Zombie Webseries

[aidann]

Hello everyone!

I am planning to film a zombie webseries in December/January time, but I have had some trouble writing the script. It is a Left 4 Dead spinoff, and I am trying to get at least 9 episodes in the first season. It is also comedy, and in a previous post I said I could not write comedy to save my life. This webseries will be going onto Machinimas YouTube channel, for I am a machinima director.

We planned to film at the beginning in october, and we did have several filming days. The only downside was the script was too short, and the actors we god awful. Because of this we have moved filming and are holding casting for new actors.

But the problem I am having is keeping up with comedy. I keep changing it to a dramatic series, and the comedy seems sort of dull. So when I try to re-write, the script becomes shorter and the jokes make no sense what so ever. Does anyone have any advice for keeping the comedy flowing and keeping the script from shrinking? If anyone is willing to look over the episodes I have, that would be great.

-Aidann

 

[FantasySciFi]

Comedy IS difficult to write well. And it depends on actors with a fine sense of comedic timing to carry out well. There are two approaches--planned skit and organic comedy. The planned skit is where the situation sets up a spiraling series of events that explode towards the end. The comedy IS the intention. Organic comedy is when situations arise incidental to the story that offer moments of humor that seem unplanned and don't interfere with the story's plot.

One thing that is critical is the nature of your character(s). A serious character requires a not-so-serious companion to play off. Or a serious character must be over the top. More playful characters can pull off humor. In your webseries, look at your characters. If they are intent on survival, humor may need to be organic and incidental. "Ghostbusters" and "Army of Darkness" show a nice balance of humor and plot. Timing IS everything. What is the focus of the webisode--the story or the skit? In a skit, events spiral out of control. If you need the zombie story to start and stop at a specific point, it's probably not a skit. In that case, humor comes from context without lots of setup--mostly puns, double entendres, and visual humor. If you are trying to move a scene along dramatically, the humor should be low key. If the tension is too intense, humor can help relieve it. "Robocop" does that with several memorable lines and scenes (ED209, TV ads, etc.).

If you put your webisode script on Google or Mediafire and put the link here, most of the contributors here will give you feedback.

 

[barnaclelapse]

"Low-key" is definitely the phrase that I'm thinking of, too. I think the best type of comedy for stuff like this comes from people who have very human, very normal reactions to absolutely deranged, even horrible things. I'd also look at the chemistry of your characters, and figure out who plays off who the best.

Timing is indeed everything with a project like this, and a large part of that will fall to the actors, but a good script will of course be the blueprint that everything comes back to.

 

[mad_hatter]

Firstly, I’d ask “Why does this need to be comedy?” If you’re naturally writing a dramatic piece, can you not just go with that? If you struggle to write comedy, if it’s not your strength, the likelihood is that it wont be funny. Do you think your jokes are funny? Have others read your writing? What do they think?

Do you have a complete story? It’s probably not the most natural way to write comedy, but if you’re struggling, I’d try maybe writing the entire story out first, getting the whole thing done, then adding in the jokes in afterwards.

And about writing this as a comedy, if it’s a “Left 4 Dead” spin-off, should it not be serious? “Left 4 Dead” wasn’t funny from what I recall. As a fan of the game, I’d rather see it done seriously.

Either way, post it up. I’d love to have a read of it!

 

[wheatgrinder]

add a laugh track, instant funny! just kidding..


funny in zombie films? .. zombieland is good example.

Ideas... the funny ways to kill a zombie, treating it like a sport etc.. all give opportunities for comedy..

playing off the genre cliches will be good too. the slow moving zombie attack could be funny.. like some old guy outrunning a zombie on a personal mobility device.. lol.. makes me laugh just thinking about it..

EDIT: zombie fighting seems a GREAT vehicle for physical comedy. Trips, slap stick etc.. narrow escapes thorough absurd actions etc..

 

[aidann]

Firstly, I’d ask “Why does this need to be comedy?” If you’re naturally writing a dramatic piece, can you not just go with that? If you struggle to write comedy, if it’s not your strength, the likelihood is that it wont be funny. Do you think your jokes are funny? Have others read your writing? What do they think?

Do you have a complete story? It’s probably not the most natural way to write comedy, but if you’re struggling, I’d try maybe writing the entire story out first, getting the whole thing done, then adding in the jokes in afterwards.

And about writing this as a comedy, if it’s a “Left 4 Dead” spin-off, should it not be serious? “Left 4 Dead” wasn’t funny from what I recall. As a fan of the game, I’d rather see it done seriously.

Either way, post it up. I’d love to have a read of it!

Well, the reason I want it to be a comedy is mainly because of the way the Machinima community is. If it's not funny, it will always get a negative response. I sort of figured to start it off as a comedy, then turn it more dramatic. I have the whole story planned out, but to me it just needs a little more work.

 

[srbclarke]

Does it really have to be a Left 4 Dead spinoff? Couldn't it be your own thing? I feel that that would be better for your project.

What kind of comedy do you want? Acting comedy takes great actors that know what they're doing. If you don't have great actors, I;d recommend going for a more slapstick comedy like a Lloyd Kaufman film.

 

[finderskeepers]

The funniest scenes I ever filmed were when an actor changed EVERYTHING I wrote. Seek out IMPROV actors/comics, put them in a room and say "Be a zombie" Improv actors will come up with the most hilarious stuff. If what your writing doesn't feel funny, it's not. You need to collaborate with comic talent. A few comic talents can help you rework those dull scenes into something side splitting.
That's just my experience. Hope it helps.

Hello everyone!

I am planning to film a zombie webseries in December/January time, but I have had some trouble writing the script. It is a Left 4 Dead spinoff, and I am trying to get at least 9 episodes in the first season. It is also comedy, and in a previous post I said I could not write comedy to save my life. This webseries will be going onto Machinimas YouTube channel, for I am a machinima director.

We planned to film at the beginning in october, and we did have several filming days. The only downside was the script was too short, and the actors we god awful. Because of this we have moved filming and are holding casting for new actors.

But the problem I am having is keeping up with comedy. I keep changing it to a dramatic series, and the comedy seems sort of dull. So when I try to re-write, the script becomes shorter and the jokes make no sense what so ever. Does anyone have any advice for keeping the comedy flowing and keeping the script from shrinking? If anyone is willing to look over the episodes I have, that would be great.

-Aidann