Writing the Comedy Blockbuster. Keith Giglio

      

      “Making people cry is easy. Making people laugh is hard. Teaching people how to make other people laugh is even harder. Keith Giglio does it in this book in a straightforward and humorous way!”

      — Alan R. Cohen & Alan Freedland, Writers/Producers of Due Date, King of the Hill, American Dad

      “It’ll light a fire under your ass — and not in a teen comedy kind of way. Inspirational, practical, and a great read unto itself. Keith’s book will help you write not only a great comedy screenplay but also any genre of screenplay.”

      — Michael Davis, Writer/Director of Shoot ’Em Up, Eight Days a Week

      “This book is not only about Blockbuster Comedy… it reads like one! Sharp, funny, and focused on the practical and commercial, Keith Giglio has crafted the essential handbook for writing modern film comedy — for anyone ambitious and twisted enough to try!”

      — Tom Brady, Writer/Director of The Animal, The Hot Chick, Bucky Larson: Born To Be A Star

      “Keith Giglio’s Writing the Comedy Blockbuster is a must-read for all comedy writers — working or not working — student or pro. It is entertaining, inspirational, and packed full of valuable information.”

      — Tom Martin, Two-time Emmy Award winner for Fox TV’s The Simpsons

      “Finally, a funny book about being funny from someone who is and has actually made a living at it. This is a wonderfully entertaining screenwriting class school… in 200 pages. I hope both screenwriters and producers decide to enroll.”

      — Lisa Bruce, Producer, No Strings Attached

      “Keith Giglio has crafted the essential handbook for writing the comedy screenplay. Teaching that a strong storyline is as important as a clever punchline, Keith guides the reader step by step through the process of turning a clever idea into a funny script. Insightful, educational, and hilarious, this is the how-to book that all aspiring comedy writers needs next to their laptop.”

      — Carr D’Angelo, Producer, The Animal, The Hot Chick

      “Giglio’s tone is light in this funny, easy read. Highly recommended for screenwriters interested in writing comedies.”

      — Library Journal

      “Breezy, accessible, and — above all — useful. Keith Giglio’s book won’t turn you into a better lover (sorry, Mom), but it WILL help you become a better screenwriter.”

      — David Breckman, Writer/Producer, Monk, Saturday Night Live

      “Keith Giglio is an amazing writer and an even more amazing teacher. He’s got tons of experience, wisdom, and knowledge, and the very rare ability to convey all of it in a clear, easy-to-follow, and entertaining way. Keith is the real deal!”

      — Steve Mazur, Co-Writer, Liar, Liar

      “Keith breaks down the comedy screenplay from concept to completion and does so with a lot of laughs. It’s a great ‘behind the scenes’ tour of the Hollywood writer’s process, full of good advice for anyone trying to figure out the business of comedy.”

      — Michael Bostick, Producer, Bruce Almighty

      “What Keith has done is nothing less than a comedy version of The Hero’s Journey, providing writers not only a sequence-by-sequence roadmap for the specific genre, but also a slew of tips, principles, and exercises to create their comedy blockbuster. Think Joseph Campbell meets Judd Apatow.”

      — Scott Myers, Writer, K-9, host of GoIntoTheStory.com

      “Writing the Comedy Blockbuster: The Inappropriate Goal is not your ordinary, garden variety tome on screenwriting — it’s probably one of the most entertaining and informative books on the subject of scripting a comedy! Giglio gives writers valuable in-the-trenches advice partnered with practical, insightful exercises. This read is guaranteed to help you focus on your comedy project as well as tickle your funny bone!”

      — Kathie Fong Yoneda, consultant, workshop leader, and author of The Script-Selling Game: A Hollywood Insider’s Look At Getting Your Script Sold and Produced (2nd edition)

      “Keith Giglio has opened my eyes and shut my mouth! I’ve been writing comedy for 25 years, and have never heard of ‘the inappropriate goal.’ I have to tell you, it was an eye opener. Knowledge of that, and how to use it to make your comedies really funny, is definitely going to help me in my feature career as well as in my sitcom classes at Loyola Marymount University. If you want to write a comedy, BUY THIS BOOK!”

      — Paul Chitlik, Author of Rewrite: A Step-By-Step Guide to Strengthen Structure, Characters, and Drama in Your Screenplay

      WRITING THE COMEDY BLOCKBUSTER

      THE IN APPROPRIATE GOAL

      KEITH GIGLIO

      MICHAEL WIESE PRODUCTIONS

      Published by Michael Wiese Productions

      12400 Ventura Blvd. #1111

      Studio City, CA 91604

      [phone], [phone] (FAX)

      [email protected]

       www.mwp.com

      Cover design by MWP

      Interior design by William Morosi

      Copyedited by Annalisa Zox-Weaver

      Printed by McNaughton & Gunn

      Manufactured in the United States of America

      Copyright © 2012 by Keith Giglio

      All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without permission in writing from the author, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review.

      Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

      Giglio, Keith, 1963-

      Writing the comedy blockbuster : the inappropriate goal / Keith Giglio.

      p. cm.

      ISBN 978-1-61593-085-2 1.

      Comedy films--Authorship. I. Title.

      PN1996.G42 2012

      808.2’523--dc23

      2011039251

      Printed on Recycled Stock

      CONTENTS

       DEDICATION AND THANK YOUS

       INTRODUCTION BY ANDY BRECKMAN

       FOREPLAY, OR HOW TINA FEY CAN KICK BRUCE WILLIS’ ASS

       PART ONE: HOW TO USE THIS BOOK

       CHAPTER ONE

       HOW TO BUST A GUT

       OR COMEDY COLLEGE 101

       A Criminally Brief Histoory of Film Comedy

       Yes, But What Kind