FILM DESCRIPTION /
Be Funny is a brutally honest documentary that follows Mike Green and a number of Detroit-area comedians across the country as they continue to keep working while struggling to hold on to their dreams, their families and their jobs. This powerful examination into the mind of the comic is a story told through real-life examples by the men and women who battle conflict with past and present drama who choose instead of unraveling into personal chaos, turn their darkness into material to entertain through stand-up comedy.

The film stars comics MIKE GREEN, HORACE H.B. SANDERS, J. CHRIS NEWBERG & MARK RIDLEY

Co-starring CHRISSY BURNS, JOHNNY GINGER, GILDA HAUSER, JOE JOHNSON, BRENDON LEMON, TIM LILLY & MARVIN STRAIT with special apperances by CHRISTOPHER TITUS, DAVE COULIER, ARSENIO HALL, BEN STEIN and more!

The film runs 90 minutes.

Official selection of The Detroit Windsor International Film Festival

FILM CLIP /

BE FUNNY / Film Trailer

THE COMICS / THE STARS!

CHRISSY BURNS
Looking at the world of comedy as one big buffet, this full - figured gal helps herself to an oversized portion of laughter. Audiences delight in getting to know Chrissy as she regales them with true-life stories of dieting, dating and life on the road.

A sexy, rubenesque woman, Chrissy Burns believes in using her comedy to break stereotypes. As a three-time cancer survivor, Chrissy brings to the stage a heart-felt message about the healing power of laughter.

A true road comic, Chrissy can be found doing her comedy act at bars, nightclubs, and any dive with a stage & microphone. She`s a favorite performer at many premiere comedy clubs across the United States and appears regularly at The Riviera Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

It`s quite obvious that one of Chrissy`s greatest joys is being onstage, making audiences laugh. Come giggle along with this loveable lady and get to know the copious comedienne who has made an impressive, indelible mark on today`s comedy scene!

MIKE GREEN
Natural likeability, original jokes and the knowledge to make it all look made up every time… this is what comedian Mike Green brings to the table. With a strong improv background, he takes you on a trip. While working with such luminaries as Tim Allen, Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Titus and Ellen Degeneres, Mike created a polished act that he has performed in 48 states. He headlines the Comedy Stop at the Tropicana in both Las Vegas and Atlantic City, The Comedy Castle in Detroit, Funny Bone South Bend, Spellbinders Houston and countless other clubs and colleges from New York to L.A.

Though you might be fooled by Mike's youthful appearance, his smooth and energetic act reflects that of a comedic veteran. Mike's infectious enthusiasm and entertaining stories keep crowds in stitches. Whether a college, club or corporate audience… if you haven't seen Mike Green… you just aren't very cool!

       Winner of the Las Vegas Comedy Festival "Best Male Comic" (2007)
       Finalist in the International Boston Comedy Festival (2005)
       Winner of first annual Michigan Comedy Survivor (2004)
       Finalist in H.B.O. Aspen Comedy Arts festival talent search (1999)

J. CHRIS NEWBERG
J. Chris Newberg's refreshingly smart and edgy humor, delivered with a streetwise sense of philosophic cool, has propelled the guitarist/songwriter-cum-comedian to the forefront of the Michigan comedy scene. Just five months after Newberg's September 2000 debut, a Detroit Free Press story on metro Detroit comedy cited him as one of five local comics most likely to break out into the national spotlight. While critics have been singing his praises in the press, audience members are offering true testimonial to Newberg's talent, roaring with laughter and clamoring for more of this hip and authentic new personality.

A guitarist and songwriter for veteran Detroit rock band, the Vudu Hippies, Newberg's standup comedy cleverly combines his hilarious and off-beat observations on life with original, acoustic guitar melodies. Picture Bob Dylan and his six-string with Dennis Miller's incisive, cerebral wit, and you begin to glimpse the unique, side-splitting talent that is J. Chris Newberg. As founder, main songwriter and lyricist for the Vudu Hippies, Newberg has spent much of the last 12 years on the music stage. With four CDs and two EP's to their credit, the Vudu Hippies have toured most of the Midwest and the West Coast, including two sold-out shows opening for the Counting Crows and Oasis at Detroit's State Theater; opening for Grand Funk Railroad at Pine Knob, and sharing a bill with Fuel at L.A.'s famed Viper Room.

