Finding Your Laughter follows Chicago comedian Arlieta Hall, who turns to her greatest tools, stand-up comedy and improvisation, to navigate the heartbreak and humanity of caring for her father, who is living with Alzheimer’s disease.

In this deeply personal documentary, Arlieta has gone against all popular advice and quit her day job to care for her father, Milton. She has to learn how to laugh in the midst of a disease that is not very funny, using improv to affirm and validate his experiences. Inspired by her father’s own artistic career, Arlieta turns to comedy to process her emotions. It’s challenging for her and her “bonus mom” Charmaine to watch Milton decline, but they support each other and find healing through laughter.

Meet The Team

Arlieta Hall (Executive Producer, Director, Cinematographer, Protagonist): Born and raised in Chicago, Arlieta brings a rare blend of humor, heart, and purpose to every space she steps into. A current Second City Mainstage Understudy, 2021 NBC Bob Curry Fellow and co-star on Showtime’s The Chi, she’s also the creative force behind Finding Your Laughter, a powerful documentary inspired by her experience caregiving for her father with Alzheimer’s disease while using improvisational comedy to communicate with him. Arlieta is the 2025 Black Public Media PitchBlack Competition 1st Place winner. She won the $150k prize to finish her documentary. Arlieta also obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Corporate Communications and has over a decade of experience in social services. She is a co-producer of the 2023-2024 Chicago Reader's Best comedy variety show My Best Friend is Black. Whether through comedy, storytelling, or community work, Arlieta’s mission is to connect, uplift, and remind us of the healing power of laughter.

Brittany Alsot (Producer, Co-Director, Writer, Cinematographer): Brittany learned the power of a participant-centered documentary approach working with young cancer patients at Seattle Children’s Hospital. Now in Chicago, she is a member of the Documentary Producers Alliance, Doc Chicago, and she continues to focus on work that impacts underrepresented communities through marketing and campaign videos for social justice and arts organizations. Her fiction shorts have screened at queer and feminist film festivals across the country and internationally.

Yvonne Welbon (Executive Producer): Yvonne Welbon is an award-winning filmmaker and Founder & CEO of the Chicago-based non-profit Sisters in Cinema, inspired by her documentary of the same name, about the history of Black women feature film directors. She has produced and distributed over two dozen award-winning films, including Living With Pride: Ruth Ellis @100—winner of 10 best documentary awards.

Giorgia Harvey (Editor): Giorgia Harvey is an award-winning editor with a decade of experience in documentary and commercial filmmaking. Her recent work includes No One Asked You, a feature doc on reproductive rights that premiered at DOC NYC and screened at over twenty festivals, as well as an international Walt Disney World commercial campaign. She teaches documentary filmmaking at the Hyde Park Arts Center.

Joseph Welbon (Composer) aka Joe Smooth is one the originators of the genre of music called “House Music” and since 1983 has been considered one of the top DJ's in Chicago, a highly skilled sound engineer, and world class certified platinum producer/composer/writer/re-mixer for commercial release and varied film projects.

Upcoming Events

Thursday, July 9th : Family and Friend Preview Screening

The time has arrived! After 7 years, the film is finally complete! We want to share and celebrate with our lovely crew and closest family and friends. This will be a private event with snacks and drinks provided. Join us in showcasing our film at Sisters in Cinema as we celebrate the completion of Finding Your Laughter.

Tickets are Free
40 seats available
Food and Drinks Provided

Can't wait to see you there!

Finding Your Laughter Documentary

Alzheimer's gets a dose of comedy