TEHRAN – “The Hidden Tools of Comedy: The Serious Business of Being Funny” by Steve Kaplan has been published by Cheshmeh.

Mehdi Kia is the translator of the book originally published in 2013.

While other books give you tips on how to “write funny,” this book offers a paradigm shift in understanding the mechanics and art of comedy, and the proven, practical tools that help writers translate that understanding into successful, commercial scripts. 

“The Hidden Tools of Comedy” unlocks the unique secrets and techniques of writing comedy. Kaplan deconstructs sequences in popular films and TV that work and don’t work, and explains what tools were used or should have been used.

For years, Steve Kaplan has been the entertainment industry’s most respected and sought-after expert on comedy. 

The artists he has taught, directed or produced have gone on to be nominated or won 43 Emmy Awards, 1 Academy Award, 3 Golden Globe Awards, 1 American Comedy Award, 6 Writers’ Guild of America Awards and several others. 

In addition to having taught at UCLA, NYU, Yale and other top universities, Kaplan created the HBO Workspace, the HBO New Writers Program and was co-founder and artistic director of Manhattan Punch Line Theatre. 

He has served as a consultant to such companies as DreamWorks, Disney, Aardman Animation, HBO and others.

Kaplan is also the author of “The Comic Hero’s Journey”.

Photo: A poster for the Persian edition of Steve Kaplan’s book “Hidden Tools of Comedy”.

MMS/YAW