Quote: sootyj @ October 23 2008, 8:29 PM BSTI figured the biggest hold upto me getting any where as a comedy writer was having a sense of humor or fun.
It's good to see that I've corrected that error.
Comedy is anger by other means.
At it's best it's violence redirected.
Woah! Hold the phones! You are Winston Smith and I claim my five pounds.
Totally serious, I think having a sense of the structure of comedy is way more important.
I don't actually laugh very much, but I do appreciate a good well strucutred joke.
And comedy is an intensley agressive concept, how ever sweet you maybe.
You're still looking to mock something, to denegrate it to the state of ridiculosness.
Quote: roscoff @ October 23 2008, 8:39 PM BSTWoah! Hold the phones! You are Winston Smith and I claim my five pounds.
Thanks 1984 is one of my favorite books.
But I'm more of an O'Brien he does have a lovely dry wit.
Quote: sootyj @ October 23 2008, 8:42 PM BSTTotally serious, I think having a sense of the structure of comedy is way more important.
I would say actually being able to write funny stuff within the structure is more important! And I don't believe for a second that being witty or fun in real life is going to have any negative effect on your writing! I love a good laugh and I seem to be doing Ok!
It's being able to deconstruct it and make people who aren't your "comfort audience" laugh.
To make people laugh, who don't share your sense of humor, now that's a challenge.
People point and laugh at me all the time. I should do stand up. I'd be a natural.
Quote: sootyj @ October 23 2008, 8:48 PM BSTIt's being able to deconstruct it and make people who aren't your "comfort audience" laugh.
To make people laugh, who don't share your sense of humor, now that's a challenge.
Can't say I ever think about it; I just write what makes me happy.
I do that for fun.
But getting a joke out that doesn't amuse me, but makes others laugh.
Now that is a sense of achievment.
It's like the diference between a cook and a chef.
Quote: Matthew Stott @ October 23 2008, 8:53 PM BSTCan't say I ever think about it; I just write what makes me happy.
Same here. If you turn into too much a challenge, it may stop being fun and then what is the point? Have fun in whatever you do and it should just come easy 
Quote: sootyj @ October 23 2008, 8:55 PM BSTI do that for fun.
But getting a joke out that doesn't amuse me, but makes others laugh.
Now that is a sense of achievment.
It's like the diference between a cook and a chef.
Wrong I think, a chef creates with love and passion and joy, the rest of the cooks in the kitchen do what he says. Sure I can write to a brief, but why would I want to when I can create something that makes me happy? Why would I want to write stuff I didn't like myself? If that's what I was doing all the time then I wouldn't bother.
Quote: roscoff @ October 23 2008, 8:15 PM BST
I'm touched. I was trapped in Dave Chapman's basement. He tempted me in with the promise of fast women and slow gin. Whilst there he threw puns at me for 8 hours every day. I only escaped when Aaron rescued me after stripping naked greasing himself from head to foot and sliding through the piping. What a man!
Any reason to grease up. 
Quote: zooo @ October 23 2008, 8:17 PM BSTHee! Hmm, like when you're being introduced to new people at weddings or other social gatherings (*spits on floor*). And they hug you hello! Or more usually kiss you on the cheek.
I actually flinch. The poor buggers probably think it's something personal. It's not really.
Still... I can honestly say that that's never happened to me. I would just step backwards.
*shudder*
Quote: zooo @ October 23 2008, 8:19 PM BSTYes, I done killed him.
Quote: RubyMae - Glamourous Snowdrop at Large @ October 23 2008, 8:56 PM BSTHave fun in whatever you do and it should just come easy
Oohhhhh yeah. 
Along similar lines is general over familiarity. You've just been introduced to someone and then they act like they've known you for a thousand years. Arrrgh! F**k off ya creep! 
Quote: roscoff @ October 23 2008, 10:06 PM BSTAlong similar lines is general over familiarity. You've just been introduced to someone and then they act like they've known you for a thousand years. Arrrgh! F**k off ya creep!
Yeah, that really bugs me.
Quote: Matthew Stott @ October 23 2008, 8:59 PM BSTWrong I think, a chef creates with love and passion and joy, the rest of the cooks in the kitchen do what he says. Sure I can write to a brief, but why would I want to when I can create something that makes me happy? Why would I want to write stuff I didn't like myself? If that's what I was doing all the time then I wouldn't bother.
For the reason any artist does, to create something with meaning and expression.
Sure I enjoy some of the stuff I write.
Seems a little juvenile to only write stuff I enjoy.
Quote: sootyj @ October 23 2008, 10:17 PM BSTSure I enjoy some of the stuff I write.
Seems a little juvenile to only write stuff I enjoy.
This really goes against everything I've ever heard, read, or seen, about comedy writing.
But heyho. If it works for you, I guess. 
Quote: roscoff @ October 23 2008, 10:06 PM BSTAlong similar lines is general over familiarity. You've just been introduced to someone and then they act like they've known you for a thousand years. Arrrgh! F**k off ya creep!
I'm always nice and hoping they are just very friendly and are not going to turn up at my house at 2am.