🧑🏾‍🎤Intro to Acting Unit 3 – Improv Techniques for Acting

What's Improv All About?

• Improv is a form of live theatre where the plot, characters, and dialogue are made up in the moment
• Relies on spontaneity, collaboration, and quick thinking to create entertaining scenes and stories
• Performers work together without a pre-written script, using suggestions from the audience or their own imagination
• Encourages actors to be present, listen actively, and respond authentically to their scene partners
• Improv can be performed in various styles, such as short-form games (Whose Line Is It Anyway?) or long-form narratives
• Helps actors develop essential skills like creativity, adaptability, and trust in their instincts
• Improv is not just for comedy; it can be used in dramatic and experimental theatre as well

Key Principles of Improv

• "Yes, And..." is the foundation of improv, meaning performers accept and build upon their scene partner's ideas
• Active listening is crucial for improvisers to stay engaged and respond appropriately to their scene partners
• Embrace failure and take risks, as mistakes can often lead to unexpected and hilarious moments
• Be present in the moment and avoid planning ahead or trying to control the scene
• Make your scene partner look good by supporting their choices and giving them opportunities to shine
• Avoid negating or blocking your partner's ideas, as this can stall the scene and create conflict
• Commit fully to your character and the reality of the scene, no matter how absurd it may become

Basic Improv Exercises

• "Word at a Time Story" - Players take turns adding one word at a time to create a cohesive story
  • Helps develop listening skills, collaboration, and narrative building
• "Zip, Zap, Zop" - Players pass an imaginary ball of energy around the circle, saying "Zip," "Zap," or "Zop" in sequence
  • Promotes focus, eye contact, and quick thinking
• "Mirroring" - Partners face each other and mirror each other's movements, starting slowly and gradually increasing speed
  • Builds trust, non-verbal communication, and synchronicity between performers
• "Emotional Quadrants" - Players explore different emotions in each corner of the stage (happy, sad, angry, afraid)
  • Encourages emotional range, physicality, and commitment to character
• "One-Word Story" - Similar to "Word at a Time Story," but players contribute one word each to create a story
• "Freeze Tag" - Two players start a scene, and when someone calls "Freeze," they freeze in position, and a new player tags in, starting a new scene based on their positions

Building Characters on the Fly

• Begin with a strong, clear choice for your character, such as an emotion, trait, or physicality
• Use your body and voice to convey your character's personality, age, and background
• Avoid stereotypes or clichés, and instead aim for unique and specific character choices
• Listen and respond to your scene partners to discover more about your character through interaction
• Allow your character to evolve and change throughout the scene based on new information or events
• Find the truth and humanity in your character, even if they are exaggerated or absurd
• Use your character's point of view to drive the scene forward and create conflict or comedy

Mastering "Yes, And..."

• "Yes, And..." is the core principle of improv, meaning you accept and build upon your scene partner's ideas
• Saying "yes" means agreeing to the reality your partner has established, while "and" means adding new information to move the scene forward
• Avoid negating or blocking your partner's ideas, as this can stall the scene and create conflict
• Use "Yes, And..." to create a shared reality and collaborate on a cohesive story
• "Yes, And..." doesn't always mean literal agreement; you can express disagreement or conflict while still accepting the reality of the scene
• Practice "Yes, And..." in everyday life to become a better listener and collaborator
• Remember that "Yes, And..." is not just about saying the words, but embodying the spirit of acceptance and contribution

Working with Scene Partners

• Establish a strong connection with your scene partner through eye contact, active listening, and physical engagement
• Support your scene partner by giving them opportunities to shine and making them look good
• Be generous and share the stage, avoiding dominating the scene or steamrolling your partner's ideas
• Pay attention to your partner's verbal and non-verbal cues to inform your character and the scene
• Find ways to heighten and explore the relationship between your characters, whether it's through conflict, comedy, or emotional depth
• Trust your scene partner and be willing to take risks and make bold choices together
• Celebrate your partner's successes and have their back if something goes wrong

Handling Mistakes and Unexpected Turns

• Embrace mistakes and unexpected turns as opportunities for creativity and comedy
• Avoid breaking character or apologizing for mistakes, as this can disrupt the flow of the scene
• Use mistakes or unexpected events as fuel for the scene, incorporating them into the story or character development
• Trust your instincts and make quick, decisive choices to move the scene forward
• Support your scene partners if they make a mistake or take the scene in an unexpected direction
• Remember that the audience is rooting for you and wants to see you succeed, even if things don't go as planned
• Celebrate the unpredictable nature of improv and use it to create unique and memorable moments on stage

Applying Improv to Scripted Acting

• Use improv techniques to bring spontaneity and freshness to scripted performances
• Apply active listening and "Yes, And..." principles to create genuine interactions with your scene partners
• Explore your character's motivations, relationships, and emotional life through improv exercises
• Use improv to discover new facets of your character or find creative solutions to blocking or staging challenges
• Embrace the unpredictable nature of live performance and be ready to adapt to unexpected moments or audience reactions
• Incorporate improv games and exercises into your rehearsal process to build trust and collaboration with your cast
• Apply the principles of commitment, risk-taking, and presence from improv to create more engaging and authentic scripted performances