Negin Farsad
Encyclopedia
Negin Farsad is an Iranian-American
comedian
, writer and actor
based in New York City
. She has also produced and directed feature films and television programming, most notably the documentary Nerdcore Rising
, which follows around Damian Hess a.k.a. MC Frontalot
, on his 2006 Nerdcore Rising
national tour. Farsad started Qualified Productions in 2005 when she decided to make Nerdcore Rising
. Though Negin was raised in Palm Springs, California
, her family is originally from Iran
, a fact that is often featured in her comedic routines, in addition to political and sexual humor.
is a documentary/concert film directed and produced by Farsad starring Damian Hess, a.k.a. MC Frontalot, and various other Nerdcore hip hop
artists such as mc chris, Optimus Rhyme and MC Lars with contributors such as "Weird Al" Yankovic, Prince Paul and Brian Posehn. The film premiered at the 2008 South by Southwest
festival in Austin, Texas. It combines interviews about Nerdcore and its origins with footage of MC Frontalot's 2006 Nerdcore Rising national tour.
series, The Watch List, the first show in the history of television to feature Middle-Eastern American comics tackling international political issues.
in venues ranging from the Laugh Factory in New York, the Comedy Store in Los Angeles
, and Town Hall on Broadway
. Negin has provided original comedy content for Pacifica Radio
and Sirius Satellite Radio
. As an active comedian she has earned a nomination for the Emerging Comics of New York Awards. Her solo show Bootleg Islam, which she wrote and performed, has appeared in the DC, Dallas, and Chicago Comedy Festivals among others. Her work has been called 'smart, funny, and fascinating' by the Wall Street Journal, a Critic's Choice by the Chicago Tribune, 'a shining exception,' by the Dallas Morning News and Backstage cheered that it 'doesn't get much funnier than this!' Her first ever musical, The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: A Romantic Comedy, recently premiered at the New York International Fringe Festival.
Iranian-American
Iranian-Americans are Americans of Iranian ancestry or people possessing Iranian and American dual citizenship.Iranian-Americans are amongst the most highly educated groups in the United States...
comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
, writer and actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
based in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. She has also produced and directed feature films and television programming, most notably the documentary Nerdcore Rising
Nerdcore Rising (film)
Nerdcore Rising is a documentary/concert film starring MC Frontalot and other nerdcore hip hop artists such as mc chris, Wheelie Cyberman of Optimus Rhyme and MC Lars, with contributors from artists such as "Weird Al" Yankovic, Prince Paul, and Brian Posehn. The film, directed and produced by...
, which follows around Damian Hess a.k.a. MC Frontalot
MC Frontalot
Damian Hess , better known by stage name MC Frontalot, is a Brooklyn-based hip hop musician and self-proclaimed "world's 579th greatest rapper". He is best known in nerdcore hip hop and video game culture, for naming the nerdcore subgenre, and performing at Penny Arcades annual Penny Arcade Expo...
, on his 2006 Nerdcore Rising
Nerdcore Rising
Nerdcore Rising is the official debut album by nerdcore rapper MC Frontalot. The album was first released on August 27, 2005 at the Penny Arcade Expo....
national tour. Farsad started Qualified Productions in 2005 when she decided to make Nerdcore Rising
Nerdcore Rising (film)
Nerdcore Rising is a documentary/concert film starring MC Frontalot and other nerdcore hip hop artists such as mc chris, Wheelie Cyberman of Optimus Rhyme and MC Lars, with contributors from artists such as "Weird Al" Yankovic, Prince Paul, and Brian Posehn. The film, directed and produced by...
. Though Negin was raised in Palm Springs, California
Palm Springs, California
Palm Springs is a desert city in Riverside County, California, within the Coachella Valley. It is located approximately 37 miles east of San Bernardino, 111 miles east of Los Angeles and 136 miles northeast of San Diego...
, her family is originally from Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
, a fact that is often featured in her comedic routines, in addition to political and sexual humor.
Nerdcore Rising
Nerdcore RisingNerdcore Rising (film)
Nerdcore Rising is a documentary/concert film starring MC Frontalot and other nerdcore hip hop artists such as mc chris, Wheelie Cyberman of Optimus Rhyme and MC Lars, with contributors from artists such as "Weird Al" Yankovic, Prince Paul, and Brian Posehn. The film, directed and produced by...
is a documentary/concert film directed and produced by Farsad starring Damian Hess, a.k.a. MC Frontalot, and various other Nerdcore hip hop
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
artists such as mc chris, Optimus Rhyme and MC Lars with contributors such as "Weird Al" Yankovic, Prince Paul and Brian Posehn. The film premiered at the 2008 South by Southwest
South by Southwest
South by Southwest is an Austin, Texas based company dedicated to planning conferences, trade shows, festivals and other events. Their current roster of annual events include: SXSW Music, SXSW Film, SXSW Interactive, SXSWedu, and SXSWeco and take place every spring in Austin, Texas, United States...
festival in Austin, Texas. It combines interviews about Nerdcore and its origins with footage of MC Frontalot's 2006 Nerdcore Rising national tour.
A Cricket in the Court of Akbar
Negin served as a producer and story editor for A Cricket in the Court of Akbar, a documentary film about musician Andrew Mendelson, shot entirely on location in Rajasthan, India.Iran-ing on Empty
Iran-ing on Empty is a short film written and directed by Farsad, who also stars in it. It has been a selection of comedy festivals around the country.Meeting David Wilson
"Meeting David Wilson" is a documentary which Farsad served as a consultant and story editor.Television
Negin is currently producing/directing/performing in the upcoming Comedy CentralComedy Central
Comedy Central is an American cable television and satellite television channel that carries comedy programming, both original and syndicated....
series, The Watch List, the first show in the history of television to feature Middle-Eastern American comics tackling international political issues.
Standup and Shows
As a standup comedian Farsad has opened for the likes of Al FrankenAl Franken
Alan Stuart "Al" Franken is the junior United States Senator from Minnesota. He is a member of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, which affiliates with the national Democratic Party....
in venues ranging from the Laugh Factory in New York, the Comedy Store in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, and Town Hall on Broadway
Broadway (New York City)
Broadway is a prominent avenue in New York City, United States, which runs through the full length of the borough of Manhattan and continues northward through the Bronx borough before terminating in Westchester County, New York. It is the oldest north–south main thoroughfare in the city, dating to...
. Negin has provided original comedy content for Pacifica Radio
Pacifica Radio
Pacifica Radio is the oldest public radio network in the United States. It is a group of five independently operated, non-commercial, listener-supported radio stations that is known for its progressive/liberal political orientation. It is also a program service supplying over 100 affiliated...
and Sirius Satellite Radio
Sirius Satellite Radio
Sirius Satellite Radio is a satellite radio service operating in North America, owned by Sirius XM Radio.Headquartered in New York City, with smaller studios in Los Angeles and Memphis, Sirius was officially launched on July 1, 2002 and currently provides 69 streams of music and 65 streams of...
. As an active comedian she has earned a nomination for the Emerging Comics of New York Awards. Her solo show Bootleg Islam, which she wrote and performed, has appeared in the DC, Dallas, and Chicago Comedy Festivals among others. Her work has been called 'smart, funny, and fascinating' by the Wall Street Journal, a Critic's Choice by the Chicago Tribune, 'a shining exception,' by the Dallas Morning News and Backstage cheered that it 'doesn't get much funnier than this!' Her first ever musical, The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: A Romantic Comedy, recently premiered at the New York International Fringe Festival.