Improv and cameo king Colin Mochrie and Internet darlings Ask A Ninja freestyle on the business of comedy, Internet and Mochrie’s new TV series concept, Let’s Just Masturbate.

British Director Edgar Wright (Shaun Of The Dead, Hot Fuzz and Spaced) chats about his films, filmmaking and being grilled by fellow director Jason Reitman before the Just Comedy audience.

While my liver might not be benefiting from the festival I sure am. I started the day off with a vat of caffeine and the seminar by Twist Image’s Mitch Joel: How to Market Comedy in A Connected World. Mitch’s presentation was not only informative but a little inspiring. He is so passionate about the Internet and all it’s marketing potential it’s hard not to get caught up in his enthusiasm. He qualified that “being connected is not a bad thing”.  (Do you believe I still have the original iPod?) Mitch informed the room that 48% of all leisure time is spent online. And added that the best way to get your brand out there is to “Find your tribe”. He finished with Juan Mann’s youtube video called Free Hugs. I have to say I got a little weepy watching it. And it wasn’t just because I’d only had three hours sleep. I was struck by the fact that in our isolated, lonely world people are trying desperately to connect.

The Self-Syndication panel was interesting if not a little testosterone heavy. Where are all the chicks with popular Internet shows? Kent Nichols and Douglas Sarine took it up a notch with their frank discussion of the real financial potential of a popular web series. Those guys rock. Smart, funny and quite tall.

I finally found “where the white women at” in the Women of Influence panel. CBC’s Kirstine Layfield, Paramount Comedy UK’s Jill Offman and Virginia Thompson, President Verite Films, spoke about what they look for in a comedy script.

Jason Reitman made another appearance with Edgar Wright. (I actually saw Jason as the surprise guest on Ryan Stiles and Greg Proops’ improv show the night before. He was brave enough to join them in improvising a song about Lawnmower Man 2.) Wright & Reitman Unplugged (or “two cute guys with long hair” as I like to call it) was an interesting look into the minds of the inspired young directors.

The place was standing room only for Andy Kindler’s “State of the Industry” address. He started by tearing into Jimmy Fallon, took a few shots at the Just Comedy conference and brought it home with a rant about TV slogans.

The last offering of the day was Judd Apatow’s Funny Person of the Year award presentation. The crowd had thinned about a bit and Judd had no qualms commenting on it. Seth Rogan said that it felt a little like the “rehearsal for an awards show.” But as Judd put it, somehow it seemed fitting. What struck me about Mr. Apatow and his posse was that they are just a bunch of friends who find each other really funny. And they happen to get their movies made. Sure that helps but they found each other and found their voice. As Mitch Joel said, “Find Your Tribe.”

AEG’s Sam Kinken (formerly LiveNation and Kids In The Hall) discusses sketch comedy, Facebook and how to e-market to your audience without spamming.

Writer Scott Neustadter (Pink Panther 2, 500 Days Of Summer) explains what writers must do to get their films made.

Blog pioneer and early Net marketer Mitch Joel of Twist Image explains how comedians should embrace (if not hug), not fear, the ever-changing Web medium.

Turner exec Steve Konin chats about reaching younger audiences and discovering talent through Web stats. Would-be comics should not only take note but start building your web following!

Fresh off of Day two of Just Comedy and my head is buzzing with information, adrenalin and the whir of vibrating Blackberrys. By 10am the hotel lobby was already filling up with eager Just Comedy bag toting industry types. Of course there weren’t many comedians to be found. Some were just heading to bed. The partying does not stop. Many a connection has been made at 5am over yet another shot of tequila.

The keynote speaker was Steve Koonin, the President of Turner Entertainment Networks. The thing that stood out for me was when he discussed Tyler Perry’s show, House of Payne. Perry was such an established entity before he got his series that he was able to shoot and pay for the first ten episodes of House of Payne HIMSELF. Now that is a comic with control over his career. Amazing. And very inspiring. To be able to go to a network and say, “This is my show.” TBS then ordered one hundred episodes. Not bad.

