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SimplyScripts Screenwriting Discussion Board    General Boards    Questions or Comments  ›  I've decided to write a script
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  Author    I've decided to write a script  (currently 5026 views)
JamminGirl
Posted: April 20th, 2009, 9:54pm Report to Moderator
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Quoted from Dreamscale
Jammin, I think it's quite clear that there are those who are funny, and those who aren't.  Same goes with those that are athletically gifted and those that aren't, and won't ever be.

Throw it up on the board and sometimes it's going to stick, but as someone else said (I think Brian), think about an irritating office coworker who continually tries to be funny...and isn't. It just doesn't work sometimes, and people need to understand that.

No problem with trying though, for sure.  We've all got our "special talents"...nothing wrong with exploring what they are, but if they're not there, "look another way".


Your coworker obviously hasn't learned the anatomy of comedy.

Someone can be strong physically, he can be faster than a cheetah, taller than Michael jordan, but if he hasn't learned the strategies and techniques necessary to master basketball, a shorter, weaker guy can best him. Absolutely.


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JamminGirl
Posted: April 20th, 2009, 9:57pm Report to Moderator
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Quoted from steven8
Then there are folks like Jim Carrey, who are funny for 30 second spurts, as when he was on In Living Color, but when you are subjected to him for 90+ minutes at a time, he wears your nerves down to nothing.

See now, you caused me to laugh out loud.


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Dreamscale
Posted: April 20th, 2009, 10:03pm Report to Moderator
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Of course, Jammin.  Not my point, exactly.  There's always going to be a "Rudy" on every team and in every walk of life.

As many have commented, and I agree, comedy is a tough genre, as it first either works, or doesn't, and then you've got the multiple personal opinions on what's actually funny for them.

No offense meant in anything I've said, but as Brian said, and he's definitely, and classically correct, there are those that try and try and just aren't funny, and then, they get irritating.

Steven's also right, with his Jim Carrey example.  Many think he's funny as shit...all the time, but others, quickly lose that feeling when he goes on...and on...and on.

C'mon, PO, all the way...always.
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steven8
Posted: April 20th, 2009, 10:12pm Report to Moderator
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Quoted from JamminGirl

See now, you caused me to laugh out loud.


See, and I'm a rube!!  Anyone can write comedy!!     



...in no particular order
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JamminGirl
Posted: April 20th, 2009, 10:15pm Report to Moderator
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Ok, we all agree that comedy is subjective. That's one thing to consider, sure, but my wider point is that it is a falacy to say comedy cannot be taught.

Jokes come in multiple formats and varying structures that once learned, can successfully elicit laughter.

We'll just have to agree to dissagree...


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steven8
Posted: April 20th, 2009, 10:22pm Report to Moderator
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Oh heck, even the best comedian has to be taught proper timing and what not.  That goes without saying.  There is no doubt that people are born with specific talents, but some things can be taught.

A good actor could take a totally serious drama and make it funny as all get out, and likewise, they could take a totally rip roarin' comedy, and make it a drama.

That being said, a comedy writer may not know that much about timing, but the actors finally make it what it is.  I may be the best comedy writer in the world, but a stiff actor may turn it to crap.

Did any of that make sense in the context of this thread?  However, the thread was about a fella who wanted to write a script, because they had a great yearning to do so, and wanted tips.  My tip is to study structure and style, then write the story you have in your a heart.  An incredibly intelligent and talented young man once told me this:


Quoted Text

As for what a producer or director wants to see, that's anybody's guess.  Just write what you'd like to see.  There's bound to be somebody out there with the same mindset.


And I do believe he is right.


...in no particular order
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Baltis.
Posted: April 20th, 2009, 10:30pm Report to Moderator
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Dreamscale, let's be fair here... Rudy was a hack. He never played a game one until the very last game of his stay in college. He sucked.   
He lived for football and he still sucked. He sucked so bad that nobody wanted to start him, let's put it that way. "ha"

Seriously, though... We are all going to have to agree to disagree with someone here. Comedy cannot be taught in my eyes. In Jammingirl's it can.  I dunno, I agree with the office guy trying to be funny analogy, myself. People who tell jokes and try to be the "prankster" just don't realize how unfunny they are sometimes... The thing about those people is this; they try so hard everyday of their lives to be funny but fail at it.  

Maybe they're not learning from their mistakes... Or, better yet... maybe they don't have the right teachers teaching them "comedy"  
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Dreamscale
Posted: April 20th, 2009, 10:36pm Report to Moderator
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Yeah, agred, my Rudy analogy was meant more of a generality, that there are many "untalented" people in all walks of life that "succeed" way beyond their actual talent or skill, in one way or another.
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Baltis.
Posted: April 21st, 2009, 1:30am Report to Moderator
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Sam, I'd also like to come back in and tell you one very, very important thing about writing a comedy script.  Some books you read will tell you it. Some you read won't... but comedy is the one genre where you do have a lot of liberty in how you craft it.  

To where you have to follow a strict set of rules in most screenplays (I.E.) no more than 4 lines per action slug. No "WE SEE". No describing what the character is thinking and or feeling... Stuff like that.  In a comedy alot of that does pertain, but you can take more "CREATIVE" liberty with your script than you can on a drama, horror or action script.

