Ep 224 - Unlocking Your Comedy Genius: Tips from Standup to Screenwriting

The Successful Screenwriter with Geoffrey D Calhoun: Screenwriting Podcast

Summary
Stand-up comedian and author Mike Lukas discusses his journey in comedy, from breaking into the industry to developing a unique comedy lens. He emphasizes the importance of finding personal truths and topics that make you laugh, as well as understanding how to punch up in comedy. Lukas also shares insights on going blue in comedy and the need to be aware of the impact of jokes on different audiences. Overall, he encourages aspiring comedians to practice and develop their funny muscle.
Takeaways

• Developing a comedy lens is crucial for comedians to stand out and connect with audiences.
• Understanding the difference between punching up and punching down in comedy is important to avoid offensive or harmful jokes.
• Becoming funnier is a skill that can be learned and improved through practice and understanding of comedic techniques.
• Finding personal truths and topics that make you laugh can help shape your comedy and make it more relatable to audiences.

For more discussions on screenwriting and film analysis, visit www.thesuccessfulscreenwriter.com.
Check out Mike's book Finding Your Funny Muscle
Chapters
00:00Introduction and Background
01:21Breaking into Comedy
03:17Discovering the Comedy Lens
08:01Developing a Comedy Lens
09:26Finding Your Funny Muscle
22:59Going Blue in Comedy
28:05Punching Up in Comedy
33:52Becoming Funnier