Private Project

The Openers

The Openers follows aspiring Philly-area comedians during their first year pursuing stand-up comedy. Told through the perspective of aspiring comedian Karol Brehany, the film captures the highs and lows of the comedy world.

During his first year, Karol, along with comedians Will Bowker and Guy Schiavi, navigates the challenges of the stand-up circuit, attends open mics, books his first opener show — and is forced to face the reality of losing his dream when it all comes to a standstill in 2020.

Laughs, tears, triumphs, losses...The Openers has it all and captures the journey against the backdrop of one of the most turbulent years in American history.

  • Kelly Murray
    Director
  • Karol Brehany
    Producer
  • Kelly Murray
    Producer
  • Hillary Hanak-Newman
    Producer
  • Karol Brehany
    Key Cast
  • Guy Schiavi
    Key Cast
  • Will Bowker
    Key Cast
  • Kelly Murray
    Writer
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Feature
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 8 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    March 12, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    5,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Kelly Murray

Kelly is an award-winning writer and director based in the Philadelphia area. She began her career in film as a Production Office PA on the film "Brotherly Love" directed by Jamal Hill and produced by Queen Latifah. Kelly went on to gain set experience working in various art department and production roles on independent films and commercial productions in Philadelphia and New York before stepping behind the camera to tell her own stories.

In 2016, her directorial debut “The Astronomer” was awarded the Curatorial Choice Award (Best in Show) at The Delaware Contemporary art museum in Wilmington, DE. She has since written, directed, and co-produced numerous narrative short films and documentaries (3:13, Your Wreckless Heart, A Renewed Spirit, Memories of the Great War) and worked on the production teams for independent films shot in the Philadelphia area (BLOCK, Americano). In 2022, she directed the short film "The Curse of Ligeia", based on the Edgar Allen Poe short story "Ligeia"; now in post-production. "The Openers" is Kelly's first feature-length documentary.

Keenly aware of the disparity of female directors in the industry, Kelly is passionate about amplifying the voices of women writers and filmmakers and aspires to consistently offer original storytelling in her own directorial work. Many of her narrative projects focus on telling stories from the female perspective, and her work has been selected for multiple national and international film festivals. She currently serves as Vice President of the nonprofit Philadelphia Women in Film and Television (PWIFT).

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

The Openers is a gritty, fast-paced documentary that gives an up-close look at the challenges of pursuing a comedy career. When Karol Brehany approached me with the idea to create the documentary, he said he wanted to "flip the script" on traditional comedy specials which usually highlight comics after they've been established in the industry for many years. The Openers does just that and shines the spotlight on the experiences of comics just starting out -- from booking dingy dive bar shows to near-empty open mics to finally making it on an established stage. It's an intimate look at the less glamorous side of breaking into show business. What's more, our documentary production was impacted by the COVID pandemic and shows what happens when a dream is quite literally at risk of being shut down. At its core, The Openers is about taking a risk and following a dream, an aspiration to which I believe anyone can relate. I hope that this film offers a new perspective on the comedy industry, introduces up and coming talent to new audiences, and inspires viewers to support the creatives in their local communities.