ACTF

Comedy Scriptwriting Resource

Before the workshop

Watch the following video introducing scriptwriting: 

The below activities are suggested but not essential.  

Explore the Scriptwriting section of the Story Building and Scriptwriting resource

  • Story Building and Screenwriting Resource

    Suitable for Years 5-8, this learning resource shares interviews with creatives to explore the process of story building and screenwriting from the Australian children's television program, MaveriX. It is structured so that students can work through the resource independently in their production teams or as a class with teacher guidance.

Watch the workshop

A recording will be available after the workshop.  

After the workshop

Take a closer look at the scenes and scripts shared in the workshop.  

Comedy Scriptwriting Resource The Inbestigators Script
( application/pdf, 74.87 KB)
Comedy Scriptwriting Resource Hardball Script
( application/pdf, 54.89 KB)
Comedy Scriptwriting Resource Little Lunch Script
( application/pdf, 53.26 KB)

Use the following prompts to write your own comedy scripts.  

Character

Inspired by The Inbestigators 

Writing Prompt: 
Write a short scene featuring Ezra, Maudie, Kyle, and Ava as they investigate a very low-stakes mystery - such as figuring out who took the last donut or who left glitter in the school tuckshop. Even though the mystery is minor, the group treats it with extreme seriousness. Use each character’s strong, exaggerated personality to create humour, and let their unique traits drive the story. Focus on how their different approaches make the situation more dramatic and funny than it really is. 
 
About the characters in The Inbestigators:  

  • Ezra

    Ezra considers himself the businessman of the Inbestigators, always thinking of new exciting (and sometimes unachievable) ways to promote and improve their services. His favourite subjects in school are maths and science, which he often uses when trying to solve cases.

  • Maudie

    Attentive, honest, and motivated, Maudie is the brains of the team. Never seen without her notebook, she is always focused on the job and successfully solves her cases through the power of observation.

  • Ava

    Ava is the heart of the team, always staying optimistic and looking out for her friends. While Ava can sometimes come across as too passionate about both her co-curricular activities and her need to solve school yard conflict, she’s always committed to listening and understanding the feelings of the Inbestigator’s clients.

  • Kyle

    Kyle is the goofball of the group. While he easily becomes distracted by things like food, and struggles to stay on topic, he always backs his friends and is blown away when they are able to solve their case.

Timing

Inspired by Hardball 

Writing Prompt: 
Write a scene where Mikey tries to impress a group during an important moment such as a handball match, a class presentation, or the school talent show - but everything goes slightly wrong because his timing is off. His jokes land too late, he enters at the wrong moment, or his carefully planned performance falls apart once he’s in the spotlight. Let the humour come from the unexpected ways things go awry and show how Mikey reacts when nothing goes according to plan. 

About the characters in Hardball: 

  • Mikey

    Mikey is a softly spoken gentle giant who finds fitting in tough but always looks on the bright side. From time to time, he talks directly to the camera and we get to see the real Mikey - an extrovert, full of wit and positivity in the face of adversity. He is under the assumption that he does not possess good handball skills - or so he thinks.

  • Salwa

    Salwa is one of, if not the best, handball players in the district. She’s fiery, volatile and a little bit scary, but people respect her because of her impressive skills.

  • Jerry

    Jerry is brainy, quirky and a handball tragic. He may not be able to smack a ball out of the park, but he makes an excellent coach sees a lot of potential in Mikey.  

  • Tiff

    Tiffany is a two-faced teacher's pet. She loves handball and is convinced that she will always come out as a winner, especially once she engineers the downfall of her only competition - Salwa.

Conflict

Inspired by Little Lunch 

Writing Prompt: 
It’s a special day at school - perhaps Pet Day, the Book Week Parade, or Grandparents Day - and everyone wants it to be perfect. But the characters from Little Lunch each have their own idea of what “perfect means. Write a scene that takes place during little lunch where their different plans clash, leading to chaos, misunderstandings and plenty of awkward, funny moments. Focus on how the conflict reveals each character’s personality and how they try to fix things before time runs out. 

About the characters in Little Lunch: 

  • Rory

    Rory is easily the naughtiest boy in grade 5 and probably the whole school. Although Rory is always getting in trouble for doing something wrong, he is never mean or cruel; he’s more just silly.

  • Melanie

    Melanie is very strong willed and won’t give up easily, determined to do what she wants to do, how she wants to do it. She is smart and funny but you might not know it straight away because she is also shy and can be the quiet one in the group.

  • Battie

    Battie has a very big imagination and spends a lot time using it, on his own. Although he gets on well with the other children, Battie probably prefers being alone, which is a bit unusual, but everyone accepts that’s just who Battie is and they don’t even think it’s weird that sometimes he talks to himself as he wanders around the playground.

  • Atticus

    Atticus is funny, smart and friends with everyone. He’s good at sport and school, and really good at eating. Atticus is always eating, he is always hungry.

This resource is co-developed by the ACTF and ACMI.