--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The whole thing about working in front of…" description: "\"The whole thing about working in front of the camera is to make people laugh when they're not supposed to.\" — Zach Galifianakis" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a2/zach-galifianakis-2916_cameras_the-whole-thing-about-working-in-front-o_61457.jpg" --- # The whole thing about working in front of the camera is to… ![“The whole thing about working in front of the camera is to make people laugh when they're not supposed to.” quote by Zach Galifianakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a2/zach-galifianakis-2916_cameras_the-whole-thing-about-working-in-front-o_61457.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a2/zach-galifianakis-2916_cameras_the-whole-thing-about-working-in-front-o_61457.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a2/zach-galifianakis-2916_cameras_the-whole-thing-about-working-in-front-o_61457.jpg) > “The whole thing about working in front of the camera is to make people laugh when they're not supposed to.” [Zach Galifianakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-galifianakis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Comedy on camera exploits the tension between expectation and surprise, prompting laughter in inappropriate moments. **In simple terms:** Unexpected humor in serious contexts. Key Takeaway Laughter thrives on subverting norms. Themes Humor Performance Social norms Surprise Timing Mood Playful Irreverent Type Anecdote Observation When to use this quote - Live TV interviews - Sitcom scenes - Public speeches - Award ceremonies Key Concepts Comedy Media Audience perception Practical Applications - Comedy writing - Improvisational training Questions to Reflect On - How does surprise shape comedic impact? - When can humor be disruptive? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cameras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cameras/) [Laugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laugh/) [Making people laugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making-people-laugh/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Photography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photography/) ## Related quotes > [I love to be on camera, and make jokes, make people laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-consani/i-love-to-be-on-camera-and-make-jokes-make-people-laugh/) [Alex Consani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-consani/) > [I'm a comedian, and I definitely see the humor in a lot of things. I am also sad a lot. I cry often and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-degeneres/i-m-a-comedian-and-i-definitely-see-the-humor-in-a-lot-of-things-i-am-2/) [Ellen DeGeneres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-degeneres/) > [“She prefers the more dramatic shows where everyone's getting kidnapped or raped or shut up in a dark hole, and you aren't supposed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/she-prefers-the-more-dramatic-shows-where-everyone-s-getting/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [I can use the camera to make a place or landscape; the camera to a greater extent projects rather than takes in or reproduces.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olafur-eliasson/i-can-use-the-camera-to-make-a-place-or-landscape-the-camera-to-a/) [Olafur Eliasson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olafur-eliasson/) > [You should never use the camera to make your pictures. You use yourself, your experience to make the picture with the camera. Not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-kratochvil/you-should-never-use-the-camera-to-make-your-pictures-you-use/) Antonin Kratochvil > [I prefer working behind the camera.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/i-prefer-working-behind-the-camera/) [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) > [Working on camera is a different ballgame in the sense that it's far more intimate work, but the basics and the foundations of being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-leslie/working-on-camera-is-a-different-ballgame-in-the-sense-that-it-s-far/) [Rose Leslie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-leslie/) > [Working in front of the camera keeps me alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chow-yun-fat/working-in-front-of-the-camera-keeps-me-alive/) [Chow Yun-Fat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chow-yun-fat/) > [Working behind the camera was always fun for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divya-agarwal/working-behind-the-camera-was-always-fun-for-me/) [Divya Agarwal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divya-agarwal/) > [I don't like working in front of a camera.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-metcalf/i-don-t-like-working-in-front-of-a-camera/) [Laurie Metcalf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-metcalf/) > [About the best thing an actor can do when all is said and done is to make people laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-levine/about-the-best-thing-an-actor-can-do-when-all-is-said-and-done-is-to/) Ted Levine > [The funniest people I know were, not necessarily troubled, but had a harder time in school or were shy or picked on or something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaitlin-olson/the-funniest-people-i-know-were-not-necessarily-troubled-but-had-a/) [Kaitlin Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaitlin-olson/) > [I love making people laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-love-making-people-laugh/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I've been at it since 1967, and I still