09/23 notes
J
- I really love making people laugh. But I don't have any friends! So, I solved the issue like any sane person would: I started doing standup comedy! This way I get to make people laugh, without all the nonsense of making friends, LIKE EW WHO'D DO THAT.
- I really like that joke but that also implies that I can make people laugh, which frankly...nope.
- My goal in friendship and dating is to find people that consume as much unhinged internet content as I do.
- You ever see a self-driving car and, probably because it's the most innocuous thing ever, want to fuck with it? Like, just run in front of it as it's driving? And then, like a high school bully, tell it that you want its algebra homework by today, OR ELSE? Maybe it's just me.
- I am incredibly single. Feels like I'm back in middle school.
I
- The "straight man" in a scene should always have a game. Always. There's always a backstory, a relationship, a motivation to the person that's in front of them. Could just be that your friend is acting strange as of late, and you want to help them. Could be that you have some perceived sense of justice or morality, and the ridiculous character is defying that (e.g. a ridiculous parent that's defending their bully child to the caring, just, straight man teacher). Establishing that game/backstory early is very important.
- The "straight man" also has a personality. In the case of that parent teacher interaction, the teacher could be timid and not know how to stand up to the parent.
- It's fun to watch a straight man switch sides. :) Hold this until the end, but when done correctly, it's more interesting. For an example, see this SNL demonstration.
- The skit linked at the top of the notes are a reminder that a straight-absurd interaction doesn't need to involve a completely over the top character. It can also involve a subtly absurd scenario (e.g. Jonah Hill's character dating the dad).