Hello, ive decided that im going to try to write a movie script, ive never done this before however its always something ive wanted to do. It will be most likely a comedy. Any tips or pointers you can give me before i begin this project?

I'm sure this has been said a million times but--

Read, read, and read some more.  Make a list of your twenty favorite movies and then go up to the simplyscripts search engine and read every single one you can find.

I'd say go buy a screenwriting book, but I think they're kind of a waste of money.  I've read books that basically go tell you to go read scripts like Chinatown or whatever and I'm like, "Why did I just pay 30$ for this?"  Everything you need to know about writing scripts, you can find in already written ones.  Or you can google it.  I'm sure there's blogs out there that can answer your questions on act breaks or whatever(I found a site that discussed the act structure of Jaws in pretty good detail).  Try John August's blog or search through these boards.

This is what I did: on the homepage there's a WGA list of the 101 greatest scripts ever written with links to most of them.  I've read about 85% of them by now and I've learned so much from them.  

And no matter how hard it is to write, finish that first draft.  It's way easier to go back and revise a draft that you can read through first and understand what's going on than coming back to a 36 page draft you ditched months ago and trying to figure out where you were going with it.

Another thing that I'm sure will help a lot is that Dialogue series.  It's basically interviews with top writers and they discuss their rules and how they write and other things like that.  They're just little snipets of the full interview but with all of them combined there's so much you can learn.  Just go to http://www.stage6.com and search "Dialogue series" - You should be able to find a couple on the first page and that will lead you to more.

Hope any of this helps.

Thanks that helps a bit.

when you say "Make a list of your twenty favorite movies and then go up to the simplyscripts search engine and read every single one you can find."

Does that mean read the scripts of the films from my list? Or to just read a bunch of random scripts from the site?

Reading produced scripts is not necessarily the best way to go.  You should be writing spec scripts and not shooting scripts, as these are the scripts you'll be writing.  Spec scripts are not as detailed as shooting scripts and are written to tell the story.

Read some scripts here.  Go to the SIMPLY RECOMMENDED thread and pick some scripts there to read.  Read thte threads that follow the scripts so you can learn how to critique them.

And then critique them.


Phil

Number one rule... Have fun.

~Zack~

I meant, read the scripts of your favorite movies because they're gonna be easier for you to read than some random script you've never heard of.  Also, if you own the movie you can read and watch it at the same time.  That's really helpful when you want to understand how a certain scene is written or other little things like that.

I don't see a problem with reading produced scripts.  It all depends on the writer.  I've read purchased specs that were littered with "We see..." and "We hear..." and had twice as many camera angles than the average shooting script and I've read shooting scripts where the only thing that gives it away as a shooting script are the scene numbers(which aren't even a default function on most writing programs, so you don't even have to worry about it).

Just read a lot of scripts and gain an understanding of the general formatting.  There's no correct way to format a script but you'll quickly see that they all have a similar look to them and you can just pick a script that looks like it's formatted correctly and just refer to it when writing(that's what I did).

I highly suggest downloading the Celtx writing program as it is very helpful in formatting your scripts for you.  The learning curve is only about an hour or so because they have videos on how to use it, but I just started writing a random scene and I learned how it worked very quickly.

Way ahead of you on the Celtx thing , downloaded it awhile ago. Anyway i posted up a VERY short scene i wrote for what i hope will become a nice comedy short.

Go read it if you want, in the WIP section. (nvm its no longer there , it was deleted. If you would like to read it i can pm it to you, its only like 2 pages)

Your WIP thread was deleted, but not before I read it.  Here's what I thought:

This is shock humor and it's not very good.  How much mileage do you think you can get by repeating the c-word over and over again?

Other than that, you should name your characters.  Guy1 and Guy2 sometimes works for walk on characters, but these are the main characters of your script.


Phil

I'll be honest when I saw it I thought you were taking the piss, I thought it was vile. Vile can be excused if it is funny but that was so far away from funny it was in a different galaxy!

If I was wrong and it was a serious effort that I apologize but as per the great advice you have received above I would spend at least a month on this site reading scripts before you even begin to write anything of your own. I did that and it meant that while my first script may not have been that great at least I knew how it should be formatted and had a good idea of what a good script looked like - makes all the difference.