Next was Mastering The Pitch. I found David Greenbaun, VP of development at Miramax, to be refreshingly candid about what an executive looks for in a script. Actually his comments started what for me was a bit of a theme of the day: “write it and they will come”. I’ve always known this. It worked for me with The Jane Show. We wrote the scripts first and then took it to producers. The same sentiment was expressed by the writing duo behind Pink Panther 2 Scott Neustadter and Micheal Weber. We had a great discussion about Obama, writing female voices and how to get your scripts out there. They agreed that the best pitch for them tends to be the work. It seems so obvious but I think writers battle their own demons in terms of putting their work out there. And frankly no one wants to be told they’re not good enough.

One of my favorite moments happened during the Showrunner session. Neal Brennan from The Chappelle Show and Mark Farrell from Corner Gas were the speakers. At one point during the Q &A comedian Jonathan Goldman asked Neal “Why did you make Dave go to Africa and why are you Irish and Dave’s black?” Then he ran out of the room.

The day ended perfectly with “Reitman on Reitman.” Ivan and Jason Reitman sat onstage and conversed about directing, writing and the state of comedy. A beautiful moment occurred when Ivan was conveying to his son some of his career regrets. He said that being too fearful sometimes stopped him from directing. He then imparted some fatherly advice, “When the Gods smile on you, work towards it.” He had to pause overcome with emotion. The room was completely still. Father and son looked at each other in silence. A poignant end to an inspiring day.

Well I made it through the first party of Just Comedy relatively unscathed. The conference itself hasn’t officially started but Comedy Central and Atom.com threw a lovely opening reception tonight to kick things off. This afternoon I registered and received all my Just Comedy swag and information. I walked around and spotted many comedians and industry people chatting, wandering, sizing each other up to see if they mattered or not. From the minute I first walked into the hotel lobby I felt it. The vibe. The buzz. The tension. Now it could be the anger coming from the hotel staff that is currently in a labour dispute with the hotel but I think it’s more than that.  There’s an energy about comedy festivals that is palpable. I think it’s the same with film festivals. Any place where there’s an artistic meeting of minds. Something about getting a group of creative people and money people in the same room together. It creates some sort of magnetic force. It’s a mix of desperation, excitement and bullshit. Sorry. Had to say it. But we all know there is a little bit of bravado involved in these things. We’re not curing cancer, people. We’re making the funny. And people are definitely here to have a good time. The free drinks help.

I interviewed a few people at the party. The very talented stand up Trevor Boris. The inspired Jason Rouse. And a stand up I’d never met before, James Smith. He’s from Australia but lives in New York and is here doing a bunch of shows. We had a lovely chat. (I watched some of his stand up on youtube and he’s fantastic. Hilarious even) After the interviews I wandered around a bit. That sounds a lot sadder than it was. I mean that I stopped and talked to people. It’s not like I was the lone girl at the party, okay. I know people, okay. But you do sometimes feel a little awkward at these schmooze parties. It takes you right back to high school and Stairway to Heaven is playing and you can barely sway to the music in your tight Jordache jeans and Jason Beer just asked Brigitte Lemoine to dance instead of you! Anyway, whatever.

So after the party I headed over to the Kiehl’s store on Ste. Catherine. They have been generous enough to donate some great products as gift bags for the Just Comedy speakers and panelists. So I went on over there with Steve, our adorable cameraman, and Erin, our even more adorable producer, to chat with them and try out their products. To say it was fun would be a gross understatement. It was awesome. As you’ll see in the above video I learned quite a bit about Kiehl’s products from Donna Paty, the National Education Manager. That woman knows her crèmes, I tell ya. And she looks great. She’s actually 89!! No, she’s not but she does look great. I also met the Vice President of Kiehl’s, Kristin Armstrong. Really great ladies. And super attractive. I think it’s the products. Or they’re actually robots. Either way, everyone in the store looked great. And hopefully after all the products I’m trying out I’ll look just as good. I even signed “Mr. Bones”, the skeleton. Apparently there is one in every Kiehl’s store. Just a little trivia for you.

Well, I should get some sleep. Tomorrow is the first day of the conference and I want to be fully alert. Although I’m sure everyone else will be hung over. I’ll be the keener in the front row asking annoying questions. Yay, comedy!

Comic, blogger, actress and tireless guide Teresa Pavlinek will be providing onsite coverage and colour commentary during Just Comedy 2008 here in Montreal. Click the above video and get a sample of business that’s just comedy.