#comedy screenplays

If you are an aspiring screenplay writer but are unsure of how to write a screenplay, there are steps that you can take to learn. Like many other skills in life, it takes a lot of research, practice and repetition to be good at it.

Every genre is different and each one takes a different approach. For example, if you are wondering how to write a screenplay for the comedy genre, it obviously must be something that people will find funny. If you are unfamiliar with the artistic and technical aspects of how to write a screenplay, there are many steps you can take to learn the process.

·         Read screenplays

·         Watch lots of movies and television shows

·         Study some of the most famous comedians

·         Understand the format of a screenplay

·         Come up with a screenplay idea

·         Develop screenplay ideas through outlines and storyboards

Writers for comedy movies and TV shows have to be funny, while also keeping a structured storyline. The best way to do this is to work collaboratively when writing a comedy screenplay because it has to be funny for a wide range of audiences. Things that may be funny to one person may not be funny to others.  A typical comedy sitcom has about 10 to 12 full-time staff writers. Staff writers usually team up in a writers’ room to brainstorm and write together. Once an idea or outline is agreed upon, a first draft of a screenplay is written.  This first draft usually goes through a process of revisions before it is shot.    

There are few things to know and consider when it comes to writing a screenplay for comedy:

·         Being a funny person doesn’t automatically give you the ability to write a comedic screenplay.

·         Many people who make jokes to their friends and family can’t write it down on paper to make it funny.

·         Writing comedy isn’t about making a few people laugh. It’s about making a million people laugh and keeping them intrigued.

·         Most comedy screenplays don’t start with a joke right away. Like most screenplays, it starts with an introduction of a plot.

Most comedy screenplay writers create their own sub-genre of comedy when creating their scripts. This is their identity and creating an identity helps them build a fan base. For example, Adam Sandler has created a strong comedic screenplay writing strategy in the past decade. In his movies the audience expects to see a lot of comedy with a situation that almost leads to tragedy, but ends up becoming a moral lesson in the end. The Farrelly brothers also had a certain sub-genre of comedy with a lot of gross humor in unrealistic situations.

If you have an idea but are unsure what to do next, New Show Studios can help.  New Show Studios is a company designed specifically for everyday people with ideas for screens big and small (TV shows, movies, webisodes).  The company has all the resources under one roof to develop your screenplay idea into a concept package and present it to an entertainment company through its exclusive licensing agent, SFM Entertainment.  SFM Entertainment has over 40 years of experience in the entertainment industry. 

Don’t be the person kicking yourself because you sat on your idea only to see it in theaters or on television one day, because someone else had a similar idea.  New Show Studios can help you take action and pursue your screenplay idea.

Remember that even with the best presentation materials new entertainment development is high risk and there is very little likelihood that your idea will be successfully licensed or result in profit to you.