We look forward to the opportunity to cover a wide variety of eclectic comics, highlighting their diverse journeys and stories.  The world of comedy is rich with many compelling individuals. They are all on unique paths and the opportunity to chronicle these tales will definitely help us attain our goal of telling absorbing narratives with captivating visuals.

Jake Hirsch is a hard-charging manager with a diverse roster of talent.  He has his pulse on the comedy industry and in addition masterfully cultivating contacts with established headliners, club owners, and prominent Hollywood executives, Hirsch is known for his strong work ethic and integrity within the comedy community.  Partnering with Hirsch will undoubtedly provide access to a plethora of interesting comics and he will surely have strong strategic approach in marketing our material.

Rick Bronson is a veteran comic, who along with his wife Tammy, owns 3 successful comedy clubs, with a 4th on the way.  Rick has “done it all and seen it all” when it comes to comedy.  In addition to touring extensively as a headlining comic, and hosting a travel show, his clubs have hosted  the industry’s top headliners including: Bert Kreischer,  Ali Wong, Russell Peters, Iliza Shlesinger, Anthony Jeselnik, Brent Morin, Hannibal Buress, Justin Willman, Theo Von,  Michael Che, Jo Koy,  Ari Shaffir,  Marlon Wayans, Moshe Kasher,  Gilbert Gottfried, Kevin Nealon, Norm MacDonald, T.J. Miller, Damon Wayans, Kevin Pollack, Marc Maron, Tom Green, Nikki Glaser, Debra Digiovanni, Caroline Rhea, and many more. ​​​​​​​  As both an established performer and club owner, Bronson will be a fantastic asset in coming up with creative content and enabling access to various comics and clubs.

We have had the opportunity to work with both Hirsch and Bronson on our initial comedy projects and these experiences fueled our mutual enthusiasm to create ongoing doc-style content.  We plan on shooting broadcast shows, digital series, feature-length documentaries, live shows and events, as well as social media content.

When the show on-stage ends, our show begins …

But this path to prominence is filled with numerous obstacles.  Long days, late nights, and a demented cast of characters surrounded by vices, Hirsch’s group of comics can be an insufferable lot filled with a mix of self-loathing and insecurities.  For every time they “kill” on stage or land that next big gig, they also suffer on-stage bombs, mental breakdowns, lack of discipline, neurosis, insecurities, ego, narcissism, excess, jealousy, moodiness, irritability, anxiety, laziness, bitterness, greed, insecurity and a variety of other self-sabotaging traits that threaten to derail their progress.  However, Jake is driven, and his comics are unequivocally talented and funny.  They all dream of “making it,” however, navigating these aforementioned landmines, and rising through the crowded ranks of comics, will definitely prove to be a formidable task.

Hirsch relentlessly prowls open mics and comedy festivals scouting for new comic talent.   In his impassioned pursuit of becoming the next “king of comedy,” he mines his way through the crowded field of aspiring comics in an effort to uncover the next diamond in the rough.   Jake balances his time trying to polish these new-found talents while managing the burgeoning careers of his madcap attention-seeking roster.  A master schmoozer, the enterprising manager is also continually hobnobbing with big-name comics in an effort to promote their shows and build his brand. 

You’re Funny provides an unfiltered glimpse behind the bright spotlight into the comedy business. The comics hone their craft travelling to various clubs and shows, while struggling to navigate their careers and rise through the ranks of the ruthless comedy-club system.  In addition to showcasing their on-stage performances, the series will pull back the curtain and provide unparalleled access to their colourful off-stage antics. The camaraderie and competition, rivalries and rituals, and sordid shenanigans that characterize this captivating subculture will provide plenty of moments of poignancy and hilarity, and form the building blocks for numerous compelling story arcs.

• View ‘The Comic Strip Docu-series” website

The Comic Strip is an unscripted series that mixes a character reminiscent of Larry David with the comedy club elements of Seinfeld and the behind-the-scenes fun of The Larry Sanders Show.   The setting for the series will be the comedy clubs owned by industry icon Rick Bronson in Edmonton, Phoenix, Minneapolis and New Jersey. With full and unrestricted access, the series provides an unfiltered glimpse behind-the-scenes of some of the leading comedy clubs in North America.  We’ll see the day to day operations of this crazy business Rick runs with his madcap family, as well as the challenges and victories they face as Rick tries to add more clubs and become a comedy mogul.  And of course, there are the comedians.  From the famed names audiences know and love, to the talented openers trying to become the next big star, the series will be filled with comedians continually jockeying to top each other with the most creative zingers.

