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DAY 7 WILLIAM BEASLEY COMEDY BRAINSTORM SESSION 1
WHAT I LEARNED FROM THIS ASSIGNMENT IS HOW TO USE BRAINSTORMING TO COME UP WITH DIFFERENT SCENARIO’S.
SCENE OUTLINE
MARRIED COUPLE HAS DIFFERENT PLANS FOR WATCHING THEIR BRAND NEW BIG SCREEN TV ON A FALL SUNDAY AFTERNOON.
COMIC SITUATION
MISINTERPRETATION WITH SOME WILDLY INAPPROPRIATE RESPONSES.
CHARACTERS WITH COMIC LOGLINES
HUSBAND HAS BEEN PLANNING ON RELAXING AND WATCHING HIS FAVORITE FOOTBALL TEAM.
WIFE HAS PLAN TO WATCH A DVD WITH HER GIRLFRIENDS
POSSIBLE FUNNY MOMENTS
PLAYS LOUD MUSIC
TALKS LOUDLY ON HER PHONE
STARTS CLEANING THE LIVING ROOM
KEEPS BLOCKING HIS VIEW
ASKS A LOT OF DUMB QUESTIONS ABOUT THE GAME
WANTS TO DISCUSS THEIR RELATIONSHIP, BILLS
OUTLINE
HUSBAND HAS PREPARED TO WATCH GAME WITH HIS SNACKS AND BEVERAGES
WIFE INTRERRUPTS HIS VIEWING BY ASKING A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT SHE SEES
HUSBAND GETS ANNOYED AND DECIDES TO WATCH GAME ELSEWHERE.
WIFE CALLS HER FRIENDS TO COME OVER.
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DAY 7 darryl brant Brainstorming session
What I learned from this exercise is not settle on the first idea you think of. Now armed with knowledge of various comedic situations as well as different figures of speech, I need to brainstorm to write the funniest scene possible.
1. Scene Outline: Young man goes to the wedding of an ex-girlfriend marrying a considerably older man who is also her teacher.
Comic situations:
Misinterpretation – young man is led to believe that bride and groom are getting married for one reason but it is in fact another
Comedic Surprise – young man declares love for groom
Wildly Inappropriate Response – young man steals the mic from the band and starts singing ‘Hot for Teacher’ by Van Halen, then ‘Father Figure’ by George Michael, then Gary Glitter.
Forced union of incompatibles – the young man and groom are forced together somehow and have to converse
Embarrassment – young man declares his undying love for the bride while highlighting sordid details of their past life together
Comedic tragedy – young man has to endure terrible wedding music while watching love of his life profess her love for a man who is far better match than he would have ever been and has to accept it2. PAULIE – young man who is still in love with Claire
RODNEY – old groom about to marry Claire
CLAIRE – young bride who has moved on from Paulie to marry Rodney … or has she?
3. Embarrassment – young man declares his undying love for the bride while highlighting sordid details of their past life together as well as the wildly inappropriate response.
-When asked if anyone opposes the union, Paulie stands up and declares his love
-Prior to the ceremony, Paulie sings the above songs
-Paulie asks Rodney’s daughter out who is roughly the same age as the bride
-Paulie reveals sordid details of their past sex life
-accuses Claire of marrying Rodney only for her career.
-starts making out with the mother of Rodney/mother of Claire
-quickly becomes ordained online and officiates the wedding
-writes ‘vows’ for both Rodney and Claire
-spikes Rodney’s drink with ecstasy or spikes the minister’s drink so he cannot do the wedding
-parades out Rodney’s former students who’ve had a relationship with him
-plays guitar disrupting the ceremony at key moments
-dresses up as the bride
-rearranges the letters in CLAIRE/RODNEY to read CYLINDER AERO
-threatens to destroy the USB that contains Claire’s thesis
4. See above
5. Outline: Paulie arrives uninvited to the wedding of his ex-girlfriend, Claire, who is marrying a man twice her age, Rodney and who is also her teacher. At first, Paulie and Rodney are cordial, almost friendly. But when Paulie catches sight of Claire prior to the ceremony, he realizes he still loves her. In an attempt to sabotage the wedding, Paulie’s actions start from subtle by performing with the band and singing songs about the considerable age difference to rearranging the letters of their backdrop to changing Claire and Rodney’s wedding vows to making out with Rodney’s mother to finally standing up and vehemently opposing the union by inappropriately and explicitly retelling the sordid details of Paulie and Claire’s past relationship to all those in attendance embarrassing everyone while reinforcing Claire and Rodney’s marriage.
