A "Kung Fu Panda" Fan-Fiction Scene!
A "Kung Fu Panda" Fan-Fiction Scene!
Or, Is AI (ChatGPT) Capable Of Writing Comedy? You Decide.
Image by L.E. Wilson from RedBubble based on Wikipedia licensing
Here’s an observation: funny movies have a comedic actor in the lead. If you want to watch a comedy where you are likely to laugh repeatedly throughout the film, your best bet is to look for one where a standup comedian, a physical slapstick performer, and/or a master improvisor is given free reign to experiment and/or is allowed to contribute to the development of the main character. The words on the page are not enough to make a movie funny. A regular dramatic actor cannot deliver the words with that twinkle of the eye that comedic actors have, nor are regular actors attuned to the timing, the delivery, the improvisation, or the authentic interaction with the environment, including other actors or objects, that great skilled comedians have and which elevate movies from merely entertaining to hilarious.
Kung Fu Panda (2008) is a humorous animated fantasy directed by Mark Osborne and John Stevenson about an unlikely hero, Po, a warrior panda voiced by Jack Black, who trains to become the legendary Dragon Warrior.
Life Lesson: Physical appearance does not determine ability.
🍿Movie Scene Link (movie quote)
Related:
The Wisdom In "Kung Fu Panda" (2008):
Laughing All The Way To Peace, Harmony, and Focus
Want some evidence? Here are some examples of laugh-out-loud movies from the article, What is Funny? — The Rules Of (Punching Up) Comedy According To The Movies:
Aladdin (1992) — starring actor and comedian Robin Williams as the genie.
The Emperor’s New Groove (2000) — starring actor and comedian David Spade as the emperor.
The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (2004) — starring actor and comedian Tom Kenny as SpongeBob.
Ratatouille (2007) — starring actor and comedian Patton Oswalt as chef Remy.
Kung Fu Panda (2008) — starring actor and comedian Jack Black as Po.
Other examples of great comedic actors include the forerunners and pioneers of the comedy genre, including Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, and Jacques Tati, who were all experts in slapstick, which is why many of their movies are still universally funny decades later. In other words, physical comedy withstands both time and culture. And good contemporary comedic performers likewise use their bodies, their voices, and their facial expressions both in exaggerated and subtle ways that clearly convey to audiences the intent, the spirit, and the motivation of their characters. This allows the humor to shine through at an almost intuitive level, and it explains why dramatic actors can’t easily replicate the kind of communication with audiences that comedic actors can have.
Modern Times (1936) is a comedy written and directed by Charlie Chaplin about the Little Tramp (Charlie Chaplin), a man who struggles to keep a job in a modern industrial society, but finds an ally in a destitute woman (Paulette Goddard).
Life Lesson: Keep trying, for that is the only way to get what you want.
🍿Movie Scene Link (movie quote)
Related:
Your Guide To "Modern Times" (1936):
A Laugh Out Loud Charlie Chaplin Classic Movie
In a way, movies can’t be funny without comedic actors, so in that sense, the lead performer is just about 100% responsible for how the audience responds. This is not to discount the writers, of course. A story provides the foundation, the skeleton or framework that is needed to focus the comedic actor and keep the audience’s attention for the duration of a movie, which can be from one to three hours long. And a good, witty, engaging, meaningful story lifts a movie from funny to profound, from forgettable to classic, from mundane to iconic.
All of this is to say that comedies require a lot more talent and fine coordination than it appears. The great comedians make it look effortless and easy, which is perhaps why it’s hard to appreciate that very few people have that lighthearted, jocular way about them to make words on a page funny, or to improvise and react in a way that makes others laugh.
This is why many screenwriters write parts for specific actors, who serve as both inspiration and make-or-break linchpins capable of transforming a film. And this same technique is available to fans who create their own fan-fiction, at least as far as their imaginations can take them. When one is inspired by fictional characters and the movie world they inhabit, it’s hard not to immerse oneself even further by expanding the story.