I deleted the posting.  Generally speaking, new to a discussion community, leading with a shock script is not your best bet.  Show us some of your more main stream work before laying the heavy stuff on us. Also, attention to spelling, punctuation and grammar shows that what you are presenting is not something you've just dashed off, but have put some time and thought into it.


Don

Some good advice here.  But yes, read a book or two about the art and craft of screenwriting, read a bunch of professional screenplays (go to http://www.movie-page.com for a good selection), and check out my website, http://www.TheWorkingScreenwriter.com (be sure to pay particular attention to the Fatal Flaws section).  Also know that at this stage in your “career,” you shouldn’t be writing to sell, but writing to learn.  You might have to write one, two, three or ten additional scripts before you’re in any position to sell anything.

Good luck!
Jim

I would recommend checking out the "Writer's Resources" on the homepage of Simply Scripts. Look at the GLOSSARY and SCREENPLAY FORMAT. Both can help a writer tremendously, I look at it whenever I get stuck. It helps me out. Actually, hell, I would check that out if I were you EVEN before you start reading a script. Mostly because you might not know some of the script words that are on here. (Beat, B.g, Insert, Freeze Frame etc..) So yeah, check that out. I think I made my point clear on that.

After reading both of those, I would check out scripts by some of the greats here. Either go to "Screenplay's You Have Posted" (which should really be a sticky) and "Simply Recommended Thread". Mainly because the greats are usually referred in those threads.

I really don't know what else to give, but I hope this helps. Along with all the others advice.

Quoted from The Working Screenwriter read a bunch of professional screenplays (go to http://www.movie-page.com for a good selection)

Ouch

Oh, Jim! You're bad!

*heads off to http://www.movie-page.com/

Whoa!!  Sorry, gang!  My bad.  I forgot what site I was on. Sure, Movie-Page is a good site, but so is Simply Scripts.  Really, it is.  Lots of great stuff here.   In fact, forget that other site.  Stay right here and download away.  

Sorry about that, Don.  

You made Don cry....


Phil

Quoted from The Working Screenwriter Whoa!!  Sorry, gang!  My bad.  I forgot what site I was on. Sure, Movie-Page is a good site, but so is Simply Scripts.  Really, it is.  Lots of great stuff here.   In fact, forget that other site.  Stay right here and download away.   Sorry about that, Don.

Your right to call us 'gang' is taken away.

My suggestion, is take some courses in screenwriting, like starting with the basics of FTV60A if you have no prior experience.  Because when all is said and done, you can't learn basic story structure off a website, it helps a lot, but you gotta learn first.  And like everyone else said, start reading some produced scripts, or highly looked up upon scripts around here.  There are some great scripts around here that you should definitely read to get a feel of formatting and story structure.  But like I said, taking the courses, and reading screenwriting books like "Writing Screenplays that Sell, The Ackerman way" By Hal Ackerman will help big time, namely the courses.

Hi, I am new here and have no experience in screenwriting. You say:

Quoted from Hoody I'd say go buy a screenwriting book, but I think they're kind of a waste of money.  I've read books that basically go tell you to go read scripts like Chinatown or whatever and I'm like, "Why did I just pay 30$ for this?"

I can not confirm that statement. You have probable grabbed the wrong books. They are not waste of money at all. I think it is a bad counsel to claim “they're kind of a waste of money “ in general.  I’ve got two good ones I am citing from under http://www.simplyscripts.net/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?b-screenwrite/m-1073084912/.

Quoted from Hoody Just go to http://www.stage6.com and search "Dialogue series".

http://www.stage6.com has been shutdown.

Hello

I'm so sorry for writing in such an old topic but I didn't found a more recent one and didn't think there would be the need to create a new one.

As you may see I'm new in this (great) forum and also in this "screenwriting business". I've written some short stories in portuguese (I'm portuguese) so you wouldn't understand.

I've read your advises and I'll follow most of them (I've downloaded a lot of professional scripts for example). I won't have much time in the next month and a half (until the holidays) due to school work and swimming and water polo practice 'though.

I'll be posting my doubts and even before I finish my first work I want to participate in the threads, you know, even if just to give my (humbly) opinion about some other works.

I would like to congratulate everyone who helps maintaining this iniciative, I find it amazing

Thank you.

