Did You Know You Could Submit A TikTok Chort?
It’s no longer a debate. TikTok comedy is here to stay. And this year you can submit your Chorts! through a TikTok as well as YouTube and Vimeo. In this post we’re going to explain why we have added TikTok as an option for your comedy characters and sketches, and show some examples that could inspire you onto this year’s Chortlist.
Like anything shiny and new TikTok has been snootily ridiculed and derided. It was once easy for the uninterested to dismiss it as a frantic scrollfest of tweeny lipsyncs but the reality is that there’s now some really interesting new comedy emerging there. Here’s 5 reasons we like TikTok, interspersed with some examples of TikTok creators that are making great Chortworthy videos:
1. It’s short. You have a 1 minute limit, forcing you to cut the unnecessaries. Ruthless editing is a really hard thing to do but it enhances your comedy by distilling the very best of your creation.
2. No expensive equipment needed. Chorts! are about the funny, not about how fancy your gear is. Now, that’s not to say that production isn’t important, you still need to think about how you shoot and edit to show off your Chort in the best light – but with Tiktok you only need a phone to get started.
3. You have to engage. The TikTok algorithm is ruthless. You have to grip your audience immediately or you’re done. It’s a priniciple that applies for all short form content, but it’s magnified on TikTok, and this has conditioned the best creators on the platform to get really good at piquing your interest straight away.
4. Music. Tiktok gives you access to a catalogue of music that would otherwise have you emptying your wallet and rocking up with legal counsel to secure. The example below is not really a Chort but it is a whole bouquet of weird, and illustrates how music can enhance comedy (just to be clear, we don’t want Chorts! of dueting or reaction videos unless you’ve got a funny character to showcase!)
5. It’s personal. There’s something intimate and personal about the way TikTok characters are delivered straight to camera. It allows relatable characters or situations to connect in a way that feels distinct to the platform.
So there you have a little Comedy Crowd love letter to TikTok. It’s not perfect and we’re not daring to step into the political debate about China here, but it’s helping to create interesting new comedy, and we’re here for that.
You can submit your Chort! until the end of September for the chance to win our Industry Judge or Audience prize plus a place on the Chortlist! where your Chort will be screened at our upcoming event. Find out more about Chorts! and submit yours here.