Comedy Research Activity

What is Comedy?

Comedy is simply a fiction-related genre that can incite laughter and is used to amuse its audiences. Unlike a genre like horror which is meant for those who enjoy thrilling or scary movies or war movies for people who enjoy learning about history, anyone can enjoy the genre of comedy. Comedy is meant to bring up people's spirits and bring happiness to the masses. It can be enjoyed by people of all ages, depending on which type of comedic media they're consuming.

Content

Many comedies involve the main character setting themselves up for failure, strange events occurring, or overall clumsy characters taking part in "silly" activities. The different plots used within a comedy film help give the film support and create an overall similarity between the films. Many comedies are created in a hill or triangle-like structure. A protagonist is a happy-go-lucky person who ends up being on a "mission" of some sort. They gather some friends to help them with this mission and create a nonsensical plan to take on. This plan usually goes pretty well until they hit a bump in the road and all hope feels gone. However, as it is a comedy, the protagonist always quickly finds a way to victory and has a happy ending. This happy ending leaves the audience laughing and in a positive mood.

EX. Good Boys follows this same plot structure.

A comedy film may include elements like satire in order to make fun of different things going on in the film. This gives more opportunities for the viewers to laugh simply because the film is deemed more relatable. This element is used to expose truths and expose realities. Even though the film is a comedy, it now has true elements of subjects that are being discussed in the real world.

EX. Don't Look Up uses satirical elements which are used to discuss current issues occurring in the world.

Production Techniques

Diegetic and non-diegetic sound plays a huge role in comedy filmmaking. Diegetic sound helps create more opportunities for laughter within the audience. It allows for a clear sound to be created for the audience to hear, usually pertaining to conversations between characters. The clearer the dialogue is, the clearer a joke or laughable comment is to an audience which makes the film more enjoyable. Non-diegetic sound also helps to create "funnier" elements within a film. The sound is edited in which can emphasize certain aspects of a scene and the film as a whole. A common non-diegetic sound in a comedy is edited in laughing or clapping.

One of the most important factors that go into a comedy film is the setting. Setting completely sets the tone for the whole film. A comedic film usually has a brighter setting with bright striking colors like yellows and greens. The setting of a comedy also depends on the age range that the film is created for. For example, a comedy created for a teenager may occur in a school or town, and a comedy created for adults may occur in a place of work.

EX. The Breakfast Club takes place in Shermer High School where 5 teenagers go to detention.

There are also different types of filmmaking shots that lend to making a comedy film live up to its greatest potential. Close-ups and two shots help create a more personal feeling between the viewer and the character. These shots make it easier for members of the audience to relate and connect with them, as well as understand the jokes made in the film.

How is Comedy marketed?

Comedy films can be enjoyed by people of all ages, depending on if the movie is rated G, PG, PG-13, or rated R. Therefore, there are different marketing strategies that are used for different films, depending on what age it's being marketed towards.

In a film meant for children and teenagers, films may be marketed through more social media strategies than in previews at the movie theater or on cable TV. Since there has been a rise in the use of technology among children and teens, they are more likely to be on their phones or computers than watching TV in their free time. However, for an adult marketing may occur more on cable TV networks and less on their phones. Adult comedy films may also be marketed through online newspapers and news articles as ads.

Commercials on TV are often used depending on the average age of who would most likely be watching the program. For example, a comedy that is rated R would be a commercial on a program that is late at night or on a program where another rated R movie show is shown. A PG-13 or PG movie may be commercialized the same way on a program that shows films of the same rating a little earlier in the day and night; and a movie that's rated G would be marketed to small children on channels that they would be watching, like cartoon channels.

Film Sample 1

Instant Family (2018)

The film Instant Family (2018) is about a couple who is interested in adopting children. Although they only wanted to adopt one child; however, the child that they wanted to adopt came with two other siblings. So, they committed to a future of having a larger family with three new children. Since they've never been parents before, they run into a few issues. Each child has a bit of a "quirk" to them that the parents Pete (Mark Wahlberg) and Ellie (Rose Byrne) have to adjust to. This poses many problems throughout the parenting styles of Pete and Ellie. This too follows that same plot layout in many other comedies. The movie begins with a happy and positive feeling family who are excited to adopt a child. All goes well and they bring home 3 children. Time goes on, and there are a few bumps in the road, but overall parenting is going well. However, they reach the top of the "triangle" or "mountain" plot style when one child gets hurt and is immediately followed by an encounter wth the children's biological mother. Their mother is supposed to be fit to take them back, which leaves Pete and Ellie in a state of stress and sadness. However, like all other comedies, the movie ends with a happy ending for the whole family. This is a comedy that also discusses real-world issues, underneath its funny comedic elements. The adoption system is known for having its faults and although this movie doesn't depict it perfectly, it is able to shine its light on how the adoption system works.

Film Sample 2

Sausage Party (2016)

The film Sausage Party is a comedic cartoon film that is simply about a sausage who lives in a grocery store and is trying to escape, so he and his friends don't get cooked and eaten alive. This sausage, Frank (Seth Rogan) gathers some friends which are other foods from the grocery store to help him escape. This is similar to other comedies where a nonsensical plan is made to take on a mission of some sort. Frank and his girlfriend Brenda (Kristen Wig) set out on a mission to save their friends in the grocery store since they can’t save themselves because they don’t believe frank and his antics. In the food's minds, they think that getting bought is a great joy; however, it really means that they will be cooked and killed when they arrive at the humans' house. As Frank's friends continue to be bought and learn the truth about their destinies outside of the grocery store, he follows his plan to save his fellow food friends. Similar to other comedies this too follows the “triangle” or “mountain” plot outline. This movie was actually slightly controversial, because of how sexually oriented it was and that it was a cartoon. If a child is watching TV with their parents and see a trailer for a funny cartoon about food, they’re probably going to want to watch it. But, this move is rated R and is far from appropriate for a child. In Sausage Party, bright colors are used throughout which is a common production technique used throughout comedies. All of the foods have bright reds, yellows, greens, and more positively connoted colors. This film also highlights elements of love and almost all of its aspects, which is another common element of comedies. But, the over-sexualization of foods throughout the movie and its cartoon child-like nature posed many problems for parents whose children watched the movie not knowing exactly what it was about and watching inappropriate content.