PALEY CENTER FOR MEDIA, THE: IFC’S PORTLANDIA: A CONVERSATION WITH FRED ARMISEN AND CARRIE BROWNSTEIN {LONG VERSION ANAMORPHIC}
Summary
One in a series of seminars presented by The Paley Center for Media in New York. This seminar spotlights "Portlandia" a sketch-comedy show examining the offbeat culture and lifestyles in Portland, Oregon.
Arthur Smith (curatorial researcher, The Paley Center for Media) offers opening remarks before introducing the evening's moderator, Julie Klausner (comedy writer/performer). Klausner moderates "Portlandia" creators/cast members Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein.
The panelists touch on topics which include: cultural differences between New York City and Portland; the "Portlandia" live tour which crossed the country; the show's numerous guest stars and people that Armisen and Brownstein hope to have on; how Armisen and Brownstein started working together; the background of "Boink," the pair's first collaborative project; how Portland, Oregon became the show's focus; why the contributions of the show's director, Jonathan Krisel are "a big deal"; how the pair determines their "identities" for various sketches; the "musicality" of the show and its continuity; the show's use of local actors to promote verisimilitude; Armisen and Brownstein's favorite television shows; reactions to the show from Portland's residents; sketches that Armisen and Brownstein find particularly amusing; and the twosome's thoughts on portraying characters of the opposite gender.
Questions from the audience then lead to a discussion of the following topics: Armisen and Brownstein on working with actor Rainn Wilson for a television promo; advice for up-and-coming sketch comedy artists; the concept behind a memorable segment from "Portlandia" featuring unusual sunglasses; the nature of Armisen and Brownstein's friendship; Armisen's work as a "Saturday Night Live" cast member; and the process of envisioning scenarios for sketches.
Clips from "Portlandia" are interspersed throughout the seminar, including: a sketch featuring a "DJ epidemic" amongst the citizens of Portland; and a sketch featuring Armisen and Brownstein as unhelpful supermarket clerks.
Details
- NETWORK: N/A
- DATE: January 21, 2012 1:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:58:09
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 107053
- GENRE: Seminars
- SUBJECT HEADING: N/A
- SERIES RUN: N/A
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Arthur Smith … Host
- Julie Klausner … Moderator
- Fred Armisen … Guest
- Carrie Brownstein … Guest
- Jonathan Krisel
- Rainn Wilson