The Just For Laughs Group (JFL), which manages talent and produces comedic television content, live shows, and festivals, is looking for submissions to its Stand Up & Pitch: The Comedy Content Search.
In time for JFL’s 36th annual Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal, where around 1.35 million people come to the city to see new and established comedic acts, network, and, well, laugh, the group will choose five Stand Up & Pitch finalists to pitch their web/TV ideas to a panelist of development and production executives during the festival on July 25 through 28. Past finalists have landed deals involving CBC Comedy, FOX, and Shaftesbury, while this year’s panelists will likely include executives from Above Average, Adult Swim, Funny or Die, Warner Bros., and more. Submissions are due here by Monday, May 7.
But don’t let these big names alone sway you. If you’re thinking about submitting, first see what previous entrants have said about the experience.
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Tubefilter: How was your JFL experience?
Maxamillian Clark (Writer/director/producer/juggler and co-founder or Punching Up Productions): JFL has been one of the best experiences of my life. Beyond the meetings and presentations, the simple act of being at the festival and surrounded by heroes and peers in comedy is unbelievable. Being there, you get to see more comedy in a week than you might in an entire year. Every year I’ve been, I’ve met new, amazing people that have each made me a better artist.
Jason Leaver (Co-creator/co-writer/director of indie series Out With Dad with actor Kate Conway): We’ve been twice now and think it’s a fantastic time. Each year, Kate and I have participated in the Stand Up & Pitch program. One of the great benefits of this program was giving us a target and goal to pull together a new project. Like so many artists, we need real deadlines!
TF: How was being part of the competition? How did it help you and/or your project?
MC: I met my manager at JFL, while sitting around waiting for a meeting. You just get to spend days with dozens of people that you’d never have inroads with. People who care about the craft of comedy. I’m on a “How have you been!” basis with the VP of development at one of the major networks. We actively follow each other on Instagram. I have personal email addresses for development heads at six other networks. Not bad for a poor kid from Kalamazoo, Michigan.
JL: Being a part of the competition was very educational. While on one side of our brain we accepted that this pitching scenario isn’t realistic, on the other side, it was exhilarating and taught us a lot about how to prepare, how to be engaging, succinct. We got instant feedback, both from the vibe in the room from the audience, and constructive criticism…from the panelists/judges who shared the stage with us. That feedback led us to make changes…to our pitch package right away.
But more than that, it was the networking. We’re still in contact with many of our fellow competitors. We were there to compete, but that wasn’t what felt important. We, and the other participants, felt we were there sharing as a community and wanted each other to be successful.
Peter Carlone (half of Vancouver-based sketch troupe Peter n’ Chris): ComedyPro is friggin great. It is a surefire way to see if you have a flashy enough slightly-longer-than-elevator pitch of your project. To do it properly, you need to know your thing inside and out. What makes it funny? Why will other people find it funny? What makes it good? What makes it necessary to make NOW? Peter n’ Chris…has pitched a number of things, and it has definitely helped us find the right eyes to put in front of the project, even if those eyes weren’t on stage in the producers row.
TF: What are you up to now?
MC: I’m busy! I’m currently working on a full season of a new web series about the shady world of NYC realty, I’m directing a horror film about the monster who steals your keys (it’s scarier than it sounds), and am about to shoot a series called Space Apartment, which is exactly what it sounds like. I’m also helping develop another five projects for talented writers I’ve met on the festival circuit.
JL: We’re currently collaborating on a new project that we’re really excited to submit to JFL again. I’m also currently negotiating an option agreement to adapt my successful web series, Out With Dad, to television. Wish us luck!
PC: Chris is busy being extremely successful in Toronto with Second City, but in the downtime he and I are working on several new projects that we are champing at the bit to pitch around and hopefully see made. In the meantime, I started a small media company here in Vancouver that does mostly corporate advertising, and internal content, but am always working on more stuff with a comedy angle!
For comedians who are interested in getting their ideas in front of production and development heads, submissions to Stand Up & Pitch are due by Monday, May 14. You can submit right here.
