2: Etch-a-Sketch!

Skule Nite Writing Live

Summer Series

Elements of Sketch

Aug 4, 2024

We’re Lauren & Steph!

(and that’s Jeremy)

Check in!

How was your July & what is something you’ve always wanted to try!

TODAY’S AGENDA

03

04

01

02

Sketch Formatting

WRITING ACTIVITY!

Deep dive into Observation!

Let’s talk Characters!

Laying out the sketch on the page!

Let’s get collaborative!!

The Thesis of a Sketch!

Character status, relationships, etc.

01

Observation

Let’s Begin! :P

Remember observation?

Underlying truth or message in a sketch. Usually a commentary about the world around you.

More on observation…

• Share opinions and validate people who have them too → relatability!
• Not explicitly stated
• Exaggeration is your toolkit:
• Animate objects
• Quirky characters
• Bend time
• Change the world!

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Lobster Time

Consider:

• What’s the observation?
• How is it communicated?
• Do you identify with it? How so?

What makes it relatable?

Even more on observation

• Choose opinions you feel strongly about
• Give audience enough context to understand your opinion
• Get wacky with it → uncommon
• Give yourself room to grow

Sketch Structure: Let’s break it down

3 parts:

• Act 1: setting & premise (30s)
• Act 2: intro to conflict
• Act 3: Funny ending that gives definitive conclusion

sketch = something normal happening + something weird stopping that from happening = funny conflict

02

More About Characters!

How you say…the backbone of sketches

Character Observation

Comic Character - Absurd Observation

• Have an extreme/unique opinion or worldview that differs from the norm

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• Have a quality/flaw that separates them from straight character

Straight Character - Normal Observation

• Tend to share the same worldview as the audience

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• The character the audience can relate to

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WARNING: READING REQUIRED!!

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Important Character Guidelines

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1. Characters CAN’T break their observations/opinions
2. Observation of the sketch does not need to match the characters’ observations (although usually one does)
3. Characters’ observations should motivate them throughout the sketch
4. All characters can have an absurd observation/opinion

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Watch Time!

#letswatchanothervideo

Personality and Exaggeration

• Give your characters distinct personalities that matches their opinions/flaws!
• Comic characters usually have stranger & stronger personalities
• Straight characters still need personalities!

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Exaggeration: Force that moves the character more and more into the comedic world

#gobigorgohome

THERMOMETER TIMELINE

Status

Method to make comedy more interesting!?

READING ALERT!!

General Status Tips

Status can flip throughout a sketch

Audiences tend to root for low status characters

Establish character status as quickly as possible

Writing Activity!

ExaggerATE: Take a well known situation or relationship and exaggerate it as much as possible

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Break Time

Be back in 5?

Let’s read one!

Any volunteers?

03

Sketch Formatting

Let’s make it pwetty

COVER PAGE

Usually contains:

• Title of Sketch
• Character List
• Author (optional)

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STAGE DIRECTIONS

Make sure it is left aligned!

Non-spoken text that conveys a wide variety of information:

• Lighting cues (Lights up and Blackout)
• SFX Cues
• Character Actions or Movements
• Entrances and Exits
• Emotion behind delivery

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SETTING THE STAGE

Alcove Right

Alcove Left

TECH ELEMENTS!

Tech elements can deepen the world of your sketch and change the tone:

• Lighting
• Colours, patterns, fades, blackouts, spotlights, …
• SFX
• Jingles, animals, audible emphasis
• Sound/music
• Setting tone, vibe check
• Props, Costumes and Special effects
• Handhelds, furniture, moving
• Set Design
• Where on the stage is the action?

*all included in stage directions

SOME TECH INSPO

DIALOGUE

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• Centered, left-aligned
• All caps characters
• V.O.
• Interrupted speech
• Voicing notes parenthesized
• Entrances

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WHOA!

Let’s watch another one

Activity °2!

POV Prime Time: Take our exaggerations and see if you can condense them to 100 words, then 50, then a single sentence. You’ll have yourself your observation!

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Next Steps…

• Next meeting: August 11th 4-6 PM MY 857
• Writer’s mailing list: https://forms.gle/5yVd2eGkXf3cseFa7
• Sketch Submission form: https://forms.gle/KFfkVN2mYqtr8JCh9
• Join the Writers IG chat!
• Contact us: writing@skulenite.skule.ca

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Mailing List

Submit skits!

Thank you!

See you next week!

Let’s read another one!

Any more volunteers?

UNITS OF TEMPERATURE

SHORT vs. LONG SKETCHES

SHORT

LONG

• Much of joke is communicated implicitly by setting/prompts
• Quick punchline
• Hit or miss

• More time spent with setup
• More ramp (raising the stakes)
• Slow pacing may become an issue

BLACKOUT

Very short sketches ending with punchline/twist

• Concise and to the point
• Single joke
• Visual gags
• Abrupt ending

NOW YOU!

