- Paul Miller has been running away his entire life. He is an amateur scholar of stand-up comedians, and desperately wants to join the ranks. But his fear of standing up in front of a crowd is insurmountable. His biggest fear stifles his greatest dream. Finally, on his 28th birthday, he gets tired of running. He discovers that it's time to find out if he has what it takes to conquer self-doubt ... and realize his life-long dream.—Anonymous
- Standing Up is a comedy about fear. It is a film about failing because of that fear, and triumphing over it at the same time. Most importantly, it is about where we end up after the battle.
Paul can't sleep. He knows he should be doing something else with his life. What pains him more is that he knows what it is. Pictures of his comedic idols all over his walls stare down at his insomnia. He knows his favorite lines by heart. He is naturally witty, he surrounds himself with stand-up comedy and knows he would be great at it, but a mortifying childhood experience has given him crippling stage fright, the one chasm between him and his true love. When his boss gives him an ultimatum to lead a meeting of important clients or risk being let go, Paul refuses and runs out of the office.
For his birthday, his best friend Adam takes him to comedy show, and the two guys watch a parade of seemingly unfunny comics destroy the audience. Paul, unable to live with his fear any longer, decides it's time to try. He calls the comedy club to sign up for open mic night.
He observes. He writes. He practices. He memorizes. The mundane inspires him. He has new eyes. He is ready.
He stands up in front of the crowd. His friend watches from a safe distance, more nervous even than Paul. Paul begins.
"Hi."
His debut five-minutes is only the beginning. It sends him on a journey of self-discovery, being discovered, renewed confidence, high-level meetings, and triumph and failure at the highest levels. Through it all, he learns what it takes to be a stand-up comic, and has to decide whether he has truly realized his dream or not.
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