 Comedy: June 28, 2023 Issue [#12039] |
This week: Sweet, Mr. Candy Edited by: Lornda  
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 Quotes from John Candy movies:
"Whoever said nothing is impossible obviously hasn't tried nailing Jell-O to a tree."
From: Planes, Trains & Automobiles – Character: Del Griffith
"I'm a mog: half man, half dog. I'm my own best friend!"
From: Spaceballs – Character: Barf
"Oh, yeah, just one little drawback to this delightful winter sport. The high-speed crash … always remember, your bones will not break in a bobsled. No, no, no. They shatter."
From: Cool Runnings – Character: Irv
To find ideas to write humor, sometimes you have to change your focus.
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If your ideas to write humor have been sucked into a vortex, try watching a comedy movie to refocus. We all have our favorites to watch. I rely on John Candy films to help restore my funny bone.
John Candy was a Canadian comedy legend who starred in many hilarious movies in the 1980s and early 1990s. He had a unique talent for making us laugh with his goofy expressions, his physical humor, and his warm personality. He was also a versatile actor who could play different types of characters, from lovable losers to charming heroes.
Everyone probably knows him for his cameo appearance in Home Alone (1990) where he played jolly Polka King of the Midwest, Gus Polinski. Even with this small part, it was a strong and funny character instrumental in helping the mother return home. What’s interesting about his cameo is that he improvised most of his lines.
Here are my top three favorites. Watch them and take note of when you laugh, you’ll be surprised how the ideas will start to reappear!
 Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987): It’s about a classic road trip where Candy is a chatty and clumsy salesman. Once John meets the character of Steve Martin, the movie has hilarious mishaps and showcases the chemistry between Candy and Martin. I laugh at it every time because I can relate to a road trip gone wrong.
Uncle Buck (1989): This one is right up my humorous alley because it’s a family comedy. I can visualize many of my relatives antics from this movie. John Candy plays a slovenly and irresponsible bachelor. He has the fun responsibility to take care of his brother’s three kids while he’s away. He faces many challenges along the way with a rebellious teenager, a precocious little girl, and a creepy neighbor. Everyone can relate to something in this movie. It’s one of John Candy’s funniest roles, and no one makes movies like it anymore.
Spaceballs (1987): Not everyone likes Mel Brooks or parody movies based on the first Star Wars and other sci-fi films all mashed together. I found it hilarious, but I’m a Star Wars fan. John Candy plays the character of Barf, a half man, half dog creature, and he manages to steal every scene with his hilarious costume, voice and mannerisms. May the funny Spaceball force be with you!
These are only a few of the many movies that John Candy acted in to make us laugh. He was a brilliant actor, who left us too soon, but his legacy lives on in his films and he was truly one of a kind.
If you’re not a comedy fan, choose movies in the genre you like to help inspire ideas in your writing. I’ll leave you with a YouTube preview of a fun and dramatic performance by John Candy from one of his lesser known movies. It’s based on true events, and Candy gives a heartwarming performance with a touch of his famous humor. Enjoy!
Cool Runnings (1993)
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 Question for this newsletter: Which comedy movie is like your life? Do you have a favorite John Candy movie?
 Feedback from my last newsletter, "Hi! What's your name?" . I asked the questions: What resources have you found to help name your characters? What fun names have you come across? Do you have a favorite?
I highly recommend reading the newsfeed posts on this subject. There's some awesome advice on how and where to find cool names. Thanks for all of the comments! 
Lucinda Lynx  : "I often mix actual name's letters. I take the actual name, the birth month, the hometown, the state and the country. And then I re - order the letters to form the name.
Thank you for the clear letter."
You're welcome, and thanks the comment! That's a cool way to find an original name. 
Beholden  : "Thank you very much for including my short story, By Any Other Name, among your Editor's Picks.
I must admit that I don't go looking for names. They pop up in my head as I'm writing, sometimes with a clear origin, perhaps from my eclectic reading in my youth (one of my favourite characters was named after Hannibal of Carthage's brother, Hamilcar - except I dropped the H to make him Amilcar), but often from my imagination. A good example would be the troll, Grundlebletch von Hoogenspit. He set the style for trollish names and all that follow have to conform, of course."
You're welcome! I love your process of choosing characters names.
BIG BAD WOLF is Howling  : "It depends on the character I'm making. I might borrow a name from a book, or make up a name that fits, or perhaps I'll just name the big fire breathing dragon just simply Bob. I mean, imagine being a knight, expecting to face this fearsome creature, only to find out that they are named Bob. Then imagine being the knight that has to run away from Bob, after making fun of his name."
Lol! That's funny! Thanks for the comment. 
oldgreywolf on wheels : "There're software widgets available if you want something "common", or you can alter what it gives you.
As I worked in a community where characters may only use one name, many of my story characters are the same.
I once copied all of the names in Robert Howard's "Black Canaan", then put them on a spreadsheet with first & last names in separate columns, for a mix 'n' match. (Never used it.)
We have many names directly or derived from Greek mythology.
Do you how many ways to spell "Daria"?
Foreign names can be interesting.
How many names are genderless?
How many names require a small difference to indicate gender?
Growing up in Alaska, my dogs were named for places. (Where did my mother get our cat's name? I don't know.)
I've never been a Google fan, but you could do a 1-, 2-, or 3-character search and winnow through the garbage pile.
Person/place/thing names only need to give it an identity; making sense isn't required.
A lot of the Alaskan towns are named for the Indigenous People who lived there, or may retain the name of a Russian settlement. (Maps or history books.)"
Wow, thanks for the sending in your ways of finding names!
Newsfeed Comments found here: "Note: View this Note"
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