Experiment

Embrace every idea that crosses your mind! Monty Python exemplified this approach by exploring every idea, regardless of initial reception. They gave anything a chance to live on! The goal is to capture the essence, not replicate reality. Animation allows time manipulation—compressing, expanding, and pushing action to its limits. Top comedians often ad-lib their scenes, fostering an environment of experimentation and spontaneity.

In the scene above from “A Fish Called Wanda,” John Cleese and Michael Palin (part of Monty Python) masterfully build tension. Palin elongates time with his stutter, nearly driving Cleese’s character to madness. Expand your horizons when experimenting and exploring. Comedy, in particular, requires room to breathe. Enjoy the process!

“A Fish Called Wanda” remains a favorite, eliciting laughter with each viewing. Interestingly, it holds the dubious distinction of being implicated in the death of Ole Bentzen, a Danish physician, due to laughter-induced heart failure in 1989.

Trivia: The screenplay for “A Fish Called Wanda” is available [here].