“Like the best of his subjects, which include Stephen Colbert, Bill Murray and Tina Fey, Wasson has perfect timing.”—Minneapolis Star-Tribune
 
Finalist for the 2017 George Freedley Memorial Award
 
In this richly reported, scene-driven narrative, Sam Wasson charts the meteoric rise of improv from its unlikely beginnings in McCarthy-era Chicago. We witness the chance meeting...

"This entertaining and sharply written guide--for both beginners breaking into comedy and professionals seeking to improve their sets and advance their careers--examines the work of great comedians such as Louis C.K., Jerry Seinfeld, Eddie Izzard, Moms Mabley, Hannibal Buress, Sarah Silverman, Richard Pryor, and more as a means of illustrating the most important techniques of performing and writing stand-up. Here, Stephen Rosenfield lays out a clear...

Ren MacCormack moves from Boston to the small town of Bomont where he experiences a heavy dose of culture shock. A few years prior, the community was rocked by a tragic accident that killed five teenagers after a night out. Bomont's councilmen and the beloved Reverend Shaw Moore responded by invoking ordinances that prohibit loud music and dancing. Not one to bow to the status quo, Ren challenges the ban, revitalizes the town, and falls in love with...

Screenwriter Keith Michaels was once on top of the world. Now he's divorced, broke, approaching fifty and hasn't written a hit film in years. So when a university in the quiet town of Binghamton asks him to teach a course in screenwriting, Keith can't say no. His attitude slowly begins to change once he gets to know his students, including Holly, a single mom looking to star a new chapter in life. "...the fourth collaboration between Grand and writer-director...

When seven cash-strapped seniors decide to 'outsource' their retirement to a resort in far-off India, friendship and romance blossom in the most unexpected ways. Bonus features included. "...buoyant comedy laced with genuine emotion."--Rolling Stone "A refreshing, mature fairy tale with a top-notch ensemble cast."--USA Today "...a pleasure-filled journey."--Hollywood Reporter

A fisheries expert is approached by a consultant to help realize a sheik's vision of bringing the sport of fly-fishing to the desert and embarks on an upstream journey of faith and fish to prove the impossible possible. "...McGregor and Blunt make fetching lovebirds..."--Total Film "...it's an engaging love story that should appeal to moviegoers..."--St. Louis Post-Dispatch "These are characters with whom it's a pleasure to spend a couple of hours."--New...

When Will a website manager for an electronics company, discovers that the local Coffee Town-which he uses as his own personal office-is scheduled to be converted into a bistro, he leaps into action.

When Jesse, a 35-year-old New York college admissions adviser, is invited to his Midwestern alma mater to attend his favorite professor's retirement dinner, he quickly falls back in love with the university life. But when he meets 19-year-old student Zibby, the daughter of his professor's friends, he suddenly finds himself caught in a moral dilemma: does he pursue a relationship with this kindred spirit, or does he break her heart and return to the...

Divorced mom Eva may be falling for Albert, a sweet, funny, like-minded divorce. But as their relationship blossoms, Eva befriends Marianne, who's always complaining about her ex-husband. When Eva realizes that Albert is the target of Marianne's rants, she begins to question her own perceptions about first impressions and second chances. "With its heartfelt performances, intelligent writing and subtle humor, this is easily one of the most perceptive...

A fifteen-year-old birding fanatic thinks he's made the discovery of a lifetime. On the eve of his father's remarriage, he escapes on an epic road trip with his best friends to solidify their place in birding history. "...has its own sweet call."--Los Angeles Times "The young actors shine revealing lights on their characters."--Chicago Sun-Times