love it. There is nothing quite like making people laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicki-lawrence/i-ve-been-at-it-since-1967-and-i-still-love-it-there-is-nothing-quite/) [Vicki Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicki-lawrence/) > [I really enjoy making people laugh; I've discovered that's a great technique. That's as powerful as stirring their sorrow, stirring their compassion, because that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/i-really-enjoy-making-people-laugh-i-ve-discovered-that-s-a-great/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) ## More by Zach Galifianakis > [My girlfriend and I went to a dinner party the other night and we ended up playing charades. There was another couple there that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-galifianakis/my-girlfriend-and-i-went-to-a-dinner-party-the-other-night-and-we/) [Zach Galifianakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-galifianakis/) > [When you look like I do its hard to get a table for one at Chucky Cheese.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-galifianakis/when-you-look-like-i-do-its-hard-to-get-a-table-for-one-at-chucky/) [Zach Galifianakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-galifianakis/) > [I'm Greek. My body produces feta cheese.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-galifianakis/i-m-greek-my-body-produces-feta-cheese/) [Zach Galifianakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-galifianakis/) > [I've always wanted to have a Greek sitcom called Olive Lucy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-galifianakis/i-ve-always-wanted-to-have-a-greek-sitcom-called-olive-lucy/) [Zach Galifianakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-galifianakis/) > [I kind of put myself out there as is. I'm a quiet person. I don't know if that's surprising. I'm a Pilates junkie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-galifianakis/i-kind-of-put-myself-out-there-as-is-i-m-a-quiet-person-i-don-t-know/) [Zach Galifianakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-galifianakis/) > [It's fun for me to couple emotion with comedy. I think it helps comedy. I think a lot of times American comedies don't play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-galifianakis/it-s-fun-for-me-to-couple-emotion-with-comedy-i-think-it-helps-comedy/) [Zach Galifianakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-galifianakis/) > [The problem with these interviews is that there's no sarcastic font.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-galifianakis/the-problem-with-these-interviews-is-that-there-s-no-sarcastic-font/) [Zach Galifianakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-galifianakis/) > [People are trying to prove things. And I probably have that. I probably do. Probably guilty of it, in a way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-galifianakis/people-are-trying-to-prove-things-and-i-probably-have-that-i-probably/) [Zach Galifianakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-galifianakis/) > [American society loves to prop people up and then take them down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-galifianakis/american-society-loves-to-prop-people-up-and-then-take-them-down/) [Zach Galifianakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-galifianakis/) > [I just try to keep myself a traditionalist. I liked being an underground comic doing my thing. I want to maintain that. I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-galifianakis/i-just-try-to-keep-myself-a-traditionalist-i-liked-being-an/) [Zach Galifianakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-galifianakis/) > [Tigers love pepper...they hate cinnamon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-galifianakis/tigers-love-pepper-they-hate-cinnamon/) [Zach Galifianakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-galifianakis/) > [I once walked in on my grandparents making love...And that's why I don't eat raisins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-galifianakis/i-once-walked-in-on-my-grandparents-making-love-and-that-s-why-i-don/) [Zach Galifianakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-galifianakis/) > [I'm terrible at heights. I hate it. I'm glad I'm only 5'7".](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-galifianakis/i-m-terrible-at-heights-i-hate-it-i-m-glad-i-m-only-5-7/) [Zach Galifianakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-galifianakis/) > [That's one of the great things about comedy: we can - and should - say the things that other people aren't supposed to say.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-galifianakis/that-s-one-of-the-great-things-about-comedy-we-can-and-should-say-the/) [Zach Galifianakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-galifianakis/) > [I like to go to really bad movies, during their sixth week, and there's only one other person in the theatre, and I like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-galifianakis/i-like-to-go-to-really-bad-movies-during-their-sixth-week-and-there-s/) [Zach Galifianakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-galifianakis/) [Explore all 145 Zach Galifianakis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-galifianakis/) ## More Cameras quotes > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I have a way to photograph. You work with space, you have a camera, you have a frame, and then a fraction of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastiao-salgado/i-have-a-way-to-photograph-you-work-with-space-you-have-a-camera-you/) [Sebastiao Salgado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastiao-salgado/) > [I'm a film guy. I love it. When I read the screenplay, I knew