Monica Suriyage
Host, Writer, Director
Thanks for stopping by! I've been doing lots of different creative things for lots of different creative places, so I decided to bring it all to one pretty location. Scroll down to see my work and general cuteness.
Bio
Monica Suriyage
Monica is a host, writer, director, and whatever a situation needs her to be. After graduating from Temple University with a degree in Film and Media Arts, she fled cold weather and moved to Los Angeles. Her first two years in LA were spent personal assisting Reggie Watts and making her first short film, BLACK IN RED OUT. BIRO, a horror comedy, has been reviewed positively and screened at festivals all over the US, most likely because people love hookups and zombies.
Monica then transitioned to working in front of the camera. She has appeared on VICE, BuzzFeed, E! News, Funny Or Die and hosts videos on a YouTube Channel called Hissy Fit. She has also written pieces for Attn: the Talko, Women.com, and for a YouTube series featuring a parody of an angry conservative named Toni. Sometimes hosts an open mic from the comfort of her own home and is not afraid to voice her opinions on all things pop culture related.
Currently, Monica and a Beauty Producer and at a new digital media company calle Jellysmack. She spends her days writing, pitching, producing, and on-camera hosting all things beauty. Looking for a quick tutorial on how to get a "soft glam" makeup look? Or an update on the latest beauty release? Monica's got it and is ready to tell you all about it.
Monica is a blasian afrolatina who lives for beauty, movies, and her next bag of Cheetos.
Hissy Fit - Host
YouTube Channel
It's hard finding shades for darker skin... Does Rihanna's Fenty line hold up for people of all colors vs the drugstore dupes? Monica tries both, although we did have a hard time finding drugstore dupes in general for darker skin... WHAT'S UP WITH THAT TARGET?!
Hissy Fit - Host
YouTube Channel
According to Monica, you can be a cat lady and still look fabulous while showing your undivided worship to your masters... Your cats.
Hissy Fit - Host
YouTube Channel
I'm having so much fun hosting beauty and style videos for Hissy Fit. If you're looking for some you do you beauty, this is the place. My videos have over 7 million views collectively and they're growing every day. Laugh and look at clothes with me.
Snarled - Host
YouTube Channel
I read and reviewed these celebrity memoirs so that no one else has to. While humorous and coming from a place of disbelief at the loose definition of what a book is, these reviews are honest and insiteful.
Final Final Thoughts - Writer
YouTube Channel
With the world the way it is today, the best way I can express my thoughts is through comedy. I was fortunate to do that by writing for these parodies featuring an angry conservative named Toni.
Black In Red Out - Director/Writer
Short Film
My first short film about love, rejection and the zombie apocalypse. Screened at many film festivals and receiving several "Best Horror" awards, this is for anyone would has been told "no" by a crush and then attacted by zombies
DiGiorno For One - Director
Music Video
I'm glad the first music video I directed could be for my friends' pop punk project, Cult of Positivity. Who needs love when there's piza?
News
See what the internet is saying about my work!
Black In Red Out is Monica's first film fresh out of college. And honestly, I'm shocked. Along with a great crew and actors who sincerely embraced both the action and emotion of the story, under Monica's tutelage, Black In Red Outcomes off as seasoned, indie promise that this is an artist to keep an eye on. The film was produced under Monica's own production company, Body Checker that's off to a strong start with a dedicated network in Los Angeles.
Gotta say, that when I saw the e-mail from Monica Suriyage hit our site's inbox, I got giddy. As a recent fan of hers (thanks in part to the trailer for the film we're reviewing here) and also being one of the lovely ladies spotlighted on our Women in Horror Month banner, the prospect of getting the opportunity to finally review her horror short Black in Red Out was definitely something to be excited about. Of course, it doesn't hurt that the film itself has been on the receiving end of a few awards and critical praise; I couldn't wait to dive in.
My surprise short film of the year was truly a highlight of the AXWOUND FILM FESTIVAL this past November. Taking a beaten to death concept like the infection sub-genre of horror and completely finding a new way to infuse a terrifying truth and reaction is what filmmaker Monica Suriyage, cast and crew did with BLACK IN RED OUT. Building the story by way of CW/ABC FAMILY teen drama formula, we see horror meet science meet growing up with horrifying results. Smart, developed and fun to the point of thrilling, this short film takes an everyday part of nature and shows the extreme side of all those who are in range of exposure turning the DAWSON CREEK’s style dramatic love narrative into infection horror chaos that makes you laugh, connect and think about what you are breathing. Exceptionally resourceful and definitely indie filmmaking, BLACK IN RED OUT is a great piece of storytelling and old school practical FX. As akward and thrilling as you will find, Suriyage and company definitely have succeed where many have perished with infection storytelling and horror filmmaking.
Resume
Things I Do and Things I Can Do
Beauty Associate Producer/On-Camera Host
Jellysmack
Produce digital beauty videos for over five shows from conception to production to publication while writing scripts, pitching new ideas for episodes, supervising an intern, meeting deadlines, and acting as on-camera talent.
Produce a Snapchat makeup transformation show Beauty Wow (with 2M subscribers) featuring make-up artists and influencers; research and pitch episodes to selected artists, direct them through three looks, and oversee post.
Write and host Snapchat show Beauty Hacks (100M views per episode); translated into Arabic, French, and Spanish.
Writer
Attn: - Good Trouble
Wrote short, thought-provoking scripts about anything from online dating to gun control; hosted by Freeform's Good Trouble cast.
Beauty Writer/On-Camera Host
Hissy Fit
Created over fifty beauty and fashion videos with a comedic spin that have amassed over twenty million views collectively.
Beauty Expert/On-Camera Host
BuzzFeed
Hosted multiple episodes of a new series that included personal fashion and beauty makeovers for millennial women, which required extensive research and a connection with each of the subjects; incorporated Olay product placements.
SKILLS
Beauty/Fashion
Comedic Timing
Pop Culture
Teleprompter
Grammar/Technical Writing
Conversational Spanish
DSLR Cameras
Adobe Premiere
Final Draft
Microsoft Office and G Suites
BLACK IN RED OUT (short film)
Awards and Official Selections
“Best Thriller” at Women’s Only Entertainment Film Festival
“Best Horror Short” at Holly Boulevard Film Festival August 2016
“Coolest Short Horror Film” and “Best Short Film Music” at Dazed 4 Horror Film Festival
"Best Horror Short" and Imagine This Film Festival
“Audience Award” at California Women’s Film Festival
Ax Wound Film Festival
The Third Eye Film Festival
