The application for the 2024 Yes, And… Laughter Lab Fellowship is now open. Applications are due Sunday, July 21, 2024 at 11:59pm ET.
To get in touch, please contact us at info@yesandlaughterlab.com.
About the 2024 Yes, And... Laughter Lab
The Yes, And Laughter Lab (YALL) is a pipeline for the best comedy projects that address pressing social issues. YALL invites all comedy creators to apply for a chance to receive training, a small creative stipend, introduction to a network of like-minded comedy folks, and a chance to pitch their project to a room full of potential allies and partners.
YALL will select a limited number of applicants with original comedy projects as our 2024 YALL Fellows. Those selected as Fellows will present their original projects in person, at YALLfest in New York City (April 2025), to a curated room of traditional and digital media platforms, grantmakers and investors, leading NGOs/nonprofits, production companies, and other select industry leaders. We aim to build support around each comedy project to accelerate its impact and influence.
YALL also provides year-round pitch training and other professional development opportunities for Fellows to take their project to the next level. Fellows will attend an intensive in-person training the weekend of November 15-17, 2024 in Los Angeles. All applicants are asked to hold those dates on their calendar in case they are selected as a Fellow.
YALL will also select ten or more runners-up as Finalists. The Finalists will receive public recognition of their status as members of the YALL 2024-25 cohort and will receive invites to participate in year-round virtual trainings and other networking offerings from YALL, including the opportunity to submit to perform at YALLfest.
The Yes, And... Laughter Lab is a project of The Center for Media & Social Impact based at American University’s School of Communications and Moore+Associates, in partnership with 3Arts Entertainment, A Penny For Your Thoughts Entertainment, Above Average, Artists First, BoomGen Studios, CAA Foundation, CAPE, Caring Across Generations, ViacomCBS, Color Creative, Color of Change, Comedy Central, Define American, GLAAD, GloNation, Harness, Imagine Artist Management, Irony Point, Key Rat Inc., Levity Entertainment, MGM, MPAC Hollywood Bureau, MuslimArc, National Lampoon, NBCUniversal, NBCU Launch, Netflix, The Opportunity Agenda, Pillars Fund, Powderkeg Media, RespectAbility, Spotify, Starfish Accelerator, Topple Productions, TBS, truTV, Wise Entertainment and WV Entertainment.
Thinking of applying?
Sign up for our upcoming applicant webinar (on Zoom - Tuesday, June 18) here. You can also view a recording of our applicant webinars on our YouTube channel. In the webinars, our team and former program participants answer questions from interested applicants and explain more about the application and selection processes and what to expect along the way.
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. See Official Rules here or at www.yesandlaughterlab.com/apply for specific entry periods, complete entry details, judging criteria, and prize descriptions. Void where prohibited.
The personal information collected through this Contest (if any) is subject to Sponsor’s privacy policy, located at https://www.american.edu/policies/privacy-notice.cfm and is subject to Submittable’s privacy policy, located at https://www.submittable.com/privacy.
Make sure to follow YALL on Instagram and Twitter @YALLcomedy.
DISCLAIMERS:
- In order to apply to become a Yes, And… Laughter Lab (YALL) Fellow, please submit your application by 11:59pm ET Sunday, July 21, 2024
- Please note the deadline to submit is on Eastern Time (11:59pm ET on 7/21). No exceptions will be made for those who miss the deadline
- Selected participants will be notified no later than September 30, 2024
- Each applicant (name on application) may submit no more than one project for 2024 Yes, And...Laughter Lab
- If selected as a Fellow, no more than two attendees per team may participate in the training
- YALL does not assume any rights to any material, content, or ideas submitted, selected, or pitched. You do not give up any rights to your work by participating in the lab
- Fellows will be compensated with a $2,000 Creative Stipend (per team), as well as a Travel Stipend (per person) for any travel expenses to attend the Events (training and showcase) pursuant to the following terms: $1,500 per person if traveling more than 250 miles; $750 per person if traveling between 50-250 miles, and $100 within the metro area. NOTE: No Travel Stipends are available if the event is online. Travel Stipend only applies to up to two people per team
- Fellows will be provided an in-depth, hands-on training from November 15-17, 2024 in Los Angeles. This training is anticipated to take place in person, but certain health & safety precautions may need to be followed due to the COVID-19 pandemic
- You must be able to attend the showcase event at YALLfest (TBD: April 2025) to be selected as a Fellow