Film Review: The Mayor of Comedy: A Canadian Stand-Up Story

It is no secret that Canada has produced some of the most prolific comedic entertainers in the world. What is perhaps less obvious to the average comedy consumer is just how difficult it is to be a working comedian in the Canadian arts and culture landscape. When it comes to Canada’s artistic family, stand-up comedy is treated like the red-headed step-child.

Many of the challenges, double-standards, and inequities that exist in the Canadian comedy industry are highlighted in the documentary The Mayor of Comedy: A Canadian Stand-Up Story. This film is directed by Matt Kelly, and features Canadian comedian Sandra Battaglini. A free screening was released online on April 21, 2021 for National Canadian Film Day. The optimal timing of this release sets the viewer up for the film’s most palpable punch: why isn’t there more support for Canadian comedians in the entertainment industry?

The film introduces the viewer to the Canadian comedy landscape through Battaglini’s lens as an experienced and respected professional comedian. As we learn more about Battaglini’s role in Canadian comedy, even more stories and perspectives are shared from some of Canada’s top comedians including Scott Thompson, Steve Patterson, Debra DiGiovanni, Mark Forward, DeAnne Smith, Aisha Brown, and K. Trevor Wilson. While their experiences within the industry are as unique as the individual, the commonality revealed from the collection of stories is that Canada’s passivity in supporting performers in the entertainment industry isn’t just bad – it’s downright tragic.

The film’s greatest strength is its overall clarity in outlining the challenges faced by working comedians in Canada. Rather than solely stating the problems without context, the viewer is able to better comprehend the magnitude of the challenges by having a clear understanding of how most working comedians earn a living. Through an examination of the facets of performing live shows, earning residuals from recordings, and amassing credits in TV and film, The Mayor of Comedy successfully paints a clear portrait of how to thrive as a comedian in Canada.

Easier said than done.

Challenges standing in the way of some of the nation’s most beloved acts include lack of recognition of practice by the Canada Council for the Arts, double-standards in regards to America/Canadian work-relations, and an overall lack of faith and investment from major Canadian platforms.

While the viewer is presented with examples of harsh truths and scathing critiques of the industry, Kelly’s vision navigates the heavy subject by balancing the predominantly discouraging information with a palatable presentation that includes original art and animation, personal anecdotes from the guests, and, of course, the effervescent charm of Battaglini’s call-to-action spirit.

For as many problems or challenges that arose from the discussions around support and representation, there were just as many suggested solutions and ideas put forward to help improve working conditions for Canadian entertainers. Steve Patterson challenged the role of the gatekeepers in media to be more constructive in terms of developing Canadian content, DeAnne Smith outlined strategies used in Australia that are effective in providing opportunities to home-grown talent, and Battaglini herself worked steadfast to develop a plan of attack with an association of her peers.

Showcased in the film is the Canadian Association of Stand-Up Comedians (CASC), a non-profit organization spearheaded by Battaglini to address many of the presented inequities faced by stand-up comedians in Canada. Through her efforts in research and campaigning, Battaglini has garnered a strong following of support from her industry peers as well as fans of comedy. “If comedy was a town, and that town had a mayor, the mayor would be Sandra Battaglini” says friend and collaborator Phil Luzi.

For anyone looking to educate themselves on the industry landscape for Canadian comedians, this film is a valuable resource. It is also a chance to see many of Canada’s most talented comedians speak openly and constructively about the state of the union and reminding viewers of the rich history of talent that exists within our nation.

The Mayor of Comedy: A Canadian Stand-Up Story is currently screening for free online at https://mayorofcomedy.com/.
For more information about CASC and how you can get involved, visit: https://www.canadianstandup.ca/

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