Another type of comedy, sub genre is verbal comedy; this was classically typified by the cruel verbal wit of the sexual innuendo of Mae West, or the verbal absurdity of dialogues in the Marx Brothers films, or later by the self-effacing, thoughtful humor of Woody Allen.
Screwball comedies, predominant from the mid-1930s to the mid-1940s, are light-hearted, often sophisticated, romantic stories, commonly focusing on a battle of the sexes in which both co-protagonists try to outwit or outmaneuver each other. They usually include visual gags, wacky characters, a fast-paced improbable plot, and rapid-fire, wise-cracking dialogue reflecting sexual tensions and conflicts in the blossoming of a relationship (or the patching up of a marriage) for an attractive couple with on-going, antagonistic differences. The couple is often a fairly eccentric, but well-to-do female interested in romance and a generally passive or weak male who resists romance. (Stereotypical men) However, after a twisting and turning plot, romantic love usually triumphs in the end.
Black Comedy is a popular sub genre of comedy films, these are dark, sarcastic, humorous, or sardonic stories that help us examine otherwise ignored darker serious, pessimistic subjects such as war, death, or illness.
Spoof films mock other movies. And a great example of this is a very recent film which has two parts to it, is Scary Movie. This film takes the mockery out of the horror genre. Spoof films normally called Parody movies, exaggerate and over play illogical in an existing film genre. They used to be teenage slasher movies. Before making such movies you have to be certain that the audience know what genre you are talking about, or representing. You would need to know the conventions of the film or existing genre.
Screwball films are very popular and usually found in all comedy films. Two characters, a man and woman, who do not get on initially. In the end; end up together. It’s normally based on reality. Naturally the audience knows what’s gong to take place in the film.
Audiences are all different; we need to establish how audiences are meant to behave when watching comedy films. Audiences watch comedy films, so they feel better within as they are so light hearted. Whereas if it was a horror genre they would be under a lot of pressure and wanting to know what is happening. People find about comedy films, usually through a lot of advertisements through trailers and other films. There are other sources of the Media where people notice, other comedy films.
The forms and conventions in a comedy film are the things which the whole genres of comedy films have in common. Comedy films can be divided into sub genres. Each with there own conventions. For example funny things shall happen in a serious situation. The institutions of a film, is basically all about who makes the film. What techniques do they use to persuade audiences to see the film?
The point of a storyline is to make people laugh. It does not have to be realistic. Comedy films exaggerate and perform silly acts to make the film funny. To break the VERSIMILLITUDE actors are aware that they are in a comedy film. They are not supposed to take comedy films seriously. In some situations we would not be allowed to laugh in the real world. In films we can break the society’s rules. I feel that’s why people enjoy them so much. As we can laugh at other peoples expenses and tragedies. The camera is telling you where to laugh at, and what to laugh at.
