COMEDY IMPROV CAN SAVE THE WORLD

Jacqueline Kabat combines the worlds of comedy and humanistic alternative education by teaching diverse populations comedy improvisation (unscripted performance) and demonstrating that the rules of this comedic art form provides an incredibly safe, powerful, and fun way to overcome life's fears, personal struggles, and can seamlessly assist with transitions. By using comedy improv as a healing tool, participants in Jacqueline's workshops will make profound shifts and show viewers that comedy is a significant resource for human development and that ANYONE can apply these techniques in their own lives. These comedy improv workshops are not just a temporary workshop high. Participants go home "feeling" differently and can share the powerfully accessible techniques of comedy improv with their communities. Laughing is imperative, vital, and freeing in a way that crying and grieving are not. Pain and fear are universal and comedy improv allows those who need healing for any reason to feel supported and have the opportunity to reclaim their aliveness through play, laughter, and the positive synergy of an inclusive group setting. The viewers will see the participants achieve profound shifts, enjoy the comedic element, and leave the documentary with the tools to overcome a multitude of their own personal challenges, unleash capacities, awaken their healer/therapist within, and reenergize a sense of purpose.

The documentary will follow Jacqueline Kabat teaching comedy improv to three very distinct populations. There will be back stories of some of the participants as well as followups with these individuals months after the workshops. There will also be talking head clips of well known comedians and humorists validating the work.

GROUP 1 - Veterans suffering from post traumatic stress disorder 
Many of these men and women return to civilian life feeling vulnerable, disconnected, isolated, and the suicide rates are alarmingly high. Jacqueline will gather a group of veterans suffering from PTSD at the stunning Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California. Esalen is the leader in humanistic alternative eduction and is situated on 120 acres on the coast, where the Santa Lucia Mountains rise sharply above the Pacific Ocean. Jacqueline will teach a group of veterans suffering from PTSD in this peaceful setting that will assist in providing solace to these veterans in need of healing. The landscapes will also be visually appealing to the audience. Viewers will witness these veterans experience profound transformations while doing comedy improv and the same methods can be used by anyone needing to overcome any form of trauma in their own lives.

GROUP 2 - Inner city middle schoolers in Chicago
This population is at a pivotal tranformational and impressional age where the tools of comedy improv can truly shift their lives. In many cases, these preteens lack role models and are victims of abuse. This results with them acting out in anger and many end up in gangs, using drugs, and getting involved in other destructive behaviors. The documentary will follow Jacqueline to a middle school in inner city Chicago were she will teach a group from this troubled demographic comedy improv. The work will help them with their self esteem, increase ambition, and have more empathy. This element of the documentary will reach children and young adults from all demographics. (Improv is an especially effective tool in alleviating the bullying epidemic.)

GROUP 3 - Employees at a Wall Street Financial Institution
Excess, abuse, and arrogance have lead to a major crumbling of many of the financial companies. The documentary will follow Jacqueline to one of the big Wall Street financial institutions in the process of trying to recover from this meltdown. Using the principles of improv comedy, employees will learn creative problem solving, create group trust, and communicate more effectively. Virtually every business function - team building, design and development, sales, marketing, change in management, organizational development, and customer service - can be enhanced by improv's compelling innovative tools and principles. The documentary will be an exceptional tool for any type of company looking to increase productivity and morale by teaching team members how to use humor to alter the way they look at and respond to stimuli which normally causes stress.

What We Need & What You Get

Our funding goal is $16,500 and will be used for preliminary operations to support the development of this documentary. This includes script development, legal and accounting, lining up the production staff, and location selection. We'd be grateful for any donations and have some great "perks" to thank you for the support. Some prizes include the COMEDY IMPROV CAN SAVE THE WORLD DVD and poster, having Jacqueline come to your city and do a comedy improv workshop with you and a group, and producer credits. Take a look!

The Impact

Your contribution could truly make a difference in a BIG way as we feel the COMEDY IMPROV CAN SAVE THE WORLD documentary could have a huge impact as it reaches all audiences regardless of race, creed, age, gender, political affiliation, or economic status. It could easily turn into a  brand as all the tools Jacqueline is sharing with these populations can be shared in books, CD's, workbooks, etc... at human development centers, schools, corporations, and many other places that wants to experience the empowering and compelling tools that comedy improvisation has to offer.

Other Ways You Can Help

We would be so grateful if you could please share this COMEDY IMPROV CAN SAVE THE WORLD fundraising campaign with your friends, family, and even random strangers on the street. With your help, we very much look forward to sharing this documentary and truly making a difference in the world with the healing power of laughter. Thank you!