Candivan Originals Creator Spotlight #1: Scott Davis, The Disappointing Life of Cassie Starr
Scott Davis, one of the creators and writers of The Disappointing Life of Cassie Starr
Last week we announced our first original show, The Disappointing Life of Cassie Starr! This week we sat down (emailed) with the team to get to know them a little better. First up, we have Scott Davis...
Scott is a writer/producer from Los Angeles and Fresno, California. He’s worked on several TV shows including The Nerdist, Web Soup, Epic Meal Time and Pitiful Creatures as well as web series for UCB Comedy, Funny or Die and Defy Media. He’s a writer, performer and director for the UCB Theatre in Los Angeles and currently writes and produces commercials. He created a movie review website called onephotoreviews.com and his Tinder profile has been described as “lacking”.
Follow him on Twitter: @MrScottDavis and on Insta: @MrScottDavis
Hey Scott! What's the most absurd film/show project you have worked on?
SD: This is tough because I don't want to talk bad about any jobs I've had but I did get fired off of The Bachelor for breach of confidentiality. It was my first TV job, worked there for a few years (really loved it) and didn't realize Myspace was a public forum. I also used to play a recurring character on Web Soup called "Bally the Nutsack". That's pretty absurd.
How did the idea for your Candivan Original show The Disappointing Life of Cassie Starr come about?
SD: I went to see a friend's play and spent the whole time trying to think of something nice to say after. I wanted to write that scene into something so brainstormed that idea with Justin and Shalyah. We then came up with the idea of someone coming back to their home town and just being a complete asshole to everyone as they deal with their own insecurities.
If you missed it last week, check out the trailer:
What do you hope to do with this show?
SD: Having lived and worked in LA and now shooting a show in my home town of Fresno, one thing that will be fun will be using Fresno as its own character in the show, like New York in Sex and the City or LA in Entourage or Dallas in Dallas (I assume). And being a small(ish) town, I think a lot of the experiences and Fresno-specifics will be very relatable to a lot of people all over the country. More-so than Dallas (I assume. Never watched it)
What is unique about your writing process?
SD: I steal ALL my ideas from the guy that's suing the Duffer Brothers.
Do you use improv in your writing?
SD: I started writing a lot after going through improv training so I think I naturally improvise stuff in my head when I write. I definitely learned how to heighten the situations and simplify scenes and have characters react to each other from improv. But I don't get up on my feet and improvise through scenes and then write them down. I did do that for the answers to these questions, though.
What are some of your favorite TV Shows?
SD: I have many: Freaks and Geeks, Spaced, Arrested Development, LOST, You're The Worst, Fargo, The Leftovers, Atlanta, Simpsons, South Park, Legion (although I have no ideas what's going on), Last Week Tonight, The Wire, Documentary Now, Master of None, Chef's Table
What's the worst TV show you've ever seen?
SD: Two and a Half Men is the worst TV show. Studio 60 was pretty bad, too.
What are you reading at the moment?
SD: Just started I'll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara. I also read a lot of comic books.
What is a fun hack you like to use when shooting a show?
SD: Be nice to the art department. I mean, be nice to everyone, but art department works hard and usually gets blamed for stuff that isn't their fault. Be nice to them.
What is your favorite thing about your co-creators Justin and Shalyah?
SD: Hard pass.
What is your spirit animal?
SD: My dog Denver Omelette is my spirit animal and might actually be me.
And JK on the hard pass. Here something I like about each of them that sums up a little of what they're all about.
Justin recently had a birthday party for himself but modeled it after a little kid's birthday party. There was kids foods like pb&js, pudding and frozen pizzas and a piñata. It was a blast!
Shalyah likes sharks and makes her own videos for Shark Week because not one entity or TV network can own a week full of sharks! They are great, check them out.