Anthony Q. Farrell
Anthony Q. Farrell graduated from Humber's Comedy Writing & Performance program in 2001 and has worked on a number of very successful television shows, including the Emmy Award winning NBC comedy series The Office.
What are you currently working on and what does that mean on a daily basis?
I'm currently working on Series 2 of Secret Life of Boys, which is a children’s live action comedy. It airs in the UK on Children's BBC and in Australia on ABC3 [videos won't work outside those countries - see below for a YouTube link that works in the US and Canada]. I am the creator/executive producer/head writer, which basically means that I write the bulk of the scripts for the series. The ones I don’t write, I supervise. After the scripts are done (10 episodes for series 2), I’ll be on set making sure everything runs smoothly. I’ll be a resource for the directors, actors and crew. Once we’re done shooting I’ll be giving notes on the post-production process until we have a beautiful finished product that everyone will be able to see early in 2017. Secret Life of Boys is the first of it’s kind. It’s a hybrid show that lives on the web as an interactive show, but also on TV as a classic kid’s sitcom. Filming one show for two mediums is challenging, but incredibly fun and rewarding.
Any other projects/shows you’ve worked on since graduation that you’re particularly proud of or that were particularly fun or fulfilling?
I was a very proud writer on great shows like The Office (US), Little Mosque on the Prairie and The Thundermans. I’m also very proud of a web series I created called Dwelling.
What’s inspiring you right now?
On TV in particular, I’m inspired by Master of None, Blackish, Walking Dead, and Orphan Black, among many other shows that I enjoy tremendously.
How did your time at Humber prepare you for what you’re doing now?
I had already completed 4 years of drama at Queen’s by the time I joined the Humber Comedy program so I already felt comfortable performing. However, Humber opened me up to new facets of performance I'd never tried before. I was okay with acting and improv, but clown classes were new and amazing. Trying my hand at stand-up comedy and eventually becoming comfortable enough on stage to be myself in front of a crowd was a revelation. Writing sketch and sitcoms was also new to me. That side of it, I’d say, has had the largest effect on me - considering I make my living as a writer it’s easy to point to that part of the program and say it’s had the greatest effect on my preparation for the comedy business.
What advice would you give to somebody wanting to follow in your footsteps?
Make your own footsteps. It’s hard walking in someone else’s footsteps. You’re always looking down and you look ridiculous. Look up, pick a destination and stride confidently toward it.
Find out more about Anthony on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-q-farrell-395bb134 or follow him on Twitter and Instagram @aqfarrell.
Watch Secret Life of Boys in the UK on Children's BBC at and in Australia on ABC3.
Anthony Q Farrell, photo by Nicola Delgado