The story of the rise of Cleveland’s independent comedy scene is captured in “Make Fun”

Make Fun is a crowd-funded, independent comedy special that takes the form of a documentary concert film. It shows the growth of Cleveland’s independent comedy scene mixing vignettes, interviews and footage from one live show featuring some of its major players. The project was funded through a kickstarter campaign, and most of its backers were the very people in the audience. Make Fun gives viewers a look at the less-exposed world of standup comedy in a smaller city, where the talent level is high and the performers rely on their community, instead of an industry. Jim Tews, a native of Cleveland, now New York based comedian, was the man in the directors chair for the project. Also a writer, has had an eventful 2014.

He made his stand-up television debut on Last Comic Standing and was featured in an episode of Louie. Previously he was one of 2011’s New Faces at Just For Laughs Montreal and has performed in the Bridgetown Comedy Festival, Eugene Mirman Comedy Festival, as well as SF Sketchfest.
He recently created and co-wrote as well as starred in The Undone Sweaters web series about a sociophobic Weezer cover band. Tews also created the HBO Labs’ web series The Opener. You can grab Make Fun for just 5 bucks and download it here.