ChadO isn’t just a stand-up comic—he’s a storyteller at heart. A father, a business developer, a guy who’s flown private planes and trained in jiu-jitsu and MMA—his life has been anything but ordinary. With a knack for reinvention, Chad’s journey through comedy, writing, and business is a testament to his relentless ambition and creativity.
From Poetry to the Big Screen
Chad’s love for storytelling started in his teens while living in Oklahoma, where he found his voice through poetry. After starting a family, he moved to Arizona, where his passion for writing evolved into crafting screenplays. By his early twenties—around 2010—he was experimenting with novel writing and soon joined the Arizona Screenwriters Association. There, he honed his craft, earning a nomination for president. Instead of taking on the role, he took a leap of faith and moved to Hollywood to chase a movie deal.
Chad completed his first feature screenplay, Hell or High Water, but it was Mitch and Stu’s Quest that really put him on the map. With Jason Mewes signed on to play Stu, Chad threw himself into the industry, writing dozens of screenplays. His personal favorite, Story of a Gun, gained a cult following among film colleagues. He also penned RoomMate, initially written for Mewes, crafted spec scripts for Family Guy and Workaholics, and wrote Eva & Emily’s October Threesome, an LGBTQ rom-com now available as an original screenplay on Amazon.
Adding to his early film ventures, Chad wrote and directed Be Still, a horror short film with a classic slasher spin inspired by Halloween and Friday the 13th. The eerie build-up follows an obsessive office coworker, blending tension, seduction, and horror in a nod to genre classics.
Screenplays, Stars, and Surprises
Chad completed his first feature screenplay, Hell or High Water, but it was Mitch and Stu’s Quest that really put him on the map. With Jason Mewes signed on to play Stu, Chad threw himself into the industry, writing dozens of screenplays. His personal favorite, Story of a Gun, gained a cult following among film colleagues. He also penned RoomMate, initially written for Mewes, and even crafted spec scripts for Family Guy and Workaholics. One of his more recent works includes Eva & Emily’s October Threesome, an LGBTQ rom-com. The original screenplay is available to read on Amazon.
Bringing Home Hollywood
Chad’s Hollywood experience wasn’t just about writing. He worked on the documentary Bringing Home Hollywood, teaming up with comedian Frank Nicotero. He filmed at legendary locations like the Laugh Factory and Hollywood Forever, capturing behind-the-scenes interviews with filmmakers and TV show creators. Along the way, he connected with industry veterans, including Mad TV’s Mo Collins and Deborah Wilson, and found a mentor in Michael Stone, brother of Sharon Stone, whom had shown a huge affinity for Story of a Gun.
Reinventing Success in Arizona
Life had other plans for Chad, and he eventually returned to Arizona to focus on family. There, he pivoted to the booming cannabis industry, launching a cannabis career college and multiple successful businesses. As a pioneering instructor, he helped shape Arizona’s cannabis scene.
During this time, he also wrote and directed The Box, an avant-garde, black-and-white art noir short film, alongside his wife. Chad starred as Gerald, a mortician who falls in love with his work. He built the set, designed special effects, edited, arranged, and improvised much of the dialogue on the spot, bringing the eerie vision to life. But when COVID-19 hit, his businesses took a major hit, forcing yet another reinvention.
A New Chapter in Austin’s Comedy Scene
Chad and his family relocated to Austin, Texas, where he rediscovered his passion for stand-up comedy. He started performing at 15 open mics a week throughout Austin and graced stages at venues like Cap City, the Velveeta Room, the Comedy Mothership, and Sunset Strip, among some of his other favorite local spots. He eventually landed a spot on Kill Tony, appearing in the fan-favorite episode #630 alongside Adam Ray’s Dr. Phil and Sam Tallent.
Chad also created Stevie J’s Life Lessons, a comic series based on his stand-up material.### RoomMate: From Script to Psychological Thriller
RoomMate: From Script to Psychological Thriller Novel
With a fresh burst of creative energy, Chad revisited his screenplay RoomMate, reimagining it as a psychological thriller with a female lead. He self-published the novel under Slap Knee Media, and it’s now available at RoomMateNovel.com. The book showcases Chad’s signature dark, intense storytelling style.
The Next Novel: DayDreamer
Never one to sit still, Chad has already started work on his next novel, DayDreamer. While he’s keeping the details under wraps, it promises to be another journey into the complexities of the human psyche.
Always Moving Forward
Chad Olshavsky’s journey is one of constant evolution—always pushing the boundaries in comedy, writing, and business. Whether he’s crafting a gripping thriller, making audiences laugh on stage, or building something new, one thing’s for sure: he’s just getting started.
Written by: April Olshavsky– Wife of ChadO (IG @whatsaysme)
