We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Alex Kellerman a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Alex thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?

I am happier as a creative. And of course I’ve thought about what it would be like to just have a regular job. In fact… I’ve had a regular job. And it sucks. I’ve had numerous ‘regular’ jobs in various industries but the drive to create is too strong within me, so any non-creative job is just a way of funding my creative endeavors anyway.

During the 2023 writer’s strike, my job was put on hold (indefinitely, as we didn’t know how long the strike would last), my romantic relationship deteriorated, I had to move out of the apartment I had lived in for 2 years. Talk about a ‘dark night of the soul’. There was a lot of uncertainty at the time about the future of the film industry (there still is) and I considered a full pivot into a different industry. I even started taking coding classes!

But ultimately… I know that I’m only truly happy when I’m creating, so I would be dooming myself to misery. So I decided to quit the coding classes and learn how to edit videos in the TikTok app… and after accidentally uploading a test video… my account blew up! I stumbled upon an idea that people really connected to… that TikTok audiences were hungry for… and my faith in the ability to make a lasting career in entertainment – while not how I had envisioned it – had been renewed.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m a writer and an actor. I moved to Los Angeles from North Carolina to work in film and have spent the last 7 or 8 years working various jobs within the industry as well as writing and producing my own short films, feature films, and digital content.

Most recently, my social media show “The F*ckin’ News” has gained nearly 3 Million followers across TikTok and Instagram. I think this particular idea resonated with people because there aren’t a lot of places to get unbiased news in an a quick and entertaining way.

So my film career is forking at the moment… while I continue working on TV shows and movies in the traditional media space… I am now also running a full time production company focused on my social media brand and influencer business.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I moved out here without knowing anybody. I’ve built a network of close friends and an even wider web of industry acquaintances. I’ve survived industry shutdowns including strikes and the Covid lockdowns… always writing, always collaborating with new people, and now I’m in a place where I get to focus on creating my own content and working with people I grew up idolizing.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

100% Jim Carrey’s commencement speech at Maharishi University of Management from 2014 is something I always think of when people ask me why I don’t get a job with more certainty/consistency. You can watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2tR4Z08yls but the biggest takeaway for me was when he talked about his father having worked a terrible job for years and years and then being let go… leaving the family with nothing. Illustrating that you can work your whole life at a job you hate and still end up with nothing… so you may as well pursue a job you love.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://the4ckinnews.substack.com
• Instagram: @the4ckinnews
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexkellerman/
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/kellermankomedy
• Other: Tiktok – @kellermankomedy

  F*ckin’ News Merch – the4ckin.news

Image Credits

Photos taken by Jasper Lewis