Meet KATHRYN KVAS | Writer, Comedian, Filmmaker, Creative Director

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

Hi KATHRYN, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
It took me a long time to understand that there are different levels of risk. I guess I took a risk by not going to law school even though my dad really wanted me to, so I could study creative writing and become a creative in advertising instead. But if I’m being honest with myself, that wasn’t the real risk I wanted to take. I didn’t let myself do the thing I really wanted, which was to become a writer. Instead I chose the safe “advertising agency creative” route to make my parents feel better about me having a stable job, so I could tell myself that even though I’m not a full-time writer like I wanted to be, at least this was the next best thing and we could all be happy now. It took me years to let go of that thinking and decide that if I don’t go out and do the thing I really want, I’ll regret it later. I started writing on the side, and I have been contributing to the New Yorker’s Daily Shouts, The Onion and McSweeney’s for years now. I also make films and music videos, and I work for Spotify as a full-time Creative Director. I am slowly undoing my old thinking of trying to make everyone around me “happy”, because that’s not even real. If the people around you love you, they just want to see you doing things you love.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I love dark comedy, and I often pull from old-school horror while commenting on contemporary themes and issues. My writing that i’m most proud of to date is a horror/humor piece in the New Yorker titled “When I write something” that Monica Lewinsky posted about (!!) and also a timely New Yorker piece I co-wrote with Mia Mercado titled “How Men Think Women’s Bodies Work” in response to the malicious overturning of Roe V Wade.

Another project I loved was called “Alone With Me”, where we created a dark AI version of The Weeknd that speaks to you and knows everything about you.

I also wrote and starred in a short horror-comedy film about a fitness influencer that summons a demon to get the perfect body, and that was a finalist in the Austin Micro Film Festival and the Portland Comedy Film Festival.

That said, I feel like I’m just getting started. I just finished writing a short film about my experience as an unpaid immigrant intern that I’m planning to direct and perform in. And my husband and I are pitching an animated TV pilot about a female black widow spider who decides not to eat her mate so they can work on their relationship. I love working on things with people I love. It makes projects way more fun and fulfilling.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I haven’t been in LA too long, and mostly I’ve just been going to bookstores, playing tennis and eating. Skylight bookstore has so many readings and events, and I love the Good Heroin comedy show at “Stories” in Echo Park. The drinks and food at Tokki in Chapman’s Plaza in K-Town is amazing, as are the sandwiches and drinks at Johnny Pastrami’s/The Bar at Johnny’s. And so far, my favorite tennis courts in LA are the Vermont Canyon courts!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
So many people! My parents were always supportive of my writing growing up, and always asked me to write stories for them for their birthdays and Christmas. They kept everything I wrote. And my second grade teacher, Mr. Marsh, was the first person who, instead of punishing me for making up elaborate lies, told me to turn them into stories. He was also the first person to tell me that I might be a writer someday. And shoutout to my college professor at St. Bonaventure University, MJK, for telling me to “choose what makes me happy”. And to my husband Vignesh for putting up with me and always providing kind and thoughtful notes for whatever I’m working on. Love you all!

Website: www.kathrynkvas.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/kathryn_kvas

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KathrynKvas

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuUC04g_a2w

Image Credits
Vignesh Seshadri