We recently connected with Sarah Adams & Maggie Rieth Austin The Monthly Junk and have shared our conversation below.
Sarah Adams & Maggie Rieth Austin, appreciate you joining us today. If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your business sooner or later?
Maggie: For me, I’ve always wanted to make movies. I’ve made short films since I was old enough to pick up a camcorder. But after graduating with a film degree, I fell into teaching and then working operations. My creative outlet became improv which was wonderful and led me to Sarah (thank goodness!) and my husband (thanks comedy!) When our home theater closed during the pandemic, and I became unemployed, it felt like such an incredible opportunity to throw caution to the wind and start making movies and commercial content full-time. And thank GOODNESS Sarah and I had already been doing it for a decade. It just finally felt like “oh, okay, don’t fight this anymore. This is what you’re supposed to be doing.”
Sarah: Is this where 8 year old Sarah thought she would be? No, but she also thought she was going to marry Devon Sawa. The 8 year old Sarah knew she loved acting and performing, and assumed that must mean she’s destined to be an Oscar winning actress. And maybe that’s still in the plans, but sitting here now, over 30 years later, I’m doing the thing I’ve always meant to be doing. I get to make fun and funny stuff with my best friend, and we get paid to do it! I mean, that’s the ultimate dream. I think 8 year old Sarah would love to know all the things she’s capable of, that she’s acting, directing, writing as her actual job – all much more than she ever dreamed.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
The Monthly Junk started in 2013, as we sat in front of an old couch in the Dallas Comedy House lobby and laughed and laughed at how hilarious they were. Before too long, we put up a camera and filmed some bits. Ever since that day, we have been making each other laugh on and off camera.
As a duo, The Monthly Junk has screened our film projects at over 19 national film festivals, including the critically acclaimed fests Indie Memphis (2022Blender), USA Film Festival (2017 The Service Elevator) and The Tallgrass Film Festival (2022Blender, 2017 The Service Elevator). We have produced digital content for clients such as WFAA, University of North Texas Athletics, Joketown, and Fearless Dallas, and taught digital content creation for Dallas Comedy House. In addition to film and commercial work, we have performed, taught, and directed comedy of all kinds for stage and screen for the last decade. But wait, there’s more! We also produce Unstable Topics. With several thousand downloads, this trivia comedy podcast that’s currently streaming on JAM and wherever you get your podcasts.
Whatever the medium, if it’s a creative challenge or opportunity to add some humor to a project, we are ready to dive head first into make ‘em ups with a purpose.
We’d love to hear about you met your business partner.
Maggie: Sarah doesn’t remember meeting me for the VERY first time, but I remember meeting her: I subbed into her improv class and remember thinking “oh she’s a pro and very cool, I’ll make her be my best friend.” And then when we were both cast in the improv troupe Richard Rope, I knew we’d be besties forever.
Sarah: I totally remember that story! **does not totally remember** My recollection of meeting Maggie for the first time was at a DCH JAM. She, along with her very cool friend Laura, was giving a presentation about “booping” the nose of someone … and to be honest, I thought it was very cool and wanted to be friends with her immediately.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
Maggie: We want to make woman-centric content. Whether that’s our own shorts or featured centered on complex and hilarious women, or promotional videos for a woman-owned business, or reels on our Instagram that get tens of views – we’re here to tell stories from our unique point of view and have fun doing it.
Sarah: Ditto.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.themonthlyjunk.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themonthlyjunk/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheMonthlyJunk/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/themonthlyjunk
- Other: TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@themonthlyjunk
Image Credits
Photos by: Alyssa Udovitsch