It was during years on the road, playing in bars and theaters across the country, that Newberg unknowingly began honing his comedy. Whenever a delay - a band member's broken guitar string, for instance, or a sound system problem - interrupted a Vudu Hippies show, Newberg would crack up the audience with funny, acoustical songs, which he would make up on the spot. His improvisational, acoustic interludes led him to enroll at the nationally renowned Second City Comedy Troupe, where he studied improv humor for two years. He also began flexing his comedic chops with a metro Detroit improv troupe, Motor City Improv. One of the most original talents to burst upon the Midwest comedy scene in years, J. Chris Newberg is a talent destined for national exposure. Take the opportunity now to catch a standup star in the making!

HORACE H.B. SANDERS
Amidst a plethora of black comics receiving exposure today, very few have been able to stand-out doing stand-up without using profanity. Horace has found the key to success in the world of laughter without being profane - being himself.

Whether he's performing in a church, comedy club or sold out arena, his comic style highlights life's more hilarious moments and isn't afraid to give God the glory for them. He has the flexibility and range of material that few comedians have. He can make you see the humor in anything…from Lysol to pay phones. Of course, what makes Horace stand out most is that he holds his own in performances with all of today's premier comedians, while "keeping it clean". Horace also has a heart for reaching out and connecting with the teenagers in our school systems. He has the unique ability of transforming a stage into a living room, as he changes from the comedian you don't know, to the silly friend you love.

Horace recently won the $100,000 grand prize on the new Star Search and has a CBS development deal in the works.

THE COMICS / co-stars

JOHNNY GINGER
From 1956 to 1967, Johnny Ginger hosted a very popular kids's show called "The Curtain Time Theater" on WXYZ-TV channel 7 in Detroit, Michigan. It was on Monday through Friday for eleven years - and it was good, clean fun!

Johnny would introduce old episodes of the Three Stooges and do lip-synch pantomimes. Everyone loved his routines with off screen characters like Killer and Mr. Rocky. The voices of these characters were actually Johnny's own pre-recorded characterizations.

Johnny's show biz experience started at age six when he joined his dad, mom and brother on stage at the Paramount Theater in Toledo, Ohio. He worked with them until age eleven. Then, he went single, working with Marionettes. At age fifteen he joined forces with a partner and toured the United States and Canada until he decided to go single again at age twenty.

You will be absolutely amazed with the remarkable comedic talents of this 65-year show business veteran and true professional! Johnny has appeared on numerous television shows and movies including "The Rifleman", "3 Stooges Goes West", "The Tonight Show", "The Steve Allen Show", "The Joey Bishop Show" and many, many more!

    SAMMY DAVIS, JR /
    "You do everything! You sure you ain't colored?"

    JOEY BISHOP /
   "Johnny Ginger's talent and versatility are staggering.... Or am I thinking of Dean?    Son-of-a-gun, Johnny's Good!"

    MOE HOWARD / The Three Stooges /
    "Johnny Ginger knows what his audience wants and he delivers. He's no Stooge!"

GILDA HAUSER
Gilda is a standup comic and former co-founding member of the improv group "Totally Unrehearsed Theater." She also teaches stand-up comedy classes at the Comedy Castle. Former students include Brendon Lemon and J. Chris Newberg.

JOE JOHNSON
Joe is a local mic comic whose loser, 'not-like-other-guys' character is not that far removed from his own real-life. His day job is running a public access studio where he has made many comedy shows throughout the years. Joe's dream would be to be a semi-regular opening act at the Comedy Castle

BRENDON LEMON
Seventeen-year-old Brendon uses his experiences from high school for material for his jokes. He is very actice in school joining and starting many clubs while maintaining his college-level classes. Through young, he commands the stage like a well-seasoned comic. Brendon took comedy classes taught by Gilda Hauser at the Comedy Castle.

TIM LILLY
Tim has been doing open mic stand-up comic for the past 23 years using the same material. He works full time driving a flower delievery truck.

MARK RIDLEY
Mark is not only the owner of the Comedy Castle, but he was even once a stand-up comic himself. While going to film school, he realized that he instead wanted to be absorbed in the world of comedy. As owner, he helped launch the careers of Tim Allen and Dave Coultier.

MARVIN STRAIT
Marvin has taken classes at Second City in Detroit and has become quite an experienced improv performer and now wants to try his hand at the world of stand-up comedy for the first time. He also has performed in various public access sketch comedy shows.

THE PRODUCTION /