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November 29, 2010 5:04 AM Subscribe
Best online sketch comedy resources?
I write sketch comedy. I've been doing it for about 4 years now, and I'm pretty good at it. I also want to get better. My problem is that I live in China, and it's difficult to find classes or groups here that might help me improve. I already collaborate regularly with writers in the states, but I am also looking for stuff online that might help me out further.
One small example: sketch classes I've taken in the past gave me weekly "assignments", stuff like "write a sketch where nobody speaks" or "write a sketch involving velcro". I found these little prompts really helpful, but I haven't been able to find anything like them online. (Note: these prompts are useful because they're opaque. Not looking for some internet guy's list of "situations that might be funny".)
One non example: there are a ton of websites that promise to teach you "how to write sketch comedy in 10 easy steps!!!!" These are mostly useless. I know what "escalation" means, thankyouverymuch.
So, experienced comedy writers of ask.me (I know you're out there! (right? (come on!))), is there great stuff waiting for me somewhere on the web?
I write sketch comedy. I've been doing it for about 4 years now, and I'm pretty good at it. I also want to get better. My problem is that I live in China, and it's difficult to find classes or groups here that might help me improve. I already collaborate regularly with writers in the states, but I am also looking for stuff online that might help me out further.
One small example: sketch classes I've taken in the past gave me weekly "assignments", stuff like "write a sketch where nobody speaks" or "write a sketch involving velcro". I found these little prompts really helpful, but I haven't been able to find anything like them online. (Note: these prompts are useful because they're opaque. Not looking for some internet guy's list of "situations that might be funny".)
One non example: there are a ton of websites that promise to teach you "how to write sketch comedy in 10 easy steps!!!!" These are mostly useless. I know what "escalation" means, thankyouverymuch.
So, experienced comedy writers of ask.me (I know you're out there! (right? (come on!))), is there great stuff waiting for me somewhere on the web?
Best answer: I've been looking for the same thing for a while - I've not found anything. I was actually contemplating on starting a resource.
I'm taking a class at the moment in LA. We don't really get assignments like you describe, which would be fantastic, we mostly do "group exercises" and read sides.
In the meantime - I've bought these three books and found that they have some writing prompts that help.
- Stand Up Comedy: The Book by Judy Carter
- The New Comedy Writing: Step by Step by Gene Perret
- Sandi C. Shore's Secrets to Standup Success: A Complete Step-by-Step Workbook
Hope this helps.
If you want to potentially collaborate on the aforementioned site that exists only in my mind at the moment, hit me up.
posted by wilde at 3:07 PM on November 29, 2010
I'm taking a class at the moment in LA. We don't really get assignments like you describe, which would be fantastic, we mostly do "group exercises" and read sides.
In the meantime - I've bought these three books and found that they have some writing prompts that help.
- Stand Up Comedy: The Book by Judy Carter
- The New Comedy Writing: Step by Step by Gene Perret
- Sandi C. Shore's Secrets to Standup Success: A Complete Step-by-Step Workbook
Hope this helps.
If you want to potentially collaborate on the aforementioned site that exists only in my mind at the moment, hit me up.
posted by wilde at 3:07 PM on November 29, 2010
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posted by jweed at 5:33 AM on November 29, 2010