For stand-up comics gathered at the Just For Laughs comedy festival in Montreal this week, booking club dates across North America and arena dates worldwide represents far more than a way to stay busy and pay the rent during the Hollywood writers and actors strikes.
It’s what live comedy artists do year-round, taking to the road or TikTok and YouTube to hone their craft and build fan followings with an eye to global stand-up touring as the pinnacle of their profession. The result is a strike-proof Just For Laughs festival barely impacted by the current Hollywood industry shutdown as SAG-AFTRA and the Writers Guild of America look to settle contract talks with the AMPTP, representing major studios and streamers.
“We know the heart of what we do is stand-up and comedy and that is not affected by the strikes,” Robyn Kaszor, vp of festivals at Just For Laughs, told The Hollywood Reporter on Thursday.
It’s what live comedy artists do year-round, taking to the road or TikTok and YouTube to hone their craft and build fan followings with an eye to global stand-up touring as the pinnacle of their profession. The result is a strike-proof Just For Laughs festival barely impacted by the current Hollywood industry shutdown as SAG-AFTRA and the Writers Guild of America look to settle contract talks with the AMPTP, representing major studios and streamers.
“We know the heart of what we do is stand-up and comedy and that is not affected by the strikes,” Robyn Kaszor, vp of festivals at Just For Laughs, told The Hollywood Reporter on Thursday.
- 7/27/2023
- by Etan Vlessing
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The Just For Laughs Comedy Festival has unveiled its list of top up-and-coming comedians in New York, Los Angeles and elsewhere, who are set to participate in the New Faces of Comedy showcase later this week. The event is a traditional launch pad for major Hollywood talent like Kevin Hart, Amy Schumer, Kumail Nanjiani and Jimmy Fallon.
The success of their careers makes New Faces the industry’s biggest coming-out party for rising stand-up talent serious business. Young hopefuls eyeing Hollywood development deals grab the microphone at Just For Laughs in Montreal to draw laughter from a club audience as Los Angeles talent scouts, comedy agents and managers, TV execs and club bookers look on.
No pressure there. Abbott Elementary creator Quinta Brunson, who will receive the best comedy person award at the Just For Laughs ComedyPro conference later this week, was part of the New Faces comic discovery program in 2017.
Over three days,...
The success of their careers makes New Faces the industry’s biggest coming-out party for rising stand-up talent serious business. Young hopefuls eyeing Hollywood development deals grab the microphone at Just For Laughs in Montreal to draw laughter from a club audience as Los Angeles talent scouts, comedy agents and managers, TV execs and club bookers look on.
No pressure there. Abbott Elementary creator Quinta Brunson, who will receive the best comedy person award at the Just For Laughs ComedyPro conference later this week, was part of the New Faces comic discovery program in 2017.
Over three days,...
- 7/24/2023
- by Etan Vlessing
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.