PS: I'm sorry if there are some terrible grammar mistakes.

Best tip I can give you... other than my sig.   Don't write a comedy first. They are the absolute worst screenplays to tackle. Writing comedy is harder than any other genre there is. Why? Cos' comedy cannot be taught. Not "REAL" comedy... Comedy can be duplicated, but never taught.  If you're not funny, you're not funny. That's that. I feel too many people try to hard when they write comedies and that is why a great number of them, over 97%, fail with me at the box office.

Comedy has to come from your own experiences in life to be funny. I firmly believe this. The only problem with my way of thinking is that even if I find it funny... you all might not. See how tricky comedy can be? It all comes down to the other party and we all know how hard the other party is to please.

I wish you luck on your venture and hope it turns out well. I've only written one script in my life that was comedy and would never go back for another one. I try to add subtle humor, realistic humor, into my scripts but never full on comedy... It's a tough act to get right.

Quoted from Baltis. Cos' comedy cannot be taught. Not "REAL" comedy... Comedy can be duplicated, but never taught.

you're wrong.

I don't think he is wrong. You're funny or you're not. That's how I see it too. There's nothing worse than a guy in work who tries so hard to be funny, all he gets is blank stares, no laughs. He keeps trying, his jokes get worse, he gets irritating, I can't stand him anymore.

Comedy can be duplicated. See every stoner movie ever made.  

Quoted from JamminGirl you're wrong.

Perhaps... But ask me if I found "Knocked up" to be funny. If I said it was one of, if not the worst, comedy I had ever seen... Would I be wrong? Or, could you say it is just my opinion?

You saying I'm wrong is an opinion. I could hang around Jerry Seinfeld or Larry David all day long and not be any funnier. I'm sure I could have some funny stories to tell, but are they my stories to tell or their stories to tell?

Comedy is just not something you can teach in clown school. My opinion on comedy is this - If it's not forced it's funny. If someone is on stage trying their best to make me laugh it just won't happen. They are trying too hard.  Case and point... movies like "superbad" "Knocked up" "Anything with Ashton Kutcher" and a ton of other movies just aren't funny. They try too damn hard.

Comedy isn't about trying... It's about being.

Quoted from Baltis. ...Writing comedy is harder than any other genre there is...

This is true, but only as far as the readers taste and the delivery of lines.  Sometimes dialogue isn't funny to read but can be if delivered in a humorous way.  So that's where the actor takes over.

We all have different tastes and styles of writing.  And for me, the toughest genre to tackle is drama and easiest is comedy.  Cause I like writing nonsense.  But most writers usually steer away from it.

Tackle whatever genre you feel most comfortable and go with it.  You can't make everybody happy.

Comedy can be taught, but then it's just paint-by-the-numbers stuff everyone's already seen before.  But that works for some people.

Quoted from Baltis. Perhaps... But ask me if I found "Knocked up" to be funny. If I said it was one of, if not the worst, comedy I had ever seen... Would I be wrong? Or, could you say it is just my opinion? You saying I'm wrong is an opinion. I could hang around Jerry Seinfeld or Larry David all day long and not be any funnier. I'm sure I could have some funny stories to tell, but are they my stories to tell or their stories to tell? Comedy is just not something you can teach in clown school. My opinion on comedy is this - If it's not forced it's funny. If someone is on stage trying their best to make me laugh it just won't happen. They are trying too hard.  Case and point... movies like "superbad" "Knocked up" "Anything with Ashton Kutcher" and a ton of other movies just aren't funny. They try too damn hard. Comedy isn't about trying... It's about being.

...so you don't find "that 70's show" funny then? Well comedy is subjective. What you may find dull and boring, I may be rolling on the floor(well not really) for. I don't find Chris Rock funny but some swear he's hilarious.

There are various techniques that one can use successfully to gain laughter from an audience. Once a person understands the anatomy of a joke or funny situation, they should be able to successfully  create one.

Anything doable can be taught. (Script)writing was considered unteachable once...

EDIT to add: "Knocked up" was a good film, comedic or not. It depicted realism.

Baltis, welcome aboard...or welcome back, I guess!  I have to agree 100% with what you're saying, as well as the examples you gave. I absolutely hated those movies.  I literally almost got up and walked out during "Knocked Up". It was awful, as was Super Bad.

