Title: Television to Film: the Emergent Comedy in Contemporary Russian Cinema

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Title: Television to Film: The Emergent Comedy in Contemporary Russian Cinema Author: Beach Gray, University of Pittsburgh This paper argues that a new form of cinematic comedy has emerged in the Russian Federation, but it is one that does not necessarily have roots in the Russo-Soviet tradition of the genre. The presentation focuses on the popular television comedy sketch show Comedy Club that plays on channel TNT. The show is based in Moscow, with spin-offs in St. Petersburg, Nizhnii Novgorod, Rostov-on-Don, and in Ukraine and Belarus. Similar to the American stand-up comedy show Saturday Night Live, Comedy Club is a forum for aspiring comedians. Moreover, just as Saturday Night Live skits have led to whole films— such as Wayne’s World (Penelope Spheeris, 1992) or A Night at the Roxbury (John Fortenberry 1998)— Comedy Club has espoused a similar mode of production, in which a popular skit or a group of popular comedians is developed into a high-grossing commercial film. The paper focuses on productions of the Comedy Club studio: The Very Best Film trilogy (Kirill Kuzin, 2007; Oleg Fomin, 2009; Kirill Kuzin, 2011) and Our Russia: The Balls of Fate (Gleb Orlov, 2010). These films rely on crass “bathroom” humor and jokes with sexist and racist overtones that privilege heteronormativity and Russian ethnicity. The paper notes that one of the defining features of this genre is a constant reference to and parody of recent Russian blockbuster films in the style of Scary Movie (Keenan Ivory Wayans 2000) or Not Another Teen Movie (Joel Gallen 2001). The paper argues that Comedy Club has co-opted several industry techniques that originated in the United States to craft a new genre of Russian comedy. It is a move that is ultimately self-aggrandizing of the Russian commercial film interest, aimed at a young demographic that is familiar with the references these films make and hungry for a domestic version of obscene humor. .

Copy Link

Recommended publications

Fab Cat" Myers Gets "Saucy" As "Austin Powers" Must Adjust to a World Where Films
SIGNAL Tuesday. May 1997 Features 25 Fab cat" Myers gets "saucy" as "Austin Powers" must adjust to a world where films. In the opening scene the crushed velvet pant suits, Powers is chased by a crowd free love, and the songs of of screaming women, who Burt Bacharache are no along with Powers, break into longer hip. He is partnered a spontaneous, yet perfectly with Mrs. Kensington's choreographed, dance num equally vixenish daughter, ber. In addition, scenes of played by Elizabeth Hurley, Powers go-go dancing with the and they pursue Dr. Evil and fictitious band Ming Tea ap his debonair, one-eyed hench pear sporadically throughout man Number Two, played by the movie. Robert Wagner. Myers successfully trans While trying to fight off forms himself into a well- the forces of evil, Agent meaning-but-clueless interna Kensington must also fight off tional spy, not to mention a the advances of Powers; bald evil villain with a passion thirty years and a little ice for Nehru jackets and hairless have not altered his active li cats. Hurley demonstrates bido. Powers tries relent her comedic talents in an im lessly to woo Agent pressive performance as an Kensington with his outdated extremely proper British pickup mechanisms, such as agent. There are also brief ap the rotating bed on his psy pearances by Michael York, chedelic jet. Carrie Fisher, and Tom Photo By: Kimberly Wright/ New Line Cinema Although the movie drags Arnold. Even smooth crooner Austin Powers (Mike Myers) strikes a pose with the Fembots in New Line Cinema's comedy, Austin in some scenes and there are Burt Bacharache shows up to Powers: International Man of Mystery.
