Structuring A Comedy Screenplay: The Comic Hero's Journey - Steve Kaplan [FULL INTERVIEW]

BUY STEVE'S BOOK - THE HIDDEN TOOLS OF COMEDY: The Serious Business Of Being Funny - amzn.to/1iaVeKZ
MORE VIDEOS ON THE ‘COMIC HERO’S JOURNEY’
bit.ly/2h4bEHM
MORE VIDEOS WITH STEVE KAPLAN
bit.ly/1XuuBli
CONNECT WITH STEVE KAPLAN
kaplancomedy.com
/ kaplancomedy
/ skcomedy
CONNECT WITH FILM COURAGE
www.FilmCourage.com
#!/FilmCourage
/ filmcourage
/ filmcourage
/ filmcourage
BUSINESS INQUIRIES
bit.ly/22M0Va2
SUBSCRIBE TO THE FILM COURAGE KZbin CHANNEL
bit.ly/18DPN37
LISTEN TO THE FILM COURAGE PODCAST
/ filmcourage-com
PROMOTE YOUR MOVIE, WEBSERIES, OR PRODUCT ON FILM COURAGE
bit.ly/1nnJkgm
SUPPORT FILM COURAGE
/ filmcourage
Stuff we use:
CAMERA - This is the camera we have used to film 90+% of our interviews (over 200 interviews and counting) It continues to be our workhorse - amzn.to/2dAercv
LENS - Most people ask us what camera we use, no one ever asks about the lens which filmmakers always tell us is more important. This lens was a big investment for us and one we wish we could have made sooner. Started using this lens at the end of 2013 - amzn.to/2dUWP8h
AUDIO
Rode VideoMic Pro - The Rode mic helps us capture our backup audio. It also helps us sync up our audio in post - amzn.to/2e2AVVt
Audio Recorder - If we had to do it all over again, this is probably the first item we would have bought - amzn.to/2dFuPZg
LIGHTS - Although we like to use as much natural light as we can, we often enhance the lighting with this small portable light. We have two of them and they have saved us a number of times - amzn.to/2dApDpp
COMPUTER - Our favorite computer, we each have one and have used various models since 2010 - amzn.to/2fzEYE1
*These are affiliate links, by using them you can support this channel.

[@JoeAndHisAdventures]

Notes: Comic Hero's Journey 1. Normal World - Start with Protagonist who is broken/flawed but isn't aware of it and have a short-sighted goal. We get a glimpse of who they are and also a tiny glimpse of who they should/might be 2. WTF - Comic Premises is setup: Something impossible/improbable happens 3. Reaction - Protagonist desperately tries to crawl back to the real world. Is in Denial and then tries to cope without any character development. New skills that were hinted in the Normal world starts to appear 4. Connection - Protagonist finds unexpected allies and sometimes enemies. Proagonist moving out of their comfort zone and are becoming a more actualized person and are reaching out to new relationships. A getting naked moment occurs where the comedy is slowed down and the protagonist is vulnerable, honest and opens their heart. 5. New Direction -Their initial goals are broken and they discover a more meaningful goal. A Decision Point is made ( There should never be a point where there is no question what the character will do ) 6. Disconnection - Where all seems lost. Where the protagonist is going to fail and the mask ( where their initial flaws remerge ) is put on for a short moment 7. Race to Finish - The Protagonist has a full realization and everything becomes clear of who they are and what they need. It doesn't matter if they're gonna win or not. Success or Failure should hang by a hair's breadth and could believably go either way. The Protagonist literally has to take positive action to achieve their goal. There must be some hint that the future is going to be set on a better path but the protagonist should never transform till the point they are perfect or saints and should still retain their human touch. Important Character Types: 1) Trickster 2) Fool 3) Voice of Reason You are allowed to lie only once under the comic premises be it huge or small. The theme and the need calls for characters You create all the events based on characters

[@jackolive1956]

Legend lol. Was gunna watch this but don't really have the time lol. Perfect!

