Proud as a peacock

Columbia Falls graduate signs with NBC as part of writing team

By HEIDI GAISER

The Daily Inter Lake

Columbia Falls High School band director Karen Ulmer has a picture of graduate Joe Bereta dressed as Superman on her office wall because she has fond memories of his time as a band member.

It's only a coincidence that he might someday be famous.

Bereta, a 2001 graduate of Columbia Falls, and his friend and artistic partner Luke Barats recently signed a one-year contract with NBC to be comedy writers for the network.

Bereta, 23, said they will work to create a pilot for either a comedy series or a sketch program, with a chance they will be put on camera as well. Their six-figure deal runs for one year, with the option of a second year.

"We're still in shock," Bereta said. "We still haven't busted open the champagne or anything."

Barats and Bereta, as the comedic duo call themselves, caught the eye of NBC with their clips on the Internet video site YouTube. Bereta said he believes the film that launched their popularity was "Mother's Day," a two-minute-plus sketch of two brothers attempting to set up a photo of themselves with a timer for a Mother's Day present.

Their last short, "Completely Uncalled For," a takeoff on knock-knock jokes, generated more than 1 million views in its first five days of release.

Bereta met Barats at Gonzaga University in Spokane in the improvisational comedy troupe GUTS (Gonzaga University Theater Sports).

"We discovered we liked each other's comedy stylings," Bereta said. "I was a broadcast major and he was a theater major into writing."

They began producing short videos, both for fun and as class projects for Bereta, entering them in film festivals and posting them on YouTube. They have their own Web site (baratsandbereta.com) and they have participated as a team in standup comedy competitions.

Currently they both work for Corner Booth Productions in Spokane, which produces commercials and corporate videos.

Bereta went to Gonzaga straight out of high school in Columbia Falls. He was in the District 6 school system from kindergarten on. He was the quintessential well-rounded student, participating in football, wrestling, basketball, track, pep band and the Columbians jazz band.

Ulmer directed Bereta, a trumpet player, in band from sixth grade through his senior year.

"He was an incredibly fun student to have," Ulmer said. "He was very artistic, very creative, and it doesn't surprise me that he's gone on to do funny creative things."

Wes Knutson worked with Bereta in the classroom and as his varsity wrestling coach at Columbia Falls.

"He was very witty and intelligent and always in a great mood," Knutson said. "He was funny but he always knew the right time and right place. His mental maturity was great as well."

Barats, who grew up in Eagle, Idaho, has a similar background to Bereta, which helped lead to their similar comedic takes on life.

"We both kind of draw off of the fact that we were white kids brought up in un-diverse communities, in middle-class, suburban-type ultra-conservative atmospheres," Bereta said. "We kind of make fun of our upbringing as much as we would make fun of any other stereotype. Everyone is fair game, but mostly us."

What makes them laugh is what they put on film; their sense of humor has caught on with millions of other people. Their short films, around 20 of which are posted on YouTube, are not technically sophisticated - shot on a digital camera and edited with Final Cut Pro software.

Bereta said he and Barats have been inspired by the success of Lonely Island, a Web site featuring downloadable sketches and music. Andy Samberg, one of the creators of Lonely Island, was recruited by "Saturday Night Live" in September 2005 to work on commercial parodies and digital shorts. This season Samberg was moved up to be a full cast member.

"They were the first ones to step off the Internet and make something of it," Bereta said. "It's a route we wouldn't mind going."

Reporter Heidi Gaiser may be reached at 758-4431 or by e-mail at hgaiser@dailyinterlake.com.