IMPROVISATION (improv)

Essential Questions: How do the rules of Improvisation help create successful improv? How do the requirements/guidelines of educational improvisation differ with that of professional improvisation? What is the relationship between C.O.R.E. to creating successful improvisation?

BEFORE THEY BECAME BIG… Tina Fey & Rachel Dratch – “Wicked” @ Second City, Chicago http://youtu.be/2kyMyFOODA8

What is IMPROVISATION?   Improvisation is ______________________________. PURPOSE of Improvisation: 1. ________________ 2. ________________________________________   STRUCTURE of Improvisation: (narrative elements) 1. ________ 2. ________ 3. ________ 4. ________ 5. ________ 6. ________ 7. ________  ________  ________ ACTING ON THE SPUR-OF-THE MOMENT TO ENTERTAIN TO STRENGTHEN ACTOR SKILLS; spontaneity, concentration, listening BEGINNING MIDDLE END WHO CLIMAX Point at which the conflict cant go any further without bringing about the resolution WHAT WHERE Develop the conflict Resolve the conflict CONFLICT problem/struggle

REQUIREMENTS / GUIDELINES of Improvisation: 1. _______________________________ 2. _______________________________ 3. _______________________________ 4. _______________________________   CONDUCT / BEHAVIOR of Improvisation: ___________________________________ 2. ___________________________________ NO SCRIPT 2+ CHARACTERS COMPLETE STRUCTURE LIMITED PREPLANNING ALWAYS GIVE AND TAKE (endow with clues to local or character) ABSOLUTELY NO BROWN BAGGING; inappropriate language, actions or content within a scene

C = __________  O = __________  R = ____________  THE DEVELOPMENT AND PORTRAYAL OF A PERSONALITY THROUGH THOUGHT, ACTION & DIALOGUE. C = __________  O = __________  R = ____________  E = ____________    CHARACTER A CHARACTER’S GOAL OR INTENTION OBJECTIVE THE ATTITUDES AND INTERACTIONS BETWEEN CHARACTERS IN A SCENE RELATIONSHIP THE CREATED PHYSICAL SPACE OF A SCENE ENVIRONMENT

RULES of Improvisation:   __________________ **Don’t _____ us how you feel, ______ us how you feel!!! show HAPPINESS: ...big smile, quick-uplifting walk, hugging, shaking hands, dialogue-“it’s a beautiful day” show AWKWARDNESS: …being hesitant in expressing yourself, difficulty in being assertive or being prone to clumsiness. ACTING IS _______! SHOW, DON’T TELL TELL SHOW DOING

RULES of Improvisation: ____________ Denial is: ______________________________ teacher: “Your son Johnny has been causing a disturbance in class” parent: “I don’t have a son named Johnny” .... this is denial.... the intention of the parent may be to avoid taking responsibility for his son, but it is denial because the information has already been established.   *Once something is established, _____________________ unless it____________________________________. * Denial is usually a result of either _____________ or refusing to give up ___________________of what is going to happen next in a scene. DON’T DENY DISPUTING SOMETHING THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN ESTABLISHED. YOU CAN NOT CHANGE IT BECOMES A WAY OF FURTHERING THE PLOT. NOT LISTENING A PRECONCEIVED IDEA

*Denial is NOT _________ . ARGUING *Denial is NOT _________ . Arguing is the_________________________________ A: “It’s your turn to do the dishes tonight, I did them last night.” B: “No you didn’t, I did them last night.” ... this only leads to “no you didn’t, yes I did” argument... = denial ...instead, make the response more effective: B: “I know it’s my turn to do the dishes, but since I cooked dinner every night this week, maybe you should take an extra turn.” = no denial, conflict is being maintained and action is furthered   *Denial is NOT _______________________ (when something that appears to one thing and later turns out to something else) *Denial will momentarily ________________! INTERACTION OF PEOPLE WITH OPPOSING POINT OF VIEWS ON A PARTICULAR MATTER. A SURPRISE TURN OF EVENTS STOP THE ACTION

RULES of Improvisation: __________________ Play your scene from __________ to _________ and concentrate on what’s happening in the __________ , NOT what’s going to happen next.   *DON’T ____________ action, or else you will miss what’s happening right now! *Take cues from your scene partner (s) and be____________ and _______! PLAY THE MOMENT MOMENT MOMENT PRESENT ANTICIPATE OBSERVANT LISTEN

BREAK CHARACTER RULES of Improvisation: 4. ____________ 4. ____________ Believe in what you are doing. Respond and React _____________ to each moment on stage.   *You can be as bizarre or extreme as you want to be as long as you treat anything you do on stage as reality for that moment! *If you __________ it, so will the audience! *NEVER ______________________!! DO NOT laugh, stop or be yourself. It shows you do not believe in what you are doing on stage. BE HONEST TRUTHFULLY BELIEVE BREAK CHARACTER

Top 10 Improvised Movie Moments http://youtu.be/So9iCqdfUF4 Skip #9;