The Lights at Laugh Line
In a fading East Hollywood comedy club, a found family of comics and misfits fight to keep the lights — and each other — alive. Every 2½-minute episode captures the moment between the laugh and the collapse.
Logline
In a fading East Hollywood comedy club, a found family of comics and misfits fight to keep the lights — and each other — alive. Every 2½-minute episode captures the moment between the laugh and the collapse.
Tone & Themes
Barry × The Bear × Crashing. Handheld intimacy, neon warmth, bruised glamour. Comedy as confession. Survival as punchline. Core theme: the pursuit of laughter as a cure for loneliness.
Format & Structure
50 × 2.5-minute vertical episodes, grouped into five 10-episode “chapters.” Each micro-episode is a pressure point: a backstage fight, a whispered confession, a light cue that changes a life. Built to binge, climax every 2–3 beats.
Distribution Vision
Vertical-first (Reels / TikTok / Shorts) with anthology potential. Chapter recuts (~25 min) for festivals or streaming. Designed for multiplatform rollout with BTS and character-driven content baked in.
Look & Lens
Handheld intimacy; shallow depth; close-ups that breathe. Tungsten warmth onstage, cool neon offstage. Grain present; skin glows amber; blacks keep detail. Camera lives behind the curtain — confession over spectacle.
Six at the Heart of the Room
Charlie Marino Owner • ’80s relic • Eternal frontman
Former opener turned owner. Lives on nostalgia, espresso martinis, and denial. Big energy, thin self-awareness, deep love for his tribe. Fears irrelevance more than death.
Dynamics: Stella keeps him honest; Billy idolizes then sees through him; Brad is a proxy son; Iris annoys and intrigues him.
Arc: From delusion to grace — passes the keys to Stella.
Wardrobe: Leather pants, red satin bomber, heavy boots.
Stella “Stell” Russo Bartender • Office manager • Den mother
Jersey Italian firecracker who came west to prove she’s funny. Her act fizzled; her wit didn’t. Reads rooms in seconds; loves hard; won’t be fooled twice. She is the power grid.
Dynamics: Brad is banter and heartbreak; Billy the kid brother; Charlie the dreamer she enables—until she can’t.
Arc: The unseen backbone who ends up running the show.
Wardrobe: Slim black jeans / pencil skirt; red silk blouse; cropped blazer; gold hoops; red nails.
Brad “Auggie” Augustus Headliner • Heartthrob • Powder keg
Club’s star and ticking bomb. Sexy, funny, broken. Hides pain behind swagger. His mother calling him “Bradley Augustus” cracks the mask.
Dynamics: Flirty, defensive, secretly tender. Craves quiet connection.
Arc: Trades the act for honesty; bombs beautifully; gets applause anyway.
Wardrobe: Fitted black denim, soft tee, open shirt, leather cuff.
IRIS Influencer-comic • Fashion force
A single-name brand with millions of followers. Online she’s a phenomenon; onstage she’s learning to stand. Believes Brad’s respect = legitimacy; finds her own instead.
Arc: Drops the filters; performs raw; earns respect the hard way.
Wardrobe: Fashion-forward streetwear (J-Pop / gyaru energy), platform boots, precise makeup.
Big Al Security • Stage manager • Soul
From funk circuit to comedy sanctuaries. Protects the fragile—musicians, comics, dreams. Velvet voice, watchful eyes. Sees who people are before they do.
Arc: Health fades; wisdom remains. His memorial becomes the heartbeat.
Wardrobe: Black button-down (sleeves rolled), dark jeans, steel watch.
Robin William “Billy” Taylor Intern • Aspiring comic • Analyst of joy
Named after Robin Williams by Shanghainese parents who only stopped fighting when they laughed. Fluent in Mandarin & Cantonese; comedy became his translation system.
Arc: Starts believing mastery buys happiness; learns laughter is empathy, not perfection.
Wardrobe: Slim chinos, thrifted button-ups, Harvard hoodie, notebook always visible.
Five Chapters • Ten Pressure-Points Each
Arc 1 — Open Mic Night
The club flickers; Billy’s baptism by whiskey; Stella’s rules; Brad kills then crumbles; Iris bombs beautifully; the blackout family photo. A home forms from broken pieces.
Arc 2 — The Podcast Wars
Phones become stages. Charlie’s rant goes viral (for the wrong reasons). Apology sets, mop diplomacy, and Billy’s first offer from late-night. Stella keeps the peace while everyone chases clout.
Arc 3 — SNL or Bust
Brad’s mom says “Bradley Augustus” and the façade cracks. Stella vs. the bills. Billy’s packet leaks; Brad & Stella ignite, then he denies her. The lights go out.
Arc 4 — After Hours
Stella resurrects the club underground. Big Al fades; the benefit show unites them. Billy returns humbled; Iris learns to love silence. A lease becomes a lifeline.
Arc 5 — The Big Special
Scouts, egos, and a wiring fire. Charlie bows small; Brad bombs beautifully; Al’s eulogy lands; Stella flips the breaker — new sign hums steady at last.
