We recently connected with Chad White and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Chad 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 can unequivocally say I am happier as a person who works in a creative field. More specifically: television, film and the surrounding media. C+ Comedy is my darling where I’ve been able to talk to hundreds of people in the entertainment industry – all vying to realize their dreams. I’ve done desk jobs as well as desk adjacent ones. Too many times I worked in a building where I was drained before I walked in. It’s not worth it; it never is.
The happiest I’ve ever been in a job was when I was a producer at Cartoon Network. I was previously let go from a hyper local TV company that was bought out by Scripps. Side note: that was (and still is) my only job ever where I had health benefits. Boy do I miss them! Still, I felt like a cog when I was working for Scripps. There was no real pre-production, no post. It was simply “TV” work. 2021 saw my alleviation of the bland feelings thanks to an unceremonious layoff. Eight months of nothing went by until, while I was working part time at a dry cleaner storefront, I landed a job at Warner Bros. – then still referred to as Turner.
It was a boon to say the least. Beyond one even. I’d done three straight interviews in my car; onsite at the dry cleaners; covered in other people’s filth; sweating in the summer heat; trying to convince five separate people to let me join their team.
When I eventually walked into the Turner building – this monument of my entire life that featured all the shows and movies I loved – I couldn’t wait to see what we were going to do. For about a year and a half, I helped shepherd dozens of shows, movies, and whatever else through the WB landscape. It was dream fulfillment to the highest degree. Nothing since has come close. Not to mention working at WB was the first time outside of serving in restaurants where I was able to A). make friends with people I worked with and B). be happy with the work I’m doing at the same time. I’ve done a litany of jobs; worked with a ton of companies. Even working in the news where you’re meant to be buddy-buddy with people, I could never fit in. Now, I was doing it!
With C+ Comedy, I have managed to keep the happy train alive even when my professional work seems to diminish. 11 years of figuring out what I am able to do while also talking to creative people in the same position has been the best experience of my life. Yes, I deal with not having full time jobs or benefits or set schedules but, damn it, I love the work.
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?
During my junior year of college, I wanted to make a website that covered the entertainment industry. In less than a week of planning, that eventually became C+ Comedy. More the AV Club and The Onion (sister sites at the time) and less serious, hard-hitting news. All the stories I wrote were snarky, truly poorly worded news bits that truly could’ve been handled with more intrigue. I’d report on an upcoming release of a movie, for instance, with the same level of wit as a 20-something who has nothing extraordinary to say. Not to mention the reviews of shows and movies I’d also throw on the site. They’re no longer linked on the main page but they still get hits if you search the right words on your preferred search engine.
Almost a year after making the site, I was offered an interview from a comic who had a special coming out with Comedy Central Presents. That ballooned into more interviews. At one point, I started doing a weekly video news show, News Time. During that period, I stopped doing written news and eventually reviews because two celebrities quote tweeted me and I felt bad for the snark I was putting out. There was no point. I hated writing short stories. I hated doing reviews more. Both stopped immediately. I’d go on to talk to one of those celebrities and relay how they helped change the site to their delight.
Now, I’m producing multiple audio and video podcasts (The Constitutionals, an entertainment business news show; Late Night Lately, a show covering late night TV shows; and LinkedIn Logs, a business and jobs show) and will bring back News Time after a two year hiatus. The interviews have always been ongoing. Plus, they’re in video form now. I have that kind of pull, baby!
My interviews are something special. It took me a very long time to find what I wanted to say. I used to prepare to the tee. All of my questions were written down with me only veering off course if the conversation allowed. Now it’s all about going with the flow. Don’t mistake; I still do prepare. Just way less. I’ll check out the comic’s special for a bit or watch part of the pilot of the actor’s show. I mainly come in with knowledge of the project and the person so that we can have a good chat. My secret is if I really like them, I’ll get hyper specific about the project. That’s how you know I am excited to talk.
I’ve very good at what I do. No one conversation is the same. My goal at the end of the day is make the entertainer – veteran producer or first time actor – feel special.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?
People who work in white collar jobs often don’t see the reason to keep the dream alive. Any roadblocks are an excuse to pack it in and go to something more stable. Look, I get it. I miss being able to go to the doctor or dentist without having to pay out the wazoo. It’d be nice to keep adding money to the savings account instead of pulling out. However, the trade offs of staying in an office all day aren’t exactly worth it. This isn’t an unresolved teenage angsty feeling; although, I definitely don’t want to have to report to anyone else. It’s more of a need to do something bigger than collate faxes for 40 years. In my case, it materializes itself in a television-based outlet. I want to make shows and movies that people enjoy forever. There are sacrifices that come with that. Lack of stability is the biggest one. But it’s better than putting on a tie every morning. Also let it be known I look GREAT in a tie. Invite me to your weddings please.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
Obviously, I want to make movies and TV shows. Not this chintzy TikTok, online only crap. I want to make real, silver and small screen projects. I want to make people all over the world come together to laugh. Simple as that. Additionally, it’s also important we bring more diversity to the industry. Women, people of color, differently abled, LGBTQ+ – everyone will be represented in my work.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.cpluscomedy.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cpluscomedy/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cpluscomedy
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chad-c-white/
- Twitter: https://x.com/cpluscomedy
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/cpluscomedy
- Other: https://chadcwhite.com/
