Tag comedy

This week’s guest on the Imperfect Podcast is Kevin Gootee, creator and producer of the streaming series Comics Watching Comics available on Amazon Video. We talk to Kevin about everything from how he came up with the idea for Comics Watching Comics to what it takes to make the show available on Amazon Video. You may be familiar with shows such as Last Comic Standing but Comics Watching Comics takes things in a different direction featuring amateur comedians that Kevin and his panel critique and decide whether or not they have what it takes to make a living as a stand-up comedian.

We dive into what it takes to produce a streaming series for 5 seasons and the process of making it available on Amazon.  Kevin Gootee also has a number of ideas for more series based content that he’ll be unleashing in the near future.

Keep up with Comics Watching Comics

• Website: https://comicswatchingcomics.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/comicswatchingcomics/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/comicswatching
• Follow Kevin Gootee: https://twitter.com/KevinGootee

Watch Season 5 of Comics Watching Comics on Amazon Video

What Is Comics Watching Comics

• Kevin Gootee started out as a stand-up comedian himself
• At an open mic, Kevin couldn’t believe how horrible it was and started texting a buddy about the performance
• In those texts of busting chops the idea for the show was born
• Kevin thinks Last Comic Standing is too nice to the performers and many aren’t newbies as the show might suggest
• Aside from being critical of the comedians, it’s really a show meant to promote comedy

Why Distribute Comics Watching Comics on Amazon?

• It was on YouTube first and then went to Amazon
• The numbers on YouTube were awful and the show has been on multiple streaming platforms
• Once in discussions with Amazon it was a no-brainer to move the show
• His goal is to bring the show to a wider audience
• Production requirements are insane but the most intensive process is close captioning that has to be 100% on point

What Does it Take to Produce Comics Watching Comics

• Kevin maximizes time by shooting 2 seasons in one taping of just the comedians for up to 5 hours
• The panelists shoot on two different days
• The first two seasons were comedians he knew well
• Seasons 2 and 3 he placed ads on Facebook
• For Seasons 5 the show was picking up steam, people were emailing him from across the country to be on the show
• Kevin watches submissions videos and chooses 25 comedians for each season of the show

Who are the Panelists

• The panelists are veteran comedians Kevin chooses each season
• Each new season the fans can choose which panelist they would like to see return
• Panelist Sean Lynch, creator of Celebrity Death Match on MTV, shares his story about Jay Mohr stealing his Super Friends joke in Season 4

The Future of Comics Watching Comics

• The move to Amazon added legitimacy to for the series
• Kevin would love to bring the show to cable or network telivision
• Kevin also has 3 other shows lined up for the future including Comics Watching Football, Licensed to Kill No Odd Job featuring comedians talking about different topics while playing Goldeneye on the Nintendo 64

Have more questions for Kevin Gootee and Comics Watching Comics? Leave them in the comments and we’ll get back to you!

This week’s guest is actress and comedian, Jill-Michelle Melean was introduced to us by our good friend Alex Ferrari of Indie Film Hustle. Jill is known for her work on the sketch comedy show MadTV where she had memorable moments impersonating Hollywood stars such as Drew Barrymore and Britney Spears. You may have also seen Jill in Comedy Central’s Reno 911 and most recently in This is Meg which she co-produced and wrote with Alex Ferrari.

We talk about Jill’s family life growing up in Miami, her transition to Hollywood and her worst moments as a female comedian. She’s held her own on the road with the big boys of comedy such as Carlos Mencia and has a unique perspective as a white latina. Look out for her 1 hour comedy special, called White Latina coming soon.

Follow Jill-Michelle Melean Online

Website: http://jillyonline.com
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0577549/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jillyonline/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/jillyonline

Jill-Michele Melean’s Background

• Jill grew up in Miami with a strict Latin upbringing.
• Fun fact: Jill and her family were season pass holders for the Miami Hurricanes football team.
• She fell in love with TV & film at an early age but she had no idea how to get there.
• Jill realized she could make her Grandma laugh by humping her leg at an early age
• Not attending college wasn’t an option for her.
• During college she thought she wanted to be in theater but soon realized film was where she flourished by creating a family for a few months and nothing is ever the same.
• Jill believed in the power of laughter and moved to LA without knowing anyone.

Making the Cast of MadTV

• Jill’s advice to those that want to do comedy is go to Second City in Chicago because now it is like going to University.
• While doing stand-up comedy for a year and a half the folks at MadTV would follow her shows. At that time, female comics weren’t a big thing.
• She wanted to audition for a sketch group when she got to LA but she had to pay her dues first.
• Every time she would go back and audition for MadTV it would be like doing a one person show for an hour including impersonations.
• When she landed the part on MadTV it took 6 auditions that resulted in an on-air test where she did Drew Barrymore and Britney Spears and they made her a cast member immediately after.
• “Welcome to Hollywod!” Jill recounts having to get down to a skimpy outfit in her first role on TV.

