Why Tim Wilkime’s Comic Instinct Is Just What Someplace Nice Needed
Tim Wilkime’s career in comedy is a testament to the adage that timing is everything. Growing up in the Chicago suburbs, he was profoundly influenced by the iconic John Hughes and the comedic revolution of ‘90s 'Saturday Night Live.’ Watching comedy legends like Will Ferrell and Chris Farley ignited a passion that drove him to found his own sketch group in college. Experimenting both in front of and behind the camera early on in his career granted Tim the freedom to explore his comedy chops and discover his strengths in the craft. Getting a feel for the whole gamut of filmmaking, he went on to evolve his passion from DIY videos to high-budget productions.
Tim’s creative journey is marked by his fearless approach to comedy, evidenced by a diverse canon of sketches and short films. These projects have helped deepen his understanding of the advertising industry’s need for fresh perspectives. Now, as he joins Toronto-based Someplace Nice, Tim’s unique comedic sensibility and extensive experience are set to elevate Canadian commercials. With a track record of memorable work for brands like State Farm and T-Mobile, and the creative freedom offered by the production company, Tim is poised to push boundaries and redefine the intersection of humour and advertising.
LBB> Who were your comedy heroes growing up? Can you remember when you discovered your own funny bone?
Tim> John Hughes was a big comedy hero when I was young. He was the first director I knew by name, partly because I grew up in the Chicago suburbs, which is where a lot of his movies were based, but also because I saw his name in the credits of so many movies I loved. The other major influence was that whole ‘90s era of ‘Saturday Night Live’. Watching Ferrell, Farley, Sandler, Shannon, Morgan, and Norm as a 10-year-old really shaped my comedy tastes to the point where, in high school, once I knew how to use a video camera, I started imitating their sketches with my friends. In doing so, I realised that while I wasn’t the funniest on-camera person in my group, I was funny in all the other areas needed to make comedy — directing, writing, and editing.
LBB> So what did the start of your career look like? How and when did you get your big break in comedy?
Tim> I started making sketch comedy in 2008. I was going to Southern Illinois University, which felt like worlds away from LA or NY, but YouTube was becoming this place where creators were being discovered, so I started a sketch group with my college buddy. Those early videos we were making in college led to connections in Los Angeles, which launched my career. CollegeHumor (now Dropout) was one of those early connections, and in 2012, they gave me my first shot to direct professionally. I went from making videos with a few of my friends that were self-funded for a couple hundred bucks to a full crew, budget and infrastructure for production that I hadn’t been exposed to. From there I was able to learn what a director actually did. Up until that point, I was always wearing multiple hats.
LBB> The idea behind your spoof documentary, ‘Tim Wilkerson To Direct A Kentucky Fried Chicken Commercial: The Way I Saw It’, is hilarious. What did this gonzo approach to filmmaking teach you about the advertising industry?
Tim> Making that documentary was one of the most fun and terrifying projects I’ve ever worked on. Putting myself out there, on camera, in a semi-autobiographical performance art way felt very risky as it was something I hadn’t done before. But it was an idea I was really excited about, and I knew if I didn’t pursue it, I would regret it. In the end, it was a project I was immensely proud of and it taught me the importance of pushing your own limits as a storyteller which is vital for a director in advertising because brands are always looking for fresh and innovative ways to connect with an audience.
LBB> Your short film, ‘Milton’, premiered at SXSW in 2019 and went on to win the Vimeo Staff Pick Award. How did this experience impact your career? And what did you learn in the process?
Tim> It lit a fire in me to start writing features. It also taught me that my strength as a writer is when I’m super specific and personal, as ‘Milton’ was based on a real experience of witnessing my (now) wife’s grandmother pass away. So, as I develop features, I’m always trying to find those unique and odd moments from my life that could be expanded into something bigger.
LBB> What skills has working on SNL taught you? And how do you utilise these skills in the commercial world?
Tim> SNL has definitely made me more aware of the value in shooting alts for comedy. Our show has the benefit of playing our piece in front of a dress rehearsal audience to see what’s working and what’s not before the actual air show. If a joke doesn’t land, but we shoot an alt for it, we can switch it out for the air show, which can sometimes make a huge impact on how the piece is ultimately received. So when I’m making a commercial, I like to shoot as many alts as I can – especially if it’s a dialogue-driven joke, as you can usually shoot alts for that in an existing setup and add no extra time to your schedule.
LBB> Is there a campaign or project which most accurately reflects your style and sense of humour? And if so, why?
Tim> I really liked the State Farm spots I made last year. They were simple premises with big, absurd visuals which is something I’m always drawn to. One of them had a moment where a dad shoves a piece of luggage into a packed car only to force a group of luggage to explode out of the sunroof. It felt like a gag out of a Chaplin film. It was really fun to figure out how to execute that practically: by putting a dude on a ladder with a huge fishing pole connected to a train of luggage. I love doing physical comedy like that.
LBB> And finally, when you are struck by inspiration, who do you run your funny ideas by?
Tim> I used to run everything by my wife and closest friends. Now it’s ChatGPT, also now my wife and closest friend.
