Survey of Sound and Silence

I send the questionnaire of the sound comedy and silence comedy to investigate and result my research.

According to research,

Almost people more enjoy the sound one.

From this follow chart we can see that, audience think that editing, cinematography and the timing are funnier in the silence one

So they think that editing, cinematography and the timing can bring laughter to them, it prove that, the editing, cinematography and the timing in this one improve the comedy effect.

In the sound one, audiences the most like timing in this comedy, and the music, canned laughter sound effect and the editing is funnier that cinematography and color. So they think that the timing, music, canned laughter sound effect and the editing can bring laughter to them, it prove that, the timing music, canned laughter sound effect and the editing in this one improve the comedy effect.

From this research we can result that:

“the idea that canned laughter is an effective method to increase laughter and positive responses." (Platow, M. J., Haslam, A., Both, A., Chen, I., Cuddion, M., Goharpy, N., Maurer, J., Rosini, S., Tsekouras, A., & Grace, D. (2005)."Music tells us a lot and it can replace words if it is further emphasized by good body language and facial expressions.".(Tom and Jerry-use of music to narrate story, 04/02/2008) and "Comedy need aftertaste, if we cannot control the rhythm of action, audience will feel boring or noisy. When the complicate dialogs are changed the characters' body action, the film will show more clear action line, more direct and lively dialogs, at the same time, humors also nearby people."(said by the Chinese drama actor--Xiaogang Su in a interview by sina, 27/08/2010) is correct. But my audience that I researched are 18-25 years old, so it has some incorrect, but this is a part research.

According to these feedbacks from my audiences, I can conclusion that, film technique can improve the comedy effect.

References:

Platow, M. J., Haslam, A., Both, A., Chen, I., Cuddion, M., Goharpy, N., Maurer, J., Rosini, S., Tsekouras, A., & Grace, D. (2005)

Amarit, (04/02/2008) wordpress, http://amarit04.wordpress.com/2008/02/04/tom-and-jerry-use-of-music-to-narrate-story/, 22/10/2013

Ran Mu, (27/08/2010) sina, http://ent.sina.com.cn/j/2010-08-27/12153066551.shtml, 11/2013

Re-editing(2)--Sound(3)

Music：

I put funny music into my sound film at 2’56’’, because the climax in this film is the part of stealing. When I put a funny music and combined the rhythm speed of timing, it can bring a funny feeling to audience, and at the same time, I create a feeling like relax or nervous. Because I research the theory about that sound can affect comedy effect, I think this way can make the comedy effect stronger.

Other Sound Effect：

I put a sound effect into my sound film at 2’35’’,

Because I want to improve the small punchline which the stealer shows different attitude to the toy.

In the final part—the same ads (4’31’’), 

I used the typewriter and seal sound effect, I want to high light the ads’ message. After the end of the lightly typewriter, a weight sound of seal drop down, that can let people notice the ads, and depth the image of the ads.

Re-editing(2)--Sound(2)

Canned laughter：

Research supports “the idea that canned laughter is an effective method to increase laughter and positive responses." (Platow, M. J., Haslam, A., Both, A., Chen, I., Cuddion, M., Goharpy, N., Maurer, J., Rosini, S., Tsekouras, A., & Grace, D. (2005). For this effect, I added many canned laughter in this comedy, and I added different level laughter for different punchlines, it mainly shows the strength of the laughter. At the same time, according my supervisor David advice to me, I delayed each of canned laughter by about 0.2 to 0.5 seconds to give enough reaction time of audience.

References:

Platow, M. J., Haslam, A., Both, A., Chen, I., Cuddion, M., Goharpy, N., Maurer, J., Rosini, S., Tsekouras, A., & Grace, D. (2005)

Re-editing(2)--Sound(1)

Because I researched more about the using of film technique in comedy and a new part--Timing in comedy film, I re-edit my comedy film--good night. I had already finished writing my result of written survey in my blog. This re-editing aims to realize and summarize my research results.

In this sound comedy, I firstly put the part of the master eat medicine into the ending used by memory, it can make film more clear. Then I put timing, canned laughter music and sound effect into this comedy to strong the comedy effect.

Timing:

I changed the speed of time, which is 80% slower than original one in 2’57’’ and 3’01’’.

 

I want to show the time when thieves steal very careful, and at the same time, I want to create a nervous feeling. The similar part also shows on the celebrating (3’27’’, 3’33’’).

I changed the speed of time into 200%-300% in 2’59’’ and 3’02’’ because I want to show the snickers and eager when the thieves stolen the things, and at the same time, I decide to create a funny and easy feeling.

Because I researched the theory which shows timing can affect comedy effect, I think this way can make the comedy effect stronger.

Re-editing(1)--Silence(2)

I want to increase the effect which uses the rhythm to control the feeling of audience, and at the same time, I want to create a feeling about confusion and confounded. The similarly style also shows at the part of stealing, celebrating and the time after the house-owner waked up (1’23’’, 1’45’’ and 1’57’’).

