Logline:

At the intersection of standup comedy, improv, and trivia lies a little-known cultural phenomenon: pun competitions.

Synopsis:

If laughter is the best medicine, then pun competitions are just what the doctor ordered.

In Abby Hagan’s PUNDERNEATH IT ALL, you’ll meet an endearing cast of characters, including Seattle’s “pun slam” hostess, a world-ranked chess champion, a pop culture anthropologist, and a stand-up comedian who specialize in “dad jokes,” as they hone their comedic chops in pun competitions around the country.

Exploring such themes as linguistics, the ethics of controversial comedy, equity & inclusion, and the importance of community, PUNDERNEATH IT ALL is really about how we can use laughter to triumph over hardship and heal trauma.

Buckle in for the most pun ride of your life as you join this merry band of punsters who use word play and witticisms to mine comedy gold in hopes of becoming the next national pun champion!

Abby Hagan—Director, DP, Editor, Producer

Abby is an editor by trade, as well as a director, DP, and all-around storyteller. She is also a pun fan and a comedy enthusiast, and is extremely excited about directing Punderneath It All, her first feature film. She has directed, shot, and edited 7 short documentaries, and has produced numerous short form videos for dance companies, nonprofits, educational institutions, and the outdoor industry. She currently works as a senior editor on “Miranda Goes Outside,” an edu-tainment YouTube series that follows a charismatic camping host on outdoor adventures. She is the recipient of grants from 4Culture, Artist Trust, and the University of Houston for documentary film. Abby has served on the boards of the Seattle Documentary Association and Allied Arts Foundation. Her films have been accepted into numerous film festivals, including the Rivercity Film Festival, Local Sightings Film Festival, The Seattle Transmedia and Independent Film Festival, The Lionshead Film Festival, Dallas VideoFest, CineFest Global, The Blackbird Film Festival, and the Bayou City Food and Film Festival.

Brian Pittala—Second Camera Op/DP

Brian Pittala is a filmmaker from Seattle, WA. Brian graduated from the Seattle Film Institute in 2014 and started working as the Head of Production for What's Next Media in Fremont. He writes and directs his own short films that have gained him festival acceptances and awards while helping his friends on their projects in any way he can. When working on other projects, Brian's experience and knowledge draws him to being a Director of Photography and Camera Operator. Collaborating in the foundation stages of a production and helping his friends bring their vision to life is where his creative passion lives.

TARA FORTH—COMPOSER

Tara Forth (she/her) is a professional composer, singer, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and sound designer who serves as President of the Seattle Composers Alliance. Her portfolio of work includes film scores and custom commercial music. Her recent projects include the documentary soundtrack for the 'Making Of' APOSTASY (a BAFTA-nominated feature film), scoring a series on climate action for Reboot the Future, scoring the directorial debut of well-known UK producer John Jencks, and crafting the emotional soundtrack of Women In Film President Lindy Boustedt’s “Losing Rose.” Active in Seattle’s music and film communities, Tara has had the honor of advising young filmmakers on best practices for partnering with composers at Rising Reels, and participating in expert panel discussions for Seattle Film Summit. As President of the Seattle Composers Alliance, she has led programs to unite, educate, and promote music creators from Seattle and the Pacific Northwest. Tara studied music at the University of Wisconsin at Parkside, performing on trumpet in the Wind and Jazz ensembles.

Amy Enser—Advisor

A two-time Emmy nominated documentary filmmaker, Amy Enser is a passionate director and editor with 15 years of professional experience in Seattle, WA. From racially-charged educational experiments in the ‘60s to social stigmas around our homeless populations, Amy has a gift for finding the heart of a story and revealing inspiring human moments. Her debut feature documentary, The Long Haul, premiered at the 2019 Seattle International Film Festival and went on to screen around the world including London's Raindance Film Festival. She is currently a video content strategist for outdoor retail company REI.

ADAM MANSFIELD—PRODUCER

Adam has over a decade of producing experience across a wide range of genres. His love of word play and puns has brought eye-rolls and laughs to audiences of shows like The Bachelor, FBoy Island, Love Island and many more. He became involved in this project through the tight community of pun lovers. “Being a part of this documentary as a producer and as a participant is a puns in a lifetime experience that I couldn’t pass up.”