Hi! The final genre we will be exploring is comedy. Comedy is arguably the most difficult genre to get down, because something is either funny or it's not, which is entirely up to the audience to decide. However, there are some tried and true techniques used for directors of the genre that seem to carry across it as a whole because they are so effective. To understand these filming choices, we'll need to examine the basic concepts of filming with regard to this specific genre.
Camera Angles, Movement, and Shots:
In the comedy genre as a whole, there seems to be this running idea that shots should be more close-up and in your face, so to speak, in order to direct the scene’s focus onto a specific subject. This is why close-ups and extreme close-ups are commonly seen as part of the genre, approaching uncomfortably close distances with the subjects and essentially invading their space. This is taken to an extreme in a number of different films, where fourth wall breaks occur as the camera and the subjects influence one another, a refreshing decision that differs from other genres which make the audience feel like spectators who, although are immersed occasionally in the action, don't really feel as though they are "part" of the movie. A noteworthy example of this occurs with a zoom-in that takes place during the film Spaceballs (1987) where the Dark Helmet is hit with the camera. Zooming in is also used for comedic effect. For instance, in the 2005 film, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, an exaggerated zoom-out is used to emphasize a point and then take it a bit further until it becomes so absurd that people find it funny. Now, if the film intends to show the awkward or ridiculous interactions between multiple characters, it will use two shots, three shots, and medium shots being that the director wishes to not place the focus on the scenery, but rather on the subjects and the trouble they run into. Having said that, point-of-view shots are also incorporated into comedies as they make it seem as though the viewer is experiencing the event in real-time, almost as if they are a subject in the film themselves; this was seen in the 2009 movie Year One. Establishing shots are often used to create context for the location of the film, such as in the beginning few scenes of Good Burger (1997) where the "fine dining establishment" location and appearance are revealed. This is certainly a shot that my group and I believe to be essential to any film, so it will probably be something we include in our final task. Tracking shots are also used when giving the audience a clear insight into the life of a subject, usually as they prepare themselves for the day. High angles are used to emphasize the power dynamic that one character holds over another, as seen in Matilda with Mrs. Trunchbull’s imposition of power of the children at the school. This while low angles are used to create an ironic effect, like in 21 Jump Street (2012).
As for camera movements, whip panning, which is essentially a more rapid version of a pan, is used to create misdirection by disrupting the momentum of a scene, whilst simultaneously adding energy to a shot, as seen in the 2007 movie Hot Fuzz. This is another technique that my group and I thought was very interesting because it is not reserved solely for the comedic genre, but can also be applied to a wide array of other film types. As for tilts, they are typically used for underwhelming reveals, like Top Secret! (1984), which quickly dissipates the sense of tension and urgency a pair of enemy boots created.
Sound:
When looking at the sounds used in comedy, one will automatically see that the use of sound effects is more prominent here than it is in any other genre. This is because audio gags are often used in comedic films, such as with the inclusion of bodily humor or exaggerated noises when a subject is injured, for example. Sounds can also be used to create a contrast between the subject's perception of themselves and what others truly see. Moreover, at the very beginning of a comedy, a particular song will often be used which gives the audience an idea of the type of person that the main character will be, as with Legally Blonde (2001).
Editing:
In comedy, editing is effective in breaking up pacing as a means of achieving a comedic effect, hence why comedies tend to use more outdated techniques like a dissolve when a subject was daydreaming. By using choppier transitions, the quality of the film is not lowered, but the director is able to use these faults to make the movie funny. In addition, in the opening scenes of some comedies, interesting fonts are used to capture the attention of the audience, like with the movie Little Rascals in 1994. In the movie Mean Girls (2004), a split-screen effect was also used during phone calls.
Mis-Én-Scene:
One of the key components of mis-én-scene is costumes. With comedies, subjects are often seen making laughable clothing choices made depending on the joke being made, perhaps a clown costume will make an appearance depending on how old the piece is, or a subject's clothing will be extremely mismatched, which may or may not lead to the humiliation of said character. Moreover, in films like Edward Scissorhands (1990), the primary has literal scissors for hands, an absurd concept that serves as a visual representation of how different he is from others in society.
In comedies, scenes have colorful and have lively backgrounds which is achieved by the inclusion of bright, soft, and high-key narrative lighting. This lighting is often maintained throughout the entirety of the film unless a joke about the seriousness of a subject is to be made, in which case directors may opt to using these darker color schemes for only dramatic effect.
Makeup is often used to make characters look very bizarre and have overexaggerated features. For example, in Mrs. Doubtfire (1993) a father dresses as an older woman, adorned with prosthetics and a wig, so that he can visit his kids after he has a feud with his wife and can no longer see them as himself.
The props used in comedies vary widely, but over the years, things like weapons, puppets, and breakable furniture have all been used, so the possibilities are virtually endless.
Comedies cannot be confined to one location as humor can flourish anywhere; however, most comedies are set in schools, like School of Rock (2003), office spaces, and even the outdoors.
Takeaways:
The comedy genre is definitely interesting. There are so many different avenues that someone can choose to take when exploring the comedy genre, which makes it all the more entertaining. I feel like my group and I were all very captivated by the genre's use of zoom-in's, close-ups, high angles, establishing shots, and whip panning. This is because of the fact that these shots are not only easy to execute, but also make for a very animated and dynamic film.
If we choose to go with a comedic genre, we'll be sure that when it comes to your laughter, you won't be able to "...hold it back anymore..." (Idina Menzel 2013).
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