Summary of Judd Apatow’s Masterclass on Comedy

17 key takeaways from the screenwriter and director of hit comedies the The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Trainwreck, and Funny People

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1. Learn from the greats. Judd advises aspiring comedians to study and learn from established comedians’ performances to develop their own unique perspective and style. Analyze established comedians’ work to understand joke structure and storytelling techniques, adapting insights to your unique style.
2. Start with the truth and make it relatable. Begin storytelling with authentic, real-life experiences. Sharing one’s own experiences lead to relatable and impactful humor, making the performer more compelling. Comedy thrives when the audience recognizes themselves in jokes or stories.
3. Craft engaging stories iteratively. Transform punchlines into longer story-based jokes, using various components to create engaging narratives that captivate the audience. Developing a stand-up act is similar to screenwriting, involving drafts, rewrites, and edits over time to refine and enhance the performance.
4. Embrace uncertainty. Treat the audience as if having a conversation, focusing on enjoyable interaction rather than solely aiming for laughs, helping reduce stage nerves. Leverage unexpected situations, adapt to moments that don’t go as planned, and explore different ways to engage the…