I needed to quickly find a quick and witty way to make a quick sitcom. So where do I go first you ask? Google of course. I soon found some very interesting pieces on how to write a successful sitcom. I soon learned that the writing is not all in the jokes but, more in the character development. If I could craft these witty and comedic character then lines would just flow from me. As I found myself writing the script I found this fact to be very true. Sitcom writing is not like writing a drama or a sci- fi. In some ways its harder because you have to be able to write in a way that makes sense and makes the audience laugh. You have to know where and when to place certain witty lines and even know how to trash a joke (no matter how funny it may be) if it does not make any sense with the story. I found my self having to trash a lot of prime jokes I came up with that didn't match the storyline as I was writing.
As I got deeper into my research I soon learned from watching the the classic Seinfeld and the modern hit Modern Family that you could make a sitcom out of almost anything or even nothing. For example, Seinfeld crafted a classic comedy episode out of a soup kitchen. The characters in the sitcoms that I watched were each unique and had different quirky characteristics. As these simple rules and facts entered my mind I shaped my sitcom under these few simple rules. I mad each of the characters unique, quirky, and different. I then used a plot that was simplistic yet funny and my writing and jokes all matched the story.
Hi Chad,
ReplyDeleteLooks like you've been working hard on your research. Be sure, however, to cite your sources specifically (what are the names and URLs of the sites for script writing, etc)
Also, be specific about what you've learned. If you talk about characterization on Seinfeld or Modern Family, be specific about which character and give examples of the script writing that supports your learning.
mrs s