Amber Onstage, Neon Offstage
Look & Lens
Handheld intimacy; shallow depth; close-ups that breathe. Tungsten warmth onstage, cool neon offstage. Grain present; skin glows amber; blacks keep detail. Camera lives behind the curtain — confession over spectacle.
Set & Texture
Brick, velvet, glass, mirror smudge, microphone mesh, cracked leather booth. Practical bulbs flare softly; haze catches light like dust in a cathedral.
Sound
Neon hum, crowd murmur, ice in glass, the click of the light. Laughter booms; breath lingers; quiet bassline carries us out.
Palette
Ink #0A0A0C Amber #9A6E47 Gold #DCC8A3 Smoke #E7E7E9 Rose #C8929A
Behind the Bar — Gallery
Smoky mirrors. Neon hum. The quiet in-betweens.
Cast the Heat, Dress the Truth
Casting Energy
- Charlie — Young Keith Richards × “Sid Vicious lived.”
- Stella — Adriana La Cerva look × Mona Lisa Vito wit.
- Brad — Late-’80s Rob Lowe heat × Brat-Pack James Spader confidence.
- Iris — J-Pop / gyaru fashion force with steel under sugar.
- Big Al — Delroy Lindo × Michael Clarke Duncan gravity.
- Billy — Lucas Hedges × Joseph Quinn earnest intelligence.
Wardrobe Spine
- Charlie — Vintage leather, band tee, red satin bomber, heavy boots.
- Stella — Black jeans / pencil skirt, red silk blouse, cropped blazer, gold hoops, red nails.
- Brad — Fitted black denim, soft tee, open shirt, leather cuff, scuffed boots.
- Iris — Pastel / denim streetwear, platform boots, precise makeup; fashion as armor.
- Big Al — Black button-down (sleeves rolled), dark jeans, steel watch.
- Billy — Slim chinos, thrifted button-ups, Harvard hoodie, visible notebook.
How We Capture the Room
Club Geography
- Stage — Brick wall, single mic, amber practicals.
- Bar — Bottles backlit, mirrors, towel over Stella’s shoulder.
- Booth — Big Al’s soundboard, coffee, notes.
- Office — Charlie’s shrine to glory days; unpaid bills as décor.
Capture • Post • Delivery
Capture: Vertical-first framing with safe center for captions. Handheld rigs; soft diffusion; real practicals. Each 2.5-minute episode follows setup → turn → sting.
Post: Warm LUT pass for amber unity. Subtle grain; light bloom on bulbs. Mix: crowd beds + close voice.
Delivery: Distribution masters for Shorts/Reels/TikTok; chapter recuts (~25 min) for screenings.
Comedy is where the broken go to make something beautiful out of the mess.
The Lights at Laugh Line is a love letter to the people who keep the room alive — the bartender who mothers, the security guard who listens, the kid who believes joy can fix it.
Created by Lynda Pribyl — Hive Projects
Press / Pitch Materials Available Upon Request
Email • you@example.com
The Lights at Laugh Line
Series Overview
Logline
In a fading East Hollywood comedy club, a found family of comics and misfits fight to keep the lights—and each other—alive. Every 2½-minute episode captures the moment between the laugh and the collapse.
Tone & Themes
Barry × The Bear × Crashing. Handheld intimacy, neon warmth, bruised glamour. Comedy as confession. Survival as punchline. Core theme: the pursuit of laughter as a cure for loneliness.
Format & Structure
50 × 2.5-minute vertical episodes, grouped into five 10-episode “chapters.” Each micro-episode is a pressure point: a backstage fight, a whispered confession, a light cue that changes a life. Built to binge, climax every 2–3 beats.
Distribution Vision
Vertical-first (Reels/TikTok/Shorts) with anthology potential. Chapter recuts (~25 min) for festivals or streaming. Designed for multiplatform rollout with BTS and character-driven content baked in.
Character Bible
Full bios, relationships, arcs, and wardrobe energy.
Backstory: Former opener turned club owner. The Laugh Line is his legacy. He lives on nostalgia, espresso martinis, and denial.
Inner Life: Big energy, thin self-awareness, deep love for his tribe. Fears irrelevance more than death.
Relationships: Stella keeps him honest; Billy idolizes then sees through him; Brad is a proxy son; Iris annoys and intrigues him.
Arc: From delusion to grace; passes the keys to Stella.
Wardrobe / Casting: Young Keith Richards × “Sid Vicious lived.” Leather pants, red satin bomber, heavy boots.
Backstory: Jersey Italian firecracker who came west to prove she’s funny. Her act fizzled; her wit didn’t.
Inner Life: Reads rooms in seconds; loves hard; won’t be fooled twice. She is the power grid.
Relationships: Brad is banter and heartbreak; Billy is the kid brother; Charlie is the dreamer she enables—until she can’t.
Arc: The unseen backbone who ends up running the show.
Wardrobe / Casting: Slim black jeans or pencil skirt; red silk blouse; cropped blazer; gold hoops; red nails.
Backstory: The club’s star and its ticking bomb. Sexy, funny, broken. Hides pain behind swagger. His mother calling him “Bradley Augustus” cracks the mask.
Inner Life: Flirty, defensive, secretly tender. Craves quiet connection.
