Comedy Scene

1. Get the "goods"

In comedies, every scene is written with purpose and everything happens for a reason. This is called "the goods" of the scene and suggests finding out (or thinking about) why the writer wrote the scene, what the point of it is, and then decide where you would need to place the camera if you had to tell the entire scene in one shot, from one angle.

Placing a camera here will allow you to get closer to being able to tell that intended story even if all else fails. Of course, you'll most likely have other cameras, angles, and cuts but if you approach the scene this way, you'll set yourself up to have a reliable fall-back option that is also very effective at helping you tell the story. It gives you a great master shot around which you can add the rest of the shots you'd like to have.

5. Think like an editor

Understand how the scenes and shots follow each other. Using techniques like color-coding interior vs. exterior shots and making notations as to where you think the camera ought to move from one shot to the next, you will be able to set up shots with the editing mind.

By doing this you will easily see if there are too many consecutive scenes (static scenes, indoor scenes, close-ups, etc), or if there was a need to move the film along in some other way. Label "moments" (or pivotal scenes) so you can pay very close attention to how those scenes ought to be shot. The best way to do this is to storyboard.

6. Work musically

If you consider music while you're filming, the product of your camera work will be completely different than if you don't. You can even trying playing music before... or during (depending on your sound needs) filming,

8. Size matters

One of the trends in recent films is that close-ups have gotten closer. One of the reasons, is that directors and DPs are screening all their dailies on iPads instead of as large projections viewed by the entire production team. What he believes has come of this is decisions about shot size & angle that are being determined by what looks good on a small screen, which, of course, effects the aesthetic when the piece is shown in a cinema. Watch your footage as largely as possible as it will inform choices and help shape your aesthetic in a positive and cinematic way.

YOUR TASK

Now think about the hose joke - how would you do it now?

Storyboard your version of the same joke, try using around 12 different shot sizes/camera positions... then find someone willing to get water squirted into their face, and film it! Submit both your storyboard and final film.