Traverse City Record-Eagle

Breaking News in 2009

December 23, 2009

7:15 am: Film Fest plans comedy event

By BILL O'BRIEN

bobrien@record-eagle.com

TRAVERSE CITY -- Northern Michigan could use some laughs in the icy throes of late winter, and the Traverse City Film Festival wants to make the region smile.

The festival today will unveil plans for the inaugural Traverse City Comedy Arts Festival. Organizers said the weekend-long event Feb. 19-21 will bring in some of the county's top comedy talent for live acts, films and other activities to lighten up the long winter.

"It's the next big thing for Traverse City," said Michael Moore, the founder of the Film Festival and Oscar-winning director who developed the comedy festival with Emmy-winning comedian Jeff Garlin. "It comes at a time of the year when the local economy needs it the most."

The event will include concert performances by nationally known comedians, some the country's rising comedy performers, some improv comedy and movies and film premieres. It will also feature a short film competition and a kids' show. A list of performers will be announced in January, which Moore said will range from "very famous" comic talents to "ones about to become famous."

"I believe people are going to be surprised and thrilled to hear who's coming," Moore said.

Venues will include the State Theatre, the City Opera House and Old Town Playhouse. Organizers said it will be run by volunteers like the Film Festival and underwritten by local donations and sponsorships. Moore said tickets will be reasonably priced and some events will be free.

Garlin, a co-star and executive producer with the "Curb Your Enthusiam" comedy show on HBO, is no stranger to northern Michigan. He debuted a feature film at the Film Festival three years ago and has been a regular since then, and helped re-open the State Theatre in November 2007. He hails from Chicago and his wife attended summer camp at Interlochen, so he said he feels comfortable here during a time of the year when the area can be less than inviting.

"I love northern Michigan," Garlin said. "I'm not scared of winter."

Garlin and Moore are setting up the festival's line-up through their personal show business connections. Moore said they've explained there isn't a big budget for the event and it will likely be snowy and cold when performers get here. But the response has been overwhelming, Moore said, as comics are anxious to help out northern Michigan during a tough economic time for the region and state.

"Frankly, Jeff and I are going to have to stop making calls to people, because too many comedians are wanting to do something like this," Moore said.

"Everybody's been real positive about it," Garlin added.

Organizers expect the festival will pump some much-needed wintertime revenue into local business coffers. The Film Festival estimates it generates $5 to $10 million in spin-off business for the region each summer, and officials hope they can bring in half that much with the comedy festival.

"We plan to promote this throughout the Midwest and throughout the country," Moore said. "We're going to encourage people to come to northern Michigan in the middle of winter, and they won't regret it."

The Film Festival is seeking sponsors and volunteer managers for the event. Interested persons can contact executive director Deb Lake at (231) 392-1134 or by e-mail at deb@traversecityfilmfestival.org

Moore also plans some outdoor events for the comedy festival, just so participants don't forget where they are.

"We're not going to keep this thing just indoors," Moore said. "Because nothing screams comedy like a 20-below wind chill."

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