Directing Comedy by Chris Smith https://padlet.com/smithchris1804/um0dofn783fn Add below quotes from the interviews you find revealing or interesting en-us 2017-03-01 07:59:33 UTC 2025-10-04 23:01:40 UTC hello@padlet.com Directing comedy is a delicate dance of low-key and high-key, of action and reaction, of movement and stillness https://padlet.com/smithchris1804/um0dofn783fn/wish/156979734 2017-03-01 11:34:10 UTC https://padlet.com/smithchris1804/um0dofn783fn/wish/156979734 https://padlet.com/smithchris1804/um0dofn783fn/wish/156979766 "the essence of comedy, which is to take the truth and mine it for humor without selling it out for the laugh" (Garry Shandling quoted by Holland, T.).]]> 2017-03-01 11:34:23 UTC https://padlet.com/smithchris1804/um0dofn783fn/wish/156979766 First rule: there are no rules for directing comedy. Second rule: see rule number one. https://padlet.com/smithchris1804/um0dofn783fn/wish/156979900 2017-03-01 11:35:15 UTC https://padlet.com/smithchris1804/um0dofn783fn/wish/156979900 Those who direct it regularly, and well, will tell you that it's more intuition than erudition. More luck than pluck. And they readily admit that directing comedy is destined to drive one mad. https://padlet.com/smithchris1804/um0dofn783fn/wish/156979940 2017-03-01 11:35:29 UTC https://padlet.com/smithchris1804/um0dofn783fn/wish/156979940 First rule: there are no rules for directing comedy. Second rule: see rule number one. https://padlet.com/smithchris1804/um0dofn783fn/wish/156979989 2017-03-01 11:35:49 UTC https://padlet.com/smithchris1804/um0dofn783fn/wish/156979989 smithchris1804 https://padlet.com/smithchris1804/um0dofn783fn/wish/156980090  My comedy rules are that the camera should never, never be moving on a punch line. And pure comedy tends to play best without a cut, or calling too much attention to itself. ]]> 2017-03-01 11:36:40 UTC https://padlet.com/smithchris1804/um0dofn783fn/wish/156980090 https://padlet.com/smithchris1804/um0dofn783fn/wish/156980107 "My most important rule in directing comedy is making sure you can see the people's eyes. Both eyes. When they deliver a joke, you want to see their face. And you have to see the eyes of the setup person too" (King, M).]]> 2017-03-01 11:36:47 UTC https://padlet.com/smithchris1804/um0dofn783fn/wish/156980107 "It's my job as director of a comedy to set up the joke. I'm a Jew. If I hear an anti-Semitic joke from a stranger, I'm offended and outraged. If a close friend or relative tells me the same joke, I'm laughing. The joke hasn't changed, just my perception of how the joke is being presented. That's how directing comedy works. If I set it up properly, it works. https://padlet.com/smithchris1804/um0dofn783fn/wish/156980197 2017-03-01 11:37:21 UTC https://padlet.com/smithchris1804/um0dofn783fn/wish/156980197 smithchris1804 https://padlet.com/smithchris1804/um0dofn783fn/wish/156980249  Drama tends to be analytical, comedy much more technical. It's about rhythm, timing, pace and energy. ]]> 2017-03-01 11:37:39 UTC https://padlet.com/smithchris1804/um0dofn783fn/wish/156980249 It could be funny on the page, but if it's not executed properly, or edited the right way, you lose it. https://padlet.com/smithchris1804/um0dofn783fn/wish/156980264 2017-03-01 11:37:42 UTC https://padlet.com/smithchris1804/um0dofn783fn/wish/156980264 My theory of comedy filmmaking is that you have to start out with fleshed-out characters and real conflicts who have real things at stake. Because the more rooted the characters, the deeper you laugh. https://padlet.com/smithchris1804/um0dofn783fn/wish/156980356 2017-03-01 11:38:15 UTC https://padlet.com/smithchris1804/um0dofn783fn/wish/156980356 "Directing comedy and drama are completely different crafts that use different sets of muscles. The subject matter invariably dictates the way you light it, the lenses you pick, the way the story is told and the composition. My favorite type of comedy film is the one that's shot like a drama, like Being There. It's the situation and the characters that make it funny, not the setups and punch lines." https://padlet.com/smithchris1804/um0dofn783fn/wish/156980384 2017-03-01 11:38:26 UTC https://padlet.com/smithchris1804/um0dofn783fn/wish/156980384 It's the situation and the characters that make it funny, not the setups and punch lines. https://padlet.com/smithchris1804/um0dofn783fn/wish/156980471 2017-03-01 11:39:05 UTC https://padlet.com/smithchris1804/um0dofn783fn/wish/156980471 And timing and pacing are everything. It could be funny on the page, but if it's not executed properly, or edited the right way, you lose it. https://padlet.com/smithchris1804/um0dofn783fn/wish/156980474 2017-03-01 11:39:05 UTC https://padlet.com/smithchris1804/um0dofn783fn/wish/156980474 smithchris1804 https://padlet.com/smithchris1804/um0dofn783fn/wish/156980548  As far as cinematic style goes, when you're doing comedy, the most important thing is for your audience not to be confused. If you slam them with too much information, it confuses them — and they won't laugh if they're confused. ]]> 2017-03-01 11:39:35 UTC https://padlet.com/smithchris1804/um0dofn783fn/wish/156980548 https://padlet.com/smithchris1804/um0dofn783fn/wish/156980566 "you don't want the camera jumping around too much, because it tends to make viewers feel like they're being manipulated and prompted" (Gillespie, C.]]> 2017-03-01 11:39:40 UTC https://padlet.com/smithchris1804/um0dofn783fn/wish/156980566 "One of the big challenges in directing comedy is that you can't really make someone funny. You can set up the situation. You can put together the necessary elements. But you cannot make the actor BE funny. So casting the comedy well is essential." https://padlet.com/smithchris1804/um0dofn783fn/wish/156980627 2017-03-01 11:40:03 UTC https://padlet.com/smithchris1804/um0dofn783fn/wish/156980627