Joel Svendsen is a comedy writer and filmmaker raised in the mean cornfields of Illinois. He developed an absurdist, dry sense of humor from a childhood of cartoons and comedies, a sensibility he later refined in film school and decades of making videos with friends. He spent six years in broadcast television, honing his skills in video production and editing. Now a freelance scriptwriter, Joel writes episodes for an animated kids’ YouTube channel, several of which have earned millions of views. His independent projects have received festival nominations and a grant from the Illinois Arts Council. Joel is currently seeking representation and building a future in comedy-driven, story-forward work (when he isn’t catering to the whims of his demanding pets, Zuko and Sonia).