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Eclipse Neilson Day 7
What I’ve learn is to focus on the comedy only in this scene,(even the subtext) even though this is drama/comedy . I wrote this scene which will be closer to the end but haven’t I haven’t gotten there yet. I am only fifty pages in.So I suspect may changes. The brainstorming is not ina any special order.
COMEDY SITUATION: Radna and the girls go on a treasure hunt with their new dowsing pendulum crystals to find the hidden brass box filled with gold coins left by the ex-wife of the original owner George Wellworth. If they find the coins they will have enough money to make a down payment for the retirement home.
LOGLINES:
RADNA RADNA (80) a sophisticated free spirited hippie with a stern rebellious approach to life, has a flare for the supernatural and believes firmly everyone should want to be like her.
ANNE (97) wheelchair bound, hunched over, chin on her chest type of senior.She is a women of few words but when she speaks its to the point and has a bite to it.
SILVIA (78) eats when she is nervous – a bit of a fearful clown and the supernatural challenges her spiritual belief system though she tries to make nothing of it.
JEANIE (75) is gay keeps, has a Unitarian way of understanding the world but mostly keeps to herself.
TILDA (75) was raised a gypsy, talks too much, is a people pleaser and knows she needs to stand up for herself.
RADNA’S MOTHER GHOST ( 30’s) a sophisticated beauty of the roaring 20’s with a flare for life even though she is ghost.
MARTHA once a successful business woman who never took a break, trusts no one and has little patience but now must simply be one of the gals.
THE NIGHT CHILD (7) a young child spirit who sings ,dances and uses the Tarot deck to advise the elders.
GEORGE WELLWORTH (70) a good looking wealthy ghost who was seen in life as boring and is now trying to be unique and interesting.
BRAIN STORM/POSSIBLE FUNNY MOMENTS
EMBARRASSMENT:
They dress in night gowns and treasure hunting gear.
EMBARRASSMENT:
Anne plays pendulum and begins to hypnotize herself.
FORCED UNION OF INCOMPATIBLE :
They bicker a lot
FORCED UNION OF INCOMPATIBLE :
They are forced to call in the ghost of the mansion.
COMIC SURPRISE:
Three ghost/spirits work with them George, Radna’s Mother and the Night child.
Anne and child bond both have trickster personalities.
WILDLY IN APPROPRIATE RESPONSE
The women flirt with George
EMBARRASSMENT:
Enter kitchen first eat steal food.
COMIC SURPRISE:
Silvia freaks want to escape.
EMBARRASSMENT:
Look in all the wrong places
COMEDIC TRAGEDY
Find box in George’s favorite dog’s grave.
COMIC SURPRISE:WILDLY INAPPROPRIATE RESPONSE
Anne does the last ghostly spook
OUTLINE
The small group of women- the wanna be rebels, meet in the living room, after bedtime. They are in their night gowns with their over coats.
They have flash lights – some have their cell phone.They play blink blink with them like children.
Radna is at the head of the table handing out a map of the house and garden layout.
They bicker over who should go with whom.
Pause to practice their dowsing tools.Some try to control their pendulums.
Radna decides they should all start out together at first.
They enter the kitchen, Silvia runs to the fridge finds the muffins passes them out takes two for the road stuffs them in her pocket.
Martha checks the price of gold these days on her phone, announces its value makes comment on possible investments, snaps it close and pays attention.
Jeanie and Tilda check all the cans and bread boxes bins for gold realize that was dumb since box is square and a different size.
Anne plays with her pendulum while in her wheel chair and begins to hypnotize herself.
