Comedy is Serious Business
VIEW EVENT DETAILSThe comedy industry is a funny business; but one thing is certain, to be successful comedy must be widely and instantly available. On the cutting edge of comedy, Funny or Die is an Emmy-winning video website and film/TV production company. The website combines exclusive and original comedic content alongside user-generated content, meaning that anyone really can be a comedian. A pop-cultural phenomenon, with videos featuring a slew of Hollywood stars, the website enables users to vote a video “funny”, thereby ensuring it stays on the site, or unfunny, “die”, and send it into the abyss. But the media platform is not just merely funny – it is often both political and topical. Ajay Nair, COO, Only Much Louder, Mike Farah, President of Production, Brad Jenkins, Executive Producer/Managing Director, and Chris Bruss, President of Digital Content at Funny Or Die join us, to consider the business of laughter in an increasingly digital age.
Chris Bruss is President of Digital Content and FOD’s commercial production company Gifted Youth. Most recently, Bruss served as Vice President of Branded Entertainment for Funny Or Die. In November 2011, The Hollywood Reporter named Bruss one of the top 35 Hollywood executives under 35, and in 2012 he served as Jury Chair of One Show Entertainment. Prior to working at FOD, Bruss worked in the Business Development group at the Creative Artists Agency.
Mike Farah is the President of Production for Funny Or Die. In 2014, Farah won a Primetime Emmy for his work as executive producer of "Between Two Ferns with Zach Galfianakis: President Obama". Currently he is the executive producer of "Billy on the Street", “@midnight”, "Funny or Die's America's Next Weatherman", and the upcoming "Ferrell Takes the Field." He was named one of the top 35 Hollywood executives under 35 by The Hollywood Reporter in 2010, was named one of “Hollywood’s New Leaders" by Variety in 2013.
Brad Jenkins is the Managing Director and Executive Producer of Funny Or Die DC. For the last four years, Jenkins served as President Obama's liaison and director of engagement to the creative and advocacy communities. Jenkins also served President Obama in the 2008 Presidential campaign as the Deputy Director of Special Projects directing the intersection of youth media and grassroots engagement.
Ajay Nair is the COO at Only Much Louder (OML). He helps plan and execute the overall strategy at OML, and he also oversees OML's digital content business. Ajay graduated from IIM Lucknow in 2004, and has previously worked in private equity, investment banking and business consulting businesses in India.