PRODUCING LAUGHS FOR PROGRESS
Netflix film to show history of LGBTQ stand-up comedy
A documentary looking at the history of LGBTQ standup comedy is coming to Netflix.
On Thursday, the streamer announced it had greenlit “Stand Out: The Documentary,” a feature-length film about the oh-so-funny world of openly LGBTQ stand-up comedians, and how they’ve used their craft as an instrument for social progress and increased visibility over the past five decades, “changing the world one joke at a time.”
Mixing interviews, original performances, archival material, as well as backstage footage, the documentary is billed as a complement to “Stand Out: An LGBTQ+ Celebration,” a night of laughter and queer joy that premiered on Thursday as part of Netflix’s “Shine with Pride” collection.
Written and directed by Emmy-nominated producer Page Hurwitz (Netflix’s “They Ready,” “The Upshaws”), the documentary will explore themes such as using comedy as a form of activism, looking at diversity in stand-up, understanding new queer culture, as well as mainstreaming the alternative — using many of the same comedians who participated in “Stand Out: An LGBTQ+ Celebration.”
Hurwitz was also behind the “Stand Out” variety special, which according to Netflix is the “largest- ever gathering of LGBTQ+ comics in one stand-up special.”
Hosted by Billy Eichner, the 96-minute special was taped at the inaugural “Netflix is a Joke Fest” in Los Angeles last month and it features some of the biggest names in LGBTQ comedy. The impressive list includes Margaret Cho, Eddie Izzard, Tig Notaro, Rosie O’donnell, Sandra Bernhard, Wanda Sykes, Lily Tomlin, as well as “Rupaul’s Drag Race” superstars and superfunny queens Trixie Mattel and Bob the Drag Queen.
The film, which is set to debut later this year, is executive-produced by Huritz and Sykes for Push It Productions, as well as Brian Graden, Dave Mace and LB Horschler for Brian Graden Media.
... the documentary will explore themes such as using comedy as a form of activism, looking at diversity in stand-up, understanding new queer culture, as well as mainstreaming the alternative ...