Radna sees its not working tells them to circle up for a OM together moment to get centered but they line up instead looking like the seven dwarfs.She rolls her eyes makes a comment.
She suggest they will need help from the ghostly residents. Smiles waiting for response.
They freak all at once. Silvia runs to the door to leave. But Tilda blocks the door not letting anyone escape.
They discuss ghost who what and when.
Silvia says she has to pee Martha hands her a bowl.
They finally consult their pendulums – yes is the answer
Three spirited ghost show up – The Night Child, singing the whistle a happy tune song from king and I
Radna’s motherghost with her roaring twenties gold studded dress and mannerisms.
George Wellworth in his late 1800’s outfit.
A cat ghost comes around the corner starts playing with the pendulums.
Silvia wants to stay inside with Anne. The Night Child says she will keep her company. Silvia reacts but calms down.
The exit into the garden pendulums and flashlights in hand.
Soon a large group of fancy dressed other era spirits appear and wave hello and move on.
Some get curious and follow along to observe the women who haven’t realized they are being followed.
Radna tells them to turn off the lights – she tells them do hold hands but everyone’s hand is full. She tells them to follow her and she will let them have everyone whisper if anything is there to trip over. It becomes a long line whispers of “roots, stones ,corners” and other objects being sent down the line like the game of telephone
Under the moonlight in the open rose garden they begin dowsing – first left step by step then right then in circles each following their pendulum instructions until they are all over the place.
Silvia rolls out Anne places her wheel chair in the middle of the action. Night child takes Anne’s hand and helps.They have bonded.
George flirts with Jeanie who has to tell him she gay- he doesn’t know what that means.She has to explain in a way he will get it.
Tilda gets jealous since George was flirting with her the other day and tells Jeanie forcefully he is hers to flirt with. (an act very unlike her and yes she knows he is a ghost.)
Radna’s mother steps in lights her cigarette in her extra long holder, exhales smoke in a Grerta Garbo style lets them both know she has already decided to make a move on him she IS a ghost so get lost .
The pendulums go wild at the base of a very large rose tree. The women huddle around it. Nervous but excited. George says that is where his old dog is buried. The cat looks up at him suddenly a mouse run out behind him between his legs . The women squeal
A ghost dog appears behind the bush , chases the cat who chases the mouse who jumps in the night child’s arms who pats him lovingly. Dog turns around and wags his tail excitely leaps on George who is thrilled to see his old hound.
They all get down on their knees and begin digging- mud and dirt get all over them. Soon they become children at the beach -someone make castles.
Suddenly they hear the sound of a car in driveway.
Flash lights go off. George tells them to act like ghost to become invisible. Each woman has their own way of what that looks like. Car drives away.
Flash lights go on. The begin t dig again.
The sound of metal on metal. They have found the box! Everyone digs faster.
Radna and Martha pulls it out of the hole.Everyone gives a little old lady jumps for glee
They open it and find a note. It is from Terresa, George’s runaway wife. (explained in an earlier scene.)
It reads you really think I would leave the gold behind ?!!- You old, boring, wealthy fool!
I knew you would never dig up the grave. Ha haha
The women look down at the hole, jump when they realize they have dug up a grave and quickly cover it again.
Anne looks up from her common head on chest position -makes a comment- about George being an old fool . Turns to Radna and makes a comment about whether she has a plan C . She hangs her head back down and mumbles something about having one . Everyone gets excited – Anne snoozes with a big smile on her face.
The women wheel her back to her room with box on her lap.they get her into bed.
She points to a letter on the bureau. Smiles and falls back to sleep. Begins to snore.
The women look over at the letter. Chit chat . See it is is addressed to them. They look back at Anne to ask about it .They see the smile on her face that looks more like a smirk – but it seems strangely frozen. She has stopped snoring.
They look at each other nudge each other to go check if she is ok.
(pause) all say at once “oh-oh”
(Beat)
Anne suddenly opens her eyes they all squeal . Anne laughs out loud.
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Day 7 – Larry’s Comedy Brainstorm Session!
