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Happy Endings (2011)

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How do you make extended technical scenes funny on the page?

AI✦Examines the pilot’s approach to writing physicality by layering multiple running gags into a single scene, demonstrating how early establishment of room layout and character beats creates a foundation for actors to move and talk through interconnected jokes.✦

⏱ 1h 35m

Words · Structure · Genre | 26 FEB 2025

Listen if you're writing physical comedy and have no idea how to make it work on the page

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Mel joins Chas to tackle physical comedy. We limited our homework selection to extended scenes (as opposed to moments and sight gags) in live action projects and – with the help of our Patreons – selected early sequences from BRINGING UP BABY, the pilot for HAPPY ENDINGS and that wonderful food poisoning scene in BRIDESMAIDS… →

Films: Bridesmaids (2011) , Bringing Up Baby (1938) , Game Night (2018) , Happy Endings (2011)

Shows: Happy Endings 1x1

Words: Big Print , Whitespace , Dialogue

Structure: Setups & Payoffs , Narrative Velocity , Narrative POV

Genre: Visual Language , Genre Conventions

"Showing this big wide shot of Melissa McCarthy flopping on the couch with nobody else in the room makes it clear that everyone is sort of moving on and doing something else."

— mel | DZ-116: Writing Physical Comedy

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