Improv

Question 1

Add info:

Answer 1

Info keeps scenes healthy: the more info the better.

Question 2

4 types of info: Who

Answer 2

Who are the people in the scene and what is their relationship? They know each other well already and they already have preconceived thoughts and feelings. New information is a gift: incorporate it. Label the other person. Interesting name helps. Add qualifiers: ie Father Tony or Big Tony or Governor Tony.

Question 3

4 types of info: What

Answer 3

The physical action. Space work. Label it.

Question 4

4 types of info: Where

Answer 4

The setting. Be specific to the size of the stage: ie Paris is too big BUT coffee shop is much better. Be specific: ie my kitchen NOT my house. Most scenes will be present day, but the Where can also include the When: ie day, night, year, or time period.

Question 5

4 types of info: Why

Answer 5

Today’s the big day when…

We don’t do slice of life, we do BIG. Don’t talk about the task you’re doing, talk about the big day.

Question 6

Improv is…

Answer 6

Acting, writing, directing, and scene design simultaneously.

Question 7

It is about you and your relationship…

Answer 7

Talk about the situation (the big day) and what you are feeling.

Question 8

5 ways to add info: Space Work

Answer 8

• THROUGHOUT the entire scene, be active and interested in your environment.
• Pay attention to how you do things: it informs your character.
• All space work should be on the 4th wall.
• Label what you have and what you are doing.
• Respect for what you have and what you made: keep reality consistent.
• Put big objects like cars in the audience.

Question 9

5 ways to add info: Emotional Adjustment

Answer 9

-ALWAYS start your scene with an emotion. Give the emotion weight to heighten the scene. An emotional adjustment makes you feel something else. When your emotions change, that creates the scene. Make something a BIG deal. Plot points are moved foreword by emotional adjustments.

Question 10

5 ways to add info: Characters

Answer 10

• ALWAYS be someone else other than yourself. Fools and idiots are fun. Try being weird.
• Have a specific and unique point of view.
• Include a “Spine Line”: a line that shows their view of the world.
• Physical choices change your character’s point of view.
• Whatever the situation, ask yourself: “Who would be the most interesting person in this situation?”
• No traditional straight man characters. You can be unique and still be the straight man.

Question 11

5 ways to add info: Stage Movement

Answer 11

• Use the entire stage and environment. When stuck, cross the stage, grab something and care about it.
• Move in an interesting way.
• NO nervous rocking.

Question 12

5 ways to add info: Dialogue

Answer 12

Show, don’t tell.

Question 13

Justifications

Answer 13

When making a justification, incorporate rather than calling people out.

Question 14

Don’t deny.

Answer 14

Incorporate and justify.

Question 15

Don’t argue.

Answer 15

Fess up. Choose to lose the argument.

Question 16

Don’t bargain or haggle

Answer 16

Just give in to the other person.

Question 17

Don’t bicker.

Answer 17

You can disagree, but don’t bicker.

Question 18

Don’t control the scene.

Answer 18

It’s got to be 50/50. Say what you are going to do, DON’T tell other people what to do.

Question 19

Don’t teach.

Answer 19

Choose to know. Be an expert. Love made up jargon.

Question 20

Don’t ask questions.

Answer 20

Make statements instead.

Question 21

Don’t play crazy, too stoned, or too drunk.

Answer 21

Don’t play crazy or label your scene partner as crazy. If your going to be stoned, be a high energy stoner.

Question 22

Don’t plan.

Answer 22

You’ll stop listening and it will be too contrived.

Question 23

Don’t make a scene planning for a future date.

Answer 23

Don’t talk about what you are going to do later.

Question 24

Don’t do reference jokes.

Answer 24

Your scene partner or the audience may not understand the reference.

Question 25

Do listen and respond.

Answer 25

Listen and then add something to it.

Question 26

Do commit.

Answer 26

If you’re breaking, then double the emotion you’re supposed to be feeling.

Question 27

Do discover.

Answer 27

Find things in your surroundings to add things to the scene.

Question 28

Do raise the stakes.

Answer 28

Make good things better and bad things worse.

Question 29

Do make assumptions…

Answer 29

and do jump to conclusions.

Question 30

Do be specific.

Answer 30

Always be specific.

Question 31

Do be your best actor.

Answer 31

Be a heightened version of a real person.

Question 32

Do trust your scene partner.

Answer 32

If you are emotional and specific, then something will happen.

Question 33

Do give your scene partner gifts.

Answer 33

Give them specifics, labels, emotions, and assumptions.

Question 34

When saying “You never…” or “you always…”

Answer 34

Give examples of the things they never do or always do.

Question 35

When playing a specialist in something…

Answer 35

Reference a fake quote from your area of expertise. For example: the bible study group that references a quote that is relevant to their current situation. “The retards aren’t that retarded.”

Question 36

Tonnage

Answer 36

When an offensive word or phrase is said, keep saying it and working it in until it loses some of its bite.

Question 37

Give more gifts and listen carefully for any gifts that are given to me.

Answer 37

Need to focus on giving as many gifts as possible. Also need to focus on more active listening so that I can take advantage of all the gifts that are given to me. Finding objects in space work is another good way to give gifts.