Hello, Hello!    In this episode, we have a conversation with writer and comedian Charla Lauriston. We talk about working on the NBC series Grand Crew, writing her web series 'Clinch & Release,' her excellent new course for writers, The Werking Writer School, comedy as a defense mechanism, the importance of being seen, racism in Boston, why it's harder to get a laugh from a fellow comedian, the joke she wishes she'd written,  how she deals with writer's block, and her best advice for would-be comics and sitcom writers. Enjoy!    The MAKE IT podcast is brought to you by the Voice of the Filmmaker program, which is sponsored by Women in Film and Television, Nashville (a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization).   If you like what we're doing, please donate here: www.bonsai.film/donate.   How you can continue to enjoy MAKE IT content:   Subscribe to the MAKE IT YouTube channel. Subscribe to the MAKE IT Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. Subscribe to our newsletter at www.bonsai.film/subscribe.   The MAKE IT podcast amplifies the voice of the filmmaker by exploring the filmmaking journeys of actors, writers, directors, producers, and a host of other creatives from across the film industry. We provide a platform for filmmakers to provide advice, lessons learned, personal reflections, and insights through our Filmmaker Conversations, Mistakes in the Making, Industry Insights, Indie Talks, and Film Investment Series. We are the go-to film podcast for independent creatives!   More on Charla  Charla Lauriston is a Vancouver and Los Angeles-based comedian, writer, and director. Born in Haiti and raised on the East Coast, she’s currently a Supervising Writer/Producer for Grand Crew on NBC and has previously written for The Last OG, Ghosted, People of Earth, Hoops, and others. Her 2021 episodic short, Witchsters, is the official selection of the 2022 Slamdance Film Festival, New Filmmakers Los Angeles, and the 2021 Austin Film Festival and American Black Film Festival. Charla is the Lead Mentor at The Werking Writer School, a career-focused online course and community for new and aspiring screenwriters.   Links charlalauriston.com thewerkingwriter.com/school https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlalauriston/   **Esteemed listeners of the MAKE IT Podcast, please take 10% off Charla's top-flight writer's course, The Werking Writer, with the code MAKEIT. If you are ready to level up your writing and get that series job, finish that screenplay you've been laboring over, or create samples that get the attention of agents in 2023, do not miss out on The Werking Writer course. Remember to use the discount code MAKEIT for 10% off today, and thank you to Charla and the team at The Werking Writer for the generous offer. #MAKEIT