Second City's Harold Ramis Film School planned for Chicago

Chicago improv troupe Second City is opening a school focusing on comedic filmmaking and naming it after late writer-director-actor Harold Ramis.

Second City said Tuesday that applications are being accepted for the school's yearlong filmmaker program that starts in September in Chicago. Students enrolled in the intensive program will learn comedy training, film history, storytelling and film production. They'll produce a pilot TV show or short film.

"Harold Ramis was the quintessential Second City writer/performer intelligent, funny and devoted to the spirit of ensemble," Andrew Alexander, CEO and executive producer of The Second City, said in an official statement.

"I am thrilled by this opportunity to instill Harold's philosophy of successful storytelling in film in the next generation of artists."

Ramis' longtime collaborator and film producer Trevor Albert will be the school's chairman. The advisory board will include Second City alumni Steve Carell, Adam McKay, Catherine O'Hara, Andrea Martin, Martin Short and others.

Ramis died in February 2014 at age of 69 at his home in the Chicago suburbs after suffering from an autoimmune disease. He is famous for movies including Caddyshack,Ghostbustersand Animal House and his work on the Canadian comedy seriesSCTV.