Posts Tagged ‘sketch writing’

Sketch Comedy Format: The Commercial

August 26th, 2009 | By Ben in Comedy | 2 Comments »

I took an intensive sketch comedy class and will be sharing some common formats used to write comedy sketches. A format is just a rough guide to follow when creating a certain type of sketch. It can be used to plugin an existing idea “I want to write about space aliens who work at TJ Max,” or to help generate a new sketch one with a specific focus “Let’s think of a cool commercial concept.”

The first format is the commercial, which has two variants: Announcer Style and SNL Style.

Announcer Style:

- 3 Characters: Announcer and two customers

CUSTOMER 1

I have a problem

CUSTOMER 2

I also have a problem, but how can we solve it?

ANNOUNCER

Do you have this problem?

CUSTOMER 1

Yeah, but how can we solve it

ANNOUNCER

With [product name]. [Description]. [Tag line].

CUSTOMER 2

Ahh!

Ben’s Example:

CUSTOMER 1

My garden smells too natural and foresty

CUSTOMER 2

Yeah, I’m sick of all these fresh smelling flowers

ANNOUNCER

Does your home and garden smell too good?

CUSTOMER 2

Yeah!

ANNOUNCER

Try this: Hobo musk

CUSTOMER 2 sprays can of hobo musk, breathes in, coughs violently

CUSTOMER 2

Ahhh!

ANNOUNCER

Hobo musk: Don’t just visit New York, live it!

SNL Style:

- Product doesn’t exist, create a need for the product
- Explain how the product works and what it does, with graphics if possible
- Show testimonials
- Tag at the end

SNL Example:

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Sketch Comedy: Critique of My Acting

August 21st, 2009 | By Ben in Comedy | 1 Comment »

These are more sketches from the intensive sketch class show I wrote and performed in. We had about four hours in two days to memorize and practice the sketches.

I’m critiquing my acting as best as I can, as I’m not very knowledgeable in the matter (and this was a writing class).

Firefighters (written by Hannibal Buress)

0m26s I could look a little more emotionally distraught and in shock

1m04s We need to all stand still until the lights dim

2m41s I think the previous few lines are hysterical in a really messed up way, and the audience should’ve been dying from laughter

3m16s I should keep my hand shaking this whole time

Overall: I didn’t have many lines, but the ones I had were passable

Baseball Interview (written by Tom B)

0m19s Baseball players never talk this fast and I’m not excited enough for having just hit a homerun

0m32s I thought “the whole cross thing” would get a laugh, but it came off like I just forgot a word

0m43s I should wait until the announcer thanks me to leave

1m31s The “pitcher” did a better job in his interview

Overall: I was too worried about getting the lines right that I didn’t fully invest in the character. Luckily, I was just the seutp for the big punch line, so it didn’t hurt the sketch.

Job Applicant (written by Mikhail Page)

0m07s Terrible object work with taking a can of pepsi out of a non-existent briefcase

0m49s Pause for a second after “Oh, Cathy?”

0m58s Pause for a second after “I was hanging around here” to make the creepiness of the situation set in

1m32s Stumbled over the words a little, didn’t need “messy” a second time

Overall: We both should have slowed down a little and if I had more time I’d figure out a way to make my character come off as creepier through his physical motions and voice tonality. I thought there were more punchlines than were the audience laughed.

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Sketch: The Car Accident

August 17th, 2009 | By Ben in Comedy | No Comments »

In July I took a three week intensive sketch writing class and we had a show at the end of class. Below is video of the sketch that I wrote. This is broken up into three parts because there were two sketches between each of these three parts.

Video of my “acting ability” for sketches written by others is coming shortly.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

And for anyone interested, here is the actual script:

A loud car crash is heard. LIGHTS ON

JOEY

Holy shit! Are you okay?

MEGAN

I think so. I’ve never been in a car accident before.

JOEY

Yeah... me... neither.  Did you not see me slam my brakes there?

MEGAN

I don’t know it all happened so fast.

JOEY

Let’s look at the damage

JOEY and MEGAN walk over to examine the rear end collision. JOEY is very close and in MEGAN’S personal space. He starts speaking in a slow, seductive voice.

JOEY

Both cars have very minor damage. It’s almost like my rear bumper was custom designed not to damage in a collision or something.

MEGAN

Yeah, great bumper, but why are you standing so close to me.

JOEY

To get a better look... [Joey looks at Megan’s butt] ...at the accident.

MEGAN

Huh?

JOEY

I mean, do you think we should call the insurance company?

MEGAN

Oh god, I can’t afford for my rates to go up. This seems pretty minor.

JOEY

It does seem pretty minor. Why don’t you just give me your name and phone number, and I’ll call you to arrange everything...

MEGAN starts to reach for a pad and write out her information

JOEY

I’m thinking dinner at Giovanni’s Steakhouse tonight, followed by some mini golf, and who knows what else.

MEGAN

Woah. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you stopped short on purpose just so you could get my number.

JOEY is flustered

JOEY

What? That’s creepy and ridiculous. Causing a car accident just to get a pretty girl’s number? I’d have to have a rearview mirror with super zoom.

MEGAN pushes JOEY away while

MEGAN

Get away from me! Or I’m calling the cops.

MEGAN gets in her car and drives off.

JOEY

Hey Giovanni? It’s me again. Yep, gotta cancel tonight’s too.

LIGHTS OFF.

A loud car crash is heard. LIGHTS ON

JOEY

Holy shit! Are you okay?

JILL

I think so. I’ve never been in a car accident before.

JOEY

Yeah... me... neither.  Did you not see me slam my brakes there?

JILL

I don’t know it all happened so fast.

JOEY

Let’s look at the damage

JOEY moves uncomfortably close to JILL.

JOEY

Both cars have very minor damage. It’s almost like my rear bumper was custom designed not to damage in a collision or something.

JILL

Yeah, it’s like god was watching over both of us.

JOEY

Yes, from his rearview mirror with super zoom.

JILL

Huh?

JOEY

Oh nothing. Listen, the damage is minor. Let’s just exchange contact info, no need for insurance companies to be involved.

JILL

Yeah you’re right.

JILL takes out a notepad and writes out her contact information

JILL

Well I guess you’ll go to the mechanic in the next few days and then give me a call with the total damage sometime next week?

JOEY starts speaking in a slow, seductive voice.

JOEY

Actually, I was thinking dinner at Giovanni’s Steakhouse tonight, followed by some mini golf, and who knows what else...

JILL

You creep! Just because I hit your rear end doesn’t mean I’ll let you hit mine!

JILL gets in her car and drives off.

JOEY

Hey Giovanni? It’s me again. Yep, gotta cancel tonight’s too.

LIGHTS OFF.

A loud car crash is heard. LIGHTS ON

GARY

Holy shit! Are you okay?

JOEY

I think so. I’m usually pretty good at stopping on a dime... You have quite the talent.

GARY

Thanks. Let’s look at the damage

GARY and JOEY walk over to examine the rear end collision. GARY is very close and in JOEY’S personal space. He starts speaking in a slow, seductive voice.

GARY

Both cars have

GARY and JOEY

Very minor damage... It’s almost like my rear bumper... was custom designed... not to damage in a collision...

GARY

...or something.

JOEY

This is amazing! You probably want my number.

JOEY grabs a pad and starts writing his contact information.

GARY

Yes. I was thinking dinner at Samba Sushi tonight, followed by some mini golf, and who knows what else...

JOEY

Now I can understand some mini golf and who knows what else, but sushi? You fucking pervert!

JOEY pushes GARY away

LIGHTS OFF. END.

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