Kickstarter

Improv Legends is a new series of documentary shorts exploring the art of improvisation from a wide variety of angles and perspectives.

Filmmakers and long time improvisers Joel Veenstra and Marc Warzecha started this passion project as a "love letter to improvisation.” 

From the very beginning, we envisioned “Improv Legends” with the mindset that “legend” has three definitions:

1. Legend as an individual i.e. a superstar - icons
2. Legend as a story i.e. shared myth – insights
3. Legend as a guide on a map i.e. defining how to reach goals - ideas

We have contemplated the best way to release this project from initial screenings at the Chicago Improv Festival and The Second City’s 50th Anniversary Celebration to now. But as our professional careers occupied our time, and our resources of using our own time and money dried up, we hit a roadblock and had a few missed release dates (as evidenced by our YouTube teaser trailers).

This is where you come in:  We need funding to finish the post-production on this project (especially the color correction and audio mix) and to launch it on YouTube to expand the knowledge base of the improvisational community, increase communication between improvisers, and inspire the next generation.

Be a part of the Legend!

Thank you.

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Over the past several years, we have conducted exclusive interviews with outstanding improvisors, improv teachers, and founders of iconic improv theatres from all over the country. Below is a partial list:

Andrew Alexander (Owner and CEO, The Second City)

Gary Austin (Founder, The Groudlings)

James Bailey (Artistic Director, Comedy Sportz Los Angeles)

Matt Besser (Founder, UCB)

Craig Cackowski (Second City, iO, NBC’s Community)

Kay Cannon (Writer, 30 Rock)

Dan Castellaneta (The Simpsons)

Jen Estlin (Managing Director, Annoyance Theatre)

Brian Gallivan (Sassy Gay Friend)

Micheal Gellman (Author, "Process")

James Grace (Artistic Director, iO West)

William Hall (Founder, BATS improv)

Charna Halpern (Founder/Owner, iO)

Valerie Harper (Rhoda, The Mary Tyler Moore show)

Kim “Howard” Johnson (Author, “The Funniest One in the Room”)

TJ Jagadowski ("TJ and Dave")

Keith Johnstone (Impro, ThearteSports Founder)

Fred Kaz (Legendary Music Director, The Second City)

Keegan Michael Key (MadTV)

Beth Kligerman (Director of Talent Development, The Second City)

Tim Kazurinsky (Saturday Night Live)

Kelly Leonard (Executive Vice President, The Second City)

Susan Messing (The Annoyance, The Second City)

Maribeth Monroe (Comedy Central’s Workaholics)

Mick Napier (Founder, Artistic Director, The Annoyance Theatre)

Tim O’Malley (The Second City Training Center)

Sheldon Patinkin (Chair Emeritus: Columbia; Artistic Consultant: The Second City, Steppenwolf Theatre)

Johnathan Pitts (Executive Director, Chicago Improv Festival)

Dave Razowsky (Resident Company Alum and Former Artistic Director, Second City Los Angeles Training Center)

Allison Riley (Co-Producer, The Second City - Chicago)

Rachel Romanski (Executive Director, Hollywood Arts)

Paul Sand (Orginal cast member, The Second City)

Bernie Sahlins (Founder, The Second City)

Dick Schaal (The Second City)

Clare Sera (Comedy Sportz)

Brad Sherwood (Whose Line is it Anyway?)

David Shepherd (Founder, The Compass)

Joyce Sloane (Producer Emertis, The Second City)

Mindy Sterling (Austin Powers, The Groundlings)

Ruby Streak (Music Director, Second City)

Mitch Sulpa (The Groundlings Main Company)

Dave Thomas (SCTV)

Fred Willard (Wall-E)

George Wendt (Cheers)