Improv Trump

beardedlamb · Post by **beardedlamb** » July 26th, 2010, 10:13 pm

ok, so we all know there are several "guidelines" "rules" "laws" of improv. They are totally subjective, there are always exceptions, and its hard to pin down whats important because the situation is always changing and requires different attention and approach.

knowing these things, i DO feel like there is one thing that everyone does more than anything else to try to do good prov.

so, i pose to you now, what is the most useful, effective rule that you fall back on?

what law has saved your ass the most times?

what guideline do you start with?

Munga · Post by **Munga** » July 26th, 2010, 10:17 pm

"Have fun and be committed"

Both Tom and Asaf have said this to me and it is what I chant to myself before I go onstage every time.

Asaf · Post by **Asaf** » July 26th, 2010, 10:20 pm

Connect to something and then to everything else through it.

Roy Janik · Post by **Roy Janik** » July 26th, 2010, 10:54 pm

yeah, commitment. It's both a fallback AND an ever-moving target.

PyroDan · Post by **PyroDan** » July 26th, 2010, 11:41 pm

Asaf wrote:Connect to something and then to everything else through it.

I do that, and that something is usually my scene partner, or one of my partners.

kaci_beeler · Post by **kaci_beeler** » July 27th, 2010, 12:03 am

Definitely commitment. Commitment is everything.
In addition, if I find myself flailing or lost in a scene, thinking about the relationship and working that angle also helps me get back on track.

Spots · Post by **Spots** » July 27th, 2010, 12:36 am

PyroDan wrote:
Asaf wrote:Connect to something and then to everything else through it.
I do that, and that something is usually my scene partner, or one of my partners.

Certainly your scene partner can inspire something about you, but your scene partner's POV is unique only to him/her. You can heighten by agreement but your POV will still remain unique to you. Just have a strong point of view and magic will happen.

PyroDan · Post by **PyroDan** » July 27th, 2010, 12:49 am

Spots wrote:
PyroDan wrote:
Asaf wrote:Connect to something and then to everything else through it.
I do that, and that something is usually my scene partner, or one of my partners.
Certainly your scene partner can inspire something about you, but your scene partner's POV is unique only to him/her. You can certainly heighten by agreement but your POV will still remain unique to you. Just have a strong point of view and magic will happen.

Totally. I respond and react emotionally to my partner, and whilst I may use dialogue I never rely on it to push a scene. My experience with to much talking, too much dialogue is that you may begin to push plot and bulldoze the moment. The unsaid, the tension and the energy between characters is often more beneficial, for me, than solving a problem or focusing on driving plot or action.

The other night, I initiated a scene with a premise, and dialogue, it became a funny part of the scene, but the ultimate thing that made the scene, that ended up driving it was this emotional rollercoaster that occured between my partner and I. The scene was actually touching, and it was funnier than any premise I could have invented. It evolved from our emotional interplay.

I am not saying you cannot drive a scene strictly on dialogue, or a premise or what have you, but connecting emotionally, commiting to the other person with a real emotion, not a contrived emotion is what always saves me from myself.

Jeff · Post by **Jeff** » July 27th, 2010, 12:58 am

Asaf wrote:Connect to something and then to everything else through it.

York99 · Post by **York99** » July 27th, 2010, 8:10 am

Listen. Actively.

Marc Majcher · Post by **Marc Majcher** » July 27th, 2010, 9:42 am

Absolutely commitment, doubling down when shit gets out of hand, that's my ass-saver.

Starting off by making a strong (usually physical) choice, and then working that through a cycle of observing/listening/reacting, that's what gets me there.

valetoile · Post by **valetoile** » July 27th, 2010, 6:09 pm

as far as an actual tool, making a "you look..." or "you seem..." statement has saved me so many times. It's just a very concrete manifestation of the general principle of actively listening and paying attention.

My favorite overall philosophy is to trust. Trust that there is nothing you can do to mess up your scene partner. Trust that there is nothing your scene partner can do to mess you up. If you really believe and apply this, it will be true. It won't guarantee fantastic improv, but it will make you feel okay about every scene and help you know you did the best work you could.

valetoile · Post by **valetoile** » July 27th, 2010, 6:10 pm

also, the little mantra I use to remember commitment is "The only way out is through."

Marc Majcher · Post by **Marc Majcher** » July 27th, 2010, 9:57 pm

valetoile wrote:"The only way out is through."

My mantra exactly.

Jeff · Post by **Jeff** » July 27th, 2010, 10:01 pm

majcher wrote:
valetoile wrote:"The only way out is through."
My mantra exactly.