I remember working on a film, it was one of my firsts, and the scene called for my character to laugh at something that honestly wasn’t very funny; however, to my character it was the funniest thing in the world. Sitting in my room a couple of nights before filming, I began to wonder if I was going to be able to laugh in a natural and believable manner. Now, we all have our “fake” laughs – you know, the ones we use when a co-workers tells a not-so-funny joke, or when you’re trying to signal the end of a conversation; however, in comedy acting, you must learn how to give a natural, charming and realistic laugh at the drop of a hat.
After contemplating this predicament for a while, it hit me – if I’m truly engrossed in a scene, truly becoming this character, the laugh will come naturally.
Staying Focused
By keeping yourself fully focused within a scene, and by truly engaging with your scene partner, the laugh will come naturally. I’ve seen this happen first-hand, and I’ve experienced as well. Just like crying within a scene, laughing is a raw reaction to a very human emotion – humor. This reaction can rarely be faked, thus it’s best not to try to learn how to fake it, but rather, learn how to be truly present within a scene. How to truly interact with your scene partner, and how to believe what is happening is realistic.
Type of Laugh
Not all laughs are created equal. There are many different variations of laughs, each of which is only appropriate for certain circumstances. For example, you wouldn’t belly-laugh in class, but you would give a large laugh if you and your friends are at a bar and your friend just told you a hilarious story.
When reading a script, you must identify what kind of laugh is appropriate based on the situation. There are many times a small chuckle will be far more effective and natural than a full-out belly laugh.
The type of laugh you perform is also based on your character. While you personally may not belly laugh while in a hospital waiting room, your character may not be so tactful. Remember, you are not yourself when you’re acting – you are someone completely different. Your reactions and your personal convictions will probably differ from your characters. Again, staying focused and letting the scene carry your characters’ emotions will help deliver a natural, realistic and humorous laugh.