Prairie Coast Films Presents Alone Up There World Premier

^[1]Alone Up There ^[2] is a feature length documentary from Prairie Coast Films ^[3] that explores the contemporary culture of stand-up comedy with a focus on the performer. Using interviews with professional comedians and experts Alone Up There asks the questions: “What kind of person can do standup?” and “What kind of person would want to?” You are invited to explore the answers to those questions and more at the film’s world premier ^[4] and digital debut as part of the Olio Festival ^[5] this Thursday, September 20th at Vancouver’s Rio Theatre.
“Alone Up There” is a firsthand journey to understand one of the most difficult art forms. The stand-up comedian is both an artist and an artisan: painstakingly developing a persona, scripting and editing an act, and, as often as not, revising it on the spot to suit the energy of a given audience. If the audience does not grasp the countless hours crafting the routine, and the empathic micro-calculations of the performance, then the act was a success… well, as long as it was funny.

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBKGCd2mvCA]

The documentary features interviews with:

• Peter Anthony
• Matt Billon
• Alonzo Bodden
• Mark Breslin
• Eddie Brill
• Claire Brosseau
• Kelly Carlin
• Jerry Corley
• Roman Danylo
• Greg Dean
• Marke Driesschen
• Darren Frost
• Erik Griffin
• Toby Hargrave
• John Heffron
• Jeremy Hotz
• Ron James
• Danielle Kasen
• Moshe Kasher
• Simon King
• Darryl Lenox
• Richard Lett
• Jay London
• Mike MacDonald
• Donovan Patrick Mahoney
• Marc Maron
• Joe Matarese
• Rick Overton
• Eddie Pepitone
• Paul Scheer
• Iliza Shlesinger
• Randy and Jason Sklar
• Bobby Slayton
• Brody Stevens
• Ryan Stout
• Jeff Ullrich

The film is directed by Sean Patrick Shaul, whose first documentary Open Your Mouth And Say… Mr. Chi Pig (2010, 97 min.), is now being distributed by MVD Distribution, and has shown in film festivals in the USA, Europe and Canada. Shaul is the recipient of the 2010 “The Rising Star Award for Excellence in Filmmaking” from the Canada International Film Festival for Mr. Chi Pig, and was nominated for four awards from the Vancouver Comedy Festival’s Short Film Competition in 2007 for his film Edward’s Final Draft (2007, 7 Min.). Principal photography took place in Vancouver, Toronto, Los Angeles, New York City, and Albuquerque.