Table of Contents
Key Takeaways
- Sarah Adelman’s journey from a sperm bank scientist to a celebrated comedian is hilariously chronicled in Busted!, showcasing the messy, unpredictable nature of pursuing creative dreams.
- The collaborative energy between Sarah Adelman, Emily Everhard, and Lisa Cossrow brought unique, authentic narratives to life, emphasizing the importance of seasoned team dynamics.
- Independent filmmaking thrives on breaking boundaries and creating opportunities, as demonstrated by Sarah Adelman who turned her personal story into a compelling short film.
Sarah Adelman, a rapidly rising star in New York City's comedy scene, co-created, wrote, and starred in the short film Busted!, which is set to screen at this year's HollyShorts Film Festival.
Alongside her, Emily Everhard co-created and directed, while Lisa Cossrow produced the film.
This dynamic trio has crafted a story that resonates with anyone juggling competing dreams and the inevitable growing pains.
Adelman, who pivoted from her career as a scientist to embrace comedy, has captured this transition in Busted!, a proof-of-concept short that has already garnered accolades at SeriesFest 2025.
On the film’s origin and personal connection
This short is a pretty autobiographical telling of the day I was fired from working at a sperm bank for doing stand-up comedy about it. Of course, we took some creative liberties, but I wanted to capture the comedy and agony of that day on screen. – Sarah Adelman
"I love the set dressing of Sarah and Julia’s desk space - we based this off my real desk from my old lab, which was a chaotic mess of post-it notes and decorations while everyone else's was basically empty." – Sarah Adelman
On the collaborative process and revelations
Finding the rhythm in comedy - on set and in the edit. Timing is everything when it comes to jokes on screen - and it’s a different muscle than live comedy. It was great to work with our incredible actors, editor, and post-sound production team to really shape the timing of the humor throughout the film. – Emily Everhard
On the challenges of filmmaking
For me, the hardest decision was to explain to the audience why Sarah truly liked science and wanted a career in fertility medicine while also pursuing stand-up comedy. In early drafts of the script, most of the feedback was: ‘if Sarah likes comedy so much, why not just quit her day job and be a full-time comedian.’ But in my real life, I was truly torn between science and comedy. – Sarah Adelman
“Sometimes, you just gotta laugh because if you don’t laugh… you’re gonna cry.” – Emily Everhard
Impact and hopes for the film’s reception
I hope audiences first and foremost like the comedy in the short, and that it leaves them wanting more of the character of Sarah Shapiro. I also hope that they connect to the themes of trying to have it all and failing, and the messiness in your 20s of not being totally sure what you really want vs what people say you think you should want. – Sarah Adelman
On independent filmmaking and future projects
Independent filmmaking gave me the opportunity to star in a short with absolutely zero on-screen acting experience. I loved getting to write my own rules and create my own opportunities. None of it would have been possible without the creative teamwork with Emily and Lisa. – Sarah Adelman
“This film has shown me that there really is a demand for the kind of stories I want to tell that feature a flawed, funny, at times unlikable female protagonist.” – Sarah Adelman
Main Cast and Crew
For more on Sarah Adelman’s work, visit sarahadelmancomedy.com or follow their journey at linktr.ee/busted.film.
