Charlyne Yi by Robyn Von Swank

In today’s world when you come across someone who is super talented, and doing original, unique things, it’s rare that they put all of their energy in to one medium. They express themselves through multiple platforms, in multiple ways. Charlyne Yi is a perfect example of that. You will recognize her as the writer and star of the film “Paper Heart”, her role in “Knocked Up”, and other various parts on TV and film. It’s hard for me to tell when she is being funny, or sincere, (yet I suspect she is always being sincere) and I think she might battle with the same thing. I don’t mean to imply you can’t be funny AND sincere at the same time, which she often is. She is such a great comedian, hilarious, but she is also a really amazing writer. From film to poems to whatever words that come from her mouth, pen, or computer, they are all truly beautiful, and thoughtful. She paints, is in a great band called Old Lumps, just started a non-profit called Caring Is Cool, and has the ultimate goal of just trying to be “happy”. I think Yi is an inspiration, truly. Continue reading to find out why.

Serial Optimist: Hey Charlyne! What up? What are you currently doing as you respond to this interview? Give us a real detailed description of your scene at this exact moment.

Charlyne Yi: I am sitting beside my friend Allan McLeod on a tattered old green couch that was given to me for free. It’s uncomfortable to sit on. I am also sitting on my my foot, and it’s about to fall asleep and get even more uncomfortable when it decides to get all tingly and feel like needles are prickling me. We’re supposed to be working but I’m tired.

SO: You have creativity for miles, and don’t really stick to one medium, although I guess you could call the common ground comedy. Along with being a comedian, you act, write, paint, and are involved in music in a variety of ways. Was their ever one in particular you had an affinity for when you first started? What really hooked you first, and when?

CY: I think I always thought I had to have just ONE thing. But then slowly realized I didn’t have to choose. I think in elementary school my teacher asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, and I answered “Happy”. And so I am trying to partake in whatever will make me happy. Because we’re constantly changing, so why not tailor a life fit for us by challenging ourselves in all aspects, and going after whatever may interest us in that time. As we are only here for a while. I’m talking about life and death. Ha. Let me ask you a question, do you consider me to be deep and mysterious after that last comment about life and death?

SO: Life and death already being discussed in the second question, that means this interview is off to a great start! Actually, I adore your answer, and absolutely agree. For one to follow dreams and try to do what makes them happy in life, is one of the more harder goals to achieve, but ultimately the most rewarding. I work at it daily!

SO: You have been a part of a variety of bands/groups. From The Glass Beef with Paul Rust to appearing in music videos and incorporating music into your standup, and now to being in the band Old Lumps. When you look at things musically, do you look at it from a comedic angle first, or from a fan of music first?

CY: I don’t think I understand humor. So I often just try to write whatever is on my mind, or however I feel. With Glass Beef, that’s super stream of conscious and sometimes people can interpret our lyrics to be comical. But we’re not really trying to be. It’s just weird.

SO: Such an awesome group of people makes up Old Lumps. How did Old Lumps come together? What’s the goal or vision for the band?

CY: Dave Horwitz is a great friend, writer (co-author of Deal Breaker), comedian, drummer, and is my roommate. I had been aching to play in a band for a while, and I mentioned how I had drums and he offered to play. I was scared that we might not like the same sort of music or get along, and that might complicate our living situation… But it doesn’t. Which is super awesome and convenient.

We met Jessica Cowley because a friend was staying with her, and we played a one-off show together in a band called Black Cheeto (inspired by my poop that looked like a Black Cheeto). I loved Jess so much, and hoped that she would wanna continue to play with me despite my lack of knowledge for music, and I guess someone went up to her in the bathroom at Spaceland, saying how they overheard me gushing about her and how I hoped she would want to play with me. Shortly after that, I got an email from her saying how she wanted to play with me. And I said YES! She has become a good friend too. And inspirational as she works in urban planning and does good deeds that my little brain cannot process.

Goal? I just wanna have fun and want my band and audience (if we have one) to have fun too!

SO: How was the whole process for writing Paper Heart for you? From an industry standpoint, and the press it got, does that push you away from writing another screenplay or do you not let it effect you? I guess what I mean by press, is all the Michael Cera stuff, and then just the stress marketing and all the industry type stuff that comes along with it. Do you have plans to write another movie?

CY: We only wrote an outline and improvised the rest. As well as filmed real documentary footage.

I don’t understand your question about the press we got and how it affects writing another screenplay. I write if I feel like it. I’m a rebel.

You say that you mean by press about “Michael Cera” stuff. What do you mean by Michael Cera stuff?

I have plans and am working on writing other things, for film, and graphic novel.

SO: What I meant by “Michael Cera” stuff, which was badly worded on my end, and I think “press” was the wrong word to use, but that movie was so loved, by critics and the mass, but the question that loomed was “Are they or aren’t they really a couple?” I was just curious if that impacted the end result of the movie or if it was ever even thought of as a marketing tool. Regardless, the movie turned out beautifully, so I guess it’s a moot point now.

SO: I love your approach to stand up, being it’s somewhat not traditional. You use lots of audience participation, games, magic, music, and are not just up there telling one off jokes. Did that approach to stand up come organically for you or was it something you had to work out prior in your head, or plan out? How much of an impact did UCB have in kind of allowing you grow into your own as a comedian?

CY: I sometimes plan things out in my head, sometimes I just have an idea to go on stage and improvise and see what happens.

I am thankful that the UCB let me put on my own shows without any limit. I had been looking for a theater of my own to do longer sets and at the same time, they reached out to me and asked if I wanted to put up a show there. They said for me to do whatever I please. And so I did. It’s nice to have a supportive place to do your own thing.

SO: Your Tumblr blog is hilarious, but also has beautifully written words. The Fashion Entries are the best; each one really makes me laugh hard. What is a Tumblr to you? Twitter to you? Facebook? How have all the different social networking platforms helped you as an artist, comedian, and musician?

CY: Tumblr. I dunno. It’s mainly just me being bored and trying to get something quick with little thought out so hopefully someone can read it. Just a way to vent.

Twitter and Facebook is just mainly for promoting my work.

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Poem: The Leak (From Charlyne's Tumblr)

My roof is leaking. He was supposed to fix it in April.

My eyes are leaking. I was supposed to fix it in April.

I’m urinating from my eyes. But I can hear the sounds of
the dribbling polluted piss,
flow through the cracks of my broken ceiling,
and fall from the beginning of the endless sky.

And it’s comforting.  It’s comforting to know I’m not the only one who’s taking a piss.

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SO: You have this persona of the awkward-cute-indie-nerd-comic about you. How much of that is truly who you are as a person? When we see you interviewed on Conan, etc, are we getting who you really are?

CY: I don’t consider myself what you described me as. Perception is a strange thing. We only see what people allow us to see.

And even that is blurred by our assumptions or expectations.

I am an enigma.

SO: True that. A mysterious, lovely enigma!

SO: What do you have coming up in 2011 that we can look forward to?

CY: I’m starting a non-profit called Caring Is Cool. Writing some stuff, and painting, and playing lots of music. Maybe go back to school to get a degree to teach.

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An example of what Caring Is Cool will be doing

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SO: What little things in life really make you smile?

CY: Sincerity. Babies’ bi-polarness. Ice cream.

SO: That answer made me smile. Thanks Charlyne!

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SO Note: Check out Charlyne’s awesome blog here, follow her on Twitter @smellyi, find out more info on Old Lumps here, AND make sure and check out Caring is Cool, do it.

*Photo by Robyn Von Swank