[Show full text]
(FCC) Complaints About Saturday Night Live (SNL), 2019-2021 and Dave Chappelle, 11/1/2020-12/10/2020
Description of document: Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Complaints about Saturday Night Live (SNL), 2019-2021 and Dave Chappelle, 11/1/2020-12/10/2020 Requested date: 2021 Release date: 21-December-2021 Posted date: 12-July-2021 Source of document: Freedom of Information Act Request Federal Communications Commission Office of Inspector General 45 L Street NE Washington, D.C. 20554 FOIAonline The governmentattic.org web site (“the site”) is a First Amendment free speech web site and is noncommercial and free to the public. The site and materials made available on the site, such as this file, are for reference only. The governmentattic.org web site and its principals have made every effort to make this information as complete and as accurate as possible, however, there may be mistakes and omissions, both typographical and in content. The governmentattic.org web site and its principals shall have neither liability nor responsibility to any person or entity with respect to any loss or damage caused, or alleged to have been caused, directly or indirectly, by the information provided on the governmentattic.org web site or in this file. The public records published on the site were obtained from government agencies using proper legal channels. Each document is identified as to the source. Any concerns about the contents of the site should be directed to the agency originating the document in question. GovernmentAttic.org is not responsible for the contents of documents published on the website. Federal Communications Commission Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau Washington, D.C. 20554 December 21, 2021 VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL FOIA Nos.
[Show full text]
The Creative Life of 'Saturday Night Live' Which Season Was the Most Original? and Does It Matter?
THE PAGES A sampling of the obsessive pop-culture coverage you’ll find at vulture.com ost snl viewers have no doubt THE CREATIVE LIFE OF ‘SATURDAY experienced Repetitive-Sketch Syndrome—that uncanny feeling NIGHT LIVE’ WHICH Mthat you’re watching a character or setup you’ve seen a zillion times SEASON WAS THE MOST ORIGINAL? before. As each new season unfolds, the AND DOES IT MATTER? sense of déjà vu progresses from being by john sellers 73.9% most percentage of inspired (A) original sketches season! (D) 06 (B) (G) 62.0% (F) (E) (H) (C) 01 1980–81 55.8% SEASON OF: Rocket Report, Vicki the Valley 51.9% (I) Girl. ANALYSIS: Enter 12 51.3% new producer Jean Doumanian, exit every 08 Conehead, Nerd, and 16 1975–76 sign of humor. The least- 1986–87 SEASON OF: Samurai, repetitive season ever, it SEASON OF: Church Killer Bees. ANALYSIS: taught us that if the only Lady, The Liar. Groundbreaking? breakout recurring ANALYSIS: Michaels Absolutely. Hilarious? returned in season 11, 1990–91 character is an unfunny 1982–83 Quite often. But man-child named Paulie dumped Billy Crystal SEASON OF: Wayne’s SEASON OF: Mr. Robinson’s unbridled nostalgia for Herman, you’ve got and Martin Short, and Neighborhood, The World, Hans and Franz. SNL’s debut season— problems that can only rebuilt with SNL’s ANALYSIS: Even though Whiners. ANALYSIS: Using the second-least- be fixed by, well, more broadest ensemble yet. seasons 4 and 6 as this is one of the most repetitive ever—must 32.0% Eddie Murphy.
[Show full text]
Nbcuniversal Officially Opens Its New Mexico Production Facility
6/23/2021 Constant Contact FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 24, 2021 FOR MEDIA INQUIRIES: Crystal B. Williams, NBCUniversal Jennifer Esquivel, NMFO (505) 469-2915 NBCUniversal Officially Opens its New Mexico Production Facility A Comedy Series for Peacock, The Universal Television Production, MacGruber to film in New Mexico SANTA FE, N.M. – Today, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller, NBCUniversal executives, and other civic and industry leaders cut the ribbon on NBCUniversal’s New Mexico production facility. https://app.constantcontact.com/pages/campaigns/email-details/details/activity/0f8952c8-acae-4e58-b7b7-b73413e308b4 1/5 6/23/2021 Constant Contact "I am thrilled to formally open the NBCUniversal’s New Mexico production facility," said Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham. "Despite the pandemic, we've had one of our best and most productive years -- if not our very best year ever - - with the film and television industry. This industry has leapt back to life because they have put safety first -- and they will help our state recovery economically as we put the pandemic behind us. NBCUniversal chose New Mexico because we are good for good business. I couldn't be more excited about our growing partnership and their efforts to provide innovative workforce development and mentorship initiatives to New Mexicans in the industry." “NBCUniversal is thankful for the support of Governor Lujan Grisham, Mayor Keller, the New Mexico Legislature, and the Albuquerque City Council,” said Veronica Sullivan, SVP, Head of Global Production External Affairs, NBCUniversal. “We are proud of what we have accomplished so far through our venture with the Garcia family and look forward to growing our production profile across the state, contributing to the continued development of the talented New Mexico workforce.” “Albuquerque is on solid footing to become one of the largest high-tech and sustainable film production centers in North America,” said Mayor Tim Keller.
