To establish sustainable scenes, it is helpful to remember that each player on stage can have at least one Personal and Scenic game at their disposal to heighten. Personal Game – how you react to who you are, where you are or what you’re doing * I love cake; when I eat a piece I’m overcome with […]
The clip embedded below shows the 1A, 2A and 3A scenes from a Harold in succession. It shows how, instead of just following plot through the beats, one character's emotional behavior - in this case, Matt Newman's reaction to learning that people close to him are sleeping together - can be heightened through scenarios beyond […]
I love watching these guys play. "Play" being the operative word. [wpvideo 2PrQMKfU]
There's more than one way to build intensity over time. Both scenes work in an improv context. No doubt. But I prefer the second iteration. The second scene is more dynamic. Yes, both Bobs are altered by scene's end and both scenes progress, but in the second scene Bob's change is clearly delineated to establish […]
The Johnsons' suggestion was "Cat Food." Thus, Cat Videos. The whole show is worth watching and is included at the bottom of this post. But first: Mr. Mittens. [wpvideo NdNpnKCD]
I get excited every time Alan Volmer and Jonathan Nelson start a scene together. They're able to create rich character with rich worlds expressed through rich reactions on a dime. This scene begins beautifully, with Alan establishing some physical business and Jonathan establishing a Personal Game for himself. When Alan references his prediliction for spider […]
Not a super fan of a scene? Don't sweep it under the rug - you may want to forget about it but the audience may not be able to. Better then to double down on it. Use the Help Desk dynamic to heighten the interaction and turn a "not great" initial scene into the base […]
Boldly choose. Boldly commit. Accept everything your scene partner says and does. Accepting doesn't mean you have to like it, but you have to allow it to happen - and to repeat. Commit. Push forward. And you'll find yourself on the other end. Stopping forward momentum to discuss, argue or otherwise conflict will kill you […]
Tertiary Player Good Faith Mantra – I will only enter a scene in progress to serve what has already been established. If you're entering a scene in progress, that scene is not about you. If you Walk On, you should only do so to heighten a reaction already perceived in the scene - feed a character's […]
Don't let why keep you from following how. You don't have to decipher what you just saw, you just have to repeat and heighten it. And I so love when The Johnson's do something like this that I have to showcase it even if the video cuts off the width of the stage show. I'm […]