Rick is now consumed with propelling The Comic Strip to the “next level” and establishing himself as a king of comedy.   He’s also on a constant quest to discover the next new talent – a diamond in the rough he can polish towards stardom. 

Handling headliners with Hollywood egos, dealing with desperate open mic’ers clamoring for stage time, and managing the eccentric and idiosyncratic veteran comics, who all walk through the club’s doors with their varied baggage, sordid tales, and quirky demands is more than a full time job, but he has help.  Working directly alongside Rick is his strong-willed wife, Tammy, a former model who now books the clubs’ talent.  Rick’s also trying to groom his disinterested son Noah to one day take over the family empire, but Noah invites more one-liners than applause from his dad.

Audiences will enjoy seeing comedians offstage, prepping for shows, greenroom interactions, and a variety of additional behind-the-scenes antics reflecting comedians’ daily rituals and interpersonal interactions.   Hilarious banter among comedians in their down time, travel to and from airports, looking for meals, hanging out at the hotel bar, visiting local spots, running errands, talking shop, trading tales, ribbing each other and complaining, the mundaneness of the road, dealing with local media obligations, and crafting their set, will all be showcased.

“We comedians are generally an insufferable, self-absorbed lot, filled with a mix of self-loathing, neurosis, insecurities, ego, narcissism, jealously, moodiness, irritability, anxiety, laziness, bitterness, and insecurity … who can’t get with that? Getting to see what makes us tick, following our diverse journeys, and examining why we are compelled to make people laugh will be a combination of hilarity and horror.”  – Rick Bronson

For these humorists, the comedy club is a sanctuary, a place where they can hone their craft, ply their trade, commiserate, work out material, and test whether their observations and insights ring true. Most importantly, the club is a refuge where comedians can garner laughter and audience appreciation.  The Comic Strip will reveal this compelling nocturnal world centering on the comedy club and illuminate the captivating comedic characters, journeys, and stories that colour this setting.

Arjan Singh Bhullar (born May 13, 1986) is a Canadian mixed martial artist. Bhullar has represented Canada internationally as a freestyle wrestler at several world championships, at the 2010 Commonwealth Games and at the 2012 Olympic Games. He is from Richmond, British Columbia. Bhullar is of Indian Sikh descent. Bhullar is currently ranked #21 in the heavyweight division by the website MMA World Ranking.

Arjan was a multiple time provincial and Canadian national wrestling champion. He graduated from Simon Fraser University and competed in the NAIA and the CIS. In 2006, Bhullar won a bronze medal at the World University Games.  Bhullar is a two time NAIA champion and was named the outstanding wrestler at the 2009 NAIA Championships.  In 2009, Arjan became the first athlete to win a championship in both the CIS and NAIA in the same competition year.  Bhullar was named the Canada Wrestling’s Wrestler of the Year in 2009.

Bhullar won a gold medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games.  Arjan represented Canada at the 2012 London Summer Olympic Games.   Giving back to wrestling, Arjan is one of the founding coaches of the University of the Fraser Valley varsity wrestling program. The UFV Cascades compete in the CIS.

In August 2014, Bhullar had his first amateur fight as a mixed martial artist. He turned pro in November of that year fighting with the Battlefield Fight League.  Over the next few years, Bhullar competed exclusively in his native Canada and remained undefeated with a record of six wins. Arjan won the vacant BFL Heavyweight Title with a victory over Blake Nash on October 17, 2015. He has defended the title twice.

In May 2017, it was announced that Bhullar had signed with the Ultimate Fighting Championship becoming the first fighter of Indo Canadian descent to sign with the company.

RabbitView has a wealth of experience producing documentary content.  In addition to producing an earlier documentary on Wayne Lee for The Documentary Channel and co-producing a documentary for CTV on women in combat athletics, RabbitView has produced 80 sports-oriented documentaries for International broadcast distribution.

