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JUST FOR LAUGHS COMEDY CONFERENCE - 2009 SCHEDULE THURSDAY, JULY 23 10:00am – 6:00pm OPEN FOR REGISTRATION 11:00am – Noon THE CREATIVE BUSINESS OF COMEDY ON TELEVISION Comedy on television has always played the dual role of ratings driver and cultural commentator. These comedy development executives will provide insight into why comedy is more important than ever today on TV schedules. What are they developing, what is working, and what are they looking for? Panelists: ● Michael Rosenberg, SVP Creative Affairs, Blueprint Entertainment, E1 (Moderator) ● Anton Leo, Creative Head, CBC TV Comedy ● Gary Mann, VP Original Programming & Development, Comedy Central ● Julie Pernworth, SVP Comedy Development, CBS ● Renate Radford, VP Comedy Programming, NBC Entertainment & Universal Media Studios ● Nick Weidenfeld, Director of Program Development, Adult Swim ● Marcus Wiley, Co-Head of Comedy Development, FOX Noon – 1:00pm TELEFILM CANADA, CFC, JUST FOR LAUGHS ANNOUNCEMENT AND NETWORKING LUNCH Join Telefilm Canada, the CFC and Just For Laughs for a special announcement to herald a new comedy film initiative. Complementary delegate lunch immediately follows. Eat, mix, and mingle. 1:15pm – 2:15pm COMEDY’S NEXT GENERATION OF WRITERS: A LOOK AHEAD Steve Martin said that comedy is the art of making people laugh without making them puke. In this panel, a group of outstanding writers from comedy’s next generation explore how the form is changing. How has increased audience fragmentation changed the business of writing for comedy film and television? How are the economic realities of the media business affecting the business of comedy? How are changing demographics dictating the appetite for comedy? And finally, is it the best of times, or is it the worst of times for comedy’s next generation of writers? Panelists: ● David Bernath, SVP Programming, Comedy Central (Moderator) ● Kristofor Brown, Writer, Drillbit Taylor, Beavis and Butt-Head ● Etan Cohen, Writer, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, Tropic Thunder ● Dan Sterling, Executive Producer & Head Writer, The Sarah Silverman Program 2:15pm – 2:45pm COFFEE BREAK 2:45pm – 3:45pm THE WEB: COMEDY’S NEW WILD WEST The Internet has fast become the cyber-coliseum of comedy. In fact, comedy on the ‘net has become a burgeoning business and while not every performer rides the viral revolution the heights of a Russell Peters, new careers along with new business models are being born daily online. This panel explores how some of these comedians have managed to build audiences and leverage their online presence in the most crowded comedy club of them all! Panelists: ● Simon Assaad, Co-Founder / Co-CEO, Heavy.com (Moderator) ● Michael Buckley, Host/Writer, What the Buck! ● Michael Farah, Producer, FunnyOrDie.com ● Darrin McAfee, Principal, E-Comic Branding/Levity Entertainment Group ● Avi Rothman, Creator, The Inappropriate Yoga Guy ● Ricky Van Veen, Co-Founder / Editor in Chief, CollegeHumor.com 4:00pm – 5:00pm COMEDY DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR AWARD Todd Phillips (The Hangover) COMEDY WRITER OF THE YEAR AWARD Etan Cohen (Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, Tropic Thunder) 5:00pm – 7:00pm 2009 VARIETY’S “10 COMICS TO WATCH” COCKTAIL RECEPTION 7:00pm – 9:00pm THE FOUNDATION The Foundation is a five-part TV comedy series taking on the elite world of philanthropy and charity. As a sneak preview of the series and a look behind its making, two episodes will screen and the series star Mike Wilmot, producer-creator Michael Dowse and other members of the cast will host a special Q&A with the audience. (at NFB CINEROBOTHEQUE, 1564 St. Denis.) FRIDAY, JULY 24 10:00am – 6:00pm OPEN FOR REGISTRATION 10:00am – 11:00am PRODUCING GREAT COMEDY: THE SECRET SAUCE And how does great comedy make it to the screen? Some of the biggest names in comedy