About Us
John T. Kramer
Creator, Writer
"Opportunities multiply as they are seized."
--Sun Tzu
If you like politics with some comic books, science-fiction and other sorts of nerdieness on the side, you're my kind of people.
I've worked in the Chicago Improv Community for over 25 years and have had the opportunity to work alongside Tina Fey, Stephen Colbert, Chris Farley, Jim Belushi, Steve Carell, Horatio Sanz, Rachel Dratch as well as many more of the funniest writers, actors and Directors in the world. I tend to be a tough audience. . .
My channel name is pronounced "Bright Thorn." Its the name of the main character in a novel I wrote (alas, unpublished.)
Welcome to Britethorn.
Britethorn is my Voice, and I have a lot to say, which is why I delve into Politics, Comedy, Reviews, pet videos and a lot of RANTS about whatever has me pissed off at the moment
My work has appeared on shows such as CNN's "This Week in Politics" and I've made appearances on such disparate media platforms as FOX CHICAGO SUNDAY, WGN RADIO and AL JAZEERA ENGLISH'S "The Listening Post," where I am a regular contributor as one of their Global Village Voices.
I've also been interviewed by The New York Times as well as my hometown paper, The Chicago Tribune.
My film (with Johnny Bruder) "Hit Men" was the winner of Sony Pictures/Crackle.com's first Short Film Award, for which I walked away with a $15,000 check as well as a pitch meeting at Columbia Pictures -- a great experience, but no sale -- although I did get to take a look at the Best Picture Oscar for "Kramer vs Kramer" in Columbia's lobby.
Onward!
Aaron Sjoholm and John Kramer
Aaron Sjoholm
Writer/Actor/Director
Aaron Sjoholm was a founding ensemble member of the Chicago sketch and improv groups Anton Chekhov’s Bastard Child, Peel the Onion, The Meek, and The Revenge Brothers, also having directed several other comedy troupes. Most recently he was in the cast of “Starship Improvise.”
In addition to writing and directing for Britethorn, he has appeared in the roles of "Democrat" in the Democrat/Republican series, as Marx in "Marx and Sun" and he is the voice of The American Ranger in the series of the same name.
Aaron spends his time now focusing on writing and small-scale video projects. He has completed one screenplay (with co-writer John Kramer), was a featured Secret Service extra in the film “Death of a President,” received a BFA in Theater from Marquette University, and enjoys many geeky things.
He has a cat named Captain Murder, was a Knight Templar in another life (and possibly in this one as well), and has a wardrobe which hasn't been updated since Y2k was all the rage.
In the event of a Zombie Attack, Aaron's the guy you want to be with. Just make sure to bring along a bottle of Jack.
Sean Gransee
Web Designer and Developer
Sean is an over achiever who spends way too much time in front of a computer screen. He is constantly in trouble for taking on too many projects requiring too many hours-- but somehow manages to get things done anyway. He's working for Britethorn on a pro bono basis, but when we get enough money to build a starship, he's got dibs on being our Scotty.
He's also John Kramer's nephew (blood will tell!)
Colin Kramer
Marketing Guru
Colin shares a similar genetic make-up to both John Kramer and Sean Gransee which is why he is smart enough to hang out in our corner of the internet. Colin speaks both English and Adsense and enjoys looking over tables filled with meaningless numbers and statistics which apparently have something to do with getting people all over the world to click their computer mice at just the right moment in time and space so that Britethorn Productions can afford things like microphones and super hero costumes. He used to be short, but now he's not.
Andrew Thorp
Actor/Writer
Andrew Thorp (Thorpedo to his friends) is a Rockford, IL native who made the move to Chicago in 2004 to pursue his love of writing and performing. He appears as Julian Assange, Peg, Robin and a number of other characters in Britethorn Productions, many of which he has written as well. He is the co-creator of UncleDaddyLand Films, acting in, writing and directing many of their videos. He performs Improv around the city with 'The Steven's Family' and has been writing and directing Improv and sketch shows as well. Check out his writing blog at http://www.murkycloudbutter.blogspot.com or http://www.funnyordie.com/uncledaddy