Writing the Comedy Movie

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Description

It is often suggested that there are secrets to comedy or that it is lightning in a bottle, but the craft of comedy writing can be taught. While comedic tastes change, over time and from person to person, the core underpinning still depends on the comedic geniuses that have paved the way. Great comedy is built upon a strong foundation. In Writing the Comedy Movie, Marc Blake lays out in an entertainingly readable style the nuts and bolts of comedy screenwriting. His objective is to clarify the rules of comedy: to contextualize comedy staples such as the double act, slapstick, gross-out, rom com, screwball, satire and parody and to introduce new ones such as the bromance or stoner comedy. He explains the underlying principles of comedy and comedy writing for the screen, along with providing analysis of leading examples of each subgenre.

Reviews

A solid source of information that combines practical comedy tips in an academic context. The writing style is engaging and oftentimes funny, providing expert analyses with a variety of classic comedy examples taken from the last hundred years ... Provides valuable insight into the comedy industry for those interested in learning about the craft, or perhaps rediscovering their passion for it. * Alphaville: Journal of Film and Screen Media *
A comprehensive and insightful survey of cinematic comedy forms and genres. * Paul Gulino, Associate Professor of Film, Chapman University, USA, and author of Screenwriting: The Sequence Approach *
Marc Blake has written a very cool guide that will help new and experienced writers complete the comedy movie they've only been talking about writing. He covers the full spectrum of the types of comedies one can write: bromances, parodies, teen, gross out, dark and sex comedies, to name a few. Belongs on every comedy writer's shelf. * D.B. Gilles, Professor of Undergraduate Film, New York University, USA, and author of Writers Rehab and Youre Funny! *

Author Bio

Marc Blake is the author of several books on comedy and comedy/sitcom writing. A stand-up comedian and comic novelist, he has had his own BBC radio series and has written for many famous comics and for numerous TV comedy shows.