Synopsis

The stand-up comedian is a special breed, both an artist and an artisan. They work by painstakingly developing a persona, scripting and editing an act, and 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, then the act was a success... well, as long as it was funny. Alone Up There explores contemporary stand-up with a focus on the performer. Using interviews with several professional comedians and experts we will ask the questions: 'What kind of person can do stand-up?' and 'What kind of person would want to?' This film is a first-hand journey through one of the toughest jobs in the entertainment industry.

The stand-up comedian is a special breed, both an artist and an artisan. They work by painstakingly developing a persona, scripting and editing an act, and 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, then the act was a success... well, as long as it was funny. Alone Up There explores contemporary stand-up with a focus on the performer. Using interviews with several professional comedians and experts we will ask the questions: 'What kind of person can do stand-up?' and 'What kind of person would want to?' This film is a first-hand journey through one of the toughest jobs in the entertainment industry.