Hiiii! We’re Emmalee & Josh!

Two creative buddies in Nashville who met and quickly realized we both struggle with setting aside time to write and sticking to our commitments. While we’ve been a part of other writing events and communities in Nashville, we felt there was a need for a space focused not on feedback or discussion, but just sitting down and writing in silence.

Emmalee (they/them)

I’m an artist and community builder in Nashville (originally from Ohio → Chattanooga → Japan → Nashville). I write plays, perform + improv, and I’m the Marketing & Community Events Manager at Third Coast Comedy Club (you’ll find me there a lot!!). I live for theatrical experiences that are fun, make me cry, and connect me to humans and the universe. I was a 2022 Tennessee Playwrights Studio Fellow, have participated in shows like Never Sent and Bubblegum, and love supporting organizations and events I care about.

Josh (he/him)

Josh Inocalla is an actor and writer with a background in standup, sketch, and improv comedy. Originally from Vancouver, British Columbia; Josh dropped out of high school in Florida to teach martial arts with his father. Josh has now been creating original work in Nashville for over a decade. His sketch comedy show Luxury Prestige III ran monthly for 3 years. He made 34 online episodes and a full-length stage play of his series Oil & Martyr alongside co-creator Jessica Anderson and producer Bob Daniels. He created Nashville’s first-ever Asian filmmaker showcase, Look What The Tide Brought In. Josh studied under acclaimed actor and coach Corey Parker for 9 years. As an actor, Josh has appeared on stage with most of Nashville’s professional theater companies including Ingram New Works, Nashville Shakespeare Festival, Nashville Children’s Theater, Actors Bridge, as well as Kindling Arts Festival, the Gatlinburg Improv Festival and the improv festival Spontaneous Combustion Atlanta. Josh has acted in film and television on platforms including HBO, PBS, Netflix, Hulu, and in movie theaters nationwide. He sits on the board of directors for the Nashville Repertory Theater. Josh also writes performance-based simulations for universities across the United States.

ABOUT SHUT UP

SHUT UP AND WRITE began in November of 2022, just a month after Emmalee and Josh met. It started as a small group of friends gathering in each other’s homes twice a month to write in each other’s company. We were focused on play and film scripts, as we couldn't find other writing groups in the area centered on those mediums. If someone expressed interest, we added them to each month's Google invite. Over time, the group grew organically. What began as a few people writing scripts expanded to a room full of writers working on a variety of things — poetry, essays, grading Spanish homework, crafting tough emails to their boss, applying for writing residencies. It was clear: there was a need for a space to focus, get things done, and be around others doing the same.