EXCLUSIVE: Manager/producer Reg Tigerman has announced The Laugh List, a new ongoing survey recognizing the year’s most promising unproduced comedy screenplays, which is set to unveil its first edition in association with Just for Laughs Montreal, amid the fest’s annual ComedyPRO marketplace, in July.
Much like The Black List has done for screenplays more broadly, The Laugh List aims to elevate exceptional writers and create greater visibility for outstanding scripts in comedy, specifically, with an eye toward getting them into production. The list comes to life at a time when fewer studio comedies are reaching theaters, despite continued audience demand for comedy across stand-up, podcasts, streaming, and social media. It reinforces the fact, Tigerman said, that “comedy remains one of the most important forms of entertainment in the world,” and deserves championing in the theatrical space.
The inaugural Laugh List is being set by a voting body of leading feature comedy executives from many of the industry’s most active comedy production companies. Participating execs have nominated dozens of unproduced screenplays, which have been distributed anonymously to participating voters, who are now evaluating and ranking the material to determine the final list.
Nick Brazao, VP of Programming and Talent at Just for Laughs, said in a statement on the fest’s involvement: “For more than four decades, Just For Laughs Montreal has celebrated and championed comedy’s most exciting voices. Through ComedyPRO, we continue that mission by creating opportunities for emerging talent to be discovered, supported, and connected with the industry. The Laugh List is a natural extension of that work, expanding our focus into feature filmmaking by recognizing exceptional comedy screenwriters and the scripts that deserve greater attention. We are proud to support an initiative that shines a spotlight on the future of comedy storytelling.”
Tigerman is the founding partner of Tigerman Management, which represents comedians and writers, and of the newly launched production shingle Five Tigers. As a producer, he’s behind The Man with the Bag, Amazon MGM’s upcoming holiday action-comedy starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Alan Ritchson.
Just For Laughs Montreal returns for another run from July 15-26. You can find more information on the Laugh List here.
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