In 2002, RabbitView produced the quirky documentary The Deeper You Go, about Wayne Lee’s transformation from stage hypnotist to motivational speaker and performance coach.  That film has played at numerous international film festivals including The Montreal International Film Festival, The New York Independent Film & Video Festival, The Calgary International Film Festival, and won the award for best direction at The Golden Gate Fiction Film and Video Festival.  It made its premiere on The Documentary Channel in early 2005 and has played on the Channel close to 100 times.

Wayne Lee is an unrelenting advocate for individuals and teams looking to turn potential into peak performance. Whether it’s on stage or in the boardroom, Wayne’s use of humour and powerful hypnosis techniques encourages people to drop their defenses, access their GPS and break through to new paradigms.

Wayne shows how what you put in–beliefs, attitudes, goals, and visions–act as coordinates that absolutely determine whether or not you reach your destination. Get it wrong and you’re stuck in traffic with the rest of the world. Get it right and you’ll get to your goal faster and easier than you ever thought possible.

Wayne’s own journey to excellence has been fueled with an unrelenting passion for empowering people. From a childhood fascination with magic and visualization, Wayne’s gift and passion for seeing great potential and acting on it has allowed him to grow his career and perform to audiences worldwide.

One of North America’s premier Corporate Presenters, Entertainers, and Peak Performance Experts, Wayne Lee is a veteran of thousands of successful shows and presentations, a published author, and mentor to professionals of all walks of life. As a former five-time Canadian amateur wrestling champion and a beloved classroom instructor, Wayne has spent his whole life practicing what he teaches.

In the inaugural episode of ‘The Podcast Kid’ we meet the precocious 16 year old podcaster and learn about the genesis of “The Cassius Morris Show.”  The episode also features a potential star-making phone-call on The Adam Carolla show with Adam and his guest, actor Rob Corddry.  Later in the episode we see Cassius schedule an interview with acclaimed actor John Dunsworth of The Trailer Park Boys.

During his interview with “Mr. Lahey” you can see a unique dynamic develop between actor John Dunsworth, of The Trailer Park Boys fame, and Cassius as they engage in a spirited podcast where they cover a wide range of topics.

Cassius has gone on to interview the likes of Gene Simmons from Kiss as well as numerous other famous musicians and comedians such as Joey Diaz and Greg Fitzsimmons.  His audience continues to grow and he has developed a sizeable social media following.

This video was the 1st episode of a 6-part series completed for CrossFit HQ.  It features charismatic British Army veteran Mike Burgess dedicated himself to becoming fit. The 42-year-old lives with post-traumatic stress disorder but says he doesn’t let it define who he is. Drawn to CrossFit by its connection to the military, Burgess was intrigued when he saw the results that high-intensity produces.

RabbitView was hired by CrossFit Inc. to film various day in the life videos that highlighted elite athletes.  We also produced close to 100 video pieces for the company that showcased individuals with personal stories that overcame various adversities through the fitness regimen.

When we are commissioned to produce a documentary, we want to find the elements that make an individual or topic compelling and focus and creating a strong story arc.  In this particular case, we found intrigue in the the contrast of the bright lights that Nick experienced in the UFC ring with his humble existence living in the basement of a property he rents out.  Additionally, Nick is a very private person and although he enjoys the thrill of martial arts, he normally does not do a lot of media so we had a sort of exclusive access.

We were also able to capture several eye-opening elements.  The casual fight fan might assume that winning UFC fighters are set for life from their fight purses.  In Nick’s case we see him cleaning toilets and dusting off shelves for a home he preps for potential renters – it is becomes apparent that being a successful, well-known fighter does not necessarily mean a financial windfall.

Finally, we had a steam-lined budget for this production and were afforded only one day of filming with Nick and also had very limited time/budget for pre-production planning.  While this undoubtedly posed many challenges when producing a 22 minute broadcast piece for television, it demanded that we be extremely efficient with our shooting schedule and diligent with our preparation.  We had to draw upon our experience to optimize our time and develop a filming strategy that enabled us to maintain an elevated professional standard.   Regardless of the scope of the project we are always focused on telling an intriguing story with compelling visuals.