[@maddietrout719]

Thank you so much!! I was able to listen to this video while doing art instead of taking notes :)

[@tonylion2680]

every comment section has a hero

[@jonschutz]

Thanks bro!

[@anavonrebeur6121]

You are my hero

[@PhialSubstance]

I love what Steve says about "the comic premise is that you can tell ONE lie, and after that everything you tell has to be as close to the truth as possible.". I think that is so accurate, I never noticed before. He really has a way of articulating concepts and ideas.

[@jayv8068]

timestamp?

[@nickjoseph2711]

If you leave in the single character Stephanie, the entire theme of 'Groundhog Day' changes. Great analysis.

[@kennethlucious1]

Not only informative but gives courage to make a comic film!

[@stevekaplan1170]

Thanks, Kenneth!

[@detectivefiction3701]

This is great, because you really don't see a lot of videos seriously discussing the comedy genre. Incidentally, if you listen to this guy with your eyes closed, you'd almost think you were listening to Steven Spielberg (similar voice timbre).

[@hanklizer1454]

he is tops...so clearly has he laid out a viable path ahead

[@Guruc13]

Yes! I love Steve Kaplan! Thank you Film Courage! You're the best

[@filmcourage]

Thanks Christopher, we wanted to get this full version out ahead of schedule. We hope you enjoy and benefit.

[@thes2459]

Amazing! Such great insights not only on writing but on Life ❤

[@LaHistoriadelaTeatra]

Thanks a lot. ❤

[@PranavBhave]

Awesome. Can't Thank You Enough. Great work Film Courage! 🙂👍

[@filmcourage]

Kind words Pranav! Great to see you find this one helpful. Our best to you as you move forward with your work.

[@darrengrenfell9225]

Another excellent video - thank you for sharing

[@stevekaplan1170]

You're welcome!

[@theeternallowlyoutcastrn]

Amazing video. Very informative.

[@luckyboypictures]

Thanks, this Video helped big time!

[@SkyKJ]

Thank you so much for these videos, they are so valuable for an aspiring young filmmaker like me.

[@filmcourage]

Sky KJ, our pleasure. Happy to see young filmmakers discovering our channel. We hope your work is better for it.

[@SkyKJ]

It's like talking face to face with a mentor, and opens new perspectives on writing.

[@kaqueburlington4278]

Awesome Video! Brilliant!

[@filmcourage]

Thank you Kaque, we are glad you found value here.

[@007nadineL]

Great video STEFFI . . .

[@runlikejosh1364]

Kaplan is tops!

[@LegareProd]

in the future you should put time stamps in the description telling the viewer what is being talked about at what point in the video. great video none the less.

[@palfrensis]

I like his horse.

[@nickybjammin7629]

♥️!

[@LoowheezeBreeze]

41:20 The movie is Enough Said, not That's Enough

[@stevekaplan1170]

Sorry, you're right--sometimes the facts stay in my head, and the wrong words come out.

[@Spider-Too-Too]

hhaa, he refrenced to this is the end

[@retired_idubbbz_fan5398]

13:23

[@miskatonic3197]

Has the guy seen another movie than groundhog day?

[@stevekaplan1170]

Yes. Next question.

[@boneynerd]

If only he was interpreting the impeachment of trump lol...

[@jamesmcdermott9275]

Very politically correct thank you for the correctness lesson.

[@madmania5080]

Too bad he used the spy movie one of the worst movies of all time to be an illustration of his ideas

[@Devosimms]

Works to use a bad movie because they often make classic tropes overly obvious due to poor writing.

[@defiverr4697]

Steve is not giving away the family jewels.I have taken his course.None of that is in here.This is too broad r Bruustroke of generalities that do nothing for the writing. Read his book don't watch the video. Utterly useless.He charges a lot of money so he doesn't want to put an end to his seminars with a video. Take the seminar and buy the book.