Fly on the Wall with Dana Carvey and David Spade Jake Szymanski
Nov 29, 2023
The hosts explore Zbiotics, a probiotic that counteracts alcohol's effects. They discuss Jake Szymanski's experiences with SNL, including Jury Duty and filming challenges. They talk about working at Funny or Die, Audible, and their sketch 'Sex Ed Couples'. They touch on a social experiment, challenges in filming, and working on the show Lone Pine. They also discuss the emotions and challenges of hidden camera shows.
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From Milwaukee Kid To Funny Or Die Filmmaker
- Jake Szymanski moved from Milwaukee to make comedy videos, learning editing on early Final Cut Pro and shooting guerrilla sketches with a home camcorder.
- He credits Funny or Die as his “second film school,” getting rapid hands‑on experience directing stars and running‑gun production.
Speed And Access Built His Career
- Funny or Die's fast, low‑budget model gave Szymanski access to big stars and taught him to produce timely comedy quickly.
- He learned to write, shoot, edit and publish sketches in days, which built career relationships with McKay, Ferrell and others.
Commercial Gig Led Straight To SNL
- A Volkswagen commercial set with Bill Hader led directly to an SNL director opening because producers liked Szymanski's comedy cuts.
- He thought the SNL slot was temporary, then discovered it was full time and stayed under two seasons.