Following Brett’s road journey, with the potential culmination of landing a career-altering gig opening for an established  industry insider, will provide the documentary with a strong natural story arc and compelling climax. The arc will be  supplemented by an unfiltered glimpse behind- the-scenes of this idiosyncratic comedy sub-culture. We will see Brett and  his fellow comics prepping for shows, greenroom interactions, rivalries, rituals, competition, camaraderie and hilarious banter. We will also showcase Forté’s exhausting travel, on-going flirtations, trading of sordid tales, media obligations, crafting of sets, juicy gossip, and volatile conflicts.  Highlighting a mix of on-stage “kills” and “bombs” and turning the spotlight behind the curtain on Brett’s off-stage shenanigans will provide audiences with a glimpse of his irreverent humor, on-stage comic chops, and indisputable connection with audiences. As Brett travels from gig to gig, viewers will witness the ebb and flow and his career progression.

Delving into Brett’s highly eccentric family background will provide abundant insight into why the brash jokester craves the spotlight and provide an appreciation of what precipitated his tireless work ethic, extreme focus, and overwhelming drive – characteristics often hidden behind his brazen persona. As Brett unabashedly notes in his act, his dad was a heavyweight body-builder and his mom was an exotic dancer. According to family lore, his hulking father with 20-inch arms dared his platinum-haired mom to become a stripper after an impassioned quarrel. Never one to back down from a challenge, his mom Kym, a.k.a Crystal Waters, not only became a stripper but won the title of “Ms. Stag Exotica Canada” five years in a row in the early 80’s. As Brett notes, “I think I got my attitude and determination from my mom. Gretzky and the Oilers won 4 championships in the 80’s and my mom took home 5. She was the true dynasty! Alas, my birth in 92 ruined her body and career.” Forté takes particular pride in regaling the tale of performing a raucous show in Edson, Alberta, on the same stage his mom performed at 30 years earlier.

Brett’s dad, Brent, while undoubtedly an imposing figure, similarly played a prominent role in propelling Brett into the world of comedy. Standing 6 foot 4, with 62-inch shoulders, a feathered mullet, and a Burt Reynolds mustache, he broke all the door-frames in the family’s one-bedroom apartment with his portable chin-up bar and would get into frequent fights with neighbors because of the sounds of crashing exercise equipment. Weights came first in the Forté household – the family living room was half-futon, half gym. Brett slept in the gym. He would make a tent bedroom with a sleeping bag and a sheet thrown over a lat-pull-down machine and calf-raise gear. The dining room chairs were used to spot 505lb shrugs and the futon served as a spotting apparatus for 440lb squats. One day while playing video games, Brett had to help his out-of-breath father rescue the family cat after the futon collapsed under the weight of a failed record squat attempt. As an only-child, Brett would constantly try to make his dad laugh. Following work-outs the two would watch roasts, and comics like Andrew Dice Clay on The Comedy Channel. Brent subsequently took up drama in junior high and began to see the power of humor, getting laughs posing as the substitute teacher and drawing confidence from making girls chuckle. And while his dad perhaps remains his toughest audience to this day, he certainly ingrained Brett with a sense of discipline and focus; “every winter my dad would essentially hibernate to focus on training his legs, so they were ready for the annual spring reveal of his 33-inch thighs and the debut of his infamous Daisy Dukes. He had the body of a Dallas Cowboy football player but chose to dress like one of the cheer-leaders.”

While Brett’s quirky childhood was instrumental in the development of his comic sensibilities, a brief review of his work as a radio personality will highlight the impetus for his career change. During his time at a local Calgary radio station, he was often tasked with interviewing traveling comedian headliners and subsequently developed a relationship with a local comedy club. At the same time, he was continually passed up for promotions and constantly reprimanded for “acting out” and “being inappropriate” on the air. He quickly learned that radio sponsors had very specific expectations about what DJ’s could talk about. Brett had difficulties meeting those expectations and his lofty ambitions to move up the ranks were quickly dashed. Meanwhile, at the encouragement of several comics that he had interviewed, he began performing open mics and instantly realized that the mangers of comedy clubs would not thwart his “acting out” but actually reward it. The further he would push the boundaries, the more effusive the praise he would receive. Forté relished the opportunity to “get away with saying things others can’t” and after a few months of moonlighting on the amateur circuit, Brett had his first breakout moment – he won the popular “Funniest person with a day job contest” at the celebrated Comic Strip. The very next day his station manager called him into his office, congratulated him on his contest win and relieved him of his radio duties. With his fire for comedy ignited, Brett committed himself to becoming the next break-out star!

