My name is Nivedita Kulkarni, and I am the Founder & CEO of Nuva. Welcome to our inaugural newsletter! Cheers to the start of big things! :)
Writing about myself feels intensely, terrifyingly vulnerable – but it's important to me that all of Nuva understands my motivation in launching this newsletter (and in running Nuva). I hope you'll indulge me for a moment as I share my nerdy backstory. :)
I grew up reading business magazines. (Yes, I am a super nerd.) Forbes, Fortune, Inc., Founder - anything that I could read about starting and growing companies. I eventually went to business school, and I found myself drawn to stories of maverick CEOs changing the world with their innovative ideas and visionary thinking.
I had found my passion – business.
To me, business is simply defined as “making things better.” A businessperson is anyone who finds new ways to solve unsolvable problems.
My childhood dream had been to be an actress. When I entered the entertainment industry after college, I had no idea what I was in for. As you all know, the entertainment industry can be a cold, lonely, and unforgiving place.
I created Nuva with the grand aspiration to “make the entertainment industry better.” (Maybe a little naïve, sure.) :) But I refused to believe that the “standard industry practices" – hiding information, cutting other people down, lack of jobs, very few women at the top – are the best that we can do. I don't want to learn how the industry has worked in the past. I want to fix it and make it work better.
One of my favorite books on entrepreneurship is Anything You Want, by Derek Sivers, the founder CD Baby. In the book, the author talks about why we love building companies. He says that “Creating a company is like creating a whole new world. But you can set the rules of this world…and you can make it better than reality.” A company offers us a space where we can make things a little brighter, a little more idealistic than the real world.
In that vein, I hope to create the “world” of Nuva to be a little brighter than reality. I hope we can share a space that is a little kinder, a little more supportive, and a little more caring than the everyday real world may be.
At the risk of being overly effusive, I want each and every person reading this newsletter to know that I believe in you. You! I truly believe that no dream is impossible. I know that you can reach your highest potential – no matter how big or far away your dreams may seem.
I'm starting this newsletter to create a space where we can celebrate one another. Where we can applaud each other's successes. Where we can open up to each other, and know that we have each other's backs. I hope to create a space in the industry – and in the world – where each one of us feels loved, celebrated, recognized…and feels like we belong.
Thank you so much for being a Nuva. I can't wait to see what you do next.
Abby Feldman is a Fulbright scholar and journalist-turned comedian. She has written for Adult Swim, Netflix, Reductress, and more. She was one of the Just For Laughs New Faces in 2018, and was recognized in Time Out New York for one of the Top 10 Best Comedy Podcasts with her show Moist.
Q: At what point in your life did you know that you were funny? Did you always think that you were going to be a comedy writer?
A: When I was 3 and a half, I got mad at my sister and wrote on our kitchen white board “Sarah is ashol.” My mom laughed proudly and took a picture. So I guess that was when I got my start.
Q: How did you become a Fulbright Scholar? Can you tell us about your work abroad? How did that experience change your life?
A: I always loved learning Spanish in school. I was the kid telling my classmates to “cállense” when the teacher was talking. I decided I wanted to be bilingual so my mom found a high school exchange program with AFS and I won a scholarship to live in either Argentina or Costa Rica. I had seen the movie Evita as a child and sobbed when Madonna sang Don’t Cry For Me Argentina. I spent all my winter breaks summer internships there. I went to school for journalism so I worked at the local Cordoba newspaper “La Voz del Interior” and wrote about how Argentina elected a woman President and legalized marriage equality before the US. Towards the end of college, I found out about the Fulbright program and applied to make a documentary. I made the film about the relativity of craziness and centered it around a patient who lives a double life in a notorious Buenos Aires psychiatric hospital. I had always had a desire to make a positive impact on the world, and while making the documentary I realized I didn’t want to be a journalist. I wanted to make people laugh. After a year and a half working on the film, I just uploaded it to YouTube, called my parents and told them I was going to be a comedian and moved to NYC to start classes at the Upright Citizens Brigade.
Q: Can you talk to us about performing at JFL? Did it change your career afterwards, and how so?
A: When I was invited to be a JFL New Face, it felt like the universe was saying “You made the right choice, baby! You’re in the right place doing the right thing!” I got my first big deal manager from JFL, and it definitely opened doors and I made some great connections, and I think people in the industry respect the fact that I was a New Face.
Q: What accomplishment are you the most proud of?
A: Deciding to pursue comedy. It felt like a kind of coming out. No one in my family is a performer or in the entertainment industry. I didn’t even know it was an option. And then when I found it, that was it. I never ever looked back. I love how my career has evolved from improv to sketch to stand up to comedy music. The first time one of my comedy songs hit #1 on iTunes was pretty cool too.
Q: When did you start making a living from comedy? How many years in were you? What was the road to getting paid like?
The pay in comedy has always been so inconsistent. I do find that when I’m really excited about a thing, it usually ends up making me more money. Like the comedy news show. I was super enthusiastic, made all the reels and writing samples and was persistent and let them know how much I wanted the job. And I got it. I forget sometimes, but I think tied with talent the most important key to getting the job is enthusiasm. People want to hire people who want the job.
Q: What motivates you? What is your life philosophy?