Just a heads up.  If you'd like to read my comedy based on my home town and my highschool days, let me know. I'd be glad to let you check it out.
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FDiogo
Posted: April 21st, 2009, 10:36am Report to Moderator
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Thanks Baltis and steven8, so far

About the comedy thing personally I don't like comedies very much (still, I can find exceptions). I don't think I would write one.

Any other useful tips I should remember ?


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Scar Tissue Films
Posted: April 21st, 2009, 11:24am Report to Moderator
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I reckon Comedy can be learnt.

Most comedies are only drama's taken to extremes. They are generally just the fish out of water story, so you take someone who is good at something and put him in a completely alien enviroment.

EG A CIA operative in a family situation (Meet the Parents), A man pretending to be a woman (numerous films  inc Mrs Doubtfire and Tootsie) a psychologist in the Mafia (Analyse this).

A lot of comedy can be played extremely straight and it's the situation thats funny. That being the case, if you can write a strong drama you should have the tools to be able to make a fair stab at comedy IMO.

By taking two opposites you create a naturally funny situation and all you really have to do is to stay true to your character and the situations he gets into will naturally be awkward and amusing.

So for instance, you get a film like Kindergarten Cop where a tough Cop is placed in a school. All you have to do is write a tough guy cop scene (it can even be cliched, it doesn't matter) and have it administered to kids instead of criminals and it's funny. You don't even need any jokes, it's just the reversal of expectations that's funny.

I can see why some people would say you are either funny or not, but frankly, funny people don't necessarily write funny material.
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dogglebe
Posted: April 21st, 2009, 11:53am Report to Moderator
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Quoted from Scar Tissue Films
Most comedies are only drama's taken to extremes. They are generally just the fish out of water story, so you take someone who is good at something and put him in a completely alien enviroment.

EG A CIA operative in a family situation (Meet the Parents), A man pretending to be a woman (numerous films  inc Mrs Doubtfire and Tootsie) a psychologist in the Mafia (Analyse this).


The fish out of water is as much used in dramatic pieces as they are in comedic.  It really depends on how you look at it.  The examples that you gave can also be used in serious movies, including The Good Shepherd, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, and the Sopranos.

I'm sure that most comedies have their dramatic counterparts and vice-versa.


Phil

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Scar Tissue Films
Posted: April 21st, 2009, 1:10pm Report to Moderator
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Oh yeah, I don't deny that. In a way I think that strenghtens my argument, they are closely related. I think if you have a strong understanding of what is dramatic and powerful, you would almost certainly have an idea of what would be funny in the same situation.

A lot of very powerful and dramatic films have a good dose of humour as well. Good writers will tend to have a wide palate of emotions and options to use. Like yourself. You can write funny stuff and scary stuff.

It's just two sides of a coin really.


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dogglebe
Posted: April 21st, 2009, 1:21pm Report to Moderator
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All good dramas have comedic elements.  And all good comedies have dramatic elements.  I think they're needed just to break things up.

I don't think that everyone who can write drama can write comedy, though...


Phil
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JamminGirl
Posted: April 21st, 2009, 1:24pm Report to Moderator
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Quoted from Scar Tissue Films
I reckon Comedy can be learnt.

Most comedies are only drama's taken to extremes. They are generally just the fish out of water story, so you take someone who is good at something and put him in a completely alien enviroment.

EG A CIA operative in a family situation (Meet the Parents), A man pretending to be a woman (numerous films  inc Mrs Doubtfire and Tootsie) a psychologist in the Mafia (Analyse this).

A lot of comedy can be played extremely straight and it's the situation thats funny. That being the case, if you can write a strong drama you should have the tools to be able to make a fair stab at comedy IMO.

By taking two opposites you create a naturally funny situation and all you really have to do is to stay true to your character and the situations he gets into will naturally be awkward and amusing.

So for instance, you get a film like Kindergarten Cop where a tough Cop is placed in a school. All you have to do is write a tough guy cop scene (it can even be cliched, it doesn't matter) and have it administered to kids instead of criminals and it's funny. You don't even need any jokes, it's just the reversal of expectations that's funny.

I can see why some people would say you are either funny or not, but frankly, funny people don't necessarily write funny material.


Actually I'll go even further. Comedy is about knowing what people expect from a given situation, lay out three quarters of the situation for them then give them the complete unexpected.
The subject matter can be as minute as noticing people's behaviour while standing in line and taking an unexpected point of view on it. Check out Larry David's 'Curb your Enthusiasm'.

Take an example from 'Moonstruck' where there was no fish-out-of-water scenario.


Quoted Text
AN OLD ITALIAN CRONE IS LOOKING OUT THE TERMINAL WINDOW

               In the background we see the accordion like ramp that was
               loading to the departing aircraft, slowly fold up. Loretta
               walks up beside her, and looks out the window, too. The crone
               is dressed in black and has a black scarf on her head.

               The Crone notices Loretta.

                                     CRONE
                         Do you have someone on that plane?

                                     LORETTA
                         Yeah.
                              (smiles)
                         My fiancé.

                                     CRONE
                         I have put a curse on that plane. My
                         sister is on that plane. I have put
                         a curse on that plane that it should
                         explode. Burn on fire and fall into
                         the sea. Fifty years ago she stole a
                         man from me. Today she told me that
                         she didn't even love him. She took
                         him to feel strong with me. Now she
                         goes back to Sicily. I have cursed
                         her that the green Atlantic water
                         should swallow her up.

                                     LORETTA
                         I don't believe in curses.

                                     CRONE
                              (smiles)
                         Neither do I.


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