Because I believe that timing can affect comedy effect, I decide to use this style to make the comedy effect stronger.

In the silence comedy, I had changed the color of the film, from beginning 0’01’’to the ending 2’14’’, I use the color effect—50s style, because the story is happened in night, when I put the 50s black & white color effect, it can let the lighting in film more bright and prominent. With the aim of making the film clearer, I also changed the brightness contrast.

Re-editing(1)--Silence(1)

Because I researched more about the using of film technique in comedy and a new part--Timing in comedy film, I re-edit my comedy film--good night. I had already finished writing my result of written survey in my blog. This re-editing aims to realize and summarize my research results.

This time I use two sound and color styles to edit my film, because I research the using of sound and timing in comedy movies. One is silence film, another one is sound film, and then I put timing in both of them.

In the silence one, I changed the speed of playing in this film; Also I changed the speed into 200% from 0’01’’ to 1’23’’.

Timing and Comedy

Timing have a very important place in comedy films, it is in every comedy elements and film techniques. According timing, that can strong the comedy effect.

“Comic timing is the use of rhythm, tempo and pausing to enhance comedy and humor. The pacing of the delivery of a joke can have a strong impact on its comedic effect, even altering its meaning; the same can also be true of more physical comedy such as slapstick.

A beat is a pause taken for the purposes of comic timing, often to allow the audience time to recognize the joke and react, or to heighten the suspense before delivery of the expected punch line. Pauses, sometimes called "dramatic pauses" in this context, can be used to discern subtext or even unconscious content — that is, what the speaker is really thinking about.“(1)

"Comedy need aftertaste, if we cannot control the rhythm of action, audience will feel boring or noisy. When the complicate dialogs are changed the characters' body action, the film will show more clear action line, more direct and lively dialogs, at the same time, humors also nearby people."(2) 

"The rhythm of comedy actors is very important." said by a Chinese directors, Weimin Ye.(5)

"A lot of people mistake comedy as being easier than drama, but comedy is more difficult because there is a lot of timing," he said. "Instead of walking to a mark and delivering the line, we are constantly walking, running or moving as we say the lines."(3)

"The most important key to comedy is (pause) Timing. …..A proper pause can help create curiosity with an audience, give them a chance to catch their breath, build tension, then zing; you burst into the funny line, ruling the day!"(4)

"Comedy = tragedy + timing"--said by an American actor, director, screenwriter, and author, Alan Alda(4)

“The secret to good comedy is all in comedy timing.” said by a comedian Andy Williams(4)

Time is a ruler to measure the change. In the film and TV program, the shot timing become the material basis to stimulate audience's time feeling(5) 

 Because the place of timing in comedy, I need to more skilled the useful of it. About this, some people talk their suggests.

"If, for example, you pause at the right time in your delivery, you can provoke any number of positive reactions in your audience, all of which will help you be seen as an ultra funny…funny man (or woman). You could help to generate curiosity within your audience, allow them some important time in which to catch their breath, or even build tension. After this, you hit them with the punch line and—wham, zap, pop—you have them rolling in the aisles (not literally, of course)." (6)

According to the length interval, normal display is long. From the span of time, it show the exaggerate effect, and form the display of comedy....comedy film always to the exaggeration of people's motion for showing comedy elements. In generally, the exaggeration of people's motion include of quick motion, slow motion, and freeze motion......(7)

For example: <The Tricky Master>, <God of Gamblers>, <All for the Winner>, <The Eagle Shooting Heroes>, <Kong Fu>.

Try to keep in mind these fundamental comedy rules that relate to the all-vital aspect of timing: Insert a pregnant pause right prior to the last word in your routine. Increase the volume of your voice prior to a sentence’s end, deliver your punch line more in the form of a question, as opposed to a statement, quicken or slow down your tempo, And alternate between shouting/whispering your line(6)

In my research, I cannot find the argument about timing, it prove that, its important place is been recognition in comedy.

Reference:

1. Jing Qi. (11/2012). Comic timing. Publish Film. 3, 35-36.

2. Ran Mu, (27/08/2010) sina, http://ent.sina.com.cn/j/2010-08-27/12153066551.shtml, 11/2013

3. Scott Iwasaki, (04/27/2012) Parkrecord, http://www.parkrecord.com/ci_20498302/park_city-contact_us, 11/2013

4. Harmon Leon, (05/08/2009) Craveonline, http://www.craveonline.com/lifestyle/articles/144554-how-to-have-amazing-comedy-timing, 11/2013 

5. Long Yu. (2008). Analysis The Long And Short Shot Rhythm In Chinese TV Sitcom. Art Education. 3, 27-28.

6. David Parlour, (09/04/2012) comedytiming, http://comedytiming.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/secret-to-comedy-timing.html, 11/2013

7. Ji Li. (2012). Talking to Exaggeration‘s Display in Hong Kong Comedy Film. Light industrial science and technology.12, 18-20.