Ive noticed, for me, that that has created this business model that has flourished.
Because, now were doing things in a different way, Shams told Deadline.
Were not just moving in a traditional sense.
Comedians Paul Elia and Matt RifeAndrew Max Levy
Were using all of our skills together to really create opportunity, to create an empire.
Im going to be fine from here on out, and then you have to start all over again.
So, its so exciting, and Im trying to remind myself to enjoy every moment.
Comedians Matt Rife and Paul Elia perform at Lowkey OutsideAndrew Max Levy
This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that most people do not get.
So enjoy it, but work on maintaining it.
DEADLINE: How has this moment impacted you, Christina, as Matts longtime rep?
Ive known these guys since the beginning.
We were all kids.
Matt was 17 when I met him; I was 23 years old, running The Laugh Factory.
I can do something here; this is my energy, too.
When we all teamed up, there was no money on the table.
And Matt literally said to me, Lets go.
Have you been cognizant of what people are saying?
And Im like, No.
I dont really care if its positive or negative.
Its nothing I havent heard for the past 10 years living in L.A.
RIFE: Its a dream come true.
You work so long in this industry for the respect of your peers.
Theres nobody I look up to in stand-up more than Dave Chappelle.
What up, Matt?
So Ive just been so grateful, and its exciting to be respected.
We wanted to be comedians in the game.
And then its like, bad things would happen.
We would drive home, I would get a flat tire.
Matt, remember when you changed my tire?
[Laughs]
RIFE: Yeah.
That was the first time I had a chance to remind Paul to his face.
I was like, In case you were wondering how much I love you… ELIA: You know whats crazy?
After all the shows weve done on cars, that he would leave me in mine.
Because we were always told, If you work hard and youre funny, good things will happen.
Thanks, and just walk by.
So to see Matt excel at this level…Matts my brother, one of my dearest friends.
When I look at this, Im like, Man, justice is served.
It all makes sense now.
It was disgusting; I think I have a disease now.
SHAMS: This just speaks to their ability to create opportunity for themselves.
Im able to take my best friends on the road.
Im able to help executive produce Pauls upcoming special.
We all reap that reward in one way or another.
RIFE: Theres a lot of them.
Theres pushing dumpsters with your bare hands, no gloves or sanitizer.
There was a show that was not even sold out, outside.
We already booked the comedians.
We at least have to preserve what were going to have left.
We were able to find gratitude and positivity in that time.
Whats another good one?
Im like butt-ass naked behind my glass shower door and Pauls like, Cops are here.
And I just threw on a towel really quick, I threw on some shorts.
Im shirtless, running out there, and the cops are inspecting our apartment unit.
Were like, Oh, were going to get shut down.
Because obviously youre here for us.
It turns out it was just domestic violence.
Nothing to do with us at all.
We were scared sh*tless.
I cant believe its going to get shut down the first time we tried to attempt it.
It was really weird.
But the thing is, we knew this space was perfect.
It was removed just enough to where cops arent really trying to police us.
We can do shows here.
And then I remember eventually, me and Matt just had it.
We were like, Were done.
So we were like, You know what, man?
Were not going to do shows here anymore with you.
So we actually called the chair people, the guy drove from Riverside to pick up the chairs… [Laughs] I dont know how he fit a hundred chairs.
I was like, Well, we could do that.
But then hes like, You know what?
Im tired of this.
Im just going to go do it myself.
He created his own ecosystem.
Paul was a producer on this.
I remember going to this taping during the pandemic, watching [comedian] Erik Griffin seat people.
But that came from TV credits, late night shows, all that kind of stuff.
That used to be all it is.
Now, thats the most basic part of it.
Thats learning how to read and write in school.
To be a well-rounded person, youve got to learn how to market in social media.
You have to learn how to edit videos, how to shoot videos.
You have to learn how to book your own travel.
I had no idea that was such a big thing.
So, you have to be able to do everything.
Those are the most basic concepts of being a stand-up these days.
Paul and I had never done that before, but its just trial and error.
Already, nobodys handing me anything.
Im already not doing, apparently, what I need to be doing to succeed.
So lets try this thing.
Lets figure it out.
RIFE: That idea and route of traditional success in comedy doesnt really exist anymore.
Its so much fewer and far further between now.
That really doesnt happen now.
Now, a lot of it is luck.
I cant tell you what I did the first time to get my first couple TikToks to pop off.
I couldnt tell you what that is.
SHAMS: Matt used to hate social media, by the way.
RIFE: Im a 55 year old man.
That now is in your phone.
DEADLINE: Is mainstream Hollywood something youre interested in being a part of?
I know youve both acted before, but is that something youre hoping to pursue seriously?
I love acting just as much, if not more than standup.
Ive done a lot of independent work.
Ive done a lot of MTV, Disney-style stuff.
Sort of like the spirit ofLowkey is like, Ive probably auditioned for 500 different TV shows and movies.
Ive auditioned a lot and was always getting close but not getting the part.
There was always a thing.
Its like, Oh, hes too young.
Oh, hes too old.
Oh, hes too Middle Eastern.
Im losing roles like, They went with Idris Elba.
[Laughs] Which is why I created my own opportunity.
Even me and [comedian] Ian Edwards, we decided to create the [web series]Roommates.
Doing it on your own is really the spirit and the way to go.
And what can you tell us about it?
ELIA: Im just not going to wait.
Im ready to tell a story, and I just felt very ready to put this out.
This is going to be myCollege Dropout.
Were shooting it in Detroit.
I told Matt that I wanted to do it and Matt immediately was like, How can I help?
Christina is so instrumental in this project, and its just cool to make something meaningful.
And I would say what people can expect is, this is going to be a banger.
So Id say its my most fun hour yet.
I think people are really going to like it.
Theres something in there for everybody.
