Behind the Laughs: How to Film an Indie Comedy Special

Behind the Scenes: Shooting J.P. McDade’s Comedy Special at The Bell House

At ATB Productions, we’ve always had a deep love for comedy. So when we got the opportunity to shoot J.P. McDade’s comedy special, produced by the hilarious Stavros Halkias, we jumped at the chance. The shoot took place at The Bell House in Brooklyn, New York—a classic comedy venue with the perfect vibe for this project.

We had a 7 camera set up.

The Bell House In Brooklyn, we re-colored the existing lights in the grid, Added a spotlight, Added lights to the Bar in the back and both pillars on the sides of the stage.

Stavros Halkias and Eldis Sula talk pre-show

The Venue and Setup

The Bell House was ideal for the intimate yet professional feel we were looking for. With its cozy yet cinematic atmosphere, it set the stage for J.P. McDade’s sharp, crowd-pleasing material.

We used a multi-camera setup to ensure we captured every angle and nuance:

• Wide Shot (Back of the Room): Essential for establishing the scene, though it came across as a bit dull visually. In hindsight, we’d love to experiment with a dolly, jib, or crane for a more dynamic look—something we’ll definitely consider for larger-scale specials.

• Close-Up Camera: The star of the show, capturing J.P.’s expressions and punchlines in crisp detail.

• Medium Shot: A balanced perspective that tied the visual narrative together.

• Slider Shot: Added smooth motion for variety and a touch of polish.

• Roaming Handheld: Perfect for spontaneous audience reactions and immersive moments.

• Profile Shot: Brought another unique perspective, rounding out the visual coverage.

This combination gave us the flexibility and depth needed to create a solid foundation for editing—critical for a comedy special.

Audio is Key in Comedy

When it comes to comedy, the audio can make or break the experience. For this shoot, we went all-in:

• Stage Mics captured J.P.’s voice directly.

• Board Sound ensured we had a clean, consistent audio feed.

• Planted Audience Mics (8-10 placed strategically around the room) brought the laughter to life, adding depth and ambiance.

This multi-layered approach gave us the flexibility to mix and balance the sound to perfection, making sure the punchlines landed just right.

Lighting and Challenges

Lighting a comedy special is all about balance. For this shoot, we:

• Used accent lighting around the room to create depth and visual interest in the background.

• Focused a spotlight on J.P., ensuring he remained the central focus throughout the performance.

Since J.P. doesn’t move much on stage, this setup worked perfectly. A more active comedian would have required a different approach and more challenges in keeping them well-lit throughout.

One unique challenge was J.P.’s height—he’s super tall! Without camera platforms, many of our shots ended up slightly angled upward, exposing more of the ceiling than we’d typically like. While it wasn’t ideal, we made it work and learned valuable lessons for future shoots.

Final Thoughts

Working on this special was an absolute privilege. J.P. McDade is not only a fantastic comedian but also a joy to collaborate with. The project reminded us why we love comedy—there’s nothing quite like capturing the magic of a live performance.

While there’s always room to improve (we’re eyeing some more dynamic equipment for our next shoot), we’re thrilled with how this special turned out. Check out J.P. McDade’s comedy special, now available on YouTube, and let us know what you think!

Billy Voermann, Joey Malinski, and Eldis Sula review the set up.

ATB Productions – Bringing Hollywood Aesthetic to a Blue-Collar Budget.