How to Do Visual Comedy

How to do visual comedy like filmmaker Edgar Wright.

via kottke

Computer simulations teaching themselves to walk

That’s one small step for an ill-proportioned human, one giant leap for slapstick biological cybernetics.

Impressive natural-looking motion based on 3D skeleton interaction and muscle geometry — triumph and failure in equal measure.

(via asbradbury)

This entry was updated on 25 April 2014.

Video: Buster Keaton stars in silent short ‘High Sign’ (1921)

Masterly. Enjoy.

Actor Ernest Borgnine was no Johnny-come-philately, a 1978 30-second TV PSA on collecting stamps

Best public service announcement ever. Beefy actor Ernest Borgnine — known for villainous roles — clobbers a punter in a bar-room brawl scene, right before he breaks character, steps off camera and blows the lid on stamp collecting.

Laughing Matters: Rowan Atkinson’s guide to visual comedy (1992)

Documentary-style television programme delving into the toolkit of the physical comedian. It’s brimming with sight gags, comedy tropes and on-screen tomfoolery.

You can watch Part 1 above, followed by Part 2, Part 3, Part 4 and Part 5 on YouTube.

This entry was updated on 28 May 2014.

Crosswords: A charming, puzzle-themed modern day silent

The solitary struggle with problem-solving, depicted with wry comedy. Written and directed by Steve Simmons.

(via Silent London)

If Rupert Murdoch hadn't been born

Hilarious comedy sketch from the BBC TV series A Bit of Fry and Laurie (1995).

Look Around You: The Brain

The BBC TV comedy series Look Around You was a brilliant parody of late 1970s and early 1980s educational films and science programmes. This episode, which pays homage to neuroscience, is hysterical and my outright favourite.

(Just, look around you!)