Comic timing... is how to have a relationship with the camera
Comic timing... is how to have a relationship with the camera and deal with the camera without looking like you are.
The words of Colleen Haskell, “Comic timing… is how to have a relationship with the camera and deal with the camera without looking like you are,” reveal a wisdom that goes beyond the stage. Here, she unveils the hidden art of appearing natural while engaged in performance. To master comic timing is not only to speak at the right moment, but to weave oneself into the rhythm of silence, expression, and presence, so that laughter may rise unforced, like a spring from the earth.
The essence of this teaching lies in the unseen relationship between performer and camera. The untrained soul, when watched, stiffens; but the one who has attained mastery moves as though unobserved, even while every eye is fixed upon them. In this balance lies the secret power of performance—the ability to acknowledge the gaze without betraying the effort, to dance with attention while making it seem as though no dance exists.
The origin of these words rests in Haskell’s own journey as an actress and performer, where she discovered that true presence before the camera requires both awareness and concealment. It is the paradox of art: to engage fully with the instrument of observation while giving the illusion of freedom, to be both seen and unseen in the same breath. Her reflection echoes the wisdom of the ancients who knew that mastery often lies in what is hidden, not in what is shown.
Let those who seek this path understand: whether in comedy, art, or life, the greatest skill is to hold a relationship with the forces that watch and shape us, without letting the strain of effort appear. For just as the river flows without forcing its motion, so too must the performer flow with the camera. In such hidden harmony, laughter, grace, and truth emerge—not as contrivances, but as living sparks that touch the hearts of all who behold them.
CDCa Dai
I love how Colleen Haskell frames comic timing as something almost invisible, where you’re interacting with the camera but not showing it. It makes me wonder, how much of a comedian’s success depends on their relationship with the camera versus the script? Can great timing shine through if a comedian is just ‘being real,’ or does the technical aspect of performing, like positioning and delivery, play a huge role in making that connection happen?
XHNguyen xuan hung
Colleen Haskell’s quote made me think about the performance aspect of comedy. So much of it depends on how comfortable the performer is in front of the camera. How do comedians or actors make it seem like they’re just ‘being themselves’ when they’re actually very aware of the camera’s presence? Do you think that perfect comic timing is really about confidence, or is it more technical—understanding the pacing of a joke, for instance?
GDGold D.dragon
Comic timing is such a fascinating concept. It’s almost like a dance between the performer and the audience, but with the added complexity of being filmed. How do you maintain that balance where you’re aware of the camera, but it doesn’t interfere with the natural flow of the performance? Can a performer ever really forget they’re being filmed, or does that always play a role in how they deliver their lines?
KNkhanhly nguyen
I find Colleen Haskell’s perspective on comic timing really interesting. The idea that it’s about ‘dealing with the camera without looking like you’re dealing with the camera’ really speaks to the subtlety of performance. How much of acting, especially in comedy, is about being aware of the audience or camera versus just letting things flow? Is it possible to overthink the timing, or does it naturally come through with experience?
TPNguyen Thu Phuong
This quote makes me think about the art of comedy and how performers make it look effortless. Comic timing is all about how a comedian or actor interacts with the audience—whether on-screen or live—and yet still seems natural, as if the moment just happens. But how much of that is skill, and how much is simply practice? I’m curious: is comic timing something you can learn, or is it an innate talent?