Humor is a powerful tool to engage and entertain your audience, but it can also backfire if it's done poorly. No one likes a cheesy joke that falls flat or a forced pun that makes them cringe. So how can you add humor to a video script without being cheesy? Here are some tips to help you write funny and smart video scripts that will make your viewers laugh and learn.
The first step to adding humor to a video script is to know who you are writing for. Different types of humor appeal to different types of people, so you need to do some research and understand your target audience's preferences, expectations, and sensitivities. For example, if you are writing a video script for a professional audience, you might want to avoid crude or offensive jokes that could damage your credibility or reputation. On the other hand, if you are writing a video script for a younger audience, you might want to use more slang, pop culture references, and memes that they can relate to.
The easiest way to avoid cheesey ness is by knowing your audience and knowing your subject matter. This knowledge will allow you to subtly play the humour effectively in conjunction with your subject matter rather than it being in incongruence.
The rule of three is a classic technique in comedy writing that involves setting up a pattern with two items and then breaking it with a third, unexpected item. The contrast between the expected and the unexpected creates surprise and humor. For example, you could say something like "To make a good video, you need three things: a clear message, a catchy title, and a llama." The llama is the unexpected item that makes the sentence funny. You can use the rule of three in your video script to add some punchlines, twists, or callbacks that will keep your audience engaged and amused.
The rule of three must be used with a suitable subversion on the third example and punchline. This subversion must be in stark contrast and to avoid your punchline being received as cheesey I recommend going for a lower or darker tone rather than a lighter one (whilst still staying in the realms of social acceptability and conventions of your work environment).
Another way to add humor to a video script is to show, don't tell. This means using visual elements, such as images, animations, gestures, or expressions, to convey humor instead of just saying it. Showing is more effective than telling because it allows your audience to use their imagination and fill in the gaps, which makes the humor more personal and memorable. For example, instead of saying "He was very angry", you could show him throwing a tantrum, smashing his keyboard, or turning red. Showing also gives you more opportunities to use exaggeration, irony, or absurdity, which are common sources of humor.
Visual gags or situations where the humor comes from what the audience sees rather than what is said can be very effective. This method allows the audience to "get" the joke on their own, which is often more satisfying than having it explained to them.
Humor is not only about making people laugh, but also about making them think. That's why you should try to be relevant and timely with your humor, meaning that you should connect it to the topic, purpose, or context of your video. By being relevant and timely, you can show your audience that you understand their needs, problems, or interests, and that you can offer them a fresh and insightful perspective. For example, if you are writing a video script about a current event, you could use humor to highlight the absurdity, irony, or hypocrisy of the situation, or to offer a positive or hopeful message.
Incorporating humor that relates to current events, trends, or popular culture can make your script feel fresh and engaging. However, it's important to stay respectful and avoid sensitive subjects that could offend.
The final step to adding humor to a video script is to test and refine it. Humor is subjective and unpredictable, so you never know how your audience will react until you try it out. You should test your video script on a small sample of your target audience, such as your friends, colleagues, or clients, and ask for their honest feedback. You should also watch their reactions, such as their facial expressions, body language, or comments, and see what makes them laugh, smile, or frown. Based on their feedback and reactions, you should refine your video script and make it more funny, clear, and appropriate.
Always aim to be authentic in your delivery. ‘Cheesiness’ is often the result of over compensation and often comes across as over the top. If you can remain authentic you should minimise this risk however if it is in your essence to be cheesy your authentic nature should help with the delivery of the presentation and thus enable it to be better received anyway.