What I learned is that by analyzing the situation closely there are multiple opportunities for comic points. The more you look at each discreet element of the situation, including characters and actions and references, etc. the greater the possibilities for creating humour.
Comedy situation: Forced Incongruent pairing
Comedy Characters and their loglines:
Jack Logger: physically fit, macho man who is also headstrong and a natural leader. He is not the brightest and can be childish and churlish. He disdains anyone who is weak or gay in his early 60’s
Billy Shirley: overtly gay man in his early 60’s is pleasant, jovial, intelligent, overweight.
Situation: Jack and Billy have been teamed up in a corporate, bond-building exercise involving a hike on an Adirondack Mountain hiking trail but have gotten lost along the way. Each carries oversized knapsacks. Jack is dressed like a serious hiker with rugged gear; Billy is dressed in frilly clothes.
OUTLINE – Possible funny moments:
Jack and Billy accuse each other for becoming lost:
– Jack says Billy is no Chingachgook; Billy retorts by singing the Davy Crockett ballad
– Jack accuses Billy of being no Boy Scout: not true – he has badges in cooking, pottery and leather work.: Jack: “Wow, the trifecta for the Martha Stewart merit badge.” Martha pops out of the bush: “Did someone mention my name? You know, I have a good recipe for trail mix.”
– Jack smacks a mosquito on his forehead and leaves a round red mark; they meet an East Indian guru coming from the opposite direction
– East Indian : “Namaste”; Jack: “Have a nice day.!”
– Ask where East Indian has come from: “Follow the path and it will lead to Erewhon.”
– Jack and Billy come into clearing and meet up with a bear which is several yards away, has not initially seen them. They freeze then strategize as to what to do:
– Jack: “Shit.” Billy: “Just did. By the way you carrying the toilet paper or am I?”
– Jack wants to throw it some snacks; Billy has eaten them all along the way. Jack: “I should feed you to the bear.” Billy: “They say don’t feed the wildlife. I think I’ll give that a hard pass.”
– Billy suggests playing dead; Jack goes into an elaborate death scene.
– Billy starts to make a loud noise to scare the bear away; the bear rears back and roars more loudly: Jack: “Way to go. Use your merit badge skill and whip it up a honey cake”: Martha Stewart pops out of the bush: “I have the perfect recipe for that sweet tooth of his.”
– Jack wants to “stare it down”: I’m tougher than any ol’ bear.” They get into a staring contest. This eventually aggravates bear.
– Jack: “One thing left to do. Run – and as long as I’m faster I’m home free.” Both turn and run. Billy trips over knapsack appearing dead. Bear bypasses Billy and chases Jack up a tree. Martha Stewart pops out of the bush. “When it comes to being chased by a bear. (beat) Sorry, boys I’ve got nothing. You’re on your own.” She disappears.
– Park rangers show up and scare bear away. Jack: “How did you find us?” Ranger holding a bunch of food wrappers.: “We followed these.”
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DAY 7 WILLIAM BEASLEY BRAINSTORM SESSION 1 REDUX
WHAT I LEARNED FROM THIS ASSIGNMENT IS HOW TO USE BRAINSTORMING TO COME UP WITH DIFFERENT COMIC SCENARIO’S.
SCENE OUTLINE
MARRIED COUPLE HAS DIFFERENT PLANS FOR WATCHING THEIR BRAND NEW BIG SCREEN TV ON A FALL SUNDAY AFTERNOON.
COMIC SITUATION
MISINTERPRETATION
CHARACTERS WITH COMIC LOGLINES
FRUGAL HUSBAND HAS PLACED A LARGE BET ON OUTCOME OF FOOTBALL GAME.
SCHEMING WIFE WHO PRETENDS NOT TO KNOW SPORTS HOPING HUSBAND WILL LEAVE.
