4 Common Comedy Missteps
Even seasoned screenwriters can struggle when venturing into comedy for the first time. Unlike drama, comedy has additional structures and considerations that have to be understood for the work to succeed. Humor is what makes you laugh, while comedy must be linked to a situation, context or character. Here are some common missteps writers make […]
“Downhill” Misses the Subtleties of the Original in Remaking “Force Majeure”
If you’ve never seen Force Majeure, the 2014 French/Swedish production, then its 2020 American remake will likely be amusing enough for you. However, if you have seen the original, then you’ll realize Downhill doesn’t quite succeed as a sublime comedy of manners like its predecessor did. Even though stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Will Ferrell are […]
“Zombieland: Double Tap” is a Hearty if Tardy Sequel
What’s with all of the decades-late sequels these days? Mad Max: Fury Road, Blade Runner 2049, Mary Poppins Returns… the list goes on and on. But as long as they’re critical and financial successes, more will be made. One of the latest is Zombieland: Double Tap, a sequel to the hit horror-comedy Zombieland from 2009. And while […]
Emmy-Nominated TV Writer David Mandel Goes Wide On “VEEP”
David Mandel wrote the final episode of the highly-acclaimed TV series VEEP. He is a storied screenwriter who boasts writing credits on popular TV comedy shows including Saturday Night Live, Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm. VEEP is a political satire that cuts close to the bone. It’s a fine line between comedy and reality. But VEEP […]
The Comic Hero’s Journey According To Steve Kaplan
Funnyman Steve Kaplan is a comedy screenwriting instructor and script consultant. Not only does he know how to make people laugh, but also why people laugh. He uses the venerable texts of Vogler and Campbell as the basis of his own guide to comedy writing. In the beginning was the film, and the film was […]
