Make a Funny Video
Bored? Here's an idea—make a funny video! But here's the problem: you don't have any good ideas that are funny. Read on, and you'll be laughing with your friends in no time. Some people think that pain is funny. Others think that squeaky voices are funny. Some just think scary things are funny. Everyone has a different definition of funny. To make a video that appeals to everyone is completely impossible. You can't make everyone who watches your video laugh, but you can try to make something that will appeal to at least someone!
Steps
- Create your crew and cast. You'll need a camera man, actors, a director, and a writer. The actors should be people familiar with comedy, or people who enjoy having a good laugh.
- Brainstorm your ideas. Pass them around and get some feedback from everyone involved. When you think you're satisfied, go ahead and move on to the next step.
- Watch comedies that you like together. Be inspired by their ideas and scripts. Don't copy, but learn what works and what doesn't, as well as watching carefully for timing.
- Pick out your filming locations. Depending on the script, you can use simple places such as your own living room, kitchen, or even a hallway. However, if your script is more detailed and involves a lot of acting, you may want to choose a more scenic venue like a local park, a business part of town, or a spot with a view.
- Create your script. Everyone who is good with making jokes and writing can get involved in this step. Share the script around for improvements.
- Be prepared for changes to occur all the way through filming. Although the script will be the backbone, actors will inevitably come up with funnier, wittier, and more obvious ways to make the filming funny and you should be prepared to add these into the filming.
- Be prepared to allow ad-libbing and to incorporate that into your filming. Many of the funniest film scenes result from this.
- Try to remember funny things that happened in the past. If it was funny then, it's likely to be funny now. However, if you have to 'be a part of the group' to understand the joke, then it probably isn't the best one to use. So if you've found something that works, try to adapt it to fit into your script.
- Start filming. Then it's lights, camera, and.... ACTION! Ensure that there is a good director with a sense of comic timing and the ability to direct actors out of the giggles and dead ends.
- After acting, edit the video. You can use something simple like iMovie or Windows Movie Maker, or you can buy some editing software.
- Some things are not funny no matter how they may seem at the time to those in fits of laughter, so be prepared to edit with care and sensitivity to what's funny to the audience.
- Share it. If you want your video to be viewed by the public, upload it to a video sharing site like YouTube. Check back often to see what people think!
Tips
- Don't laugh when filming! Your jokes may be hilarious, but it makes you look sloppy and unprofessional. Act dead serious throughout the whole video. If it is about a particularly stupid topic, act serious and make it sound real, as if you really mean what you are saying, no matter how stupid or corny the lines are. Let your laughs out before filming.
- Make sure everyone is happy with their job. If an actor doesn't really put himself into the role (especially if it's because he doesn't like it) it shows up on camera, and does not look good.
- Use props, sounds, pictures, etc. to really improve your video.
- Singing a song almost always makes a video funnier.
- Everything is much funnier on camera, even if your camera doesn't work well.
- Be inspired by the comedy you watch, but do not copy. Seeing copied material is a turn-off to the audience and won't make anyone laugh.
- Make sure to edit your video or viewers will get bored.
Warnings
- If you intend on having something done on your video that may cause pain you need to let that person be aware they may be hurt or get a stunt-double.
Things You'll Need
- A good idea - something silly taking over the world, people dying in dramatic ways, singing, music videos sung badly, serious scenarios acted badly, mythical creatures, stereotypes acting weird, the possibilities are endless.
- A camera.
- Actors; You can't make a video with 1 or 2 actors, or you could do it with yourself. Use a phone to record your skit.
- Props are usually a good idea
- A free space to work in; it doesn't help if you have random people running around screaming in the background.
- A plan; this usually helps, even if you're going to improvise
- Music
- Cue cards
- Costumes
- Sounds
- A decent editing software such as Windows Movie Maker or iMovie-[MAC]