POSSIBLE FUNNY MOMENTS
PLAYING LOUD MUSIC
TALKING LOUDLY ON PHONE
RUNNING VACUUM CLEANER
FINDING WAYS TO BLOCK VIEW
SETTING UP SNACK AREA
EATING THE SNACKS
WANTS DISCUSSIONS
RUN ERRANDS
TURNING TV ON
FLIRTING
DUMB QUESTIONS
DINNER PLANS
OUTLINE
HUSBAND PREPARING TO WATCH GAME
WIFE KEEPS INTERRUPTING
HUSBAND GETS ANNOYED AND LEAVES
WIFE CAN NOW WATCH WHAT SHE WANTS
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Ron Basci Comedy Brainstorm Session!
What I learned from this session: The more you explore, the better your result.
Comedy situations: Embarrassment, Wildly Inappropriate Response(s)
Characters and their log lines:
Billy, 31, is the kind of person who, no matter what the social situation, would rather be anywhere else. He rarely dates as he wants to become “financially secure” before committing to a partner. Will he ever get out of his own way long enough to have a serious shot at succeeding? He is practical, honest, frugal, awkward, shy, exasperating, a romantic at heart.
Jenny, 28, is ethereal, a child of the moon. A yoga instructor, there is no new age trend she hasn’t explored. While Jenny is adamant about being productive at all times, the truth is rather the opposite. Jenny is: Quirky, narcissistic, fun, faddist, athletic, outlandish.
Bob, 33, Billy’s best buddy.
Possible funny moments:
Billy’s reaction to possible date
Location: Amusement Park, evening
Separate arrivals: Billy arrives first
Waiting for Jenny
First Looks
Conversation
Misunderstanding
Wildly Inappropriate Response(s)
Outline:
Billy resists blind date, gives in.
Arrives on time at amusement park ferris wheel.
She’s not there. Wanders to beverage stand. Sits, has a beer.
Orders fries, another beer and another.
45 minutes later, Jenny arrives.
Their greetings, her clothing.
Billy trying to keep it together. Conversation about auras, jobs.
Billy loses control, spews his abdominal contents splattering her sneakers.
She studies the result, is genuinely impressed by his “creativity” and declares that this is a sure sign that they are made for each other.
Nonplussed by his action and her response, he replies: “So, yoga, huh?”
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Christy Waites’ Comedy Brainstorm Session!
“What I’ve Learned…”
I’ve learned brainstorming a comedic scene isn’t any different from brainstorming a drama scene if you let your mind loose and pour into it or treat it as if it is difficult and get a head ache racking your brain. Since I’m working on a comedy, which is why I wanted to take this class, I chose a scene that was added in later outlines, one that was not original part of my very rough draft. Yep, it needed some action lines, and I wasn’t worried that action lines wouldn’t happen, but what about the comedy? Well, now I think I know where I’m going with it.
PREMISE: Tavis father doesn’t know that he’s on the debate team and everyone knows it must be kept a secret.
Comedy situation: Tavis is the hero of their recent debate tournament, and the team are celebrating at his home when his father, who was not expected to be at home, asks after the party. His teammates glance over at Tavis, who doesn’t know what to say and stutters a response, when Lady McThorn walks in and lies about the happy affair; and the children continue the lie, embellishing it, leaving the Lord never the wiser. Shocked, but not knowing the truth.
Comedy Characters and their loglines:
Tavis McThorn, IV, is the protagonist who, although he has some positive times in his life, the bullies seem to always find him and make him their figurative punching bag.
Tavis McThorn, III, thinks in the old ways of Scotland, a boy prepares becoming a man by not being soft as he grows, that’s how he was taught. This keeps him from understanding son and excepting Tavis for who he is.
Celest Lenor McThorn, loves both her husband and her son, and must be the referee between them to keep the peace. She figures Lord McThorn is too busy, anyway, and what he doesn’t know the details to won’t harm him, nor harm the relationship he has with young son.
Possible funny moments:When Lord McThorn ask what they are celebrating, Lady McThorn responds:
“I took them to a bare knuckle fight. I thought it was time for them to experience one before they’re banned for good.”
“I took them to the city where they could play marbles in the back alleys to more their allowances go further.”
“I took them out to teach how to shoot a gun and they got pretty good, ‘till the coppers caught them shooting bottles we stole from the tavern.”