Arc: Trades the act for honesty; bombs beautifully; gets applause anyway.
Wardrobe / Casting: Fitted black denim, soft tee, open shirt, leather cuff.
Backstory: A single-name brand with millions of followers. Online she’s a phenomenon; onstage she’s learning to stand. Believes Brad’s respect = legitimacy; finds her own instead.
Arc: Drops the filters; performs raw; earns respect the hard way.
Wardrobe / Casting: Fashion-forward streetwear (J-Pop/gyaru energy), platform boots, precise makeup.
Backstory: From funk circuit to comedy sanctuaries. Protects the fragile—musicians, comics, and dreams.
Inner Life: Velvet voice, watchful eyes. Sees who people are before they do.
Arc: Health fades; wisdom remains. His memorial becomes the heartbeat.
Wardrobe / Casting: Black button-down (sleeves rolled), dark jeans, steel watch.
Backstory: Named after Robin Williams by Shanghainese parents who only stopped fighting when they laughed. Fluent in Mandarin & Cantonese; comedy became his translation system. Snuck into clubs with a fake ID to take notes instead of shots.
Arc: Starts believing mastery buys happiness; learns laughter is empathy, not perfection.
Wardrobe / Casting: Slim chinos, thrifted button-ups, Harvard hoodie, notebook always visible.
Episode Structure
Five 10-episode chapters. Micro-beats built to binge.
The club flickers; Billy’s baptism by whiskey; Stella’s rules; Brad kills then crumbles; Iris bombs beautifully; the blackout family photo. A home forms from broken pieces.
Phones become stages. Charlie’s rant goes viral (for the wrong reasons). Apology sets, mop diplomacy, and Billy’s first offer from late-night. Stella keeps the peace while everyone chases clout.
Brad’s mom says “Bradley Augustus” and the façade cracks. Stella vs. the bills. Billy’s packet leaks; Brad & Stella ignite, then he denies her. The lights go out.
Stella resurrects the club underground. Big Al fades; the benefit show unites them. Billy returns humbled; Iris learns to love silence. A lease becomes a lifeline.
Scouts, egos, and a wiring fire. Charlie bows small; Brad bombs beautifully; Al’s eulogy lands; Stella flips the breaker—new sign hums steady at last.
Visual Direction
Look & Lens
Handheld intimacy; shallow depth; close-ups that breathe. Tungsten warmth onstage, cool neon offstage. Grain present; skin glows amber; blacks keep detail. Camera lives behind the curtain—confession over spectacle.
Palette
Ink #0A0A0C Amber #9A6E47 Gold #DCC8A3 Smoke #E7E7E9 Rose #C8929A
Set & Texture
Brick, velvet, glass, mirror smudge, microphone mesh, cracked leather booth. Practical bulbs flare softly; a haze of smoke catches light like dust in a cathedral.
Sound
Neon hum, crowd murmur, ice in glass, the click of the light. Laughter booms; breath lingers; a quiet bassline carries us out.
Casting & Wardrobe
Casting Energy
Charlie: Young Keith Richards × “Sid Vicious lived.”
Stella: Adriana La Cerva looks × Mona Lisa Vito wit.
Brad: Late-’80s Rob Lowe heat × Brat-Pack James Spader confidence.
Iris: J-Pop/gyaru fashion force with steel under sugar.
Big Al: Delroy Lindo × Michael Clarke Duncan gravity.
Billy: Lucas Hedges × Joseph Quinn earnest intelligence.
Wardrobe Spine
Charlie: Vintage leather, band tee, red satin bomber, heavy boots.
Stella: Black jeans/pencil skirt, red silk blouse, cropped blazer, gold hoops, red nails.
Brad: Fitted black denim, soft tee, open shirt, leather cuff, scuffed boots.
Iris: Pastel/denim streetwear, platform boots, precise makeup; fashion as armor.
Big Al: Black button-down (sleeves rolled), dark jeans, steel watch.
Billy: Slim chinos, thrifted button-ups, Harvard hoodie, visible notebook.
Production Notes
Club Geography
Stage: Brick wall, single mic, amber practicals.
Bar: Bottles backlit, mirrors, towel over Stella’s shoulder.
Booth: Big Al’s soundboard, coffee, notes.
Office: Charlie’s shrine to glory days; unpaid bills as décor.
Capture
Vertical-first framing with safe center for captions. Handheld rigs; soft diffusion; real practicals. 2.5-minute episodes structured as: setup → turn → sting.
Post & Delivery
Warm LUT pass across all footage for amber unity. Subtle grain; light bloom on bulbs. Mix: crowd beds + close voice. Distribution master for Shorts/Reels/TikTok; chapter recuts (~25 min each) for screenings.
Behind the Bar
Smoky mirrors, neon hum, the quiet in-betweens.
Creator & Team
Comedy is where the broken go to make something beautiful out of the mess. The Lights at Laugh Line is a love letter to the people who keep the room alive—the bartender who mothers, the security guard who listens, the kid who believes joy can fix it.
Created by: Lynda Pribyl — Hive Projects
Contact & Materials
Press kit, pitch deck, additional visuals, and scripts available on request.