Harold Ramis Film School

We are the only film school in the world focused entirely on comedy.

In the spirit of Harold Ramis, we encourage students to work from the top of their intelligence. At our school, students are exposed to great comedic films, television, and literature. The work is presented by inspired teachers to help nurture the students emotional and intellectual storytelling abilities. Our students are immersed in comedy training, film history, writing and film production classes to give them the context in which to create. And they are also trained in the art of improvisation.

At the Harold Ramis Film School we cultivate filmmakers who create collaboratively, tell comedic stories, and understand the traditions and trends in the business. During their year here, students are immersed in these key areas:

COMEDY THEORY: These courses lay the foundation for your creative process. You are immersed in the methods of The Second City, learning how to use improvisation as a tool for collaboration and content generation. Students screen great comedic works from the past and present to absorb the work of comedians in various media and eras. These courses lay the foundation for your creative process.

WRITING: Great filmmakers are great storytellers. In the writing courses at the Harold Ramis Film School, students explore the mechanics and art of telling a worthy story. Beginning with a foundation in traditional writing and classic storytelling techniques, students cultivate and develop their own comedic voice, and learn how to turn that into shootable content. All students complete the year having written a fully completed script.

FILMMAKING: Through our unique Filmmaker’s Laboratory and Directing Workshops, students make films in the studio and in the field throughout the entire year. Students learn how a director prepares, how to work with actors, and how to collaborate with the various roles on a film set. These production classes will put into practice the lessons on collaboration and storytelling from the other areas, and culminate in students making their very own short film.

MASTER SEMINAR: In addition to these core classes, throughout the year students attend Master Seminars. Working artists from the industry lead discussions and hands-on workshops connecting students’ work in the program to the real world. The Second City has a wonderful extended family of successful comedy writers, directors, and producers who will give students the inside scoop on working in the business.