You can be in Judd Apatow’s ‘Funny People’

So, for those of you who don’t know, Judd Apatow — the creative producing genius behind hits like “40 Year Old Virgin,” “Knocked Up” and “Superbad” — is working on a semi-autobiographical story called “Funny People” about a struggling stand-up comic who’s trying to make it big. The cast includes most of the funniest people in Hollywood (most of who started as stand-up comedians), like Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen, Jason Schwartzman, Jonah Hill, Sarah Silverman and Andy Dick.

I’m really excited about this project, because the best movies in the Apatow Catalog are the ones that are personally special to someone involved in the project. For instance, Seth Rogen and his writing partner had been penning and repenning “Superbad” since high school, and the film was really important to them. On the other hand, “Drillbit Taylor” was more of just an excuse to make a movie — and it showed… that movie was pretty horrible.

All-in-all, because “Funny People” is more-or-less about Apatow’s life as a comedian, he’ll care deeply that it’s done right. Plus, with a great cast that will most likely be able to ad-lib as much as they want, I can’t wait to see what they come up with.

Well, fans of Apatow — presumably those who live around Los Angeles unless you’re a really big Apatow fan — have a chance to see the first glimpses of “Funny People.” Live.

Entitled “A Night of Funny People,” the show, which is on Jan. 13 at Los Angeles’s Orpheum Theater, will be shot, with the footage being used in the movie. Tickets are just $17 — a steal for the lineup that you’ll get to see, if you ask me.

Judd Apatow hosts, performing live as their characters in the film are: Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen and Aziz Ansari, as well as Patton Oswalt and other surprise special guests in the line-up.

Even though Rogen doesn’t have a background in stand-up, I’d be willing to bet that he’ll be pretty funny up there, as will Sandler. Of course, the stand-up won’t exactly give you an exact feel for what the movie will be like — it’s not like you’re getting to see any of the storyline or anything like that — you’ll get, since Sandler and Co. are appearing in character,  the chance to meet the characters and see, presumably, how they interact with one another. I’d be really interested to see how Sandler’s character’s stand-up compares to his own, and if it’s completely 100-percent new material or if he borrows from his old shows.

Personally, I think this kind of live-action audience test is a great idea. Most studios test movies after they’re already shot and edited, but if this night goes off without a hitch, Apatow will know that he’s on at least the right track before he eve gets going on shooting and stuff. Obviously, since this movie is about stand-up comedy and the footage can be used right in the actual movie, it can easily utilize a night like this, where other movies wouldn’t really have the chance. But nonetheless, I think more films should try to find ways to incorporate this type of audience participation.

If, by chance, any would who reads this actually goes to the show and would be willing to write a review about the show, I’d love to run it. Just let me know in the comments section.

“Funny People” is slated for a July 31, 2009 release date.