When I first started doing sketch comedy, I promised myself that if I were ever to have any success in this business, I wouldn't hold back. Why get there and play it safe?
Will FerrellRead
Molly Shannon and I used to always talk about that we really felt strongly that we were comedic actors, that we weren't comedians. You just played things real and the comedy came out of the context.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the difference between being a comedian and being a comedic actor, highlighting the importance of authenticity in performances.
In this quote, Will Ferrell shares his belief that comedic actors approach their roles with a sense of realism, allowing the humor to naturally emerge from the situations they portray. This perspective suggests that effective comedy is rooted in genuine character portrayal rather than relying solely on traditional comedic techniques or punchlines. Ferrell, along with Molly Shannon, underscores the idea that the essence of comedy is intertwined with authentic storytelling and character development.
Themes
ComedyActingRealismAuthenticityHumor
In practice
Example use cases
In a comedy workshop, a teacher might use this quote to inspire students to focus on genuine character development.
More from Will Ferrell
All quotes →When a dramatic actor does a funny film, people are like, 'Wonderful! I didn't know he was funny!' But when it flips, people can get really thrown by it.
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I always just forced myself to do crazy things in public. In college I would push an overhead projector across campus with my pants just low enough to show my butt. Then my friend would incite the crowd to be like, 'Look at that idiot!' That's how I got over being shy.
Will FerrellRead
When I was ten, I wrote an essay on what I would be when I grew up and said I would be a professional soccer player and a comedian in off season.
Will FerrellRead
Saturday Night Live is such a comedy boot camp in a way, because you get to work with so many different people who come in to host the show and you get thrown into so many situations and learn how to think on your feet, so filmmaking actually feels slow, in a good way.
Will FerrellRead
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