I Am Comic - Review

Toronto Star - Review

I Am Comic

3 out of 4 Stars

Directed by Jordan Brady. 87 minutes. At the Carlton Cinema. 14A

The first thing that a documentary about stand-up comedy ought to be is funny. Thankfully, I Am Comic succeeds handily on that count.

In this quip-packed quest to discover how and why comedians do what they do, director Jordan Brady assembles an impressive slate of interview subjects. Tim Allen, Roseanne Barr, Janeane Garofalo, Jim Gaffigan, Phyllis Diller and Larry Miller are just a few of the people who deliver prime schtick when not musing on the dark art of making strangers laugh.

Brady is himself a former stand-up, a veteran of the ’80s comedy boom that saw a huge proliferation of clubs across the continent. To help him make I Am Comic, he enlisted Ritch Shydner, another comic who had ceded the stage to younger, hungrier types.

But in the course of making the film, Shynder gets the bug to perform again, with Brady there to capture his friend’s tentative efforts to get back in fighting form.

That surprising development makes I Am Comic much more than a movie with a bunch of foul-mouthed talking heads (and Carrot Top). Like the Jerry Seinfeld doc Comedian, I Am Comicbecomes a fascinating study of the creative process, offering a close look at the somewhat masochistic — okay, very masochistic — drives shared by all professional funny-folk.

Along the way, we get plenty of killer jokes and great anecdotes about the comedian’s lot. Brady’s subjects have no shortage of hell-gig stories to share but nothing beats Larry Miller’s tale of having to follow a memorial service for a police officer killed in the line of duty. Hearing Carlos Menecia cheerfully admit to stealing other comedians’ material is another moment that will thrill comedy geeks.

Elsewhere, the comics debate whether New York’s clubs are better than their Los Angeles counterparts, wax nostalgic about getting that first spot on the Johnny Carson-era Tonight Show and dish about how they develop material.

While their experiences may vary, what these people have most in common is the compulsion to perform. In the words of Dana Gould, “I don’t do it because I want to do it — I do it because I have to.”

To see Shydner realize the same still holds true for him gives Brady’s movie an additional charge.

The Friday 7:15 p.m. screening of I Am Comic at the Carlton Cinemas will be preceded by a live stand-up performance hosted by Yuk Yuk’s

Jason AndersonSpecial to the Star

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MAKE+MODEL Launches in the US

Hyatt, Cawood Launch MAKE + MODEL

By: TRUST COLLECTIVE August 30th, 2010

Posted on: http://blog.digitalcontentproducer.com

Live-action Executive Producer Mark Hyatt and VFX pro George Cawood are uniting to officially launch MAKE + MODEL, a full-service creative studio with integrated capabilities covering all stages of the production process. Primarily a talent-driven studio representing top directors like the Goetz Brothers, Russell Bates, Jon Barber, Marcos Zavitsanos, Juice and Sophie Barthes, MAKE + MODEL will tap Cawood and Hyatt’s 30 years of collective production experience to integrate top-flight post work into all relevant projects.

“As everyone tries to figure out how entertainment ties into marketing and advertising, we’ve established a dynamic model, with creatives who can apply their talents to the ad space,” noted Hyatt. “Combining this creative acumen, George’s post expertise and our collective experience with live action, MAKE + MODEL will be able to execute a project of any scope from concept to completion.”

MAKE + MODEL’s roster of directors has already attracted big-name attention, with spots for Kmart, Office Depot and Verizon in the can. Major forthcoming work includes a project with NASCAR Media Group, which chose the studio as a strategic partner for broadcast advertisements. “NASCAR took one look at Goetz Brothers’ reel and they were sold,” stated Hyatt. “But their talent is really representative of our outstanding roster, and we hope this partnership is just the first of many similar deals.”

MAKE + MODEL will share a facility with design, production and visual effects studio Framework - which Cawood founded in 2004 - as well as creative studios Big Picture and Arsonal who specialize in editorial and print / interactive respectively. The associations allow each company the ability to provide integrated services as each studio can tap into the creative talents of the other. The studio is launching with solid representation on the East Coast (Lori Benson), Midwest (Robin Pickett), and the West Coast (Marla Mossberg).

“As we look into the future of production, we see the line blurring between live-action and VFX,” noted Cawood. “At some point, it will be nearly impossible to produce one without the other. Rather than wait for the industry to evolve, we’re establishing a new, highly adaptable shop right now in anticipation of this more dynamic industry to come. I really look forward to integrating my VFX and design capabilities with the live-action pros that we’ve assembled here at MAKE + MODEL.”

About Mark Hyatt:

In a 16-plus-year career spanning four continents, Hyatt has produced more than 100 commercials for multinational companies. His broad experience with agencies, clients and directors includes work with award-winning creatives on every level of the industry. Collaborations with prestigious directors David Mamet, Christopher Guest, Simon McQuoid, and others highlight his resume. Hyatt holds several degrees, including MBAs from both Columbia University and the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley, and a bachelor’s in economics from Denison University.

About George Cawood:

George Cawood has spent 14 years as an editor, VFX artist, producer, writer, director and creative director, working on more than 300 films, TV shows and commercials. His notable work includes production and creation of VFX, main title sequences, teasers/trailers, broadcast show packages, and marketing and branding campaigns for Spider-Man 3, Casino Royale, X-Men: The Last Stand, Paul Blart: Mall Cop, Grown Ups, Salt, The A-Team, and America’s Best Dance Crew, among many others. Cawood continues to executive produce documentary and DVD behind-the-scenes content for Sony Pictures, Universal, Paramount and others. Side projects include directing the award-winning documentary Homecoming for PBS, and the creation of the “creature concept” that evolved into the hit indie horror film Splinter. Cawood has won multiple industry awards, including several top prizes at film festivals for Homecoming.

About MAKE + MODEL
MAKE + MODEL is a full-service content creation studio with integrated capabilities covering all stages of the production process from concept to completion. The company has a slate of award-winning directors and digital artists that execute broadcast advertisements with multinational advertising agencies and clients across the globe, servicing a spectrum of industries that includes automotive, entertainment, healthcare, packaged goods, retail, and telecom, among others. The company’s talented roster is led by Executive Producers George Cawood and Mark Hyatt.

http://www.makeandmodel.tv