A: I’m super motivated by the fact that I’m alive and that could end at any moment. I want to do as much good as possible while I’m here, and bring as much joy and laughter and light into the world as possible. I got into meditation and spirituality around the same time I started comedy. I believe life is a play of consciousness and we are all actors on a divine stage, so everything is always happening exactly as it’s supposed to, and it’s my role to make the most interesting, delightful choices and “yes, and” the universe. My life philosophy? Let there be light.
Q: Is there any piece of advice you wish you had been given?
A: The ugly parts are where the magic is made.
Q: What are you most looking forward to for the upcoming year? Any major work projects or career goals? Do you have an "ultimate" career goal?
A: I’m excited to make and release more comedy music, and put out a special. I really want my special to be this wild, raw, beautiful slimy baby. I want it to make people feel happy to be alive, and hopefully love & accept themselves a little bit more. That’s my ultimate career goal. For people to look to my work when they want to feel better. What could be better than that?
Q: What are some of the hard times you have faced in the industry? How did you overcome them?
A: Rejection. So much rejection. Being ghosted by a rep. Haters. Creepy dudes. It all sucks in the moment but dang it the saying is true it makes you stronger. I’m less of a people pleaser now. I’ve created most of my biggest opportunities and successes on my own. It feels great to make things instead of waiting around for someone else to tell me I’m ready.
Q: How long have you been a Nuva? What does Nuva mean to you?
A: I don’t even remember how long I’ve been a Nuva but at least since it was still a Google Group! I freakin love this community. It made me feel so good to have a group for women in comedy! All of the love, support, belonging. People genuinely want to see each other thrive. Thank you for creating such a gorgeous space for us. To anyone reading this, congratulations! You are part of a beautiful community and you have chosen the best profession in the world!
Nuva Career Wins
Let's celebrate some amazing career wins in our community!!
Nuva Stephanie Streisand was a staff writer on seasons 3 & 4 of “The Mighty Ones” on Hulu & Peacock. Stephanie wrote 10 episodes across the two seasons. Follow her on IG: @stephstreis
Nuva Kristen Vaganos plays the starring role in the horror hit “I Am Lisa” – available to watch now on Peacock.
Have a recent career win? We would love to celebrate your work! Email: laura@nuva.io
Business Corner
What are the “upfronts"? An upfront (usually one day to one week) is a presentation that TV networks make to advertisers in order to sell ads in advance of the TV season ("upfront"). The upfronts are where the TV network debuts its new fall TV lineup. Each TV network hosts its own upfront presentations (ex: CBS, NBS, Fox all have different upfronts). The upfronts are usually held in May of each year, before most shows debut in the fall.
Have any entertainment business questions? We'll answer them here! Email laura@nuva.io with your question.
Events
DESIGNING YOUR 2023 Experience – Saturday, January 7th - 9-10:15 AM PST Location: Virtual Cost: Free Signup Link:Designing Your 2023 Experience About: As we enter the new year, join Indigenous storyteller Charlene San Jenko and award-winning filmmaker Naomi McDougall Jones to take a breath and design your ideal 2023 experience. As the new year begins, give yourself the gift of 75 minutes spent bringing into focus what you want the expression of your gifts to be this year and to design your daily practice that will build the experience you long for. This offering is entirely free and our gift to you. It will also give you a taste of what our year-long Regenerative Creation Cohort will be like and we'll provide you with some additional information if you are interested in joining!
Jobs in MAGENTA mean that a Nuva works at this company and may be able to refer you! If you apply, drop us a line -- we will try to connect you to an internal referral!
Nuva Naomi McDougall Jones is offering one free month of the Regenerative Creation Cohort to any Nuvas who sign up! (3 spots left)
Introducing reGEN and Avalon: Story’s Inaugural Regenerative Creation Cohort*
The stories we tell - whether as professional storytellers, entrepreneurial founders, or industry leaders sharing the story of our work - create the framework that becomes our reality. Over the last century, we as individuals and a society have been shaped by broken stories told by broken leaders, delivered to us through broken systems. A more beautiful future can only be called into existence through regenerative stories told by healed leaders, delivering their work through healthy, ethical, sustainable systems.
We are inviting you to join our inaugural 10-person Regenerative Creation Cohort and become one of those leaders weaving our way to a more beautiful future through creating and sharing your work regeneratively.
Whether you are a filmmaker setting out to make a film, a writer embarking on a book or screenplay, or a business leader looking to launch a new company or project, as part of the Regenerative Creation Cohort, you will spend the next year, not only birthing your new project in a supported environment, guided by Charlene and Naomi, but also pioneering with us collectively into the question of what it looks like to create and deliver your work to the world in ways that are radically regenerative, ethical, sustainable - and hopeful.
Nuva Gabby Muzzarelli is offering 1 FREE Live class + 25% off 3 months of Formation OnDemand (monthly subscription option) to every Nuva!
Gabby Muzzarelli, NASM-CPT, is a NYC-based fitness professional who's been training clients and selling out studios since 2015. She developed her signature method, Formation, after struggling to find a barre or pilates class that "had it all" - form-focused technique, functional training, cardio intervals, dynamic sequencing and a killer playlist.
Gabby's classes will have you drenched in sweat while having more fun than you ever thought possible in a workout class. If you've ever felt like virtual classes aren't as motivating or challenging as in-person classes, you need to try Formation! Whether you're a beginner or an advanced student, Gabby's programming makes at home fitness attainable, accessible and fun!