[Show full text]
Students Give Feedback in Improve ND Survey Students Protest HEI
the Observer The Independent Newspaper Serving Notre Dame and Saint Mary’s Volume 44 : Issue 128 tuesday, APRIL 20, 2010 ndsmcobserver.com Students give feedback in Improve ND survey Undergraduates call for improvement to ethnic, international diversity ricular activities and campus ate satisfaction rates were By KRISTEN DURBIN environment and services. Each extremely high for the cate- News Writer of these categories included gories of academic experience, subcategories such as campus extracurriculars and sense of If students notice improve- safety, food services, RecSports, community, only 41 percent of ments in campus services and academic advising and cellular survey respondents said they facilities upon arriving to cam- reception, among several oth- were happy with diversity on pus next fall, they can thank ers. campus and international stu- the 51 percent of the under- The results of the survey dent interaction. graduate student body that were recently sent to each serv- “The 96 percent satisfaction responded to the University’s ice-providing unit on campus rate for academic experience ImproveND survey. and student government, Erin was terrific,” Harding said. The Office of Strategic Harding, associate vice presi- “However, the lower satisfac- Planning administered the sur- dent for Strategic Planning, tion rates correspond with the vey in January to undergradu- said. University’s focus on improving ate, law and graduate students “We have asked both the both ethnic and international in order to assess student opin- campus units and student gov- diversity on campus.” ions on campus services. ernment to return their sugges- Harding said she was sur- Overall, 51 percent of under- tions and priorities for which prised to see that 46 percent of graduates, 58 percent of law aspects of campus services respondents had not volun- students and 41 percent of should be changed to the Office teered at all during the first graduate students responded to of Strategic Planning by mid- semester of this school year.
[Show full text]
THE ASMSU March 20, 2008 • Vol
THE ASMSU March 20, 2008 • Vol. 102, Issue 22 I FILM BASEBALL REVIEW 12 2 2 THE ASMSU EXPONENT I MARCH 20, 1 Mp.,rc;.h,~Yth, 1<1111n 5h,ow@ u?<Itn< MA'f(.1G~I featuring: filth a d f oul/ Ml X HEY YOU! YEAH YOU ... More than ants love a discareded popsicle on a sidewalk, the ASMSU Exponent LOVES feedback! Check.out this free bhaw and Please send your rants, raves, and heartfelt pickup a copy of-LI ndisputeci expressions of your undying love to: and ·e,ig Dreamin... for only ~ [email protected] each or 8 for both. ntasthead THIS ISSUE BROUGHT TO YOU BY: kglt fund drive• MANAGEMENT EDITORIAL ADVISOR NEWS EDITOR MARCH 23 - APRIL 5 Bill Wilke Lacey Gray [email protected] ED ITO R-IN-CHIEF Amanda Larrinaga STATIC EDITOR [email protected] Scott Obemesser [email protected] MANAGING ED ITOR Dylan White DISTRACTION S EDITOR Tara Alley ART DEPARTMENT Nick Andrews PHOTO GRAPHY EDI TO R fearures@e:i-.-ponent.montana.edu This could be you! REC[REATION] EDITOR PHOTOGRAPH ER Kim Krieger Justin Moore OUTDOORS EDITOR GRAPHI C DESIGNERS Interested? f . Sarah Butler, Joeana Gouveia COPY EDITOR dude, it's lor YOU Erica Aytes ADVERTISING & BUSINESS AD SALES MANAGER CONTRIBUTORS Eric Newman 91.9 bozeman Dustin Cis hosz, Daniel Lockhart, [email protected] Michael Matzur, Ryan Dalke, Allison 89.5 livingston Carroll, Randy Blair, Tai Kersten, EriCl AD SALES REPRESENTATIVES Killham, Rune Vander Wey • Alex Yudell, Danielle Chamberlain, reque sts 406.994.4492 Tania Mitt!eider stream ing online a t www.kglt.ne t THE ASMSU EXPONENT _ Strand Union Building Room 305 MARKETING REPRESENTATIVES Bozeman, MT 59715 Ray Klos, Hannah Pauli c e lebr atin g 40 y ears of a lterna tive public r a dio Phone; (406] 994-2224 in southwest monta n a ed1torraexponent.montana.edu ABOUT arTHE tist My name is Jenna Reineking and I am a senior here ~t Montana State University.