Funny thing is that they did so well at the Box Office and now, anything these guys do gets immediatley greenlit and makes another batch of moola.  I don't get it at all.

As I've said so often (like you did), most comedy isn't evven remotely funny to me, because it's so forced and fake.  There are numerous flicks that I find funny, but nothing recently other than the first 3/4 of "Heartbreak Kid", but the last 20 minutes or so was painful...really painful!

Comedy is hit or miss on a personal level. The lambs seem to laugh at anything they're supposed to, and that to me is just downright WEAK!!

The fact that you would consider any part of 'heartbreak kid' good/funny makes me raise my eyebrows at you...

Quoted from Dreamscale The lambs seem to laugh at anything they're supposed to, and that to me is just downright WEAK!!

That doesn't really give people credit at all.  

For someone who takes the "hit or miss" stance, you seem to be pretty harsh on people with opposing viewpoints of comedy.

(Note: Not trying to start an argument, but a discussion)

Again, comedy is a personal taste kind of thing, obviously, but I feel it's more than that.  Once someone gains popularity, in a comedy sense, it seems like they can do no wrong, and it's the "hip" thing to be into.


Obviously just my opinion here, but that's the way it seems to me.

Not trying to be harsh...

Quoted from Dreamscale Again, comedy is a presonal taste kind of thing, obviously, but I feel it's more than that.  Once someone gains popularity, in a comedy sense, it seems like they can do no wrong, and it's the "hip" thing to be into. Obviously just my opinion here, but that's the way it seems to me.

To a degree, I would agree with you.  When it comes to a film like "Superbad", I got the impression that a lot of critics (not the audience, but critics) felt it would be "uncool" to voice an opposing viewpoint to the film.  But that's just the way I saw it.  I feel like most people genuinely liked it.

Quoted from dresseme Comedy can be taught, but then it's just paint-by-the-numbers stuff everyone's already seen before.  But that works for some people.

For a long time comedy was always paint by numbers.  If you look at very early comedy, which was classically Commedia dell'arte, then you will see a rigid structure and characters that must be adhered to.  And people laughed because the structure and characters worked together to produce that laugh.  This structure and these characters are even used in modern times - the most notable example Gilligan's Island.  

But comedy has fallen into the paint by numbers method many other times. One that I'm a bit familiar with is vaudville where when you placed in the line up depended on the particular type of routine you were doing.  And there were only a limited number of types of routines.

Anyway, my point is comedy can be taught and has been for centuries.  

Did you like it?  I agree that there was some funny stuff in there, but I cringed my way through the vast majority of it.  The people that I saw it with all have a little saying...Super  Bad was indeed, super bad!

Personal opinion, once again.  Jammin' obviously hated Heartbreak Kid, and I thought it was hilarious.  I actually laughed out loud most of the movie and I also really like the relationship side of it with Stiller and Monaghan. I really liked both characters.

Quoted from mcornetto For a long time comedy was always paint by numbers.  If you look at very early comedy, which was classically Commedia dell'arte, then you will see a rigid structure and characters that must be adhered to.  And people laughed because the structure and characters worked together to produce that laugh.  This structure and these characters are even used in modern times - the most notable example Gilligan's Island.   But comedy has fallen into the paint by numbers method many other times. One that I'm a bit familiar with is vaudville where when you placed in the line up depended on the particular type of routine you were doing.  And there were only a limited number of types of routines. Anyway, my point is comedy can be taught and has been for centuries.

Yeah, paint-by-the-numbers comedy isn't necessarily a bad thing.  I mean, sometimes the "tried and true" methods are tried-and-true for a reason.  AND the existence of PBTN comedy makes it so you can defy these expectations for something really special.

Quoted from Dreamscale Did you like it?  I agree that there was some funny stuff in there, but I cringed my way through the vast majority of it.  The people that I saw it with all have a little saying...Super  Bad was indeed, super bad!

I thought "Superbad" had some amusing moments, but when it came down to it, I just didn't connect with the characters.  I hated how everyone kept touting it as "realistic", because I didn't find the dialogue believable at all (and my friends and I were pretty damn vulgar).



