Fortune Feimster – Champions

By starrymag | April 5, 2018

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

Q) What are the recent projects that you are working on?

A) Right now, I’m back on tour so I’m doing a ton of standup all over the country. I’m doing a lot of writing right now and I’d sold a movie to Amblin, Steven Spielberg’s company. So, we’re in the middle of rewriting some of that project. If I’m not touring, it’s a lot of behind the scenes work at the moment.

Q) Please tell us the premise for the show “Champions” and about your character Ruby.

A) The premise of the show is that there is a gym called Champions owned by two brothers and one brother (Anders Holm) had a kid with his high school sweetheart that he did not know existed. The ex-girlfriend (Mindy Kaling) shows up and says their son (J.J. Totah) needs to live with him because he needs to go to a performing arts school in New York. From there, it’s about the journey of their relationship. Anders’ character, Vince, is trying to learn how to be a dad and J.J.’s character, Michael, is a young gay teen who is learning to be in a new city and just kind of coming into his own. I play Ruby who works at the gym. She is this kind of spitfire aggressive person at the gym who is also kind of yelling at people, but also has everyone’s back. Mindy and Charlie [Frandy] (who I was involved with on “The Mindy Project”) approached me about playing Ruby. They basically just said if I was interested in being a part of this show that they would create this character around me. I knew from experience that working with them was awesome and that I would be in good hands so I said, “Let’s do it!”

Q) Is Ruby a trainer or just a motivational member?

A) [laughs] She technically is a trainer at the boxing gym, but she does a lot more yelling than she does training. She is kind of one of those “do as I say, not as I do” types.

Q) What is it about working with Mindy Kaling that makes it so enjoyable?

A) I just think that Mindy is so smart! She’s such a smart person and a great writer. She makes shows and characters that people of a younger generation can relate to and she’s very up to date with pop culture references. Her writing is so smart, fast and witty. I like the witty jokes and commentary on what’s happening in the world and country, but they are done in a way that is light and fun. At the end of the day, a lot of her shows and episodes she writes have heart. These people just want something out of life and want to be better, find love or mend a relationship. These are things everyone can relate to and are going through. She just has solid shows where people want to tune in and watch these characters go through these things. It’s something that can take your mind off of what is going on in the world and I like that.

Q) You have great comedic timing! Is that something you find has come natural to you or have you had to work at it?

A) Thank you! I think it is a little bit of both. I think maybe it is something that was inherent in me that I didn’t realize I had. Once I started training at Groundlings it was something I tapped into and make better. I definitely think starting in improv and sketch comedy helps with that timing. You just learn how to create characters. It’s a great acting tool and then doing standup you really hone your own voice. I know my voice and my cadence better than anyone. So, if someone gives me a line, I just know exactly what I want to do with it. I’m lucky to have that kind of in my back pocket to help with these fun characters.

Q) Is there much room to improv during scenes?

A) Well, everyone is super funny and super quick on their feet. In the times that we do get to improvise it is a real treat. With it being a new show, there is not as much room for improvising. We did a lot on “The Mindy Project,” but when you’re in a new season of a show you’re just trying to find the voice of everybody and trying to keep up with all the storylines. So, we’ll get to do it a little bit. I definitely think if the show were to keep going it would be something we could explore a lot more of – which I would love! Anders is such a talented writer himself and co-created “workaholics” and was very heavily involved with that writing. So, he’s constantly thinking on his feet and I come from an improv background so I really hope that we’ll get the chance to keep doing the show because I feel like there are so many stories left for the writers to tell and so much stuff for us to add as well.

Q) What have been some of your most memorable moments from filming “Champions?”

A) For me, it was extra cool because I had just wrapped “The Mindy Project” about two months before so I got to come back and work with a lot of the same crew. That was really fun because I came in on “The Mindy Project” in season four so while they had gotten this full circle of episodes felt I felt like I was just getting into it and I wasn’t ready to leave. So, in a way, it felt like I was getting to continue on with the same crew and Mindy and all of those guys. And I really love the cast! I enjoy getting to know them. I had done an episode of “Workaholics” so I have known Anders for years. I just got to see him in a different light and I really have a new-found respect for him. I just like my coworkers! You want an opportunity to keep doing this because we just have so much fun. You can’t always say that about every job that you have.

