A FEATURE FILM PAYING TRIBUTE TO THE CHICAGO COMEDY COMMUNITY
Grace is the latest Chicago improviser on the fast track to comedy stardom when she meets Joey, the order to her chaos, which brings her to the crossroads of love and the pursuit of one’s dreams.
What and who is she willing to let go of to reach the top?
WHY WE NEED TO TELL THIS STORY
Love & Improv is our love letter back to Chicago and its legendary comedy and improv scene where we found our start. The film is an ode to the places that so many creatives – including us – have refined their talents, discovered their authentic voice and found their “people.” Second City, iO, Annoyance Theatre, CIC Theater – these are the places where it all began.
Our story is built upon these foundations and the next steps of the artistic journey. Love & Improv shares the struggle of “making it” that so many creatives battle. The pressure of doing whatever it takes to reach that final goal. Unplanned events that happen along the way. The reality of the business. The odds against you.
It’s a story about the sacrifices we make in pursuit of our dreams. It’s about the ones we let in and the ones we must let go. It’s about the relationships we build and the impressions we leave on each other.
We are honored, humbled, and thrilled with the responsibility of helping bring Grace and all her messiness to life on screen. To challenge ourselves and the audience to question their own ideas of success and sacrifice. To escape for just a little while into the world of Grace. To feel, to laugh, to believe in ourselves.
MEET OUR CAST (so far)
Susan Gordon
“Grace Wisniewski”
Natalie Younger
“Lisa Sutton”
Patrick Romano
“Joey Baker”
MEET THE FILMMAKERS
Drew Dull
Writer / Director
Justin Strandlund
Writer / Director
Kara Haller
Producer
Adam Smestad
Producer
PRODUCTION GOALS
Hire Local
We plan to keep the talent local – that means hiring cast and crew that are local or at the very least, have roots to Chicago
Female Focus
We acknowledge that writer/directors are males telling a female story. Thus we are committed to hiring local female, non-binary, and diverse crew members.
Transparent Wages & Fair Schedule
We plan to pay our crew competitive wages and keep a 10 hour work day where possible.
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