"Comedy editing is one of the more difficult styles of editing. If the actors delivery is off, the timing is off and as an editor, you need to “Try” to fix it for pacing and timing in the overall film."
I agree with the statement above, due to the difficulties I faced whilst editing 'Out O' Date'. I spent countless hours trying to perfect the timing of each line, when to cut too and from each character. In the end I mixed it up a little by cutting straight to a character when they're speaking, or over-lapping their dialogue with a different image, and finally cutting back to a character's reaction whilst the other person is speaking. This technique worked for me and the piece as I think it flows nicely and features variety.
Four Principles of Comedy Editing
1. Timing is Key
Timing refers to the choice, control or judgment about when something should be shown, cut to, or cut away from. If you're lucky enough to have great actors, they will sometimes leave room for the audience to laugh and reflect on what's been said. If the performers are funny themselves, and have great comedic timing, then the job is easy. However if the actor blunders or is off the mark with the timing, then it's the editors job to find opportunities to enhance the humour or create humour where none really exists. This could be achieved by constructing a sequence that hopefully the audience will find amusing, figuring out when and where to cut, and crafting a rhythm of shots that will result in the biggest laugh.
Everyone has a different sense of timing, but you know great timing when you see it.
2. Use the Right Reaction Shot
The shot-reverse-shot is one of the most common used techniques for the building blocks of storytelling. When a character in a comedy says something funny, it cuts to the other person's reaction, and then back to the first person. It's up to the editor to choose the most 'appropriate' reaction shot to what's been said to get the desired reaction from the audience. Whether you want laughter or a snigger from the audience, choosing the correct reaction is key.
3. Let the Audience in on the Joke Beforehand
Sometimes it's best to let the audience in on a key bit of information first. For example in a horror film, we find ourselves 'screaming' at the screen because we can see the killer approaching their victim but they have no clue of what's approaching. "Tell them what you're going to do. Do it. Tell them you've done it". In other words telling the audience what is about to happen in advance of the gag.
For example: Laurel and Hardy
1. Laurel and Hardy running down the street.
2. Cut to a banana skin on the floor (the audience may laugh, and know what's coming).
3. Cut back to them running, hold the shot and then have them slip on the banana skin.
4. Cut to their reaction/despair
This (3) technique I feel somewhat relates to my comedy edit of 'Out O' Date'. For example in the shot where the woman is walking across the car park, and I cut back to the second man's reaction in which he looks at the poorly worded sign on the supermarket entrance. We know as the audience the reason she's approaching and understand the man's reaction. Then I cut back to the woman arguing with man 1/showing his reaction.
4. Less is More
I have always been a firm believer in 'less is more'. I often think that holding back on something can create more of an impact, (often emotional) on the audience.
Cutting things out and showing less amplifies the humour. By shortening sequences, and eliminating stuff that isn't quite working or very funny, you can go from mark to mark to build up the impact of the comedy and get bigger and better laughs.
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After reading and researching about editing comedies, I feel more confident about undertaking the job of editing another one in the future. It has also made me more confident about the edit I have produced for brief 3 'Out O' Date'.
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