An Artist's Statement

The very first film to win the Academy Award for Best Film was a comedy. During the 1927-1928 Academy Awards Wings brought home the first ever Best Production title. Nowadays, comedies are rarely considered for such an honor. Films that are heart-wrenching, dark, dismal and occasionally a film full of hope like this year's winner Slumdog Millionaire are the contenders for Best Film. While dramas are generally thought of as high brow compared to comedies, I , along with many others, believe that true comedy is one of the hardest things that an actor/director, etc. to achieve. I have always been fascinated by comedy. Making people laugh is one of the best feelings in the world for me.

Of all the comedies out there, one genre pops into my mind as true genius. Recently praised/ condemned for his Bromantic flicks, Producer/Director/really awesome dude Judd Apatow is one of the more brilliant minds in film and television today. With his posse of impecable comics like Paul Rudd, James Franco, Jason Segel and even his wife Leslie Mann, Apatow brings out the comedy of everyday life. Whether it is the lives of sevearal unsure high school students, a lazy stoner knocking up his one night stand, a endearingly pathetic 40-year old trying to find love or college freshman navigating life on their own, Apatow and his band of unruly comedians give the characters depth by relishng in the comedic detais. This is a trait that I admire and that I strive for in my own work. Frequently I find that life is more interesting and comedic than fiction. For example all three of my grandfathers (yes, 3) are named Jim. In all of my work, whether it be acting, writing or singing, I always strive to bring out the comedy of the little details of life - the flick of a wrist here, an awkward move there. Having just recently begun to explore what it is that I actually do as an artist, I've come to the conclusion that it is not a lot. For me comedy lies in the details. Too much overt comedy can be a buzz kill, so my goal as an artist is to explore the comedy in life's details. I want to know that I can make someone laugh, not with a huge pratfall or a great slap across the face, but by using the intricasies and details of a character's everyday life