Camille Solari: Glam in La La Land
Photo credit: Yvette Lera
Independent Film Quarterly sat down with comedian-writer-producer Camille Solari. She discussed her new comedy show “Glam in La La Land” at The Hollywood Improv and the release of her new feature “Sparkle & Tooter.”
IFQ: Tell us about the “Glam in La La Land Comedy” comedy show at The Hollywood Improv on February 21st?
Camille Solari (CS): I am super excited about this new show! I love doing stand up comedy and I love the world of glamour so I decided to mix the two. There are tons of comedy shows that happen every night of the week in Los Angeles. I wanted to do something different, where girls can dress up in their party dresses, walk the red carpet, get their pictures taken and watch a great comedy show with their girlfriends, then walk away with a gift bag full of fun femme stuff, and the show is free for women!
IFQ: Are men allowed to come?
CS: Of course they are! In fact, we have been promoted on dating websites as a great event to go to as the first part of the show there is an hour of intermingling of singles before the show starts.
IFQ: How did you come up with the idea?
CS: I have a blog I write called “How to be Glam in La La Land” www.glaminlalaland.wordpress.com. Basically, I write antidote blurbs about where to go, what to wear, and how to BE in La La Land (on a dime ). I also started doing video blogs too of “Being Glam in La La Land.” Then of course I have my web series called “La La Land,” which is a semi-autobiographical web series about living in Los Angeles. www.lalalandtheseries.com
Then I brought on board my stand up comedienne/award-winning costume designer Joanie Coyote to produce the show with me. It couldn’t be a better match! We are thrilled to be able to do this at The Hollywood Improv February 21st 8:00 pm – red carpet is from 7:00 to 8:00 pm. Just go to www.glaminlalaland.com to get on the list.
IFQ: What was it like working with director/writer Walt Foreman on the recent movie you executive produced “Sparkle & Tooter”?
CS: I only met Walt once many years ago in passing. I don’t even remember how we met initially, a bar mitzvah? He told me all about this movie he was writing “Sparkle & Tooter.” Anything remotely reminiscent of Bonnie & Clyde I am an immediate fan of. I wanted to help him get the movie made any way I could. He’s a great guy with a lot of integrity, and if anyone deserved a shot at getting a film made, he did.
IFQ: Do you act and write in all the movies you produce?
CS: No not everything, whatever makes sense and fits naturally. I write for television and film. As far as acting goes, I believe if the person is right for the role, then they should get it, whether they are famous or not famous. Obviously, investors need to make their money back, and movie stars can help with this. There are certain roles that should have movie stars cast, but I don’t think every movie needs to have every role cast with a movie star, or every TV Show needs someone who has been on 5 other TV shows that got cancelled. There are so many amazing actors and comedians who would humbly take the job and be so grateful to get it. I think sometimes producers get stuck ideas in their head about these things.
IFQ: What made you decide to be the executive producer of “Sparkle & Tooter”?
CS: With “Sparkle & Tooter,” I got on board later in the picture. Walt Foreman, the writer and director had a great cast locked in, and they really worked well together. I think it’s really important to support other peoples work, and I was happy to come on board as the Executive Producer of the picture and do whatever I could to help get his picture made and released.
IFQ: As a fulltime comedian and writer, how do you also find the time to produce movies and television?
CS: I don’t really have the time; when I decide to do something I just do it. I like doing projects that are exciting to me that I wake up in the morning and am excited to write about. Sometimes I get paid, sometimes I don’t. It’s probably not the wisest business plan, but I love creating my own shows, and I always put my all in. Sometimes you get given opportunities and some people have to create their own opportunities by any which way they can. I guess I am one of those people.
