The Hidden Tools of Comedy
The Serious Business of Being Funny
Published on 1. July 2013
Book
Paperback/Softback
280 pages
978-1-61593-140-8 (ISBN)
Description
While other books give you tips on how to "write funny,” this book offers a paradigm shift in understanding the mechanics and art of comedy, and the proven, practical tools that help writers translate that understanding into successful, commercial scripts. The Hidden Tools of Comedy unlocks the unique secrets and techniques of writing comedy. Kaplan deconstructs sequences in popular films and TV that work and don't work, and explains what tools were used (or should have been used).
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Seattle
United States
Illustrations
black & white illustrations
Dimensions
Height: 228 mm
Width: 151 mm
Thickness: 22 mm
Weight
413 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-61593-140-8 (9781615931408)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
10/2013
1st Edition
Michael Wiese Productions
€27.49
Available for download
Person
For more than a decade, Steve Kaplan has been the industry's most sought-after expert on comedy writing and production. In addition to having taught at UCLA, NYU, Yale, and other top universities, Kaplan created the HBO Workspace, the HBO New Writers Program, and was co-founder and Artistic Director of Manhattan's Punch Line Theatre. He has served as a consultant to such companies as DreamWorks, Disney, Aardman Animation, HBO, and has worked with producers and production companies in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, London, Ireland, and Sweden.
Content
PART I: Understanding Comedy
Chapter 1: The Myths of Comedy
Chapter 2: A Comedy Perception Test
Chapter 3: The Theory of Comedy
Chapter 4: The Comic Equation
Chapter 5: Introducing the Tools
PART II: The HiddenTools of Comedy
Chapter 6: Tool #1 - Winning
Chapter 7: Tool #2 - The Non-Hero
Chapter 8: Tool #3 - ?Metaphorical ?Relationships
Chapter 9: Tool #4 - ?Positive (ly Selfish) Action
Chapter 10: Tool #5 - Active Emotion
Chapter 11: Tool #6 - ?Straight Line/Wavy Line
PART III: The Non-Hero's Journey
Chapter 12: ?The 3,000-Year History of Comedy (in 15 minutes)
Chapter 13: ?Tool #7- Archetype Casting
Chapter 14: Tool #8 -The Comic Premise
Chapter 15: ?Non-Hero's Journey
PART IV: Nuts & Bolts
Chapter 16: Take These Jokes, Please!
Chapter 17: ?Get Me Re-Write
Chapter 18: ?What I Really Want To Do Is Direct! and Act!
Chapter 19: ?"You're a Producer; Come Up With Something!”
Chapter 20: ?20 Great Comic Films and Sitcoms
Chapter 21: ?When Comedy Goes Bad: What to Avoid
PART V: The Punchline
Chapter 22: ?OK, I've Saved a Cat; Now What?
Chapter 23: Comedy FAQ
Chapter 24: ?Additional Resources or Who to Steal From (but please, always call it homage!)