In this spirit then, I give you a comedic Kung Fu Panda fan-fiction movie scene created by OpenAI’s ChatGPT and me, moviewise, acting as the “prompt engineer” and gentle editor. Please imagine the fantastic and lovable Jack Black as Po, and the earnest but serious Dustin Hoffman as Master Shifu:
FADE IN
Page 1:
[The scene takes place at the Jade Palace, where Master Shifu, a wise and eccentric master, is instructing Po, the lovable panda, in the art of Kung Fu.]
Master Shifu: (stroking his long beard) Po, my student, the path to enlightenment is paved with discipline and focus. Today, we shall work on your inner peace.
Po: (panting, sweat dripping from his forehead) Inner peace? You mean that thing I lose every time I see a dumpling?
Master Shifu: (laughs) Ah, Po, your love for food is strong indeed. But remember, true inner peace comes from balancing your desires.
Po: (playfully) Well, then I must find the perfect balance between eating and eating some more!
Master Shifu: (chuckles) While your appetite is impressive, let's explore other avenues. Watch closely.
[Master Shifu begins an elegant sequence of slow, graceful movements.]
Po: (mimicking the movements but stumbling) Like this, Master Shifu?
Master Shifu: (raises an eyebrow) Not quite, Po. Remember, grace and precision. Let your body flow like a river, not stumble like a drunken noodle!
Po: (laughs) Drunken noodle? Sounds like a dish I'd order at a restaurant.
Master Shifu: (smiling) Your wit is sharp, Po. But now, focus. Imagine you are gliding through the air, light as a feather.
Po: (attempting to mimic, but falls flat on his face) Oops! More like a panda-shaped cannonball!
Master Shifu: (suppressing laughter) It seems we have some work to do, my friend.
Page 2:
[Master Shifu and Po are now outside in a beautiful bamboo grove, continuing their training.]
Master Shifu: Po, observe the graceful dance of the bamboo swaying in the wind. Channel that elegance into your movements.
Po: (watching the bamboo) Got it, Master Shifu. Sway like the bamboo, be tall and... uh-oh!
[Po attempts to mimic the swaying bamboo but ends up tangling himself in a knot.]
Master Shifu: (laughs heartily) Po, you've turned yourself into a panda pretzel!
Po: (laughs while trying to untangle himself) I guess I took the whole "bend like the bamboo" thing too literally.
Master Shifu: (helps Po untangle) Patience, my student. Let's try a different approach. Picture yourself as a powerful warrior, standing tall and confident.
Po: (adjusting his posture) I am the mighty Dragon Warrior, ready to face any challenge!
[Po strikes a pose, but his trousers rip loudly, revealing a pair of polka-dotted boxer shorts with a giant smiley face.]
Po: (sheepishly) Um... maybe I need to work on my tailoring skills too.
Master Shifu: (laughs uncontrollably) Ah, Po, you never fail to bring joy to my heart. Remember, it's not just about perfection, but the journey itself.
[Po jumps high into the air, attempting an epic flying kick. However, he miscalculates and crashes into a nearby tree, sending a flurry of leaves and twigs cascading down onto Shifu.]
Po: (apologetic) Oops! Sorry about that, Master Shifu. Sometimes my Kung Fu becomes a bit too...tree-mendous!
Master Shifu: A true Kung Fu warrior knows how to make an impression!
They both burst into laughter, shaking off the leaves from their clothes.
FADE OUT
Thanks to advancements in technology, now more than ever regular fans can truly immerse themselves in the world of a character they love, and that, for a film critic, is a sign that we are living in the best of times.
Enjoy the new world of entertainment that is just to come!
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This is the most helpful demonstration of how to use AI/robots/ChatGPT/LMM I've come across :) For the record, I still haven't messed with ChatGPT but I know I need to become a good prompt engineer. Thanks you. Also, it's nice that you frame ChatGPT as a tool versus a competitor for us writer-types.
Kung Fu Panda is one of my favorite movies. Thanks for the insight! And no I don't think AI is capable of writing GOOD comedy quite yet.