Does Comedy always take the cake?

Jon Starr

Jon Starr

Veteran
I've been noticing something. On sites like youtube, comedy or "funny" clips seem to always get more hits (aside from porn). At a film festival I went to, my film was up against other films in a competition (viewers choice). There was one comedy film, and it was pretty funny. Although I didn't think I should win, I found some other films (dramas) should have won. Yet the one comedy film took the cake. It was funny, but nothing compared to some of the other films.

I'm just wondering what you all think. Is comedy more popular with the crowd? I like doing comedies, but it's not my strength so I wouldn't want to do it professionally.

Does it have to do with recognition? If they recognize it they'll want to see it, but if they don't, they'd rather check out a comedy? This would explain why fan films are so big, as people recognize them, or in hollywood, why adaptations, sequals, and comic book movies seem to be getting all the big bucks, and why it seems like only comedies are getting the original scripts...

What do you guys think?
 
In my experience with film contests, comedies tend to do well with audience awards and dramas do better when there is official judging.
 
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I think that people like to laugh, and that if you have made them laugh, they'll want to reward you.

Plus, comedy - at least in my own limited experience - is very difficult to pull off, even compared to effective drama.
 
Chris Messineo said:
In my experience with film contests, comedies tend to do well with audience awards and dramas do better when their is official judging.
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Yeah, what Chris said.

Take a look at how well comedies do at the box office- then take a look at how many comedies have won Oscars.
 
different genres are going to elicit different reactions from the crowd. watching a good drama is like going to the symphony. watching a good comedy is more ike going to a rock concert.

if there are many dramas at a festival, and only a handful of comedies, the comedies are going to stand out more.
 
I've participated in a couple of local film festivals, and submitted mostly comedies, but a couple of them weren't. Most of the other movies playing were comedies too, and as a result, when the not-so-funny movies played, people still tried to find laughs in it. Everyone expected (or perhaps preferred) comedy. I suppose comedies are more crowd-pleasing, and easier to swallow. Most people would rather escape and just be entertained, and comedy tends to entertain people better.
 
I think people remember films that provoke an emotional reaction, like laughter. While making a good comedy is hard, getting cheap laughs isn't, and a joke can be set up and paid off in a fairly short span of time. To really move people with a drama requires a significant investment in the characters and situation, which takes time and care to build, so the short form isn't really the best format for that.
 
In some film festivals the majority of the films aren't entertaining... Even the wit of a well-scripted drama may not sink in until the contest is over... but you know when you're laughing.
 
ugafan said:
different genres are going to elicit different reactions from the crowd. watching a good drama is like going to the symphony. watching a good comedy is more ike going to a rock concert.
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Wow, good point. Never thought of it like that.
 
-"I'm not sure that I agree with ya a hundred percent on your Police work there Lou."- Fargo.

There are exceptions ofcourse.
 
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