The U.S.-based comedy brand, “Funny or Die,” is coming to South Africa in September to run workshops for bloggers, Instagrammers and filmmakers on how to create compelling video content and distribute it globally.
Founded by U.S. comedians Will Ferrell, Adam McKay and Chris Henchy, “Funny Or Die” has been credited by stakeholders with shaping the world of immersive and engaging digital content.
Launched in April 2007, the site has grown into a comedy brand and production studio known for creating award-winning video content.
The site’s first video, “The Landlord,” was viewed over 80 million times and featured a swearing, beer-drinking 2-year-old landlord confronting Ferrell. In June 2007, the site received venture capital funding from Sequoia Capital, and in June 2008, announced a partnership with HBO.
The “Funny Or Die” website combines user-generated content with original content. Viewers — 70 million of them worldwide — can vote which videos become “immortal” and which ones go to “the crypt.” Website staff can disable the voting mechanism by ranking a video as “the chosen one.”
The site is a place where regular users, celebrities, established and up-and-coming comedians can all put up stuff they think is funny, according to the site.
“Funny Or Die” will be in Johannesburg on Sept. 27 and Cape Town on Sept. 29.
The site has broken records many times for viral videos, according to Biz Community. Justin Bieber launched his video “What do you mean” on the site. A Donald Trump video with Johnny Depp went viral all over the world. Recently a shot with U.S. President Barack Obama went over 1 billion views.
Samsung Mobile partnered with “Funny Or Die” to bring the “world-first, advanced tech-content” roadshow to South Africa, according to a Screen Africa press release.
South African technology expert Toby Shapshak is playing host at the event. Guests include Dashiell Driscoll, head of social media content at “Funny Or Die”; Chris Heuer, president of digital content at “Funny or Die”; and Craige Fleischer, head of Integrated Mobility at Samsung Electronics South Africa.
Heuer said he’s looking forward to coming to South Africa to present to some of the country’s top creative minds. “This platform will open up a world of digital technology and entertainment in South Africa, launching the careers of some of the top international up-and-coming filmmakers and entertainment specialists,” he said.
Samsung recently launched virtual reality technology. “Collaborating with the titans at ‘Funny Or Die’ was a natural fit for us at Samsung as they are shaping the world of immersive and engaging digital content,” Fleischer said in a prepared statement. “This roadshow is the superlative platform to showcase how technology meets content in the digital era and we are eager to give South Africa an opportunity to be part of this incredible movement.”
“Funny or Die” is changing politics in the U.S., according to a 2015 headline in The Daily Beast. Previously known for generating more frivolous content, the site has the potential to be a player in the big-money political lobbying game, Daily Beast reported.
Brad Jenkins, former director in the Obama administration’s Office of Public Engagement, went to work for “Funny Or Die” in 2015:
His primary responsibility is to work with “partners” to brainstorm, and then produce, lighthearted videos that promote a cause, piece of legislation, or even candidate. (The partner is credited and namechecked on the video, just like any other instance of branded content.) Once an agreement on the script is reached, the partner pays up and the ‘Funny or Die’ creative team gets to work. Think of it as political “sponsored content,” created by people with sketch comedy and improv backgrounds.
As part of the South Africa workshop, “Funny Or Die” and Samsung are holding a film making competition. South African scriptwriters, videographers and vloggers can enter. Winners will have their film shown on the website and social media platforms, and get a shot at a $3,500 prize.
Tickets to the South Africa workshop are $20 to $45, according to Ticket Pro.
