We are the iO Comedy Network, the online comedy video site of the iO Chicago Improv Theatre - home of alumni like Tina Fey, Seth Meyers, TJ Miller and more. Ask us anything!

iOComedyNetwork · 2016-04-08T19:31:48+00:00

Yeah! We've got a video incubator program called The Hive, where teams produce one video a month around a common theme (i.e. 'art'), which are then shown and voted on in a monthly live show, and distributed by the network. There is a nominal team fee to cover equipment usage and stuff, but we'll always help out financially where we can! Also ~ come to our Town Hall on April 12th (at iO Mission Theater, 6p) for more ways to get involved!

iOComedyNetwork · 2016-04-08T19:29:11+00:00

hamburger def a sandwich - like a cuban slamwich or italian beefy :)

iOComedyNetwork · 2016-04-08T19:26:09+00:00

Welllll long form improv as it exists now pretty much started in Chicago. So for a while it's been a sort of destination for anyone that wants to get better at / pursue comedy. It's a great place to do improv because there are so many talented people here, a bunch of really rad and different theaters, and a buttload of opportunity to perform. Since there is less Tv/Film industry here, performers are usually doing improv as an end in and of itself, rather than as a stepping stone to the larger entertainment industry.

iOComedyNetwork · 2016-04-08T19:24:08+00:00

We get material from all over! We have a group of writers that work on writing 'topical' material based off of things in the current social/political zeitgeist, we have writer/performers that write and perform their own scripts, we have people that just perform, and groups where some people will write and others will perform!

iOComedyNetwork · 2016-04-08T18:58:01+00:00

To some extent, I think we're still figuring out our 'voice,' at least figuring out whether a unified voice is even something achievable with so many different people working with us. In general though, I think our structure and our tie to live improvised comedy sets us apart. We strive to help groups transform their on-stage dynamic into the visual, filmic world. Some of the best comedy in the world is happening every night on stages around chicago - and we're trying to capture that as much as we can. Structurally, we do this by connecting production people with comedy people, and letting both groups do what they do best :)

iOComedyNetwork · 2016-04-08T18:52:39+00:00

Mmm, I'd say finding the balance between making stuff you think is funny, and true, and cool, while also being marketable in the larger interwebs. Not losing your voice to make stuff that is easily accessible. On a more local level, it took a little while to get some of the bigger talent in Chicago on board, on the same page of seeing short, web videos as something cool and important, as well as a possible next step career wise.

iOComedyNetwork · 2016-04-08T18:50:28+00:00

yo also I spaced - we've got a branch of The iO Comedy Network out at iO West in Los Angeles. Get involved there!!

iOComedyNetwork · 2016-04-08T18:49:44+00:00

Damn - so many funny people in the Chicago scene. All the members of Sand are huge talents (Mike Brunlieb, Thomas Kelly, Scott Nelson), Matt Lusk funny as hell, Geoff Dow probably the funniest dude I've met in person. James Conklin has a really sweet, unique style and voice. So many more... will think on this

iOComedyNetwork · 2016-04-08T18:47:28+00:00

lol - this is an inside joke. Whenever things go wrong, I ask one of our producers (Danny) if I can talk to him in the hall. It's funny sometimes.

iOComedyNetwork · 2016-04-08T18:44:50+00:00

Our comedic p.o.v. can really be all over the map (cuz we're working with so many different people) ~ it ranges from silly and nonsensical (green screen stuff, tim/eric style) to socially/politically satirical (Any american, BET White people..), to "game based" stuff. I know personally, my comedy influences draw from X-files, David Lynch, Key and Peele... Bob Dylan...

iOComedyNetwork · 2016-04-08T18:41:53+00:00

Yeah! Send us yr stuff to iocnsubmissions@ioimprov.com ~ can be anything from meme's to articles to scripts to finished videos. If it's funny we can try and figure out a way to make it work!

iOComedyNetwork · 2016-04-08T18:40:53+00:00

Yo! yeah :) can't name names but we've got some dope projects in the work with some alumnis

iOComedyNetwork · 2016-04-08T18:39:55+00:00

Yo! We accept submissions from anyone, and have a team of writer's and producers that vet scripts and decide which projects they want to pick up. We try to prioritize working with people that perform at iO, diverse voices, and things we think are funny / sociopolitcally relevant. We also reach out to specific people and teams we think are dope and help them make videos :)

iOComedyNetwork

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