Humber Comedy Writing and Performance

With Humber’s Comedy Writing and Performance program rising in popularity and the skyrocketing fame of comedians like Dane Cook, people seem to think that being a comedian is the new “get rich quick” scheme. But making a living in comedy can be tough, and before you embark on the comedy road, there are a few things you should know.
“To be a comedian, you have to have more ‘pull’ than other people,” says Pete Egnatoff, 1st year Comedy Writing and Performance student at Humber. “You have to be the type of person to watch comedy tapes and go see shows.”
Egnatoff, 21, realized he wanted to be involved in comedy from a young age.
“I popped out of a box in a 1st grade play and the crowd laughed. That’s when I knew comedy was good for me,” he says.
A native of Kingston, Ontario, Egnatoff had performed on an improvisational team, and although it was a valuable learning tool, he was not sold on studying comedy until he attended Humber’s comedy workshop in the summer of 2005. Although no further involvement is necessary, the workshop acts as a preview of the two-year program and is a vital tool for people interested in enrolling in Comedy Writing and Performance.
“The one-week program was definitely important. You get to visit the school, meet administration, and get a feel for what the program is like,” says Egnatoff.
If you’ve attended the workshop or done some prior performing but are still unsure about enrolling full-time, think about your goals.
“People should ask themselves what they want out of it. I was asked what I want out of comedy, and I want to change the world for the better. It’s corny, but you have to hold on to that. If all you want is attention, it’s not the best place for you,” says Egnatoff sincerely. “Be connected to your material.”
Egnatoff also suggests getting feedback from people who have been in the program before making a final choice.
“I talked to people who liked it and didn’t like it. They weighed in, and I made the final decision that it was a good environment for me,” he says.
Egnatoff is passionate about the craft of comedy, and says that if you are thinking about studying Comedy Writing and Performance at Humber, you should be too.
“I get nervous before every show. I was supposed to have a show at Yuk Yuk’s last night and I was nervous about not being ready. Then when I got there, the show had been cancelled and I was upset because I really wanted to do it. I just love it,” says Egnatoff.
If you are infatuated with comedy, have thought long and hard about studying it and aren’t deterred by over $4000 of tuition costs, Humber’s comedy program could be for you.
“It’s a different atmosphere than other programs, it’s bizarre,” says Egnatoff. “On Monday I got to wear a clown nose and act like an idiot. It’s great.”

AIDS Awareness

A new campaign, ‘Spray to Change Attitudes’, has been initiated by MTV International and The Body Shop to raise HIV and AIDS awareness among youth, but is it enough to halt the growing number of affected citizens?
With the announcement of this launch, a study done in England was released, showing the shocking ignorance of youth as it pertains to HIV and AIDS infections. For instance, “70% of young women do not believe they are at risk of contracting HIV” (CCN Matthews). This is a shockingly false assumption. There are no groups that are immune to the disease, with over half of new HIV victims being between 18-25 years old.
According to an article on HIV/AIDS in Ontario published in 2006 by faculty at the University of Toronto, 14,927 men who are infected with the disease are still seeking sex with women. There has been an increase of 39% of infection from the year 2000 to 2004, and 3,367 were infected through heterosexual experiences (these stats can be found at aidsvigil.pbwiki.com).
HIV and AIDS are on the rise in not only Canada, but the world over. Although it is ludicrous to assume that the number of youth contracting the disease will decrease due to this new launch, Spray to Change Attitudes is attempting to raise money for MTV’s Staying Alive Foundation by selling a new fragrance, Rougeberry Eau De Toilette in all Body Shop stores worldwide. The Staying Alive Foundation is a U.S. charity organization created in 2004 by MTV International to support people infected and fighting AIDS. Rougeberry will be sold across Canada for $18 CDN, and $8.70 of each bottle sold will go towards the Staying Alive Foundation.


Sources:
Ccnmatthews.com
Aidsvigil.pbwiki.com