“I took them to a cock fight.”
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(Patricia Ruland’s) Comedy Brainstorm Session!
[Comedy 70] Day 7: The Comedy Brainstorm Session
What I learned:
Comedy is hard, hard work. Serious business. A lot of blood, sweat, and tears.
I don’t believe I followed the format exactly, and I think I combined assignments, the punchline one with this one.
This is what I came up with, so far:
ASSIGNMENT
———-Write a “scene outline” that will be used for the next three assignments.
1. Select a comic situation that can yield a lot of funny moments.
Important: You want a situation that is ripe for comedy.
Brainstorm a bunch of ideas and then select the best one.– Forced union of incompatibles
2. Create or select at least two characters with comedy loglines.
3. Brainstorm a list of possible funny moments that are connected
with the heart of the comic situation.4. Show us your selections in this format:
Comedy situation:
“Beswitched”
Frackenstein’s monster, MONTY, is switched at birth. The series tracks how he acclimates to Suburbia and disavows his superpowers to win the heart of the very mortal Angelica.
Comedy Characters and their loglines:Monty, Angelica, Lurch
Beswitched: Frackenstein’s monster is switched at birth. Can he find a new life in Suburbia?
Character: Monty, short for Monster, Dr. Frankenstein’s monster
Possible funny moments:
Monty narrates his struggles and triumphs, and he verbally identifies each milestone.
Milestones, such as school project, first date, first child with Angelica, and so forth..
SCENE OUTLINE:BIRTH
“You’re not from around here, are you?”
Kind woman takes to him and takes him home.
CHILDHOOD
Mom coos as she feeds her new baby. He spits peas out all over the place.
Mom: “Peas look good on you. They go with your complexion.”
Monty watches Sesame Street. Performs duet with Kermit, “It Ain’t Easy Being Green.”
SCHOOL DAYS
Monty’s new mom tries to wake him up for school. He is grouchy.
“Who slept on the wrong side of the coffin?” she asks. “Time to get up. The moon’s out and the bats are winging.”
SCIENCE FAIR AT SCHOOL
Judge asks: “What’s your project, Son?”
“I am my project.”
WORKING ODD JOBS TO GET THROUGH COLLEGE
–Job: Pool Guy
Camera pans length of form showing sleek, shiny from sweat, ripped body. Face sticks out like a sore thumb. One woman at the pool party recoils in horror.
Another woman lusts after him. “Wanna see my Bat Cave, Robin?” she flirts.
–Job: Model, Romance Novel Covers
Cover depicts Monty as buff from the neck down and horrific looking from the neck up. Comedy derived from visual incongruity. Title of book: Big Monster Love. Cover shows torrid bedroom scene. Book subtitle in bubble of dialogue by wife: “No reason to be jealous, dude. It’s not what you think.”
Press release regarding subsequent buzz: “Green is the new black.”
DATING
Angelica brings Monty home for dinner to meet the parents.
Mom: “Tall, green, and handsome?”
Angelica: “Two outta three ain’t bad.”
Dad: “Dating the color of money, alright.”
COLLEGE
Monty gets into UT-Austin. He plays for the UT longhorns, but dresses in in “burnt green.”
Coach: “So, who’s the greenhorn?”
PHYSICAL EXAM:
Monty: “Doctor, what’s wrong with me?”
Doctor: “You gotta screw loose.”
Doctor writes out a prescription for Woodson’s Hardware Store.
Doctor: “Parts department is in the back.”
CHANCE MEETING WITH ANGELICA
Monty makes his way down a NY city street. A breathless Angelica overtakes him. She has found the lost screw.
Angelica: “Wanna screw?”
Monty: “ . . . again?”
BEDROOM SCENE:
Angelica: “I love you, you big lug.” She takes out a wrench from under the bed.
Monty, playfully: “Give me that wrench.”
Angelica, playfully: “Give me that, wench?”
AFTERWARDS
Angelica: “If you were a tire, I wouldn’t change a thing.”
NEW YORK AUDITIONS, MONTAGE
Monty, to casting directors: “Don’t judge a spook by its cover.”
