Acting in Improv

[shando]

Not to get back to serious conversation or anything, but Shannon, you haven't really given your insight onto the original topic of this thread. You're one of the authorities on the subject in the AIC. What say you?

Well, despite appearance to the contrary I don't get involved in every contentious discussion on these boards. The initial post came up when I was out of town, but then it became about whether or not improvisers are lazy and I watched it but wasn't really all that interested in adding to that discussion.

But here's my take. I think acting lessons are perfectly appropriate if you want to be a better actor on stage. Really a question of how you want to come across. I would think this would be especially true if one's goal is to create characters well, because your ability to play a character--rather than an improviser throwing down markers that denote a "character" (think about that and you'll know what I'm talking about)--is really nothing more than a question of good acting. Some people can get there without classes, but if it's something you're interested in, I agree with Tom Booker that I don't see what taking a class would hurt.

I also think that the more time one is involved with doing improv well, the more likely it is that you will be asked to do some other kind of acting. Doesn't hurt to get ahead of the curve.

My uncontentious two cents.

[arthursimone]

ah, acting!

reveal tomorrow! call it 'big' if it pleases you

[Wesley]

The applied question: Would it be worth my time to take formal acting classes to improve my improv?

You don't take an acting class to improv your improv. You take improv classes to improve your improv.
You take and acting class to improve your acting. Then you use your improved acting alongside, or subordinate to, your improv to make your physical and emotional reactions more realistic.
You apply from acting the stagecraft aspects often lost or minimally used in improv training (finding your light, body movement, facial expressions and micro-expressions, staged combat, etc) improv still tells the story and creates the moment, acting just brings what improv has decreed to more vivid life.

To me the question is like asking "Would taking more maths classes make me better at chemistry?"
Yeah, it probably would. Though you can certainly learn and get by in chemistry for a long while with only rudimentary maths skills. Math helps chemistry, but math is not the same as chemistry.

Plus, for me, any and every thing you learn, every new skill you master, every new fact you digest, every new hobby you try, helps your improv . . . or should.
Would taking a cooking class help your improv? It should - you'll learn new terminology and technique you can reference on stage in scenes. But would it help as much as acting? Probably not. everything helps, some things just help mroe directly is all.

[shando]

I couldn't agree with you more, Wes. Although what does this have to do with Arthur's 'big' reveal.

[Wesley]

He's taking more maths to be a better improviser.

[Roy Janik]

My guess is that Arthur has a role in Big Momma's House 3.

[York99]

I feel like the link to stage acting and improv is a bit closer than math to chemistry. I understand your points and, without going back and reading through this old thread, I think it's clear. But stage acting and improv share so many exact or nearly exact same skills* that it seems reasonable that becoming a better actor would probably help one's overall improv... or put better: make someone an overall better improviser.

*Stage presence, developing a character, working with a scene partner, etc... as opposed to, say, reading, which one book or article may help you in a few specific scenes.

[kbadr]

Splitting hairs over analogies is like dusting for prints on your asshole.

[Rev. Jordan T. Maxwell]

Splitting hairs over analogies is like dusting for prints on your asshole.

that's not an exact metaphor, Kareem...for one thing GYAK! can't...breathe...throat...closing...off...what...the fuck?

GASP! when did Kareem become a Jedi and why did nobody tell me?

(more relevant post to come)

[Marc Majcher]

The applied question: Would it be worth my time to take formal acting classes to improve my improv?

You don't take an acting class to improv your improv. You take improv classes to improve your improv.
You take and acting class to improve your acting. Then you use your improved acting alongside, or subordinate to, your improv to make your physical and emotional reactions more realistic.
You apply from acting the stagecraft aspects often lost or minimally used in improv training (finding your light, body movement, facial expressions and micro-expressions, staged combat, etc) improv still tells the story and creates the moment, acting just brings what improv has decreed to more vivid life.

