So this comedian walks into a conference…

Comedy, says Omri Marcus, is the most effective way to motivate people.

At least, that’s been Marcus’s experience after six years as a writer for “Eretz Nehederet,” Israel’s wildly popular comedy show, and now as a television show developer. That all came after he wrote a satirical column for Ma’ariv and promoted the IDF while he was in the army.

“I don’t know how to do anything else,” he said. “And I’m fascinated by how it motivates people, how a joke from one side of the world is still effective in a different generation and time.”

This is a guy who has a photo of Henry Winkler, the Fonz from TV’s “Happy Days,” jet-skiing on his Facebook page, and who places a statuette of Freud in most of his Instagram pictures.

Marcus is bringing all that humor experience and history to “Comedy for Change,” a two-day conference being held December 21-22 at the Jerusalem Cinematheque (at the same times as the theater’s Jewish Film Festival).

The conference is about asking questions, said Marcus, and he invited some veteran comedy writers to talk, opine and discuss the concept of comedy, including the BBC’s controller, Danny Cohen; TV writer Lee Eisenberg; “The Daily Show” producer Steve Bodow; and comedian Omar Marzouk, as well as local comedians and writers.

“I didn’t get a single no,” said Marcus. “I was so intrigued.”

It could be because comedy writers aren’t generally invited anywhere, added Marcus.

The conference is something of a mixed bag. The Muppet-like puppets of Red Band will interview Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat; there will be a session about undiplomatic peace efforts with two Muslim and two Jewish comedians and another about how to make the next viral film; and a discussion will focus on how to rise above cultural and geographic limitations when writing comedy. Marcus is also planning on gathering 14 writers from all over the world to write a sketch for “Eretz Nehederet.”

“I have no idea what we’re going to do, but I’m super excited about that,” he said.

The conference, he said, is less about the historic relationship between Jews and comedy than how to use comedy to get a message across. That said, he’s still surprised to see how many Jews can always be found in the comedy writers’ room, wherever he goes.

“Comedy is the kind of tool we used to get over those shitstorms in our history,” he said. “It kept Jews sane, there’s no other explanation for it.”

http://youtu.be/i8hXJQ0bs6M

It’s a “loud environment” out there, and Marcus thinks people want to learn how to get their voice heard, particularly if they’re using comedy to help create social change. 

“There’s not enough understanding about how it works,” he said, referring to the sensitive and politically charged topics tackled by the writers on “Eretz Nehederet.” “It can help change racism in society and the shallowness of the discussion. It’s about time we use comedy to bring people together.”

Comedy for a Change, December 21-22, Jerusalem Cinematheque, NIS 450 for tickets (Times of Israel readers can use coupon code MeodKamtzan to have NIS 100 taken off the ticket price). Go to the conference website for more information.