Viewers will witness some of the comic’s challenges as he shrewdly schemes to book the most desirable gigs and move his career forward in a positive trajectory. Forté is dogmatic in saving his limited financial resources, putting singular focus on honing his craft. He smugly states that “being frugal is no joke, it is a lifestyle” and he has made numerous Instagram videos highlighting his resourcefulness and thrifty ways. “There’s lots of great resources out there. Starbucks is for suckers. There is free high-grade coffee at the bank and casino. Get yourself a large bag of popcorn at the theatres on the half-price Tuesday matinee and you can get free re-fills the rest of the day. No need for plates when you can use tinfoil and if you develop a mutually beneficial relationship with the girl who works the front counter at the gym, workouts and steams won’t cost you a cent. I think I learned to make the most out of a buck from my dad who still re-uses floss. I rent out my condo to a Russian mobster and for some extra side cash I bought a vending machine filled with candy that is situated next to a junior-high. Finances are not going to stop me from getting in my reps as a comic.”

It will become evident that Brett is not expecting fame and fortune to fall in his lap – it is something he unyieldingly works at. No aspect of his life is off-limits for his routines, and his comedy radar is always on; dates, family-life, social miscues, and breakdowns in ordinary social etiquette are all fodder for material. Continually honing his craft, Brett’s notebook, filled with audacious cut-downs and shameless scenarios, is always in hand. Whether it is in the greenroom, before or after shows, or in his down-time, Brett is continually jotting down barbs on the plethora of things that bother him. He meticulously records all his shows and methodically plays them back, so he can dissect the minutiae of his wording, rehearse the cadence of his deliveries, and drill the physical gesticulations of his act. He also produces and hosts a local comedy roast to build his name and re-affirm his status as the hot young commodity. And while the ambitious comic maintains that “cozying up to the headliners to secure plush gigs is not my style,” he certainly is not shy about making the right strategic connections. He has already parlayed a successful opening gig for a prominent headliner into an invitation to open at the world-famous Comedy Store in L.A., forged a relationship with hard-driving, cigar chomping manager, Jake Hirsh, and developed a mentor-disciple relationship with cantankerous Club owner Rick Bronson.

As Brett prides himself on being edgy, pushing the boundaries on what is tasteful and saying things that most won’t, it is no surprise that he has his a few detractors. Hecklers and offended audience members are sometimes turned-off by Brett’s hubris and audacious material. Similarly, disgruntled fellow comics are occasionally annoyed by his seemingly meteoric rise and dallying ways with doting female audience members. Nevertheless, it is apparent that Forté will remain resolute in his unwavering pursuit of becoming the next break-out comic star. “Being on stage let’s me say things others can’t. I am not offended by anything and I want to instill that value in others.” Following his journey will surely provide many compelling moments and of course humor.

Our team at RabbitView recently filmed a short documentary project about the behind-the-scenes antics of an iconic comedy club and the colorful owner who runs it. There were many captivating side characters that we encountered but Brett Forté exuded an unparalleled confidence, energy, and connection with the audience. In a setting filled with provocative and intriguing characters, he stood out. We had the opportunity to find out more about Brett’s fascinating back-story and fanatical crusade to reach his goal of comic stardom. This cemented our conviction that we were onto something special – we became enthralled with his story. We have filmed numerous broadcast documentaries over the last decade and our recent experience of filming in the comedy club setting provided us with the practical training that makes us the ideal candidate to showcase this particular comedian on a compelling journey. In addition to having Brett’s full co-operation, we will also have unparalleled access to the comedy community. We have forged positive relationships with comics/club-owners/managers and have now filmed extensively both on and off-stage in this milieu.      

