The Beginning of Zebra Corner
We began to write comedy (stand up and sketches) early in our friendship, one of the first things we ever created was an animated short called Joey and the Stix using only cigarettes. We then began creating videos for crowdsourcing sites like Poptent, creating a comedy short called Bacon Cops which Hormel bought and premiered at a “Bacon” film festival in Brooklyn (yes you read that right). It was then we knew we had something. So we created Zebra Corner. Our first sketch was a behind the scenes mockumentary of the children’s classic Milo & Otis. Although we thought it was hilarious, it didn’t really gain the popularity we hoped for.
It wasn’t until one day we were sitting around watching a Buccaneers game that a commercial came on TV we both loathed. Deal Dash. We began to insert our own lines into the commercial in an effort to make each other laugh. Ali had recently started working with green screen at his day job as a videographer and wanted to try to actually insert ourselves into the commercial. We decided to sit down, write out the lines, and film. That video did ok, but it wasn’t until we applied that same technique to the Chevy Emoji commercial that we gained popularity. That’s when Zebra Corner really took off.
If you’re wondering the meaning behind the name Zebra Corner. Long story short, we took some psychedelics, went to Bush Gardens, and had one of the greatest times ever. Let’s just leave it at that.
To be honest we didn’t think the Chevy commercials were the ones that would actually make us famous. Dave (Mahk) thought for sure it would be Milo and Otis. Ali thought it would be the Deal Dash parody. We did, however, both know that once we found an audience for our comedy it would grow quickly. Zebra Corner has now been featured on several sites such as Adweek, Jalopnik, Funny or Die, The A.V. Club, Yahoo, Huffington Post, Motoring Exposure, and many more.
We have always thought that we were funny, at least that’s what our moms told us. Our goal is to have our own TV show, movies, and brand. Me personally? I want to be in a writers room with my idols working on a project one day. This will happen for us, it’s just a matter of time. We have begun and there is no stopping us now, well, we’ll stop for a smoke break but then we’ll get right back to it.
Click here to meet the contributing writers of Zebra Corner
Say Hello
If you’re here, and you’re reading this, then you must be a fan. I want to say we truly appreciate our fans, each and every one of you. If it wasn’t for you guys sharing our content and telling people about us we would not be here. I hear a lot after a fan comes up to me that they didn’t want to bother me…. I am never bothered by you guys, I am just as happy to have a fan ask me for a pic as they are to get one. With that being said if you ever see us come and say hello!
Dave & Ali
So we also wanted to share a little bit about who we are as humans. So Ali wrote about me, and I wrote about him. I hope you guys enjoy this!
Dave
An ex-paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division, who has a deep love for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. He’s the type of guy that would feed the homeless, then pick up a stray dog on his way home. A Florida boy all his life, which explains so much now that I write this sentence (First time he saw snow was in Iraq). Dave is, if I may use internet terms, a complete normie, and Chad. Dave actually enjoys going out and (Ali shudders) hanging out with people. From cars, guns, to UFC (I’m a Pride FC kinda guy myself), if you can find it in an old Maxim Magazine, Dave probably likes it. But he doesn’t like anything enough to actually go out of his way to collect. In fact, the only things I’ve ever known Dave to have several of are rescue pets and Jiu Jitsu gis. Dave is always trying to improve himself, not just physically, but mentally too. The man has read more self-help books and listened to more motivational speakers than a reformed prisoner from Rikers Island. Not only is Dave one of the funniest people I know, he is also one of the toughest people I know, not just in a physical way, but his resilience. Dave might actually be the exact opposite of me, which is probably why we make such a good comedy team.
Ali
A true introvert who genuinely dislikes being around most people. He has a true love for directing and it shows when he is on set. His taste in everything, except music, is weird as fuck. He would rather watch a Godzilla flick or South Korean movie than a new episode of the Walking Dead. He has a true love for horror and sci-fi. If you want Ali to talk to you mention Robo-Cop, Kubrick, Ray Harryhausen, Kung Fu movies, or Fantasy Football (He has multi championships he has won, he made me put this in here). He was born in Iran and moved to France when he was 2, his family later moved to the United States. Raised in DC, he moved to Seminole Florida when he was 14 and has been here ever since. Ali has tried every get rich scheme there is in order to avoid working a normal 9 to 5. From buying terrible domain names during the dot-com boom, (anybody wanna buy golfpropertynow.com?), to creating all but forgotten websites, like his prized site moviedeaths.blogspot.com (formerly called GreatestMovieDeaths.com). He’s written for several websites and created Mii characters professionally for the Nintendo Wii. Ali has changed his college major more times than I can count, going from a Pharmaceuticals degree to Aeronautical Engineering to finally settling on a Bachelors in video production. Ali is a true genius and a true friend. He would do absolutely anything for you if you needed it without hesitation. Also when I say genius, I mean the “Artist” type, not the “Einstein” type.
MEET THE CONTRIBUTING WRITERS OF ZEBRA CORNER.
If you ever have any questions or just
wanna send us a shout, email us.