EXERCICE

WRITING ACTIVITY

Crossover Episode!

Think of any two characters, and swap them into each other’s world! Think of a scenario for either character to experience!

USE THE TOOLS

Internal

External

Character Issues

Conflict

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Clash of characters or perspectives

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Contradiction with Character & Setting

Funny Problems for the Character

CHARACTERISTIC OF TOOLS

Heightening and Exploring

Tools to create more engaging and memorable funnies!

CHARACTERISTIC OF TOOLS

Heightening

Escalating the stakes, absurdity or intensity of a situation to amplify the humour

Think depth!

CHARACTERISTIC OF TOOLS

Exploring

Delving into various aspects of a sketch’s premise to highlight new humorous angles.

Think breadth!

EXERCICE

WRITING ACTIVITY

STEP 2

Brainstorm: POV, setting, characters

STEP 4

Let the writing run free! Spit ball!

STEP 1

Find a partner (individual ok too!)

STEP 3

Solidify your type

STEP 5

We share :)

— SOMEONE FAMOUS

“This is a quote, words full of wisdom that someone important said and can make the reader get inspired.”

DO LAUGH, DO NOT CRY

RELAXES YOUR BODY

Mars is actually a very cold place

HEART PROTECTOR

Neptune is far away from Earth

A BETTER IMMUNITY

Earth is the only planet known to harbor life

50%

HUMOR THERAPY

25%

20%

CHILDREN

ADULTS

TEENS

Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun

Earth is the only planet that harbors life

Venus is the second planet from the Sun

DO WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY

READ

Despite being red, Mars is a cold place

TRAVEL

Earth is also known as the blue planet

DANCE

Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun

DRAW

Venus is the second planet from the Sun

SATIRE ISSUES

EVERYDAY

SOCIAL

POLITICS

PHILOSOPHY

Venus is the second planet from the Sun

Despite being red, Mars is a cold place

Jupiter is the biggest planet of them all

Saturn is a gas giant with several rings

SATIRICAL TECHNIQUES

ALLUSION

SARCASM

RIDICULE

HYPERBOLE

IRONY

REVERSAL

Venus is the second planet from the Sun

Jupiter is the biggest planet of them all

Saturn is a gas giant with rings

Neptune is far away from Earth

Mercury is the smallest planet

Earth is the third planet from the Sun

333,000

9h 55m 23s

386,000 km

The Sun’s mass compared to Earth’s

Jupiter’s rotation period

Distance between Earth and the Moon

500,000,000

300,000,000

Users choose the face with tears of joy emoji

Users choose the face blowing a kiss emoji

CHARACTERISTIC OF TOOLS

WRITE A STORY USING A SATIRE

Create and write a story using a satire about this image. Use the organizer from the next page first

CHARACTERISTIC OF TOOLS

ORGANIZE YOUR IDEAS!

VOCABULARY CUT AND PASTE

WRITE THE STORY

You can write the story here

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WRITE YOUR OWN JOKES!

You can write a joke right here

​

You can write a joke right here

​

You can write a joke right here

​

JOKE #1

JOKE #2

JOKE #3

COMPARING

02

You can enter a subtitle here if you need it

UNITS OF TEMPERATURE

SATIRE VS. PARODY

SATIRE

PARODY

Uses humor to point out the weaknesses of people and society, usually in a sarcastic and amusing way

Use the humor to mock or imitate a person or situation, but isn’t always satirical

zzz

MAIN FORMS OF HUMOR

NORMAL HUMOR

It’s social humor, the majority identifies with it

BLACK HUMOR

Style of humor related to taboo topics

KNOW OTHER TYPES OF HUMOR

SASSY

SLAPSTICK

SURREAL

SARCASM

PUNS

Someone uses weird body movements

It takes the world and flips it upside down

This can be the most difficult humor to detect

Use of a word that has several meanings

It’s about making fun of another person

MYTHS ABOUT HUMOR

MYTHS

TRUTHS

01

Laughter is a really good medicine

02

Humans laughed before they spoke

03

Rats and monkeys usually laugh

01

You can live longer if you laugh often

02

We only laugh when something is funny

03

Laughter is a a good alternative to exercise

INQUIRY PROCESS

HOW TO WRITE A PARODY SONG

Select a good song to parody and write a new one. Use this sequence:

1. Choose the song
2. Pick a topic
3. Find the rhythm
4. Change the lyrics
5. Count beats
6. Check it

POST IT

You can post a recording of your parody song on Youtube and enjoy the adoration of strangers with an Internet connection...