production share the ingredients to what makes a great comedy script into a runaway hit. How do they explain the sleeper phenomenon? And what do they think studios and networks are looking for today? Panelists: ● Tendo Nagenda, Vice President of Production, Mandate Pictures (Moderator) ● Michael Aguilar, Co-Founder, Principal & Producer, Dos Tontos ● Kent Alterman, Co-Founder, Principal & Producer, Dos Tontos ● Todd Phillips, Director/Producer, The Hangover 11:00am – 12:00pm BREAKING NEW GROUND: ADULT ANIMATION GROWS UP Just as digital technology has transformed delivery of content, so has it transformed the world of animation production. With the costs of production lower than live action, cartoon shows for adults are the perfect breeding ground for experimentation and the wilder concepts on TV. Some of the hottest animated show creators in television discuss what's now possible in the genre, how the rules for writing animation are different and what they think works in animated comedy. Panelists: ● Athena Georgaklis, Manager, Original Production, Teletoon Canada (Moderator) ● Tommy Blacha, Co-creator, Metalocalypse ● Vernon Chatman, Creator, Wonder Showzen, Xavier: Renegade Angel ● Dino Stamatopoulos, Writer / Creator / Producer, Moral Orel ● Nick Weidenfeld, Director of Program Development, Adult Swim ● Dave Willis, Co-Creator, Aqua Teen Hunger Force 12:00pm – 1:00pm NETWORKING LUNCH 1:15pm – 2:15pm INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS OF SHOW: TAKING COMEDY GLOBAL ROB CLARK, President of Worldwide Entertainment, Fremantle Media Fremantle Media is one of the largest international creators and producers of entertainment brands in the world, with programming broadcast in over 150 territories, production operations in over 22 countries, delivering over 10,000 hours of original programming to broadcasters around the world. Rob Clark, the President of Worldwide Entertainment for Fremantle, is responsible for the global roll-out of all Fremantle’s development and acquired non-scripted formats as well as format acquisitions and coordination of the company’s global entertainment development network. Clark has managed some of the company’s most successful formats including Got Talent, The X Factor, The Farmer Wants A Wife, The Apprentice and The Hole in the Wall. Arguably more than any other industry, the business of entertainment has become global. Understanding what makes a show concept into an international hit is key to Rob Clark’s success. And for comedy producers, filmmakers and creators alike, the key is breaking out from the creative parameters of producing for your home territory only. Clark’s insider’s point of view on what makes an entertainment property – be it a comedy game show, a sitcom, or a reality show – a potential ‘global’ franchise confronts the adage that comedy only works locally. For Clark, great ideas can cross borders and creators need to think beyond their own country when they develop their concepts in order to realize the massive opportunity of today’s global marketplace. With an outstanding track record in successfully bringing formats to the world, learn how to challenge your great idea – and measure how it scores against Clark’s guidelines for what makes a truly international entertainment property. 2:30pm – 3:30pm 2009 VARIETY’S “10 COMICS TO WATCH” PANEL Panelists: ● Peter Debruge Associate Features Editor & Film Critic, Daily Variety (Moderator) ● “2009 Variety’s 10 Comics to Watch” …list of names coming soon! 3:30pm – 4:00pm COFFEE BREAK 4:00pm – 5:00pm ANDY KINDLER: STATE OF THE INDUSTRY ADDRESS 2009 It’s Judgment Day! Armed with a fresh batch of complaints, Andy takes his yearly trip down Condemnation Lane. 12:00am – 3:00am JUST FOR LAUGHS MIDNIGHT AT THE OPERA PARTY (32 Sainte Catherine West) SATURDAY, JULY 25 10:00am – Noon OPEN FOR REGISTRATION 11:30am – 12:30pm WEBCAST TO BROADCAST: “SUPERNEWS” SuperNews! has evolved from