that there would be no HD camera that could achieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deon-taylor/i-m-a-film-guy-i-love-it-when-i-read-the-screenplay-i-knew-that-there/) Deon Taylor > [To shift the structure of a sentence alters the meaning of that sentence, as definitely and inflexibly as the position of a camera alters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-didion/to-shift-the-structure-of-a-sentence-alters-the-meaning-of-that/) [Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/) > [I can look around a room and tell you if there are hidden cameras or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-ash/i-can-look-around-a-room-and-tell-you-if-there-are-hidden-cameras-or/) [Lauren Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-ash/) > [There's nothing like the energy in a small comedy club room or a small theater when it's going really well. I can see everybody's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-carey/there-s-nothing-like-the-energy-in-a-small-comedy-club-room-or-a/) [Drew Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-carey/) > [When they took me to do the camera test for the vampire make up, after they put the prosthetic on, I went though the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-benz/when-they-took-me-to-do-the-camera-test-for-the-vampire-make-up-after/) [Julie Benz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-benz/) > [I like acting too much and it's too, I'm just too busy doing that and I'm too hungry for it, to get behind the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-weisz/i-like-acting-too-much-and-it-s-too-i-m-just-too-busy-doing-that-and/) [Rachel Weisz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-weisz/) > [“To all the secret writers, late-night painters, would-be singers, lapsed and scared artists of every stripe, dig out your paintbrush, or your flute, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shauna-niequist/to-all-the-secret-writers-late-night-painters-would-be-singers-lapsed/) [Shauna Niequist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shauna-niequist/) > [Many times I've sat with a camera and another actor and seen all their fears and insecurities and struggles. You want to support them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-eccleston/many-times-i-ve-sat-with-a-camera-and-another-actor-and-seen-all/) [Christopher Eccleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-eccleston/) > [Don't ever for a minute make the mistake of looking down your nose at westerns. They're art - the good ones, I mean. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wayne/don-t-ever-for-a-minute-make-the-mistake-of-looking-down-your-nose-at/) [John Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wayne/) > [My personal interest in ordinary people is unlimited, but I am fascinated by the challenge of portraying true greatness adequately with my camera.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yousuf-karsh/my-personal-interest-in-ordinary-people-is-unlimited-but-i-am/) [Yousuf Karsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yousuf-karsh/) > [Since a camera is something too heavy for women and initially made for men, you need a good cameraman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitra-farahani/since-a-camera-is-something-too-heavy-for-women-and-initially-made/) Mitra Farahani > [I'm closer to being happy. I'm doing things that make me happy. In football I loved to practice and I loved to play, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-williams/i-m-closer-to-being-happy-i-m-doing-things-that-make-me-happy-in/) [Ricky Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-williams/) > [I'm not so much in the future as always in the present. The future always takes care of itself. What I do now with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonas-mekas/i-m-not-so-much-in-the-future-as-always-in-the-present-the-future/) [Jonas Mekas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonas-mekas/) [Browse all 2,666 Cameras quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cameras/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The whole thing about working in front of the camera is to make people laugh when they're not supposed to.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Zach Galifianakis" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-galifianakis/the-whole-thing-about-working-in-front-of-the-camera-is-to-make/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cameras" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-galifianakis/the-whole-thing-about-working-in-front-of-the-camera-is-to-make/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a2/zach-galifianakis-2916_cameras_the-whole-thing-about-working-in-front-o_61457.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a2/zach-galifianakis-2916_cameras_the-whole-thing-about-working-in-front-o_61457.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a2/zach-galifianakis-2916_cameras_the-whole-thing-about-working-in-front-o_61457.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The whole thing about working in front of the camera is to make people laugh when they're not supposed to.” — Zach Galifianakis", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Zach Galifianakis", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-galifianakis/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The whole thing about working in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-galifianakis/the-whole-thing-about-working-in-front-of-the-camera-is-to-make/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-galifianakis/the-whole-thing-about-working-in-front-of-the-camera-is-to-make/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```