I sat with across from an executive. It was a benign conversation - a check-in meeting. Neither of us was all that engaged. Looking down at his desk, I noticed he'd arrayed files on his desk in the order of a rainbow - Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Purple (though Roy G. Biv forever, squad). I […]
USSR 1730... Vladimir Toma invents a heating device... "Yah, so, this I call...vodka..." The difference between one actor delivering all three of those lines and three improvisers delivering one of those lines apiece is huge in terms of audience reaction. When the audience sees that a player is accepting a choice given to them - […]
This is a fun show. Lots of support. Big group games. Many recurring patterns through the show. Invested characters. Accepted endowments. And some authentic Improv As Improv Does Best moments. Enjoy! [wpvideo VThQG06T] Horse Apples is Matt Newman, David Pijor, Matt Micou, Patrick Gantz and Joey Tran Thank you, District Indie Improv Festival for having […]
Watch this scene, starring Scott Beckett as "Mr. Johnson" and Jonathan Nelson as "Jeeves."
We want to fill our blank stages with imagined environment. We want to engage physically in that environment to help visualize the imagined. And - most importantly - we want to be emotionally affected by where we are and what we're doing. That's Improv As Improv Does Best. Our fellow player(s) and how they emotionally […]
Don't be the improver who initiates a scene by running to center stage and delivering a premise. Don't be an improviser in a scene where two players stand shoulder-to-shoulder, cheating-out, and talking about something not in-the-moment. Don't be a point in the arch of a group game where improvisers stand in a semi-circle and discuss […]
Feeling about active endowments. That's Improv As Improv Does Best. It ain't easy. That balance between making up imagined details and committing to feeling about imagined details is tough to manage. Already we're trying to see our world's details instead of thinking up details, but we also have to care about those details in-the-moment. Like […]
The environment is fleshed out and experienced. Characters' endow and react to endowments through their Personal Game filters. [wpvideo KEEqG5MB] From my Johnsons Full Show 9.21.14 featuring, Lauren Serpa and Shawn Hambright
Objective: To responsibly and recklessly endow scene partners (with characteristics, information, activities, etc.) that s/he must accept.
2 Person Scenes Heightening Emotion: Establish an emotional perspective, heighten the emotional perspective through reaction to active details, and edit – That’s scene. We want to avoid negotiation, conflict and the tepid, talked-out “discovery” that stagnates scenes’ growth. Suggested Exercises: ENDOW AND HEIGHTEN LAY-UPS – Player One initiates from stage left. Player Two initiates from […]