Comedy is people's favorite genre since decades and it is the reason behind many most successful shows and movies. Comedy has evolved over the period of time but the elements of comedy are still the same.
Laughing at a joke is easy but writing a joke is not. Comedy is a genre which requires high thinking ability and creativity. There is a myth which needs to be busted that making a comedy film or TV show is not difficult when in fact it is a huge task. Let’s discuss the elements present in comedy which makes us laugh.
The element of surprise: It is one of the most important elements of any kind of comedy show, be it a movie or a sitcom. In The Big Bang Theory, we laugh when Sheldon does something stupid that no one thinks of like dressing like the Flash or jumping in the trampoline park. It is because people laugh when they encounter something they did not think of.
Errors: Comedy of errors is an age old theory and it is going to stay for million for years. Admit it, in real life too, we all laugh when we see someone falling on the ground or doing a stupid thing. This technique has been widely used in almost all comedy films and shows.
Repetitiveness: When things become repetitive, it becomes funny. When a dialogue comes more than once in a same movie, it induces laughter. For example, the popular dialogue from Welcome ‘Abhi hum zinda hain’ tickles us because as audience we connect with the character so much that we anticipate the arrival of that dialogue.
Conflict: The tussle between the characters, their fights, conflicts etc. is used as an element of comedy in several shows like Sherlock, House MD etc. As filmmakers, one should know what to reveal and how. You can show the situation of conflict in the manner you like. For instance, the conflict in Rohit Shetty’s movies like Golmaal series and All The Best invokes laughter.
Quirks: Last but not the least, to make comedy show, one should write a character with some quirks and unrealistic habits. The world of comedy is different from where we live and that is why it is necessary to have some unrealistic but realistic characters. From Chandler to Sheldon Cooper, all famous comedy characters have their own style and distinct personalities which makes them lovable characters.
Conclusion
It is said that laughter is the best medicine but it is difficult to make people laugh, especially in today’s times because the audience have become smart than ever. However, you should keep these elements in mind as they might help you in writing a funny script.