[Show full text]
The Carroll News
John Carroll University Carroll Collected The aC rroll News Student 10-8-1998 The aC rroll News- Vol. 91, No. 5 John Carroll University Follow this and additional works at: https://collected.jcu.edu/carrollnews Recommended Citation John Carroll University, "The aC rroll News- Vol. 91, No. 5" (1998). The Carroll News. 1206. https://collected.jcu.edu/carrollnews/1206 This Newspaper is brought to you for free and open access by the Student at Carroll Collected. It has been accepted for inclusion in The aC rroll News by an authorized administrator of Carroll Collected. For more information, please contact [email protected]. out You. 'By You. Volume 91 • Number 5 John Carroll University Cleveland, Ohio October 8, 1998 Out for blood The Student ,Activities Fee: Where did your money go? Megan Hetman 1nvol ved tn organtzations can ASSIStant News EditOr know exactly what's going on," Twenty-five additional dollars Pres1dent Kevm Filatrout sa1d. If were added to tutition bills this an organization misses fo ur meet semester, the questiOn IS, where ings then LO % of thei r budget is does it go? revoked,1f they miss five meet! ngs Last February the students of then 50% is revoked, a nd 1f they j ohn Carroll University voted on miss six meetings then a bill to and passed a bill for the in1tia 11 on revoke the organization's charter of a Student Activities Fee. is suggested Ha If of the $50 fee was collected There 1s also an appeals pro with the tuition for the fall semes cess m which new organizauons ter and the other half will be col or orga n1za u o n s with spec1al lected w ith the spring semester's events can request funds.
[Show full text]
An Explorative Study of Internet Audience Perceptions of the Portrayals and Appearances of Presidential Candidates on Saturday Night Live
LIVE FROM NEW YORK AND STRAIGHT TO WASHINGTON: AN EXPLORATIVE STUDY OF INTERNET AUDIENCE PERCEPTIONS OF THE PORTRAYALS AND APPEARANCES OF PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES ON SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE Paige Thomason Miller, BA Thesis Prepared for the Degree of MASTER OF ARTS UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS May 2012 APPROVED: R. Steve Craig, Major Professor Harry Benshoff, Committee Member Matthew Eshbaugh-Soha, Committee Member Sam Sauls, Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Radio, Television and Film Alan Albarran, Chair of the Department of Radio, Television and Film James D. Meernik, Acting Dean of the Toulouse Graduate School Miller, Paige Thomason. Live from New York and straight to Washington: An explorative study of Internet audience perceptions of the portrayals and appearances of presidential candidates on Saturday Night Live. Master of Arts (Radio, Television and Film), May 2012, 110 pp., references, 122 titles. This thesis examines if and how the Internet viewers of Saturday Night Live skits were influenced by the video skits. The viewers’ online comments were read, categorized and analyzed for content to explore and discuss how the viewers “read” the text of the online video skits. Each video in which candidates John McCain, Sarah Palin, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama appeared is summarized and analyzed through viewers’ comments. A sample of skits including actors’ portrayals of McCain, Palin, Clinton, Obama and Joe Biden is also summarized and analyzed to find and discuss how the viewers’ perceptions were influenced by the portrayals. Copyright 2012 by Paige Thomason Miller ii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Chapters 1. INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................1 Purpose of the Study 2.