To me the question is like asking "Would taking more maths classes make me better at chemistry?"
Yeah, it probably would. Though you can certainly learn and get by in chemistry for a long while with only rudimentary maths skills. Math helps chemistry, but math is not the same as chemistry.

Plus, for me, any and every thing you learn, every new skill you master, every new fact you digest, every new hobby you try, helps your improv . . . or should.
Would taking a cooking class help your improv? It should - you'll learn new terminology and technique you can reference on stage in scenes. But would it help as much as acting? Probably not. everything helps, some things just help mroe directly is all.

So... yes.

[apiaryist]

The applied question: Would it be worth my time to take formal acting classes to improve my improv?

You don't take an acting class to improv your improv. You take improv classes to improve your improv.
You take and acting class to improve your acting. Then you use your improved acting alongside, or subordinate to, your improv to make your physical and emotional reactions more realistic.
You apply from acting the stagecraft aspects often lost or minimally used in improv training (finding your light, body movement, facial expressions and micro-expressions, staged combat, etc) improv still tells the story and creates the moment, acting just brings what improv has decreed to more vivid life.

To me the question is like asking "Would taking more maths classes make me better at chemistry?"
Yeah, it probably would. Though you can certainly learn and get by in chemistry for a long while with only rudimentary maths skills. Math helps chemistry, but math is not the same as chemistry.

Plus, for me, any and every thing you learn, every new skill you master, every new fact you digest, every new hobby you try, helps your improv . . . or should.
Would taking a cooking class help your improv? It should - you'll learn new terminology and technique you can reference on stage in scenes. But would it help as much as acting? Probably not. everything helps, some things just help mroe directly is all.

So... yes.

Acting lessons will make you more aware of all of the physical things your body does when you're on stage. The more you pay attention to yourself, the better you'll be able to control unnecessary movements and noises. Tension, exhalations, inflection, and every other minute detail of the human condition start to add up. Acting lessons will help give you control over all of those things so that you can become a more effective communicator. Ideally, you want every single movement, breath, and tone to be under control so that you only use what you need to talk to the audience and the people on stage. When you've worked on all these things long enough, they become second nature. All your left with is what you need and nothing more. People you play with will be less confused at the top of a scene. Every action you take will have greater meaning and be more effective to your fellow players and the people in the audience that are watching you.

[arthursimone]

You apply from acting the stagecraft aspects often lost or minimally used in improv training (finding your light, body movement, facial expressions and micro-expressions, staged combat, etc) improv still tells the story and creates the moment, acting just brings what improv has decreed to more vivid life.

huh??

Tension, exhalations, inflection, and every other minute detail of the human condition start to add up.

wha??



blah blah blah, that all adds up to a whole bouquet of what acting teachers refer to "indicating." To hell with that!!

Acting is about finding your character's motivation and pursuing it 100% to the ends of the earth. Even the most seasoned, natural talent improviser will only ever feel that (up to) 80% (let's say), because their brain is still working in some capacity. Acting, for me, is about turning that shit off and knowing your lines like you know your bones so you can reach that delicious summit.

Motivation! Everything else = parlor tricks!

[Wesley]

The more you pay attention to yourself, the better you'll be able to control unnecessary movements and noises.

Amen!
For me, good acting is far less about what you can make your body do than it is what you can make your body not do or keep it from doing.

Most people have no idea how much communication their body gives off and controlling that subconscious language is much, much, much harder than controlling the conscious stuff. I'v seen many scenes where a bold character in vocality is betrayed by the nervous body movements of the actor inside.

[nadine]

So.. does anyone have a good recommendation on acting classes and good acting teachers in Austin?

Some years ago I took an acting class in the State Theatre with a local celebrity, and I was bored out of my mind. I think it was a TV acting class though, so it was very subtle. And I stopped attending after 2 classes. It felt more like attending a bad religious service.

[arthursimone]

So.. does anyone have a good recommendation on acting classes and good acting teachers in Austin?

*ahem*
http://forum.austinimprov.com/viewtopic.php?t=7342