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NOT FUNNY
DOCUMENTARY SERIES
TV series about the interface between comedy and tragedy, where esteemed comedians reveal their deepest secrets and darkest tragedies, that have fueled their search for comedy gold. Season One themes: porn addiction, gender transition, depression.
CREATED BY TERO PELTONIEMI & ERKKA MYKKÄNEN & ANTTI SAVOLAINEN
DIRECTED & PRODUCED BY TERO PELTONIEMI / CINEMA BIJOU
CURRENTLY BROADCASTING ON YLE
DEVELOPING SEASON 2
EXPANDING WORLDWIDE
SEEKING CO-PRODUCERS / BROADCAST PARTNERS / CREATIVE COLLABORATORS / FEATURED COMEDIANS WITH COMPELLING STORIES
Visual LANGUAGE.
Each episode develops a unique visual metaphor for the comedian's inner struggle. Front projection splashes pornographic imagery across Toni Jyvälä's face as he cleans his apartment, making visible the intrusive thoughts that haunt his daily life and visually expressing the constant internal battle of addiction.
In contemplative slow-motion, Teemu Vesterinen walks through a pristine snowy forest where he found healing – a place to "be so quiet you can hear a pinecone fall," allowing him to forget his importance and reconnect with something larger than himself.
The collaborative rehearsal space reveals comedy's hidden architecture as the ensemble (pictured with Rami Valli) works through Toni's most painful material, pulling back the curtain to show the vulnerable creative process that transforms raw suffering into refined performance.
Each episode develops a unique visual metaphor for the comedian's inner struggle. Front projection splashes pornographic imagery across Toni Jyvälä's face as he cleans his apartment, making visible the intrusive thoughts that haunt his daily life and visually expressing the constant internal battle of addiction.
Thematic RESONANCE.
Behind every punchline lies a beating heart that has known wounds too deep for words, yet found the courage to transform them into stories that heal both teller and listener.
Comedy's transformative power lies in its ability to transmute our deepest pain into shared laughter – not despite our suffering, but because of it.
When comedians invite us into their shadows, they create a sanctuary where we can briefly acknowledge our own – proving that our darkest places, when shared, become sources of unexpected light.
Behind every punchline lies a beating heart that has known wounds too deep for words, yet found the courage to transform them into stories that heal both teller and listener.
Critical RECEPTION.
"Not Funny" / "Ei naurata" has received significant critical acclaim in Finland for its innovative approach to documentary storytelling and deep exploration of comedy's relationship with personal suffering.
Helsingin Sanomat praised the series for its "napakat leikkaukset" (sharp editing) and noted how the direction "välttää halvan patetian" (avoids cheap pathos) in its portrayal of comedians' intimate life stories. The respected newspaper highlighted how the series demonstrates that "koomikot parantelevat omaa kipuaan komiikalla" (comedians heal their own pain through comedy).
Ilta-Sanomat described the documentary series as "rohkeasti toteutettu ja erityisen vahvalla äänimaailmalla höystetty" (boldly executed and seasoned with an especially powerful soundscape), emphasizing the unique visual approach that sets the series apart from conventional documentaries.
Iltalehti recognized the series' unflinching honesty, describing how the comedians reveal their pain points "äärirehellisesti" (with extreme honesty), showcasing the documentary's ability to create a safe space for vulnerable storytelling.
The series has connected strongly with Finnish viewers seeking authentic examinations of the human experience, confirming the format's ability to resonate across cultural boundaries and laying groundwork for international expansion.
Series EVOLUTION.
"Not Funny" has evolved from a Finnish documentary concept to an internationally relevant format with proven audience appeal. Season One, broadcast on YLE, earned critical acclaim from Finland's leading publications for its emotional depth and innovative approach to difficult subjects.
Season Two will expand both thematically and geographically, featuring comedians from diverse cultural backgrounds examining themes like death, racism, and cultural displacement. This international expansion allows us to explore how comedy functions across different societies while maintaining our distinctive visual approach.
Our production process prioritizes authentic storytelling through extensive pre-interviews and visual concept development tailored to each comedian's unique journey. Just as the medieval court jester was the only one who could speak truth to power, today's comedians reveal profound insights through their ability to transform personal pain into shared laughter.
Watch Season 1 on
Director's STATEMENT.
"As a filmmaker who explores the boundaries between mythological storytelling and emotional truth, my work has consistently sought to create visual experiences that communicate beyond language barriers. "Not Funny" represents a crucial chapter in this journey – applying my cinematic approach to documentary while revealing how personal suffering transforms into creative expression.
My visual style employs distinctive techniques to externalize internal struggles in ways traditional interviews cannot achieve. In "Not Funny," I developed unique visual metaphors for each comedian's journey: projecting imagery during Toni's cleaning ritual, capturing Teemu's healing forest walks in contemplative slow-motion, and transforming Jamie's dive into a psychedelic illumination.
This project sits at a fascinating intersection within my body of work – combining the mythological elements seen in my fiction films like "Circology" with the raw humanity of documentary. What drives me is the universal alchemy at the heart of comedy: how we transform our deepest wounds into connection - how comedians bend painful experience into something transcendent.
My approach prioritizes creating safe environments where subjects share vulnerable stories, resulting in intimate revelations rarely captured on screen. I bring a distinctly Nordic sensibility to storytelling – embracing emotional honesty, visual clarity, and narrative depth while avoiding sentimentality.
With this international expansion of "Not Funny," I aim to reveal how comedy functions across different cultures as both art and connection – showing that while our struggles may take different forms, our need to transform pain into shared laughter is universal."
-TERO PELTONIEMI
