basic joke
 

    There are only a few basic jokes with many variations.

    The basic joke in every play, in every scene, is our link with the audience.

    The root joke that links it with all mankind.

    Finding the basic joke.

basic joke list     comedy     humor     joke

3.

     Comedy; don't look for individual things. Look for basic joke.

     What is the basic joke?

      Audience has to relate to basic joke. What situation is going on here that audience have seen forever.

     Where jokes lie in humanity from start of time.
     Essence of all comedy: need to find the underlying basic joke throughout. Also, basic joke can be scene by scene, it doesn't have to stay the same.

     Look for the human denominator.
 
2.

     What is comic material?

     Basic joke:

      All humanity has dealt with from the beginning of time as you know it. Joke from the cave man times.

     There are no new jokes.
     A life truism. Reach the audience.
     What are characters attitudes? How they react to each other?
     Must be opposites.
     What's funny about it?
     Overall joke.
     Tune in on the joke. Who is the injured party?
     If it is rational.
     Find behavior.
     What audience can associate with? Basic joke is scene by scene, something audience can identify with.
     Find the central core that tickles. What is the central thing people are laughing about?

     If a thing is tragic enough it's funny.

     Get basic joke and then find behavior.

1.

     If you're on the right basic joke you'll accomplish a lot.

     Key to comedy:

     Keep the scene in focus on basic joke.

     Humor is from basic joke.
     Show us the creative process. Basic joke. Difficulty.
     Humor relates to audience. What can they relate too?
     You need separate individuals: Laurel and Hardy. Underlying basic joke: (bumbling expert). Audience is laughing at themselves. Contest of wills.
     Same jokes, different circumstances.

     All comedy set-up: Some are the clown. The square is the identification of audience.
  1. Audience has to relate to basic joke.
  2. The first thing you got to find for a scene is the basic joke.
  3. Essence of all comedy: need to find the underlying basic joke throughout.
  4. How to deal with joke: just exposition to exposition.
  5. Humor relates to audience. What can they relate too? Basic joke.
  6. Comedy has a basic joke. Tie it to the audience. Away from norm.
  7. Comedy must amuse.
  8. Find the joke that fits the moment in play.
  9. What is comic material? Why is it funny? Look for the basic joke. There are no new jokes.

"In the end, it can't look like acting."

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