We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Lorena Russi. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Lorena below.

Alright, Lorena thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?

My path to working as a full time creative has been a long twisting road that makes no sense, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’m a failed pro soccer player who, after teaching and working as a university mentor in Cambodia, went into comedy writing, full time…you know, a tale as old as time– And what I learned throughout that process of being surrounded by all kinds of artists from all over the world is to BE an artist, is a life long practice. There’s ebbs and flows and your value as a creator has no correlation to who is handing you a paycheck. The funniest people I know don’t get paid to work in comedy, and I know several people who get paid to do comedy that don’t make me, personally, laugh. And most importantly, my opinion doesn’t matter more than anyone’s else’s. What I’m saying is that, both art and commerce are subjective so you have to create work that allows you to sleep at night. When we die, God isn’t going to be like, “by the way I love your IMDB page.” Focus on your art. Whatever that looks like.

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?

Growing up, whether it was with my family, my soccer teammates, school, I’ve always tried to alleviate tension by cracking jokes. I’m really obsessed with a forbidden giggle or an unburdened cackle. And now working in comedy, my job is the same. Whether that’s performing/writing a stand up set, developing a tv show, acting in a scene, my job is to be present and try to find the truth of a relationship, scene, emotion. And oftentimes, it leads to giggles!

I think what sets me apart from most comedy creators is being able to authentically speak to a lot of different subjects. My jobs have ranged from pro athlete to teacher/mentor to at one point, I was considering a PhD in Gender Studies. I’ve found success in various arenas which allows me to stand out, but I’m more proud of that because it means I’ve always followed my heart.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

We need to FINANCIALLY support artists through government sponsored incentives, audience support, and hello, again, what is the government doing?! The wealth gap between artists is so large, some of us cannot afford to pay rent, while others have multiple houses. For ex: in Hollywood, my check is cut in half giving money to my team of managers, agents, lawyers, taxes. You get it! And sometimes that cut is pennies and sometimes it’s a big difference.

So people who are creatives usually are people who can afford to be artists. In other words, they come from a family of successful artists or have generational wealth. If not, then they’re in the arts because they love it so much they’re willing to starve for it. Honey, I’m hungry! As a child of Colombian immigrants, I lived with my parents for a decade until I finally made enough money to move out. And I was lucky my parents moved to Queens, NY. What if they had picked (insert random ass town that I will not specify because I can’t afford the smoke)!?

Sorry to be on my high horse, I’m almost done, but I genuinely don’t understand how people survive in my community. There should also be more government sponsored incentives for artists, so that we can survive on our art and also diversify the folks who make the art we are consuming. Art drives conversation as well as legislative and social change. We can’t continue relying on A.I for human stories and connection. I do comedy because I genuinely have something important to say, but I just love making people laugh and connecting people. And so I would also encourage audiences, if you like an artist: share the love. Let people know.

I don’t know if I’m answering the question, but basically, I’m pissed and help me do something about it, please!

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

The goal for my art is to normalize comedy (of all kinds) for marginalized bodies. And for me specifically, my intersection is Queerness and Latinidad. Separately or together, these categories can be particularly one note in mainstream spaces. In the alt scene, it’s incredibly dynamic and versatile, but I’m trying to be the next Mario Lopez on mainstream TV! As a Latina from NYC, I do not want to do jokes about bodegas. I love bodegas as much as the next person but, like, GUYS. And then, like, as a Queer person do I always have to talk about sex? We have 100 letters in the LGBTQIA+ spectrum and only ONE perspective? I’m horny as much as the next person, but come on!

I guess what I’m saying is, I sound like Larry David and look like Weird Al Yankovic, and I hope that with my comedy, people feel safe enough to open their minds to all kinds of communities and maybe even allow themselves to be surprised.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHvXbV29zSQ&list=PLRlHZ-r8T6x833YqeBGzqByCZqLmXkGn2
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colonialmanface/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorena-russi-aa634b109/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@laratadigitalcomedy4390