Q) What do you think it is about the show that will make it a fast fan favorite?

A) I don’t know. I think it’s unique in that it has Michael at the helm. He’s a young gay teen and that is definitely unique since you don’t see a lot of TV shows shown from that perspective. So, I hope that it would make the show stand out. Also, there is a very diverse cast. There are people of all ages, backgrounds and ethnicities. There are women and men. There is someone that anyone can relate to, which you don’t find in a lot of shows. Then, having someone like Mindy as a cocreator and cowriter – I just think we’re in such good hands and the writing is so sharp that you just hope it sets the show apart.

Q) As someone supportive and a part of the LGBTQ community, what does it mean to you to have a young, out and accepted gay character at the forefront of the series?

A) I love it! That was one of the reasons that drew me to the show to begin with because seeing a young gay teen at the forefront of a network television show does not happen often. So, I wanted to do whatever I could to make the show good and to stick around because that is a voice that needs to be heard. There are a lot of kids out there like J.J. who want to see themselves represented in mainstream media. For my character, there still isn’t a lot of representation of lesbians on television. When you do see them, they are often in some drama getting murdered or something crazy. I want to be a part of having more lesbians on tv and they are normal, fun and silly and can help carry a show just as well as anybody. I’m really glad that Mindy has given me another opportunity to represent my people! [laughs]

Q) You are a part of social media. Have you been enjoying the instant fan feedback you have been receiving to episodes?

A) Oh yeah! When the show first premiered, I really didn’t know what to expect because with any new show you are having to work out the kinks and the pilot episode especially can be a little daunting since you are laying down a lot of ground work. People literally have to come into a scene and say, “Hi brother,” just so people get these two are brothers and this is their dynamic. You kind of have to hit the same story a little bit to catch people up to date. Some shows premiere and you get slaughtered on social media with critics and I felt like 99% of the feedback I’ve seen on social media has been incredibly positive about the show and we got really great reviews from critics. So, people seem to really love the show. People that are watching it think it’s really funny and really like the characters. It’s just a matter of getting people to watch. That is the hardest thing these days because there are so many outlets and TV shows that it is hard for people to keep up.

Q) You are a writer, producer, actress and comedian. Is there anything else you would like to try your hand at in the entertainment industry? Maybe directing?

A) I’m busy! [laughs] I’ve thought about directing, but right now it is not a goal of mine just because I’m not a very technical person. I’m definitely more of a creative person than a technical person and I feel like with directing you need to have a little bit of that – just knowledge of cameras, angles and lights. There is a lot that goes into it. Maybe down the road I’ll be itching to do it, but it’s not something I’m trying to delve into now. I’m just trying to master the acting and writing part. Hopefully, I can sell some more projects where I get to produce. I’d really love to have my own production company. That’s probably my biggest goal – to try to keep creating projects and sell them.

Q) You were a part of the hilarious series “Chelsea Lately.” Do you keep in touch with any of your former panelists?

A) Yeah! It’s funny that you ask that because right now I’m receiving like twelve messages from Chris Franjola, Sarah Colonna, Jen Kirkman and Heather McDonald. It goes in spurts where we’ll all be doing our own thing and won’t have chatted for a minute and then someone will text and it unleashes a mass text chain of jokes and Emojis. It’s really fun! I saw Heather earlier because I did her podcast so we all definitely keep in touch. Everyone is working and doing well. I’m just happy that the show proved to be such a successful launching pad for so many of us.

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?

A) I’m just really grateful that people like me and my comedy. A lot of people who first saw me on “Last Comic Standing” or “Chelsea Lately” have still been following my career to this day. I hear from similar people on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. I’ve seen the numbers grow steadily as I’ve continued to do more projects. So, it’s nice to see more people starting to know who I am, but I’m always appreciative to the people who liked my stuff for so long and continue to support me. I’m just really lucky because the people that come to my shows and write me online just are really nice people and they always have really lovely things to see. They seem genuinely invested in me and my family. They follow me and Jac and our dogs. It just means a lot that in this crazy world where there is so much negativity that people seem to really care and I just appreciate that a lot. Anyone that comes up to me I try to talk to everybody and take pictures. I just always try to show my appreciation in return.