I worked as an assistant editor, actually, for a few years. That was right when I was just starting to get out at night and do a lot of stand-up, improv, and sketch work in New York. It really is invaluable. I think it pounded into me an awareness of what an editor wants and needs, in terms of clarity of a moment, where and when to start and stop a line.

Ed Helms

Categorized in : Thinking Night New York

So long as your desire to explore is greater than your desire to not screw up, you're on the right track.

track desire long

Don't be afraid of fear. Because it sharpens you, it challenges you, it makes you stronger; and when you run away from fear, you also run away from the opportunity to be your best possible self.

opportunity running graduation

I wish there was a way to know you were in the good old days befo... by Ed Helms

I wish there was a way to know you were in the good old days before you actually left them.

old-days wish way

I found myself often asking the question, "Who deserves to be made fun of?" Depending on your mood, the answer can be no one or everyone. It took me a while to understand the math of how those field pieces came together. I don't think that ridicule is ever funny, but there are times when that gets the biggest response.

math fun thinking

I mean they [ Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis] are both just really good guys and also they're both extremely funny in very unique ways. We made each other laugh an awful lot, and that goes a long way. And we also went through some hard times. I mean it was hard to make this movie [The Hangover].

hangover hard-times mean

Chickens are a symbol of chaos. Wherever you stick a chicken, unless it's a chicken farm, it's just chaos.

chaos chickens sticks

It's a fascinating culture [the South in the Civil War period] and so rife with comedic possibilities. And not in a way that...I have no intention of making fun of re-enactors. I think it's more just a celebration of their passion and enthusiasm, which is so infectious and maybe at times a little misguided.

passion fun war

Who among us wouldn't rush out and buy a Pepsi if we thought it w... by Ed Helms

Who among us wouldn't rush out and buy a Pepsi if we thought it would make the Osborne's disappear?

pepsi disappear ifs

It's incredibly fun to play someone that you don't like. It exorcises your own demons in a way. It's cathartic. We all have things that we don't like about ourselves, little things. And I get to amplify those things and put them out there. It's fun and it has a cleansing effect.

amplify play fun

I feel like I'm worried about my later years in life because I feel like I'm using up so much good karma right now. There's going to be some sort of karmic backlash somewhere down the road.

worried karma years

I think the culture of Civil War re-enacting is also incredibly f... by Ed Helms

I think the culture of Civil War re-enacting is also incredibly fascinating.

war culture thinking

When you try hard at everything you do, even when it feels foolish to do so, you’re opening up doors and possibilities you might not be seeing in the moment.

opening-up doors trying

This may come as a surprise, given the nature of my job, but I am very guarded and contemplative. I'm not a naturally boisterous person.

boisterous may jobs

Vulnerability is huge. I love to see that in characters. It's something I feel like a lot of my comedic heroes have always done.

done hero character

I grew up in Georgia and I think if you're raised in the South it's where a lot of the war was fought, and it's just more present in the sort of psyche of the South. So I've always just been interested and sort of fascinated by [Civil War].

georgia war thinking

When you're in New York City or Los Angeles, even if you're not dealing with show business, there's still this sense that it's the center of the universe. And I think that's a really dangerous, limiting mindset.

cities new-york thinking

I had envisioned doing comedy since childhood. For sure. by Ed Helms

I had envisioned doing comedy since childhood. For sure.

childhood comedy

I cannot stress this enough - if you try to install an HDTV in a non-HDTV compatible house, you may tear the space-time continuum.

stress space house

I'm working on a script right about Civil War re-enactors who go back in time to the actual Civil War. It's kind of a big, crazy Back to the Future comedy. So, of course, it's the Civil War - I play the banjo. I was just having a conversation with one of the producers about some of the material and he was like, 'You know, we have to work in a scene where you play the banjo. And I was like I'll get behind that.

crazy play war

Alcohol causes conflicts, firearms resolve conflicts. by Ed Helms

Alcohol causes conflicts, firearms resolve conflicts.

conflict alcohol causes