Insert your multimedia content here

A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS

AN IMAGE REINFORCES THE CONCEPT

Images reveal large amounts of data, so remember: use an image instead of a long text. Your audience will appreciate it

THERMOMETER TIMELINE

LANGUAGE FOR DISCUSSIONS

03

IMPROVING

You can enter a subtitle here if you need it

HOW TO SUCCESS AT IMPROVING

02

03

01

BE FUNNY

Know what people usually like

RELAX

HAVE FUN

Be yourself, humor is a human thing

Try to calm down, it’s easier if you enjoy it

AWESOME WORDS

INFOGRAPHIC

DRAG AND DROP

In my opinion...

I am sure that...

I think or

I believe that...

What’s your opinion?

What do you think?

Do you agree with me?

Absolutely

I think you’re right

USE OF TOOLS IN INQUIRE SCIENCE

USE HUMOR IN THE CLASSROOM

Follow the link in the graph to modify its data and then paste the new one here. For more info, click here

60.3%

32.6%

7.1%

LEARN MORE

LEARN LESS

NO DIFFERENCE

TEACH WITH HUMOR

LEARN MORE

Jupiter is the biggest planet in the Solar System

NO PRESSURE

Despite being red, Mars is a cold place

ENJOY CLASS

Saturn is a gas giant and has several rings

INQUIRY IN THE WORLD

HUMOR AROUND THE WORLD

It’s the biggest planet of them all

It’s the second planet from the Sun

JUPITER

VENUS

HUMOR IS ASSOCIATED

INTELLIGENCE

Mercury is the smallest planet of them all

SYMPATHY

Venus has a beautiful name, but also high temperatures

STABILITY

Earth is the only planet known to harbor life

COMPETENCE

Despite being red, Mars is actually a cold place

HONESTY

Jupiter is the biggest planet in the Solar System

WHAT IS COMEDY?

COMEDY

FICTION

Earth is also known as the blue planet

SATIRICAL

Venus is the second planet from the Sun

SARCASM

Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun

FAVORITE MOVIE GENRES

FEMALE

MALE

OTHER

Follow the link in the graph to modify its data and then paste the new one here. For more info, click here

This gender prefers comedy the most

This gender prefers action the most

This gender prefers drama the most

POPULAR GENRES IN FICTION

MYSTERY

Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun

THRILLER

Venus is the second planet from the Sun

ROMANCE

Earth is the only planet that harbors life

FANTASY

Despite being red, Mars is very cold

SCI-FI

Jupiter is a gas giant and the biggest planet

ACTION

Saturn was named after a Roman god

HUMOR IN A NUTSHELL

HUMOR

EARTH

MARS

Earth is the third planet from the Sun and the only one that harbors life in the Solar System. This is where we all live on

Despite being red, Mars is actually a cold place. It's full of iron oxide dust, which gives the planet its reddish cast

4,498,300

Venus has a beautiful name

DESKTOP MOCKUP

You can replace the image on the screen with your own work. Just right-click on it and select “Replace image”

TABLET APP

You can replace the image on the screen with your own work. Just right-click on it and select “Replace image”

You can replace the image on the screen with your own work. Just right-click on it and select “Replace image”

PHONE WEB

You can replace the image on the screen with your own work. Just right-click on it and select “Replace image”

OUR TEAM

MARIA JONES

You can talk a bit about this person here

JOE JACKSON

You can talk a bit about this person here

OUR TEAM

JENNA

JIMMY

SUSAN

OUR TEAM

You can talk a bit about this person here

You can talk a bit about this person here

You can talk a bit about this person here

04

WRITING

You can enter a subtitle here if you need it

MY EXPERIMENT

WRITE AN ESSAY: PLANNER

WRITE AN ESSAY: YOUR TEXT

PARAGRAPH 1: Introduction

PARAGRAPH 2: Main idea

PARAGRAPH 3: Main idea

PARAGRAPH 4: Main idea

PARAGRAPH 5: Conclusion

WRITE AN ESSAY: STORYBOARD

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: A tall person walks into the room

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: Write your idea

MUSIC/SOUNDS: Suspense music plays

MUSIC/SOUNDS: Describe the sound

SPOKEN TEXT: “Where did I put my purple bag?”

SPOKEN TEXT: Write the dialogue here

THANKS!

Do you have any questions?

youremail@freepik.com

+91 620 421 838

yourwebsite.com

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ALTERNATIVE RESOURCES

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VECTORS

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IMAGES

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ALTERNATIVE INFOGRAPHICS I

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50%

50%

MERCURY

Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun

VENUS

Venus is the second planet from the Sun

ALTERNATIVE INFOGRAPHICS II

Here’s an assortment of alternative resources whose style fits the one of this template:

01

02

03

MARS

Despite being red, Mars is a cold place

JUPITER

Jupiter is the biggest planet of them all

SATURN

Saturn is a gas giant and has several rings

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• Model being playful with oranges
• Model posing with glasses in studio
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ICONS

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PHOTOS

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