Yes, You Can Still Do This... and Audiences Need You to!

Explicit content warning

08/30/22 • 37 min

2 Listeners

Unfortunately it seems that many filmmakers are holding back from making comedy films. Comedy is a necessary genre and thankfully we still have some filmmakers who are producing hilarious films that meet audience needs. John Hamburg, from Meet the Parents and Zoolander, shares his process for creating great comedies.

In this episode, we talk about...

Me Time, John’s latest film that is now available on Netflix
John’s opinion on why there are less comedies on the big screen
Finding out what needs improvement by the feedback given in test screenings
John’s experience writing for Meet the Parents and Zoolander
Plot based comedies versus joke based comedies and which strategy John implements in his films
Why John never directs actors to “be funny”
The first step to writing a comedy film - Developing a character

Find No Film School everywhere:

On the Web

https://nofilmschool.com/

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/nofilmschool

Twitter

https://twitter.com/nofilmschool

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https://www.youtube.com/user/nofilmschool

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/nofilmschool

Get your questions answered on the podcast by emailing [email protected]!

Vist https://nordvpn.com/nofilmschool

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we talk about...

Me Time, John’s latest film that is now available on Netflix
John’s opinion on why there are less comedies on the big screen
Finding out what needs improvement by the feedback given in test screenings
John’s experience writing for Meet the Parents and Zoolander
Plot based comedies versus joke based comedies and which strategy John implements in his films
Why John never directs actors to “be funny”
The first step to writing a comedy film - Developing a character

Find No Film School everywhere:

On the Web

https://nofilmschool.com/

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/nofilmschool

Twitter

https://twitter.com/nofilmschool

YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/user/nofilmschool

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/nofilmschool

Get your questions answered on the podcast by emailing [email protected]!

Vist https://nordvpn.com/nofilmschool

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Previous Episode

China Sends Hollywood a Message

Do you think the success of a film should be measured on how many markets it reaches and how much money it generates? The average filmmaker needs to remember that they do not have to appeal to everyone in order to be successful.

In this episode, we talk about...

MoviePass returning with tiered platform prices
How you can watch ads to earn movie credits by allowing the app to track your eye movement
China’s request for movies that are catered to their culture, customs, and audience
The two choices filmmakers have in response to territory-specific movie demands:
Keep the film and plot as is and risk not being distributed in certain territories and markets
Offer different versions of the film that will be acceptable to all territories
Measuring the success of a film by considering many factors, not only the box office stats
Why filmmakers should define success by their own individual values
How filmmakers like Michael Mann, are influenced by others, like Jean-Pierre Melville, to continue evolving film into wonderful works of art

Links to Resources:

MoviePass

Le Samouraï - film by Jean-Pierre Melville

Army of Shadows - film by Jean-Pierre Melville

Thief - film by Michael Mann

Heat - film by Michael Mann

Find No Film School everywhere:

On the Web

https://nofilmschool.com/

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/nofilmschool

Twitter

https://twitter.com/nofilmschool

YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/user/nofilmschool

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/nofilmschool

Get your questions answered on the podcast by emailing [email protected]!

Vist https://nordvpn.com/nofilmschool

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Next Episode

When is the Right Time to Take Big Career Swings?

When thinking of making a big career swing, we have all asked ourselves the question, “What’s the right move here?” Making big swings can be tricky since there is no way to know what the outcome will be and if we are making the right decision. Charles, Todd, GG, and George give their insight into this tricky situation.

In this episode, we talk about...

Changes happening at Warner Bros and how their branding approach seems like a bad idea
Should filmmakers put themselves in a box by self identifying as a certain “brand” of creator
Making project decisions based on cash flow or based on ambition
Incrementalism and how any progress toward the larger goal is good
Realizing there are large factors outside of our control
Not expecting a specific outcome when deciding to take the big career swing
Aiming back at the center of the target every time you get pushed off course
How the editing process is just like cooking

Mentioned in the episode: