Press+1 Reporter Ben Tsui had an exclusive opportunity to talk with the production team behind the latest Alberta produced television pilot called THE TROUPE

Written By Ben Tsui

THE TROUPE was directed by the award winning Jason Long , co-written by Jason Long (TURNING PAIGE; WALK ALL OVER ME) & AJ Demers (COIL), and co-produced by Greg Jeffs & Spencer Estabrooks (DEAD WALKERS) for Insurrection Films (1042; BLITZED; TASHA). Interestingly, Estabrooks' previous short film DEAD WALKERS has been showcased at various international film festivals around the globe, as well as shown on television in Canada, US, UK and Latin America, and the new short horror film 1,042 has already been picked up for worldwide distribution even before any festival premieres.

Now there's THE TROUPE, a 22-minute television pilot that follows the backstage antics of a local sketch comedy troupe as they move from club gig lives to their first television show and break into the big times. It stars Julian Faid, Caley Suliak, Ava Jane Markus, Rob Mitchelson, Pat MacEachern, Helen Knight and Gavin Williams. Press+1 got the chance to talk to the team behind THE TROUPE and ask them about their new show.

PRESS+1: So, please tell us at Press+1 a little bit about the story and origin of THE TROUPE.

JASON: I resurrected an old abandoned idea when I became friends/colleagues with AJ Demers over the last few years. We were in a writers group together. Because he's lived the life of a comedy performer (and still is), I thought he was the perfect person to co-write with and bring honest legitimacy to the world of a sketch comedy troupe. Plus, he's a nice guy and has many fancy scarves.

AJ:  It's true - I have many scarves!  Jason is jealous of them and tries to steal them all the time.

PRESS+1: How did you all get involved with this production? Have you and producer Greg worked previously together on other projects?

JASON: Last year I was a story consultant on two projects with Greg and Spence so I got to know them well both personally and professionally. Initially I just planned to develop the series with AJ and take our time, until Greg caught wind and said he could pull a crew together and shoot a pilot.

GREG: In this day and age, you cannot focus on one medium. Spencer and I formed INSURRECTION FILMS to create high quality content and we agreed to start looking for potential TV content. After the pitch from AJ and Jason it was obvious that we needed to do this.

PRESS+1: What’s it like to produce a 22 minute show like  THE TROUPE, compared to a feature length project?  

GREG: Comedy is so subjective and it's very hard to gauge the nuances when you're just looking at a script. This serves as a proof of concept to show the powers that be that Jason and AJ know what they want.

JASON: The features I've co-written, my work stopped soon after we were green lit and did our final pass. This was/is much more hands on for me, including directing the pilot and having a creator-producer role. So...MORE WORK! My intention is to show network execs and broadcasters that this show is funny and worth championing, more than just pitching with words and pages by SHOWING them. Hence, the choice is to make a pilot.

AJ:  It is also great to be able to show the amazing talent we have here in Alberta.  It is locally developed and the pilot is locally shot.  I think it is a great piece to let people know that Alberta is a place that T.V can happen.

GREG: We had a pro crew and we finished on time every day. The strength of our crews has always been a major selling point in Alberta. We were a zero dollar budget show and my intention was to make sure everyone was smiling at the end of every day. 

PRESS+1: Yeah, I heart home grown Alberta productions! In your opinion, what is the advantage and disadvantages to writing/producing/directing stories in our province compared to elsewhere?

JASON: Advantage - My house is very close by… easy commute. Disadvantage - Lack of a quality ocean.

AJ: There is also a great pride and communion for home grown projects.  We have had a lot of help from local talent and local business that have been more than generous knowing that it is an Albertan project.

GREG: I'll say it again, our crews.

PRESS+1: Do you think Alberta really endorse a creative hub for all these media artists?

GREG: Creative doesn't mean service industry, Ben. It's the lifeblood of any major market film industry but there is nothing creative about service production at all. If Alberta is to endorse its creativeness, then we need to have consistent output of high quality indigenous work that performs on an international level. It's a mighty tall order but I think the independent industry will come to the table.

AJ:  Of course we can!  We have the talent and the skills all right here in Alberta.  If a few projects happen here, plus a little investment in the industry, Alberta would boom for media artists.

PRESS+1: What were some fun-filled moments or headaches for your crew on this film?

JASON: Too many fun-filled moments! And I can't really recall a headache. Almost too smooth… if you can believe it!

AJ:  The pilot contains a fight, and choreographing that with the fight director and the cast was more fun than work.  Who wouldn't want to go to work and have a wrestling match break out?

GREG: I rarely spend time on set but what amazed me was how few and far between the mistakes were. We had an ensemble cast with long takes and comic action and they nailed it all. Jason had his work cut out for him and he handled it like a pro. Our DOP, REGAN ENDERL and 1st AD CHRIS CINNAMON, hell our whole cast and crew crushed it out of the park!

PRESS+1: What's next for THE TROUPE? What are your long term goals for this pilot?

JASON: Long term - we want to be on television. Surviving then thriving, sooner the better! And for a long time!

GREG: Just wait and see ;-)

PRESS+1: Thanks guys! We're really impressed by your ensemble collaboration and hard work. We can't wait to see THE TROUPE on the boob tube in the very near future. Keep up the good work and hurray to our creative home grown Canadian productions in Alberta and beyond!

Production stills courtesy of Insurrection Films

Written by :

bhftsui