Events

Insight Productions

Insight Productions Professional Development Series

TOsketchfest isn’t JUST 11 days of the best comedy performances on the continent… Throughout the week our friends at Insight Productions present an incredible series of workshops, panels and events for comedy enthusiasts!

 

Lounge Series

Join us in the Teksavvy Lounge at the Lower Ossington Theatre for a special series of public panels looking behind the scenes of the Festival’s funniest. This is your chance to grab a refreshment and get some valuable industry insight from stars of the festival and the Canadian comedy industry!

  • Saturday March 9th – 5:00 pm -  TekSavvy Lounge Opening Mixer and Insight Productions Professional Development Preview: Now that the festival has kicked off, why not come out to our OPENING MIXER? Meet some of your fellow artists, grab a drink, and get a look at what’s coming up next. We’ll have previews of the week’s Professional Development Schedule, sponsored by Insight Productions, as well as the official opening of the Teksavvy Lounge.
  • Wednesday March 13th – 6:30 pm – So You’re A Sketch Comedian… What’s Next?: Your years spent creating sketch comedy don’t only prepare you for a career of cheap wigs and shouting… Talk to industry professionals who’ve turned their sketch experience into careers copywriting, doing voiceover work, writing for animation, and more!
  • Thursday  March 14th – 6:30 pm – From Sketch To (Web) Series: A moderated discussion and Q&A with sketch comedians who have successfully made the jump to creating their own web series. Featuring creators from Space Janitors, Versus Valerie, The Casting Room, and a representative from provincial funding agencies.
  • Friday  March 15th – 6:30 pm – Writing In A Professional Room: We’ll profile and chat with sketch artists who’ve jumped from the live stage to professional writing rooms, and lived to tell about it. Confirmed guests include writers from Mr. D, Men With Brooms, George Strombolopolous Tonight and more!
  • Saturday  March 16th – 6:30 pm – Pitching For Television: One of the most important skills in the television industry is pitching your ideas, and this panel will show you the ins and outs of the process. Whether your’re a junior performer looking to get an understanding of how to pitch your idea for a TV show, or an experienced pro looking for some inside scoop from our industry vets, this is the panel for you!

The Lounge Series is open to performers and the public, and admission is FREE. For information about the Lounge Series and how to participate, email Professional Development Manager Ian MacIntyre.

 

Workshops and Panels

Character Creation with Paul Bellini

Paul Bellini

Join Canadian sketch comedy icon PAUL BELLINI (Kids In The Hall, 22 Minutes) as he offers a hands-on workshop on creating funny, exciting, and memorable sketch characters. This is a great opportunity for beginner comedians to learn from one of the greats, or for experienced sketch/improv artists to shake off the dust and take some risks.

  • Saturday March 9th – 12:00 – 3:00 pm – Second City Training Centre
  • Registration fee: $20 plus HST
  • Open to TOsketchfest performers and the comedy community; sketch or improvisation experience required
  • Register online: CLICK HERE or contact Professional Development Manager Ian MacIntyre

On-Camera Acting with Andrew Bush

andrew-bush

Now that you’ve gotten the hang of making them laugh from the stage, learn how to translate what makes you hilarious onto the screen! Join one of Canada’s most exciting up-and-coming TV and film directors, Andrew Bush (Picnicface, Rollertown), as he offers a hands-on workshop in comedy performance while the cameras are rolling.

  • Sunday March 10th – 3:00 – 5:00 pm – Lower Ossington Theatre (100a Ossington Ave
  • Registration fee: $20 plus HST
  • Open to TOsketchfest performers and the comedy community; sketch or improvisation experience required
  • Register online: CLICK HERE or email Professional Development Manager Ian MacIntyre

 

Sketch 101 with Jim Annan

Jim Annan

As the Festival draws to a close, we’re offering an introductory workshop for audience members who’ve been enjoying themselves, and want to give sketch a try! Come get your toes wet with sketch comedy pro Jim Annan (Second City Mainstage, Falcon Powder) as he shows you the ropes of getting started.

  • Sunday March 17th – 1:00 – 3:00 pm – Lower Ossington Theatre (100a Ossington Ave
  • Registration fee: FREE
  • Open to all audience members, TOsketchfest performers and the comedy community; NO experience required
  • Register online: CLICK HERE or email Professional Development Manager Ian MacIntyre