Film Production Grads Wilson Barbosa & James Monsalvi Celebrate Premiere of the ‘Too Far Show’
Class of 2023 Film Production grads Wilson Barbosa and James Monsalvi recently celebrated the launch the new sketch comedy series they co-created and produced alongside online comedian Tommy Schoenith.
The Too Far Show marked its world premiere in July during a private screening of its first episode at the TIFF Lightbox.
“Premiering the Too Far Show at the TIFF Lightbox is a dream come true. It’s a testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone involved in the project,” Barbosa said of the cast and crew of the show, which featured several TFS alums, including cinematographer Diego Aldana (Film Production ’22), first assistant director Cole McKracken (Film Production ’22), and Micheal J. Hill (Acting ’23), who plays ‘Ryan’ and ‘Steven’ in the first two episodes of the show.
“To see our work showcased at such a prestigious venue is incredibly rewarding and motivates us to keep pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in sketch comedy. Remember your passion can never take you TOO FAR!”
Barbosa said he first met Schoenith, who boasts 2.5 million followers on his TikTok account, when he cast the comedian in his thesis film during his final term at TFS. The two instantly connected, becoming fast friends, and soon thereafter began to work on more projects together.
It wasn’t until a few months after graduation, however, that the pair, together with Monsalvi, conceived the idea of collaborating on the sketch show that would become the Too Far Show – with Schoenith directing and starring, and Barbosa and Monsalvi producing.
“Leveraging Tommy’s significant social media following and our combined production and film expertise, we knew we had the potential to create something special,” Barbosa said, noting that it took a year of “meticulous planning and hard work” to successfully release the first episode in July.
“Working on the Too Far Show has been an incredible journey. It’s a unique blend of creativity, collaboration, and constant learning. Every day brings new challenges and opportunities, pushing us to think outside the box and deliver our best.”
Barbosa noted his training at TFS was “instrumental” to preparing him for the experience of producing the show.
“TFS provided me not only with knowledge about film production, but also the opportunity to network with other creatives and passionate filmmakers,” he said, praising all his fellow TFS alumni who helped bring the Too Far Show to life.
“One of the biggest takeaways from this experience is the power of perseverance and teamwork. Creating a show from scratch is no small feat, but with a dedicated team and a shared vision, we’ve been able to turn our ideas into reality.”