REEL:
Iconic dance scenes (incongruous visuals, hopefully comedic]
Do your best Travolta . . .
Disco—monster in white jumpsuit dancing.
Your best Gene Kelly . . .
Very fleet-footed Monty performing “Singin’ in the Rain.”
Your best Herman Munster.
Casting director: “You’re a natural.”
COLD READ, SCREEN TEST
Monty and Lurch face casting table.
Casting director: “We’re casting a buddy-buddy movie—just your regular guys, undercover cops who secretly are monsters and who must gain the trust of the locals. Your job is to blend in.
The Mask character, Green Hornet, and Any Old Alien surround them.
“Green is the new orange,” they tell him.
A mock line-up of a motley crew of monsters.
Casting director: “Bad cop, your line.”
Monty: “Tough call. All dirtbags look alike.”
Lurch: “Book ‘em, all of ‘em.”
Casting director: “I like it. Bad Cop, Bad Cop interp.”
YOGA SESSION:
After yoga session.
MONTY: “I feel like a new man.”
BIRTH OF FIRST CHILD:
Before delivery:
Angelica, in tears: “Those fucking racist royal bastard parents of mine are asking: ‘But what color will the baby be?’
After the birth:
Monty and Angelica, strolling along with actually very cute mini-me version of Frankenstein’s monster—all the rough edges smoothed.
Passerby: “Take after your mother, don’t you, little guy?”
CAREER IN POLITICS
Moderator: “Thank you for tuning in to Candidates’ Forum.”
Meet Mr. Frank Jr., the Green Party nominee.
SEARCH FOR REAL FATHER
At the laboratory.
Adoption counselor: “Meet your real father.”
Monty: “Dr. Frankentstein, I presume?”
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Margaret’s Comedy Brainstorm Session
What I learned: I am not funny. I don’t know how to write “funny”. This class is stretching me and it is very uncomfortable. So… thank you, Hal! I have to say this experience is painful but will definitely improve my writing!
COMEDY SITUATION:
Comedic surprise
Misinterpretation/ Wildly inappropriate response
Comedy character logline: An 80-year-old with Alzheimers who thinks she is sane.
Possible funny moments:
· Irene is a fish out of water, trying to be a plumber
· We are surprised to see a geriatric patient trying to fix a sink
· The 80-year-old dementia patient outwits a con-man
· The con-man assumes the person on the other end of the line is using a smart phone vs a land-line with an old-fashioned standard dial phone
· The sink is fixed but using other than standard items
Outline:
1. Someone (O.S.) is under the sink, trying to fix it by watching a you-tube video
2. The person from under the sink appears – an 80-year-old widow, IRENE
3. We see the sink is fixed, but in an unorthodox way
4. Irene receives a phone call, scammer, she thinks she has won groceries for a year. When the con-man tries to get information out of her, she gives wildly inappropriate responses, which confuses him.
5. The con-man assumes she has a smart phone and gives instructions, but Irene has an old-fashioned dial phone so the instructions are misunderstood
6. Irene leaves for the grocery store to buy her own groceries
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Arturs’s Comedy Brainstorm Session
What did I learn: Writing a comedy isn’t easy. Must come up with new ideas following the right principles. And that each scene you come up with must be as strong as possible to gain quality.
Comedy situation:
Wildly inappropriate response/comedic tragedy
Comedy character logline: Thomas is an aggressive but also very obedient policeman who’s been selected to be the Presidents substitute whenever the President refuses to speak.
Comedy character logline: Daniel is the President of the USA who orders to substitute him whenever he decides to fight the evil spirits alone at his office.
Possible funny moments:
1. Daniel refuses to meet with the President of Russia after has decided to repeat fighting moves he saw in some movie he watched recently.
2. Thomas talks aggressively polite to bodyguards of the President of Russia.
3. Thomas fights journalists on the street who offended Daniel.
4. Thomas intervenes president’s family conversation as everyone disagrees with the president’s made decision.
5. Thomas misinterprets when the president comes angry out of his bedroom as he waves him to get inside and talk to his wife who’s in bed naked.
