my next project “The Hole.” She’s another insanely talented writer and I can’t wait to get to work with her on this project.

Website: https://courtneykarwal.com

Instagram: @courtneykarwal

Other: Vimeo:
https://vimeo.com/courtneykarwal

Image Credits
The headshot of me was taken by Mandee Johnson. All other images are stills from my work.