03-20-14 Interview with Comedian Ramzy Sweis

Ray Hanania interviews Ramzy Sweis, the Humor Editor at the Arab Daily News online news website www.TheArabDailyNews.com about his comedy career and whack-a-doodle life.

Born in Melrose Park, IL; grew up in ‘Windy City’ Chicago. At 6, in 1989, my family & I moved to south suburb Oak Forest. Precisely 5 days later, I met my best friends. For over a decade, the 3 of us were together yet magnanimous. I have an older brother & a younger sister who also positively impact me to this very day; with whom I have a memory quilt.

Writers chase their shadow. William Saroyan said: "The writer is a spiritual anarchist, as in the depth of his soul every person is." I’ve had a colorful & frivolous 29 years. Worked construction; a pantry-cook in college. I studied at 6 alternate colleges. A trained boxer. My script, You Can’t See God, won awards from Chicago Screenwriter’s Network (whom I worked for) to Tribeca. I directed, acted & edited a 70-minute biopic on tinnitus. I’m currently shooting a standup comedy show: “I Never Repeat A Joke.”

At 19, I submitted a novella, Joy, Faith, Hope, June & Grace, to Vanity Press (received rave reviews by its’ readers). I performed surgery on it, revising it 12 times in passing 9 years. I cut 100 pages for starters. I retained the original copy. I am the only author with 2 different stories of the same plot. Fraternal twins instead of Siamese. Marketing gold. We are wired to listen; metaphors abound for what works best to engage. When I think of a joke, I take the audience on a journey. Laughter is a miracle — people see the world differently afterward. Jot ideas to strengthen the muscles. The detection of great art is conceived in the perception of imagination. Zoom in with copious detail; captivate; a pleasure to viewers who want to absorb not think!