(NOTE:  I find it kind of funny that I wrote d-*-m-n, and it converted it to "d*rn".)

Quoted from mcornetto For a long time comedy was always paint by numbers.  If you look at very early comedy, which was classically Commedia dell'arte, then you will see a rigid structure and characters that must be adhered to.  And people laughed because the structure and characters worked together to produce that laugh.  This structure and these characters are even used in modern times - the most notable example Gilligan's Island.   But comedy has fallen into the paint by numbers method many other times. One that I'm a bit familiar with is vaudville where when you placed in the line up depended on the particular type of routine you were doing.  And there were only a limited number of types of routines. Anyway, my point is comedy can be taught and has been for centuries.

Exactly. The reason people have been making paint-by-numbers comedy is because most seem to take the fallacious point of view that you've got to be born funny.

I think anyone who tries to write a comedy is a damn fool.

My 0.02:

'Superbad' felt like a '00s 'American Pie', but I think the latter resonated because it focused on the loss of virginity. That's a hugely powerful draw for any teenager who is desperate to 'get some'.

Humour aside, 'American Pie' was a true reflection of growing pains, whereas 'Superbad' felt forced at times. 'American Pie' had something to say.

'Knocked Up' was more than just a comedy, IMO. It attempted to delve into the notion of letting life slip away/idly dreaming (their website), and then the realisation that life can spring surprises on you. It was sporadically funny, but again, had something to say for itself.

One man's meat, and all that.

Andrew

American Pie is a great example of a comedy that was a total success...pretty much on all levels.  It delivered for sure. Funny as Hell.  Great characters who all had their own voice. Great sight gags.  Memorable scenes.  And great nudity.  It also told us something and gave a life lesson.

Super Bad didn't do any of these things, IMO.   Other than McLovin, nothing stood out for me at all.

Quoted from JamminGirl ...so you don't find "that 70's show" funny then? Well comedy is subjective. What you may find dull and boring, I may be rolling on the floor(well not really) for. I don't find Chris Rock funny but some swear he's hilarious. There are various techniques that one can use successfully to gain laughter from an audience. Once a person understands the anatomy of a joke or funny situation, they should be able to successfully  create one. Anything doable can be taught. (Script)writing was considered unteachable once... EDIT to add: "Knocked up" was a good film, comedic or not. It depicted realism.

No, I don't find that 70's show funny. I also hate Family Guy and about 97% of all tv... It's just not funny.  The thing here is not what "I" find funny or what "YOU" find funny, cos' we're going to have our own opinions.  What you did was tell me I was wrong... then turned around and gave me your opinion as if it was right.

See how that works?  

When writing comedy you have to make it for a certain demograph... You have to. You can't sit down and write a comedy and say "I'm going to make this movie so funny EVERYONE is going to love it"  Why? Cos' it don't work that way.  You have different kinds of comedies and all of them appeal to different people and groups and races and creeds.

When I say comedy can't be taught, I mean it from the bottom of what "I" believe. Not what you believe. I say that not to be mean or rude or anything, but because I know everyone is going to have a difference of opinion and my word isn't king.

Quoted from Baltis. When writing comedy you have to make it for a certain demograph... You have to. You can't sit down and write a comedy and say "I'm going to make this movie so funny EVERYONE is going to love it"  Why? Cos' it don't work that way.  You have different kinds of comedies and all of them appeal to different people and groups and races and creeds. When I say comedy can't be taught, I mean it from the bottom of what "I" believe.

I said you're wrong because you didn't qualify your statement as an opinion. You stated it as 'fact'.
Now you're giving a more nuanced response regarding demography.

I'm very well aware that there are people who believe(quite wrongly) that some things are simply impossible unless one is born with a propensity to conquer those things. It's strange, but I know the mindset exists...

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".

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".

While it's true that some people might have a gift for comedy and that they might be funnier than you (or like your sports analogy stronger or speedier) that does not preclude someone from writing a funny comedy.  So, it isn't the funniest comedy - so what.

There's always going to be something funnier.  "ers" are the way of the world, they are always going to be there and they aren't a reason not to do your best.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Quoted from JamminGirl See now, you caused me to laugh out loud.

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

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...

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.

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"  

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.

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.

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 ?

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.

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

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.

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

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.