[Show full text]
Will Forte's 'Macgruber' Lands at Peacock As a Series
Will Forte's 'MacGruber' Lands at Peacock as a Series 08.10.2020 NBCUniversal's new streaming service, Peacock, is tapping its established comedy crew for three new series, while Amber Ruffin and Larry Wilmore will host back-to-back weekly late-night talkers, the company said Monday at the virtual Television Critics Association press tour. Two Saturday Night Live vets-Tina Fey and Will Forte-will executive produce new series on the service. Forte is bringing back MacGruber, a spoof on classic TV's MacGyver, after first debuting the character on Saturday Night Live and then turning the ongoing skit into a feature film in 2010. The eight-episode series will be directed by original director, Lonely Island's Jorma Taccone, who also wrote the skit on SNL. Forte's SNL castmate Kirsten Wiig is due to return as MacGruber's love interest. The above trailer cleverly cobbles together stock footage with socially-distanced takes of Forte in character on a rock by the beach at sunset. MacGruber is expected to premiere on Peacock in 2021. Forte serves as writer and executive producer alongside John Solomon and Taccone. Lorne Michaels, John Goldwyn, Andrew Singer and Erin David also serve as executive producers. MacGruber is from Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, and Broadway Video. Another famous SNL alum, Tina Fey, is again partnering with Robert Carlock (30 Rock, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt) on Girls5eva starring Sara Bareilles, who is just coming off of composing the soundtrack and producing Apple TV+'s Little Voice. Bareilles stars as a member of a 90s girl group that returns to fame when they get sampled by a famous rapper, but now they have middle-aged things to deal with like kids, mortgages and so forth.
[Show full text]
Love Is Strange. 04
Love is strange. 04 14. BILL HADER 18. GUEST STAR SIMON RICH 14. EXECUTIVE PRODUCER | CREATOR MICHAEL HOGAN GUEST STAR 19. 14. LORNE MICHAELS VANESSA BAYER EXECUTIVE PRODUCER GUEST STAR 20. 07 14. ANDREW SINGER MINKA KELLY EXECUTIVE PRODUCER GUEST STAR 20. 15. JONATHAN KRISEL FRED ARMISEN EXECUTIVE PRODUCER GUEST STAR | DIRECTOR 15. 21. RAEANNA GUITARD IAN MAXTONE - GRAHAM GUEST STAR CO - EXECUTIVE PRODUCER | WRITER 08 15. OKSANA BAIUL 21. GUEST STAR ROBERT PADNICK CO - PRODUCER 15. | WRITER MATT LUCAS GUEST STAR 22. DAN MIRK STAFF WRITER 22. SOFIA ALVAREZ 11 STAFF WRITER 22. BEN BERMAN DIRECTOR 23. TIM KIRKBY DIRECTOR 23. HARTLEY GORENSTEIN 12 LINE PRODUCER A SWEET AND SURREAL LOOK AT THE (Unforgettable) as “Liz,” Josh’s intimidating older life-and-death stakes of dating, Man Seeking sister; and Maya Erskine (Betas) as “Maggie,” Woman follows naïve twenty-something “Josh the ex-girlfriend Josh can never quite forget. Greenberg” (Jay Baruchel, How to Train Your Man Seeking Woman is based on Simon Rich’s Dragon) on his unrelenting quest for love. Josh book of short stories, The Last Girlfriend on soldiers through one-night stands, painful break- Earth. Rich created the 10-episode scripted ups, a blind date with a troll, time travel, sex comedy and also serves as Executive Producer/ aliens, many deaths and a Japanese penis Showrunner. Jonathan Krisel, Andrew Singer monster named “Tanaka” on his fantastical and Lorne Michaels, and Broadway Video also journey to find love. serve as Executive Producers. Man Seeking Starring alongside Baruchel are Eric Andre Woman is produced by FX Productions.
