[Quick Summary: To get their jobs back at the newspaper, reporters Kermit, Fozzie, and Gonzo go to London to find out who stole Lady Holiday's jewels.]
Q: Why is comedy/humor is often considered "local."
A: The idea is that it "doesn't travel well overseas."
Q: Why is that?
A: Comedy/humor often rely on VERBAL jokes, puns, one-liners, cracks, etc. that rely on understanding a language in context (ex. spelling jokes, cultural usage).
Q: What does relying on the non-verbal look like?
A: It's much more like a silent film, with jokes arising out of the SITUATION.
Q: Any tips?
A: In silent films, the viewer doesn't need to understand any dialogue to get the joke. Also, it's funnier if there is weight (stakes) for the characters.
In the scene below, notice that the sound and visuals do the heavy lifting, but it is the stakes for Miss Piggy (Kermit finding out she lied) that add weight to the scene.
INT. DINING ROOM - NIGHT
Suddenly, a strange CLANKING NOISE can be heard from outside. The couple reacts, curious, but calm. Greville leans sideways in his chair and looks out the window up the side of the building, then assumes his original position.
DORCAS: What is it, Greville?
GREVILLE (calmly): Just a pig climbing up the drainpipe. (continued, offering) Tea?
DORCAS: Not for me.
[Miss Piggy is the the one climbing up the house. She gets in. Kermit rings the doorbell. Miss Piggy answers, pretending this is her house. She yanks Kermit inside.]
INT. HIGHBROW HOUSE COMPOSITE - NIGHT
She pulls him with her out of sight of the English couple, who crane their necks trying to see what's going on in their house.
KERMIT (rubbing his sore arm): Uh...nice place you've got here.
Greville gets up from the table.
MISS PIGGY: Thanks. I practically stole it.
Miss Piggy begins pulling Kermit from room to room, just ahead of the bewildered Greville who can't quite understand the meaning of all this.
GREVILLE: I say there..
KERMIT: That guy's following us.
MISS PIGGY: He's some sort of servant. Just making sure we're all right. This, of course is the drawing room....
WHAT I'VE LEARNED: Kids will think this situation is funny because they know the normally pigs can't climb drainpipes.
Also, they understand why Miss Piggy is so desperate to get inside and pretend this is her house for Kermit.
The Great Muppet Caper (1981)(7/22/80 draft)
by Tom Prachett & Jay Tarses and Jerry Juhl & Jack Ross
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