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BriTANicK's Secret: Stubbornness Fuels Comedy Gold
9 Mar
Summary
- BriTANicK's creative process involves intense debate leading to superior ideas.
- The comedy duo has two films, 'Pizza Movie' and 'Over Your Dead Body,' premiering.
- They previously wrote for 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia' and 'Saturday Night Live'.
Brian McElhaney and Nick Kocher, the comedy duo BriTANicK, are making waves at SXSW with the premiere of two distinct films. Their creative dynamic, often involving prolonged disagreements that yield superior concepts, has become a hallmark of their work. This approach is evident in "Pizza Movie," a surreal college comedy about a hallucinogenic pizza quest, and "Over Your Dead Body," a dark dramedy centered on a couple intent on murdering each other.
BriTANicK, who have honed their craft since their early days, focus on grounding their often absurd sketches in emotional truth. This strategy has garnered a significant online following and led to writing opportunities on television shows such as "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" and "Saturday Night Live." Their time on these shows provided invaluable experience in boundary-pushing comedy and the importance of adapting to rapid script changes.
The duo's journey began in Atlanta, with a shared history that eventually led to collaboration at NYU. Inspired by successful YouTube sketch groups, they established a presence at the Upright Citizens Brigade and quickly found representation. Their earlier work included voice-overs for Cartoon Network commercials before landing their notable television writing gigs.
Their film "Pizza Movie" benefited from extensive audience feedback, with the creators actively running focus groups. This process revealed surprising audience reactions, validating some jokes they might have otherwise cut and highlighting others that needed refinement. Their dedication to audience response underscores their commitment to comedic effectiveness.
Additionally, BriTANicK adapted the 2021 Norwegian film "The Trip" into their English-language "Over Your Dead Body," directed by Jorma Taccone. This project offered a different challenge, working with a pre-existing narrative structure. They treated it as an opportunity to creatively redecorate the established "house" of the story, focusing on character nuances and relationships.
Despite the excitement of their film debuts, the pair admit their primary stress stems from an upcoming live comedy show. This reflects their commitment to honing their performance skills alongside their filmmaking endeavors, ensuring a well-rounded comedic output.
