How To Edit Comedy

This video, by Sven Pape of the excellent ‘This Guy Edits‘ YouTube channel is an incredibly valuable insight into comedy creation through the eyes of an editor, specifically Roger Nygard, who has worked on ‘Veep’ and ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’.

He talks about a number of key lessons for editing comedy, and many of these should be considered throughout all stages of the creative process:

1. Yes, and…
How to apply the rule of improv to make sure you explore all options for creating the funniest scene.

2. Setup is primary
When a joke isn’t working, the problem is almost always in the setup, not the punchline.

3. Plot over jokes
Funny moments that emerge from situations are far more impactful than a nicely writen quip or pun.

4. Faster is funnier
Why pacing is key, and usually the faster the better. There’s a great example from Veep in the video.

5. Find the button
The button is the biggest moment of the scene, and it won’t necessarily come at the end of the script. The scene needs to be structured to optimise it.

6. Trim the fat
‘The enemy of comedy is the unnecessary pause’ says Nygard.

7. Cut Wide
Wider shots give greater possibilities for reaction and body language, but there are also times when you want to cut closer.

8. Feature every frame
In particular, how to frame a punchline to make sure it lands.

9. Keep it real
Why it’s so important to achieve authenticity in the final cut.

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