• DOH CANADA

By D+CFilm, on Sunday, September 28, 2008

Ben Stiller talks about Canadian Comedy in Megan Raney’s latest feature

It’s been almost a year since we told you about former Plymouth student Megan Raney’s latest feature documentary called The History Of Canadian Humour: If It’s Not Too Much Trouble (read our original story).

The ex-Plymstock School pupil is currently living and working in California, running production company GRAiNEY Pictures with her brother Colin Gray. The brother/sister directing team are known in the biz as The Sibs.

Following the success of The Sibs’ first feature, the Quentin Tarantino and Lucy Lui produced Freedom’s Fury, GRAiNEY has teamed up with Amaze Film & TV in Toronto to make The History Of Canadian Humour.

The documentary features interviews with the likes of Mike Myers, Michael J Fox, The Bare Naked Ladies, Paul Shaffer and Ben Stiller and aims to look at why Canada has produced an inordinate amount of comedic talent.

It’s written and directed by Canadian Rob Cohen of The Simpsons, The Ben Stiller Show, Just Shoot Me and other programmes.

D+CFilm caught up with Megan again to find out how the film is progressing.

Megan said: “The History Of Canadian Humour is in the final stages of production. We leave LA this week for a whirlwind shoot across Canada, interviewing weather men, former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien, sports figures and trying to get a bunch of funny interstitial scenes in the can.

“We’ve also lined up interviews with Tommy Chong of Cheech and Chong, Pamela Anderson, Eugene Levy, Dan Aykroyd, Alanis Morisette, Martin Short, Jim Carrey, The Kids In The Hall and SCTV among others.

“That should finally wrap principal photography. It’s been a long time coming, but the celeb interviews had to be slotted around various schedules while we worked on other things.

“We’re now interviewing editors, transcribing and logging footage, starting to plot the final story arc and then we’ll fully be into post.

“The plan is to premiere the film at the Toronto Film Festival next year, meaning we’ll need to have the rough cut in the can by January to stay on target.

“We have locked in our Canadian distribution partner and the plan is to sell the other territories at festival. Fingers crossed it all goes to plan!

“Anyway, I’ll be sure to give D+CFilm the trailer once it’s ready. We’re getting closer!”

Dunno about yous guys but we can’t wait to see this movie. Stay tuned to D+CFilm for the latest news from The Sibs and GRAiNEY Pictures, and to see the History Of Canadian Humour: If It’s Not Too Much Trouble trailer.

Oh, and to get your hands on the Freedom’s Fury DVD, head over to Film Baby and pick up a copy.

Special features include a directors’ commentary by Megan and Colin; a ‘Making Of’ documentary with behind-the-scenes footage; and an interview with the film’s executive producer Lucy Liu. Not too shabby.

Watch the Freedom’s Fury trailer below.