“For what I am is at all times of the least importance, of lesser importance the more I accomplish, of no importance whatsoever a hundred years from now” – Jack Kerouac (Beat generation writer) In IMPROV, support your scene partner. When you make your scene partners look good, you look good! Leave ego at the[…]
“If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency, and vibration” – Nikola Tesla (scientist and inventor) In IMPROV, energy, frequency, and vibration are all central tenets. They guide our scenes, relationships, and characters. They give scene beats purpose and definition, and sometimes they even take center stage[…]
“The first rule of doing work that matters…Go to work on a regular basis. Art is hard. Selling is hard. Writing is hard. Making a difference is hard. When you’re doing hard work, getting rejected, failing-working it out–this is a dumb time to make a situational decision about whether it’s time for a nap or[…]
“The finer the bait, the shorter the wait!” – Frank Gorshin (as The Riddler in Batman the Series, 1966) In IMPROV, a scene with a great foundation can take off quickly. Be patient. The first few lines of dialogue set the scene for success or failure.
“There are no wrong notes, some are just more right than others” – Thelonious Monk (jazz pianist and composer) In IMPROV, there are no wrong choices either. However, some choices move the scene forward and increase the connection between scene partners, while other choices cause you to lose the connection and could kill the scene.[…]
“I was a dishwasher at one of those Japanese places that cook at your table. Not too fun” – Aziz Ansari (comedian and actor on Parks and Recreation) In IMPROV, everyone starts somewhere. Focus on your craft, and your abilities will grow. Great improvisers aren’t born, they’re grown and cultivated!
“Don’t be in a hurry to condemn someone because he doesn’t do what you do or think as you think or as fast. There was a time when you didn’t know what you know today” – Malcolm X (activist) In IMPROV, you can learn just as much from watching a beginning improviser as from watching[…]
“Your lines should sound like spontaneous combustion, not like acting at all, and that comes from actively listening!” – Michael Caine (actor, speaking on actors and acting) In IMPROV, active listening is listening with your whole body. Feel the intent of the lines given, feel the layers of emotion behind the words, and react honestly,[…]
“You can conquer almost any fear if you will only make up your mind to do so. For fear doesn’t exist anywhere except in your own mind” – Dale Carnegie (writer, public speaker, and self-help guru) In IMPROV, be brave! If you have fear, acknowledge that fear to yourself and tell it that it has[…]
“Joy is not in things, it’s in us” – Benjamin Franklin (scientist, inventor, author, politician, political theorist, statesman, and diplomat) In IMPROV, you should focus on the relationship between the improvisers in the scene, not on what they’re doing or on a character who is not present. The connection between the improvisers on stage must[…]