Life after MadTV

• After MadTV Jill landed the Latino Locos comedy tour with Carlos Oscar, Ralphie May and other big name comedians.
• She hosted the tour and learned from them really developed her time.
• From there Jill landed Reno 911 where she met Carlos Alazraqui who she became brothers with on and off screen. You can catch Carlos in This is Meg as well.
• Jill was lucky to go from one tour to the next during that time for 7 years doing hardcore theaters.
• Jill also talks about her time working with George Lopez on Reno 911.

Surving in Hollywood is hard work

• Going over notes for a pitch recently Jill had to remind herself how grateful she should be for the position she’s in.
• She’s never satisfied and still hungers to get to the next level. You’re never going to be done.
• The game has changed and it’s going to change again. Either you change and keep playing or you get out.
• When she booked MadTV, she thought she’d be done. The reality is you book a TV show, then you don’t work for 5 years.
• Jill has done multiple pilots that haven’t been picked up, even with the producers from Curb Your Enthusiasm behind it.

The future of Hollywood

• “It’s the craziest industry to get into, but it’s also the most rewarding.”
• Even though there’s more outlets, it’s actually made it harder. You can’t centralize the marketing.
• Jill believes a shift is coming and after a attending an industry meeting recently they had the following to say: “Comedy is the only thing that has longevity. Comics have a strong clear voice…That’s where TV shows are created.”

Advice for females in comedy

• Link up with a bigger male comedian so it doesn’t become an all female show.
• Bookers like to promote the “sexy female” comedy show but that’s not where you want to be.
• Open up for a bigger male comedian and then it’s easier to transition later because all the bookers know you. Hold on to their business cards because you will have to network yourself.

This is Meg

• This is Meg is streaming on Hulu and is also available on Amazon, iTunes & YouTube.
• It was a passion piece based on true events.
• Jill wanted to portray what it’s like to live as an actor in Hollywood and the relationships you experience, not just the business.
• Involving her friends was important and there was no drama on set.
• Normally directors will not let a producer be that involved, but Alex Ferrari was able to put his ego aside and get the best shots possible.

Watch This Is Meg on  

Her First 1 Hour Comedy Special

• Jill has done specials for Showtime and other networks but White Latina will be her first 1 hour comedy special.
• Piggybacking off This is Meg, she wanted Alex to shoot the special at The Improv to keep it personal.
• Hearing her discuss how it’s shot and her decision to not show the audience is especially an interesting point. In comedy, it’s all about material.

Comedian’s that inspire

• Going back to her love for TV, Jill loves the work of Carol Burnett, Tracy Ullman and shows like the Golden Girls.
• Jill also loves the stand-up of Ellen Degeners, Richard Pryor and George Carlin.
• We also discuss her love for Louis CK and says he’s the kindest man and was completely shocked by the news circulating today.

Cupids is the latest comedy short film from Angelo Calarco. Cupids is currently on its festival run and was recently featured at the Soho International Film Festival and will be in New York again at the Gold Coast Film Festival. We discuss the challenges of filming dialogue with 4 people on screen and how to not make it feel boring. Angelo has a unique perspective using visuals and sound,  crossing from fantasy to reality to keep the audience engaged.

Angelo Calarco is an Italian freelance Producer/Director living in London operating under the name of Beware Of The Dog Films.  His career started as a comedy writer and an award winning stand-up comedian. Angelo moved to London in 2010 and learned the art of filmmaking by working as a Production Assistant, Marketing Assistant, Assistant Producer and Assistant Script Editor for several Film Production companies in London such as JetSet Films, Wo-Ho! Productions and One Eyed Dog Films while also experimenting with his own passion projects.

Watch Cupids on Amazon

Cupids Short Film Cast & Crew

• Director: Angelo Calarco
• Writer: Nick Grills
• Starring Jenny Delisle, Tiernan Douieb, Michelle Fahrenheim & Daniel Knight
• Logline: Two cupids must team up to face one of the greatest challenges of modern times: getting two strangers to talk to each other!

Interview Highlights with Angelo Calarco

Angelo’s Background

• Angelo moved to London specifically to learn how to read and write English to gain an international audience.
• He was writing scripts before making films until he opened his own production company.
• After 10 years of stand-up comedy, filmmaking has always been the end goal of his artistic dreams.
• Angelo’s idols include comedic filmmakers Mel Brooks and Woody Allen.

Producing Cupids The Short Film

• Angelo contacted writer Nick Grills after originally hearing the idea 3 years prior at a script writing meeting.
• The script was still available and they adapted the script to Angelo’s point of view and went from there
• “I respect so much the work of a writer and I didn’t want to make big changes.”

Directing Cupids – The Challenge

• The story was written as a very static scene.
• The dialogue rotates around the table with 4 characters that speak a lot.
• Most of the comedy comes from the dialogue and the problem was how to make it visually interesting.
• Angelo studied the genre of the film including comedy and fantasy.
• Using cinematography and sound, Angelo created two worlds in the same place.
• Jumping between the two worlds is what makes the scene dynamic.

Look for Cupids at the Gold Coast Film Festival November 11^th at 4:30pm EST