How to write comedy - Jodie Houlston-Lau

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It may seem counterintuitive, but comedy is often key to a serious story. As a writer, you need your audience to experience a range of emotions, no matter what your genre. Comic relief is a tried-and-true way of creating the varied emotional texture a compelling story needs. So how can you create this effect in your own stories? Jodie Houlston-Lau shares some tips for lightening the mood.

Lesson by Jodie Houlston-Lau, directed by Joe Taylor.

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Thank you so much to our patrons for your support! Without you this video would not be possible! Grayson Garbarino, Oge O, Weronika Falkowska, Stefano Esposito, Nevin Spoljaric, Yvonne Feijoo, Sid Chanpuriya, Arjay Arcinue Dineros, Anoom Yasmin, Anoop Varghese, David Yastremski, Noah Webb, B, Erica Guerrero, Roberto Chena, Oliver Koo, Luke Pisano, Andrea Gordon, Aleksandar Donev, Nicole Klau Ibarra, Milo Vermeulen, Ryan Weiler, Jesse Lira, Ezekiel Raui, Zongpu Kou, Cameron Chakraverty, Petr Vacek, Rhys Patterson, Dennis, Olivia Fu, Katrina Adams, Regina Post, Mary Collins, Kari Teffeau, clumsybunnie, Adam Leos, Cindy Lai, Liz, Rajath Durgada Manjunath, Dan Nguyen, Chin Beng Tan, Tom Boman, Karen Warner, Isorn Sookwanish, Iryna Panasiuk, Diane Gallin, Aaron Torres, Vasundhar, Eric Braun and Denka Wee.

[youknowwhat]

this is just like:
when you watch horror with freinds it becomes a comedy movie

[nump]

"When people are exposed to one emotion for too long, they become desensitized to it."

Many, many dramatic storytellers would benefit from this video.

[carlogaytan]

If you experience enough sadness then ur humor naturally evolves to make dark things provide u a little laugh of relieve.

[TojiFushigoroWasTaken]

So well timed dad jokes make things interesting. This answers everything

[rodrigoalonsotaipeparedes]

"I used to think that my life was a tragedy, but now I realize, it’s a comedy."

Can't help thinking about this quote because of the video xD

[BakedPhoria]

"You can't spell slaughter without laughter."
_somebody_

[poojadhanuka]

This is just Chandler's way of saying use sarcasm as a tool to hide my pain"

[Flanders]

Scrubs, Bojack Horseman, Rick and Morty, they all do this very well. You become a lot more attached to a character when you can cry with them as well as laugh.

[unknown]

TedEd; How to turn your sad story funny

Me: explain your achievements in life, if you have one

[AuRoaraAnimations]

every sidekick has become much

more appreciated after this

[vido]

It's also important to not let a joke or comedic situations stay for too long, like emotions, people will get desensitized to it the longer it goes.

[anis]

Thank you lol I needed this because I have a habit of turning my suffering/trauma into jokes to make things better

[Medieval_Duck]

As someone who’s entire life is sad this is extremely helpful. Thanks you guys!

[spacewiz]

I admire comedians and all those who have the gift of laughter🙂

[mibomperme]

Hey! "Born a Crime" was the first thought that came into my mind when I read the title. It's one of the best book I've read, comical and sad, do read it please.

[asar]

I NEED to know this. It'll help me describe my life.

[elliethinggoes]

Loveee the animation, and overall, the story, and the narration, and everything ❤💜🐳

[triambtalwar]

Damn these animations are 🔥. Great job TedEd

[tarunsingh]

Big Fan of this Channel. ❤️
It always motivates me for doing well.

[gideonbrown]

Another good example of using humor to set up difficult subjects is “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.” For instance, the author wanted to demonstrate the randomness and mystique of our universe, so he introduces a civilization that builds a computer in an attempt to find “The Answer to Life, The Universe, and Everything.” On the day when the computer is finally prepared to reveal the answer, they host an enormous party celebrating their newfound omniscience. And then they all gather around to hear the computer reveal the answer. Which is... (say it with me)... 42. Everyone pauses as if the computer has mustered the capacity to tell some sort of cruel joke. When they ask what the computer what it means, it tells them, “All this time, you were looking for the answer. Did you really understand the question?”