Jordan Brady takes his documentary, “I Am Comic,” to Slamdance: “Bow-Chicka-Bow-Wow!”

Perhaps you have seen the clip circulating on the Internet this past week of Louis CK explaining how he took down a heckler? The comedian was shot talking on the streets of New York City as part of a new documentary by Jordan Brady on stand-up comedy, "I Am Comic," which makes its debut screening this Jan. 27-28 at the Slamdance Film Festival, the alternative to Sundance in nearby Salt Lake City.

"I Am Comic" explores the world of stand-up comedy, interviewing many practitioners of the game and also including a narrative arc for Ritch Shydner as he mounted a comeback to the stage after 13 years away from the circuit. Here's a clip in which several comedians — including Sarah Silverman, Nick Kroll, Bobcat Goldthwait and Shydner — talk about the pros and cons of being a stand-up in the age of social media networks and Internet videos. Roll it!

As Brady says on the Slamdance program: 

Iamcomic "Mostly, I was a one-person crew. So I’d meet the comedian for the first time, then we’d go backstage where I’d wire them with a small microphone. There’s something very humbling about sticking your hand down someone’s pants that you’ve just met. Especially while holding a small camcorder."

I caught up with him on the Internet to ask him a follow-up or two, asking him how long it took to put the film together, and what his plans are for future screenings and distribution. His reply: "It took a year-plus to prep, shoot, edit. I plan to get distribution and tour the film with the comics showing up." He hopes to have it sold by February, when he also is planning a Los Angeles screening.

Brady was a stand-up comedian in the 1980s and early 1990s, and according to Wikipedia, he is credited with being the first comedian to create a shorthand soundtrack for porn. As in. Wait for it. Oh, you read the headline. Yes. "Bow-chicka-bow-wow!" True? And does he know that Comedy Central has this bit preserved and uploaded online, from an episode of "The A-List" that's listed as dating back to 1992? "Yes young Sean, that porno thing was as close to a signature bit as I got," Brady replied. "Yes, the Internet has allowed my children to laugh at me even more." Let's see the bit in question!

The Internet also says that in his comedic youth, Brady had guest parts in episodes of Baywatch, Dream On, Empty Nest, Parker Lewis Can't LoseWho's the Boss and even an after-school special! He went on to direct a few small independent movies, but since 2003, he has made his name and his career as a director of national TV ad campaigns. After the jump, I've included one of the hundreds of commercials Jordan Brady has helmed…

Trivia time: If you watch TV, I'm fairly sure you have seen this one. Meet…Erica!

Sean L. McCarthy

Editor and publisher since 2007, when he was named New York's Funniest Reporter. Former newspaper reporter at the New York Daily News, Boston Herald and smaller dailies and community papers across America. Loves comedy so much he founded this site.

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5 thoughts on “Jordan Brady takes his documentary, “I Am Comic,” to Slamdance: “Bow-Chicka-Bow-Wow!”

  1. Ritch Shydner will tell you I stole the bit from the late Bill Hicks.
    thanks for the write up..
    jordan brady

  2. I just saw Jordan’s film today at The Atlanta Film Festival…and it was a hoot. Jordan did a Q&A after the film along with Jeff Foxworthy, both of whom answered everyone’s questions and were most gracious.

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