Today we’d like to introduce you to Tatiana Zappardino.
Tatiana, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I have loved comedy since I was a little girl. Actors like Jim Carrey and Jack Black inspired me to become an actress myself. When I first moved to Atlanta about 3 years ago I started to get involved with stand-up and sketch writing but I started to see very quickly that it was a very male-dominated genre. My first sketch team was great at Highwire Comedy and it was an awesome experience. However, I was one female actress with 5 male actors so I would often be cast as very cliche roles to include: sexy cheerleader, french maid, damsel in distress and so on.
I asked to be one of the leads in a sketch I really enjoyed where I would be playing a Mad Scientist but they said no it’s a male part. The only issue I saw was that nowhere in the script did the Mad Scientist pee standing up or whip out a penis so I didn’t see what the issue was. Then the real reason came out, “I’m sorry but men are just funnier.” Hmmm… well that’s was my last straw, I knew I couldn’t grow in that group anymore so I chose to leave. I decided to assemble a group of awesome and talented women where we never had to compete for gender-based roles and we could be whatever we wanted.
Women in comedy today are rising up the ranks such a Melissa McCarthy, Amy Poehler, Tina Fey, Kate McKinnon and so on. Realizing the power of women and what we could do Fine China Comedy was created. The team consists of Sailor Larocque, Amanda Maddox, Candace Marie and Paige Hamilton. These ladies are fierce and unstoppable. Fine China is an all production based sketch team so we do not do live performances.
We work with people within the Atlanta film community ranging from different DP’s and sound (and yes we still work with men). However, we do all of our own editings, writing and producing because we wanted to learn how to do everything in order to be self-sufficient. The team has been such a learning process and we still have ways to go but being surrounded by like-minded women who love comedy and want to have fun is what we are all about.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Nothing worth having is ever easy so of course, we have hit some bumps. When it comes to the time it can be difficult for the team to all be free at once. Also, I was recently cast as a series regular on a SyFy show that is now on Netflix International now called Superstition so that took up a lot of my time and made Fine China take a pause.
But that’s the beauty of creating, it is endless and can go on forever so there is no need to rush it. When inspiration arises for a short or a sketch we take charge of it but no need to rush out projects just to have content because at the end of the day this team was created as an enjoyable outlet and that’s what it will remain for us.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Fine China Comedy story. Tell us more about the business.
Fine China Comedy is an all-female comedy sketch team based in Atlanta, GA. Our goal is to create comedy with strong women in front and behind the camera. We are for women by women. (But love men too <3)
We work with a plethora of other talent and crew from all over Atlanta in order to collaborate and share our art with others and build the film community.
What sets us apart is we just do it. We don’t always wait for the perfect timing we just have faith in our people and that it will all work out and so far it has. Success doesn’t come knocking at your door you need to go knock at success’s door, TODAY. Dreams start as soon as you start living them, and creating our own content and being an innovator is the DREAM.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
Honestly, like I said before I was part of a majority male team and even though it may not have had the best ending, I learned so much from that group of people and really believe they have boundless talent so I thank them for everything they taught me as well as the fire the set under my butt. You learn from the hardest moments and that’s when you find out if your gonna show up and sit down.
Contact Info:
- Email: tlzappardino@gmail.com
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