From a technical standpoint, we have developed a strong skill-set of employing a multi-camera 4K-shooting system enabling authentic interaction in the ‘observational cinema’ tradition. We aim for elegant and clean shots with an emphasis on storytelling. We will limit the number of formal interviews with Brett and the characters mentioned above and instead focus on pinpointing scenarios that follow a specific story structure and that are conducive for the subjects to naturally engage in authentic dialogue and interactions. In our experience, this style of filming allows us to target pre-determined story points while simultaneously enabling the flexibility for unexpected story gems. The end result is a structured documentary with a coherent story that feels organic as opposed to contrived.

Wisecracker will appeal to adult audiences of comedy and a more universal audience who will be engrossed by watching a distinct character on a passionate journey. Comics are synonymous with promotion through podcasts and social media and we will certainly engage the comedy community to help in that regard. We are confident that our story of a brash comic with indisputable talent, on a trek to maximize his stardom and fame, will appeal to comedy fans and well-beyond.

Bronson, whose spotlight as a successful performer on stage has long since dimmed (much to his chagrin), is now in his own words, “the dreaded club owner.” With thriving operations in Edmonton, Phoenix and Minneapolis, and a fourth on the way in New Jersey, Bronson is intent on growing his comedy empire and cementing his legacy by discovering and grooming that next breakout comic star.  Rick is continually on the road “schlepping his tuchus” from one town to the next, on the lookout for that undiscovered and rare diamond in the rough.  However, his travel odysseys are definitely not solo treks.  Relying on his trusty rolodex of Hollywood headliners, Bronson shrewdly enlists the help of well-known comics (synonymous with the particular destination he visits) as a home-grown travel guide.  They scour local clubs and makeshift comedy venues, gathering intel from local insiders, as they hunt for that obscure open mic’er with untapped star potential.

Along the way, Bronson and his ‘A-list’ companions invariably veer off this challenging quest and venture off the beaten path into quirky eateries and hangouts, idiosyncratic landmarks, and encounters with regional peculiarities and personalities.   In the course of uncovering these underground attractions and eccentric characters, we will get unique insight into the ‘A-lister’s’ backstory.  We’ll access their perspective on what makes their hometown noteworthy, get an opportunity to see them perform, and witness them and Rick pay it forward by giving an up-and-coming comic a chance.  ‘A funny thing happened on the way to …’   will deliver a distinct postcard of a destination from a comedic perspective.

When it comes to making a hybrid of comedy and travel, Rick Bronson is truly a pioneer.  Almost two decades ago in 2001, Rick conceived and starred in the cult travel adventure show “The Tourist.”  This was nearly five years before Anthony Bourdain came on the scene and travel shows at the time consisted of long panoramic shots and stilted larger-than-life voice-overs.  Bronson, conversely, felt the best way to learn about a place was to get down and dirty and let the interesting characters that live in a place tell their stories and share their experiences.  Rick would hang out with locals, experience community oddities and activities, sample local fair, and offer up his own brand of travel tips.  Flash-forward 17 years; the club owner might have more miles on his odometer, but his passion for traveling has only amplified and his love of comedy, and comics in particular, is undeniably infectious.  Now, in his ongoing expedition to find young comic talent, he has been able to combine his desire for travel and adventure with his reverence for the comic craft.  This is not to say that his journeys will not be met with various obstacles and challenges.  Rick suffers from Crohn’s disease and is notoriously compulsive, crabby, and short fused – also, he does not suffer fools lightly!  As the caustic club-owner asserts:

“We comedians are generally an insufferable, self-absorbed lot, filled with a mix of self-loathing, neurosis, insecurities, ego, narcissism, jealously, moodiness, irritability, anxiety, laziness, bitterness, and insecurity … the ideal travel companion.  Following me and my big-shot buddies on our voyages to find new comic talent will be a combination of hilarity and horror!”

Some of the potential destinations and comics featured in season 1 will be Minneapolis with Louie Anderson and Maria Bamford, St. Louis with Kathleen Madigan and the Sklar Brothers, Boston with Bill Burr and Mike Birbiglia, Philadelphia with Jimmy Shubert and Todd Glass, New York with Dave Attell, Pete Davidson and Hannibal Buress, Los Angeles with Paul Mooney and Al Madrigal, London with Jimmy Carr, Perth with Tim Minchin, and Sydney with Jim Jefferies.