What Makes a Movie Funny? — How to Write, Direct, and Edit Comedy

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How to Write Comedy — We look at how to tickle an audience's funny bone.

How to Write Comedy ►►
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Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction to Comedies
00:45 - History of Comedy
01:40 - Chapter 1 - Comedy Subgenres
05:30 - Chapter 2 - Writing Comedy
10:41 - Chapter 3 - Visual Comedy
17:45 - Takeaways

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WHAT IS COMEDY AND HOW TO BE FUNNY

One of the fundamental genres of storytelling is the comedy. Whether it be 1000 BC or 2000 AD, people love to laugh. It's a good feeling. So understanding how to make people laugh is an incredibly powerful tool. In filmmaking, having a comedic sensibility will take you far, no matter what genre you hope to work in. Today, jokes abound in genres far outside of comedies, from horror to historical genre. In this video, we'll look at how to get your audience to laugh.

TYPES OF COMEDY MOVIES

Comedy in movies can take many forms. Slapstick, known for its physical humor and exaggerated actions, dates back to silent film stars like Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton. Romantic comedies blend humor with love stories, relying on witty banter and situational humor to explore relationships. Farces, such as "Airplane!" use wild exaggeration and caricaturist characters to find humor. Satirical comedies, like "Dr. Strangelove," use humor to critique societal norms and political issues. These are just a few comedy subgenres– you can combine comedy with any other genre to create another.

HOW TO WRITE COMEDY

Effective comedy writing often hinges on the principles of exaggeration and subversion. Exaggeration amplifies reality to absurd levels, creating humor through the sheer scale of the overstatement. This technique can be seen in the over-the-top characters and scenarios of films like "Dumb and Dumber."

Subversion, meanwhile, involves diverging from expectations. By setting up familiar tropes or situations and then delivering an unexpected twist, writers can surprise and amuse audiences. The "rule of three" is a common comedic structure: the first two instances set a pattern, and the third breaks it in a comedic way.

THE ART OF COMEDY VISUALS

Visual comedy leverages staging, production design, editing, and more to enhance humor. Staging involves the precise placement and movement of actors within the frame, often creating humor through physical interactions and timing. Visual gags, such as sight gags and background jokes, reward attentive viewers and add layers to the comedy. Films like "Naked Gun" and "Airplane!" excel in visual comedy, filling every frame with potential for laughter through meticulously crafted visual elements. Production design can contribute to the comedy by exaggerating settings or props. Editing is crucial in comedic timing, with quick cuts and reaction shots enhancing the punchlines.

There is no one surefire way to make someone laugh. Comedy is a leap of faith– in the end, you can only guess how an audience might react. But there are few things better than when your joke hits just right.


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♬ SONGS USED:

"Goody Two Shoes" - Adam Ant
"Overture (Ben Hur)" - Miklós Rózsa
"Earth Zoom (In)" - Carter Burwell
"Proof Rock" - John Powell
"The Usual Suspects Main Theme" - John Ottman
"Mrs. Doubtfire Theme" - Howard Shore
"Gypsys Kolo" - Jony Lliev & Band
"Cemetery Hand" - David Arnold
"The Courtship of Eddie’s Father Theme" - Harry Nilsson
"Canto At Gabelmeisters Peak" - Alexandre Desplat
"The Chase" - Carter Burwell
"We’ll Meet Again" - Vera Lynn
"Super What?" - Lyle Workman
"Pure Imagination" - Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley
"Buckaroo" - Buck Owens
"Mrs. Robinson" - Simon and Garfunkel
"My Hero" - Foo Fighters
"Cartage Following Virtucon" - George S. Clinton
"Introducing Ghost" - Mark Mosthersbaugh
"The Putrified Forest/Under Her Skin" - Joseph Lo Duca
"The Blue Wrath" - I Monster
"What Is Fight Club?" - The Dust Brothers
"Home Alone Main Theme" - John Williams
"Back to School" - Henry Jackman
"Driving to the Khaki Palms" - Tyler Bates
"Hotel California Cover" - The Gypsy Kings
"The Big Laugh"- Jurgen Schlachter

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