Outline:
Daniel has a meeting with the President of Russia. The president of Russia reminds Daniel about one film he watched recently after which he wanted to repeat some moves. Thomas replaces him. The president of Russia is puzzled, he asks Thomas what’s happening. Bodyguards of the president of Russia get angry at Thomas as he talks as he wants to the president of Russia. Thomas begins to fight with bodyguards meanwhile Daniel is fighting against the evil spirits at his office.
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Sherri D. Coffee – Comedy Brainstorm Session
What I learned doing this assignment is to explore different situations and brainstorm ideas to create a scene.
Comedy Situation: Alex attends her first fundraiser with her mentor Marion. Marion is a seasoned lobbyist who has no time for newbies. She must “train” Alex to get a coveted firm client. Alex is an undercover FBI lawyer who is investigating political corruption. The fundraiser is a mix of the incompatibles meeting other incompatibles.
Loglines:
Alex is a research lawyer with the FBI. She is comfortable glued to the computer or a device to research crimes. When the Agency comes up empty in a political corruption case, she is placed undercover with a lobby firm to assist the investigation. Alex is private, analytical, and socially awkward. A fish out of water, she is forced to interact with people she despises.
Marion is a seasoned successful lobbyist known as the “best hired gun in the business”. When Marion is featured in an article, her jealous boss assigns her to train Alex as retribution. If Marion can train Alex, she gets the lead on the firm’s coveted new client. Marion is manipulative, passive-aggressive and loathes incompetence. Everything Alex is not.
OUTLINE
Alex meets Marion at a fundraiser. The event is held in a private mansion and the dress is formal. Alex shows up in a business suit when all the other patrons are in formal attire. (Embarrassment and forced union of incompatibles)
Marion apologizes for the lack of attire details but secretly knows she did this on purpose. The sooner she can get Alex to leave, the sooner she can get her life back. Alex goes overboard to apologize to attendees for her attire – and attributes to being new and not being told by Marion! (Wildly inappropriate response)
Marion introduces Alex to some key politicians and lobbyists. She purposefully leaves her alone. When she returns, a politician has taken Alex under his wing and is introducing her to all the other members. Marion is called out by the politician. (Misinterpretation, forced union of incompatibles)
Marion must change tactics and join them. (Embarrassment and comedic surprise)
Alex wears a wire and is fed key facts about each politician she meets. She uses the information to establish a rapport with them much to Marion’s dismay. (misinterpretation)
Alex overhears Marion refer to the “clients over there” and offers to set up a meeting. She must figure out a way to attend that meeting.
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What I learned is that the more techniques you incorporate into the assignment, your imagination jumps by leaps and bounds.
Comedy situation: An arrogant guy falls for a narcissistic woman who treats him worse than he usually treats his women. She pretends to be hot to trot but never puts out.
Comedy Characters and their loglines: Charles believes he is the smartest and best-looking man and has no idea everyone considers him to be absorbed with self-adoration.
Anna, an attractive woman, needs to control everyone around her and is constantly on the lookout for her next patsy to feed her unquenchable appetite.
Possible funny moments: The man makes a move and she leads him to believe it is working. The woman demands he try on some of her lingerie. He tries to set up a second date but she is always busy. She gets him aroused and remembers an appointment she must leave for immediately. He tries to get her to say how attractive she thinks he is. She goes to bed with his best friend just to bruise his ego. He tries to break up with her only to have her promise a hot rendezvous on their next date.
Scene Outline:
Goal: Charles wants his new conquest to fall for his arrogant games. Anna wants him to obey her ridiculous demands so she has complete control over him.
Activity: Charles uses his seductive tricks on her and she leads him to believe they are actually working although she has no intention of doing what he wants.
Complication: A former boyfriend of Anna’s tells Charles she is a complete nut job and to run for his life. He doesn’t believe him and is convinced she is seriously attracted to him.
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This reply was modified 2 years, 9 months ago by Will Jennings.
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This reply was modified 2 years, 9 months ago by
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