Improv Basics
STAY POSITIVE! Always say...
"Yes, And!"
To compose or perform without previous preparation
Improvisation
Multiple situations surrounding one character
Character Centered
Give one DO and one DON'T when it comes to Pantomime:
Two of the Following:
DO
DO exaggerate facial expression
DO show the shape, size, weight of objects
DO focus fully on the task
DO show the audience who you are, where you are and what is happening
DO plan a beginning, middle and end
DO include conflict or a problem
DON’T
DON’T mouth words
DON’T make any noise
DON’T use props
DON’T include body contact
DON’T include violence, weapons, etc.
The person who welcomes the audience and introduces the player; he/she also explains the rules of each game
Host
What does CROW stand for?
Character, Relationship, Objective, Where You Are
The lifeblood of improv comedy! Comes from the people watching
Audience Suggestions
Multiple characters surrounding one situation
Situation Centered
Ancient Roman name for pantomime shows:
"Half-Time Shows"
Who is the HOST of Wild n Out?
Nick Cannon
Why study pantomime?
ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS!
The center of the attention of the audience
Focus
Storyline based, sometimes includes a narrator; A Harold is an example of Long Form
Long Form
What are the three phases of acting?
Body, Voice, Mind
What is the popular Improvisation Show that we watched last week?
Whose Line is it Anyway!
Destroying what has been established within a scene (for instance, if your situation is astronauts on the moon and you decide to be at a beach…)
Cancelling
Improvised Dialogue going back and forth between players
Give And Take
Unrelated scenes, more gimmicky and more based on silly games or handles, and less based on solid narrative and characters
Short Form
Who are the two most popular pantomimers from history?
Charlie Chaplin and Marcel Marceau
Act out a pantomime!! Send a member of your group to Ms. Solomon to get your scenario!
Eat a piece of candy and then realize you ate a piece of cat food by mistake.
Moving through a scene with no attention to the other players’ offers and to push only your ideas into the scene! (THINK: BALL HOG!)
Bulldozing
Comes from the Greek word “pantominios,” which means “all” “imitator” (imitate all)
Name one game from Whose Line is it Anyway?
Could be: Scenes from a Hat, Props, Singing Game, Question Game...
There are 5 steps to Pantomiming. Name two.
Could be any two of the following:
Visualize the object. See it in your mind.
Approach the object. Move toward it.
Take the object. Make contact with it.
Tell the audience its location, size, shape, weight. Release the object. Let go.
Act out a Pantomime! Go to Ms. Solomon to get your scenario!
You are fishing, and it feels like you have caught a big fish, but you reel in your catch and realize it is a small fish.