[Show full text]
Movies Content Comparison Correct As of 7Th Nov 2014
Movies Content Comparison Correct as of 7th Nov 2014 Notes: 1. Pay TV and online services 2. Subscription and rental movies only. Purchase movies not included 3. SD/HD/3D titles counted once 4. Movies defined as: feature-length films, not including trailers, featurettes, try before you buy or children’s features. 5. Correct as of 7th Nov 2014 Virgin Media + Netflix Total title count: 3,751 9 42 51 360 1984 (A) Sexual 1 Chance 2 Dance 1:1 Thierry Henry 10 Rules For Sleeping Around 10 Things I Hate About You 10 to Midnight 100 Feet 101 Dalmations 12 Rounds 2 12 Years A Slave 13 Assassins 13 Ghosts 13 Going on 30 16 Acres 180° South 2 Days in The Valley 2 Fast 2 Furious 2 Guns 20 Feet From Stardom 20,000 Days On Earth 21 & Over 21 Jump Street 25th Hour 28 Days 28 Days Later 28 Weeks Later 3 Days To Kill 3 Ninjas: High Noon At Mega Mountain 3 Ninjas: Kick Back 3 Ninjas: Knuckle Up 3.10 To Yuma 3:10 to Yuma 30 Minutes or Less 300: Rise of An Empire 47 Ronin 48 Hrs. 5 Broken Cameras 50 Dead Men Walking 50 First Dates 50/50 5ive Girls 8 Minutes Idle 8MM 96 Minutes A 2nd Chance Page 1 of 94 Movies Content Comparison Correct as of 7th Nov 2014 Notes: 1. Pay TV and online services 2. Subscription and rental movies only. Purchase movies not included 3. SD/HD/3D titles counted once 4. Movies defined as: feature-length films, not including trailers, featurettes, try before you buy or children’s features.
[Show full text]
Former Chairman of NBC Sports Group Dick Ebersol, USOC CMO Lisa Baird to Be Honored at 2012 Promaxbda Sports Marketing Summit & Awards
Former Chairman Of NBC Sports Group Dick Ebersol, USOC CMO Lisa Baird To Be Honored At 2012 PromaxBDA Sports Marketing Summit & Awards BY PR Newswire LOS ANGELES, Oct. 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ PromaxBDA, the global association for marketing professionals today announced the honorees of the Sports Media Marketing achievement awards. Former Chairman of NBC Sports Group Dick Ebersol will be honored with the Lifetime Innovator Award, and current United States Olympic Committee CMO Lisa Baird will be honored with the Game Changer Award, both at the 2012 Sports Marketing Summit and Awards show held at Capitale in New York on November 13. "The Sports Media Marketing Awards celebrate the most creative and innovative leaders in the sports and sports media marketing industry, and we're thrilled to be honoring Dick Ebersol as Lifetime Innovator and Lisa Baird as Game Changer, two of the world's most interesting, exciting and accomplished visionaries," said Jonathan Block-Verk. "The impact these two luminaries have had on the industry and on popular culture is extraordinary and we're honored to be celebrating their continued legacies." The Lifetime Innovator Award is a special award presented each year at the Sports Media Marketing Awards honoring an individual whose career has had signiﬁcant impact to the business of sports media marketing. Created to recognize an individual's long-term innovation, creativity and contribution, the Lifetime Innovator Award recipient is a distinguished leader who has charted new territory and, through their career, has fundamentally changed the business of Sports Media Marketing. Peter Moore, COO of Electronic Arts, received the award in 2011.
[Show full text]