a series of animated web shorts to an animated half-hour television hit on Current TV that satirically skewers a wide array of timely topics. In its first season on TV, SuperNews! continued to cultivate a rabid fan base, responsible for more than 10 million views online while receiving rave reviews by taking on the best (and worst) of politics, pop culture and technology. In this panel, creator / director Josh Faure-Brac and lead animator Steven K.L. Olson talk about making the jump from online to on-air, animating topical content up to the day of broadcast and making comedy in the competitive world of internet shorts and cable TV. Panelists: ● Josh Faure-Brac, Creator & Executive Producer, SuperNews 12:30pm – 1:30pm NETWORKING LUNCH 1:45pm – 2:45pm IN CONVERSATION….WITH TODD PHILLIPS Bill Carter of The New York Times sits down for a conversation with Todd Phillips, the Director and Producer of The Hangover, the highest grossing comedy of the year. 2:00pm – 4:00pm CBC RADIO’S THE DEBATERS The Debaters will feature topics relevant to the entertainment industry and will showcase some of the Festival’s best talent facing off in a verbal slug-fest of facts and funny. Host: ● Steve Patterson Debate topics and pairings: ● The Heckler – is this jackass good for comedy? Andy Kindler vs. Ed Byrne ● Swine flu = hogwash – are we over-reacting to pandemic fears? Alonzo Bodden vs. Scott Faulconbridge ● Bro-mantic inclinations – are all men a little gay? Mike Wilmot vs. Charles Demers ● Digital pirates – should we make ‘em walk the plank? Bob Marley vs. David Pryde ● Class clown – hero or zero? Al Rae vs. The Dan-D-Lyons (Tim Rabnett and Mike Patterson) ● Showbiz success – You haven’t made it till you’ve made it in the USA! Debra DiGiovanni vs. Judy Gold (at CABARET JUSTE POUR RIRE/JUST FOR LAUGHS, 2111 St. Laurent.) 3:00pm – 4:00pm UCB THEATRE PANEL This panel will focus on the history and methodology of one of today’s most influential launching pads for comedy. Panelists: • Paul Provenza (Moderator) • Matt Besser (Upright Citizens Brigade, Walk Hard) • Neil Campbell (Neil & Paul, UCB Gets You Laid) • Andy Daly (Semi-Pro, Lewis Black’s The Root of All Evil) • Lennon Parham (Confessions of a Shopaholic) • Ian Roberts (Upright Citizens Brigade) • Horatio Sanz (Saturday Night Live) • Matt Walsh (Upright Citizens Brigade) 4:15pm – 5:15pm LATE NIGHT: IN THE WRITERS ROOM The Late Show with David Letterman. The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien. The Daily Show. The Colbert Report. …and SNL. These are the hotbeds of the most progressive, the most innovative comedy writing on television. Often described as the ‘Fringe’ in television, some of the most talented comedy writers test their skills and push the envelope day after day, week after week, in late night comedy. How do writers break into these writers rooms? What’s different about the dynamics of writing late night comedy? What are the war stories of the most coveted spots in comedy television? Panelists: ● Bill Carter, Reporter, National Media, The New York Times (Moderator) ● Steve Bodow, Writer, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart ● Tim Carvell, Writer, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart ● Barry Julien, Head Writer, The Colbert Report ● Tom Ruprecht, Writer, Late Show with David Letterman ● Meredith Scardino, Writer, The Colbert Report
● Tami Sagher, Writer/ Executive Story Editor, 30 Rock; Writer / Producer, MADTV
● Rob Sheridan, Writer and Story Editor, Corner Gas; Co-Executive Producer, Little Mosque on the Prairie
● Tom McNulty, Producer & President of Production, 21 Laps Entertainment
● Donick Cary, Creator, ‘Lil Bush: Resident of the United States
● Steven K.L. Olson, Director of Animation, SuperNews
● Mike Gibbons, Executive Producer, The George Lopez Late Night Talk Show, Co-Creator/Writer/Executive Producer, Tosh.0
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