‘Studio C’ original cast thrives under new JK! Studios network
The JK! Studios team, formerly the 10 original cast members of BYUtv's "Studio C."
The JK! Studios team, formerly the 10 original cast members of BYUtv's "Studio C."
The JK! Studios team, formerly the 10 original cast members of BYUtv's "Studio C."
From left: Natalie Madsen, Whitney Call and Mallory Everton in JK! Studios' "Loving Lyfe."
From left: Natalie Madsen, Whitney Call and Mallory Everton in JK! Studios' "Loving Lyfe."
From left: Whitney Call, Natalie Madsen and Mallory Everton in JK! Studios' "Loving Lyfe."
From left: Whitney Call, Natalie Madsen and Mallory Everton in JK! Studios' "Loving Lyfe."
Mallory Everton in JK! Studios' "Loving Lyfe."
Whitney Call in JK! Studios' "Loving Lyfe."
Mallory Everton in JK! Studios' "Freelancers," set to premiere March 28.
Whitney Call, left, and Mallory Everton in JK! Studios' "Freelancers," set to premiere March 28.
Stephen Meek, left, and Mallory Everton in JK! Studios' "Freelancers," set to premiere March 28.
Jason Gray in JK! Studios' "Freelancers," set to premiere March 28.
The 10 original cast members of BYUtv’s “Studio C” took a leap of faith last fall when they announced they would be leaving the sketch comedy show to start JK! Studios, their own family-friendly digital comedy network.
Though not without its challenges, switching to the new project has been “100 percent” worth it, according to JK! Studios’ Matt Meese.
“I feel like the transition has been really great,” Meese told the Daily Herald. “I feel like it’s going really well, and I feel very optimistic about its future.”
So far, JK! Studios has released four of 10 episodes of its first original show, “Loving Lyfe,” about three posh women: a wellness advocate, an event planner and a fashion vlogger, along with a few sketches and various other videos on its YouTube channel.
The network is also currently working on an eight-episode sitcom, “Freelancers,” set to premiere March 28, about a group of friends that start a video production company together and are forced to take on whatever projects they can get.
“It’s more of a traditional sitcom in 15-to-20-minute episodes, and there are stories and things going on, so it’s fun,” producer Natalie Madsen said. “It’s really different than what we’ve done before, so we’re excited to do it.”
Creative freedom
JK! Studios has allowed the team more flexibility with the types of projects they can create. Ideas in the works include more sitcoms, podcasts, a reality competition show and a movie.
“It’s hard to steer a really big ship, and so we have a much smaller ship now, and we can turn as much as we want,” Meese said.
Madsen said the projects they are working on now are based on ideas the team has had for a while, but hasn’t had time to pursue. Meese said the group also sits down together every few weeks or so to pitch and vote on new show ideas.
“It’s really fun because then most of the team, if not all of us, are excited to do it, and I think your product is different when you have excitement behind it,” Meese said. “It’s nice to have the luxury to do that.”
JK! Studios also allows the team to take ownership of the things they create.
“Now these shows are something that we own and that a network doesn’t,” Madsen said. “Starting our own network means that everything that we make is ours forever, which we’re excited about.”
But the team is grateful for “Studio C” and BYUtv and acknowledges the group wouldn’t be where they are now without them.
“We loved, loved our time with ‘Studio C’ and BYUtv,” Madsen said. “We learned so much from them, but we’re really excited to be able to do things on our own and kind of leave the nest a little bit.”
Working toward goals
The JK! Studios team and its new crew are now busy working 10-to-12-hour days doing writing, prepping and production. They have taken on directing, producing and editing roles in addition to acting and writing in JK! Studios projects.
“A number of the team have really risen to the occasion and just been amazing with whatever it is — producing, directing,” Meese said.
For example, James Perry is currently editing “Loving Lyfe” while “Freelancers” has Jeremy Warner directing; Madsen, Jason Gray and Stephen Meek producing; and Meese, Meek, Stacey Harkey, Mallory Everton and Whitney Call acting. The “Freelancers” cast also wrote the show along with Adam Berg.
These are temporary solutions until the team is able to hand things off to other people, according to Meese.
“In the future, what we’d like to do is free up those people who are producing because they’re such great writers and actors that their talents are best served doing those things probably,” Meese said.
Eventually, the team hopes to remain behind the camera and bring on new cast members, according to Madsen. JK! Studios also wants to work with other comedic creators and host their projects.
“That’s kind of the big-picture goal here is to create a true network where we can encourage people that want to create good, clean comedy to come and want to come and be a positive place for them to work and a place for them to grow as well,” Madsen said.
YouTube has hosted all of JK! Studios’ content so far, but the team has a goal to expand to all digital platforms eventually.
“We just feel so passionately about what we’re doing, that we’re putting good stuff out there,” Madsen said. “We feel like it’s such a need, especially in the digital space, to have comedy that can also be family friendly.”
JK! Studios is also currently building its own studio space in Lehi. The team filmed “Loving Lyfe” at online boutique Jane’s offices and rented an old home in Provo to film “Freelancers.”
“We love filming in Utah,” Madsen said. “We feel like there’s a lot to use here.”
Business model
JK! Studios’ business model is based around partnering with other brands. For example, Jane is JK! Studios’ brand partner for “Loving Lyfe.”
“We’re just hoping to partner with brands that kind of want a brand lift and want to be associated with clean comedy, and so far, it’s been really great,” Madsen said. “We’ve had some really great partners that are really supportive of what we’re doing.”
The network is also on Patreon, a paid subscription service that offers fans exclusive perks.
“We give them things like they see the episode a day early, and they give notes and feedback on different scripts, or they get merchandise, like we just sent out a bunch of hoodies with JK! Studios on it, things like that,” Madsen said. “It’s fun to feel more actual connection to people that are watching, and they’re an active part of what we’re doing and they’re making it possible, which is really cool, and it makes us feel just super grateful.”
The business has been successful so far, according to Madsen.
“We’re able to pay the bills and keep doing it, which is great,” Madsen said. “So far so good.”
No regrets
Madsen said taking on the new JK! Studios network can sometimes be overwhelming and stressful, but “it’s nice to finally have something to show for the leap of faith that we took before.”
“Now, we’re actually putting things out, which is really exciting,” Madsen said. “I think we’re all a little tired, but we’re all still very excited and we’re having fun.”
After several years of doing “Studio C,” the team was ready to try something else and do its own thing, according to Madsen. Meese said though it was daunting to leave something secure for the unknown, he feels like this was the right time to take the risk.
“Sometimes you won’t know unless you just take action and do it, and if you don’t, then you’re always going to look back and wonder, ‘What if we had just done it? What if we had just faced the fear?’ ” Meese said. “I can’t imagine living with that level of ‘What if?’ so I’m glad we did it.”