Writing the Comedy Film: Make 'em Laugh

by Stuart Voytilla, Scott Petri

This book takes you into the world of comedy and helps you discover what makes us laugh, and how can you craft better comedy. With easy-to-use guidelines, learn the successful mechanics and characteristics of various comic story forms.

Genres: Writing, Film, Reference, Nonfiction

213 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[E.H. Nolan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is definitely either for screenplay writers or students, who want to be screenplay writers. Regular ol’ moviegoers who are in the mood to dissect funny movies might want to pass on this one; it’s really organized like a textbook. I was a film student when I read it, and almost all the films Stuart Voytilla and Scott Petri reference were objects of study in that and other classes. This isn’t a snake oil book that claims everyone who writes it will instantly become a brilliant comedic writer. Instead, it discusses reasons for why audiences laugh at different types of humor—true to life irony, wish-fulfillments, over-the-top drama—and uses films and famous writers to illustrate their lessons. Ten chapters are dedicated to what they dub the ten types of comedies (ie teen comedies, romantic comedies, etc) and how they are structured in order to win audiences over and make them laugh.

Bottom line, it’s extremely interesting if you’re in the mood to segment out types of humor and structures of films. If you’re more of a knee-jerk, “if it’s funny it’s funny” type of person who doesn’t like to take notes during a lecture, this probably won’t be your favorite book.

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[Benjamin Wallace]

Not bad. Up until the point where it misquoted Spinal Tap. That is unforgivable.