This guide for novice and experienced screenwriters identifies what makes people laugh and analyzes how the best writers put these principles to work. Using examples from well-known comedy films, the authors describe the characteristics of various comic story forms, including farce, the gender-bender, parody, and ensemble comedy.

From a Customer Review:

Writing the Comedy Film by Stuart Voytilla and Scott Petri is such an amazing book. I am the President of Shriekfest, The Los Angeles International Film Festival and Screenplay Competition, so we see many scripts come through our doors. I am not a writer myself, but I do know that many writers should adhere to the rules that Stuart and Scott have laid out. They tell you what comedy is, how it works, the rules of writing comedy, and how to write every single type of comedy out there. They break it down into simple rules, it's so well written, it makes me want to take up writing myself. What I liked the most was that they refer to comedies that we have all seen. So, if you need help writing the fish out of water comedy, the romantic comedy, the sports comedy, the crime comedy, the military comedy, the teen comedy, the farce, or the black comedy this is your book. They break each one of these comedies down, by telling you what each one needs and how to lay it all out. I was really impressed by this book.

Paperback, 215pp
March 2003