Improv Concepts
Avoid too many of these to ensure strong story offers.
What are questions?
The direction one is going when moving toward the audience.
What is downstage?
Using past experiences to achieve truthful performances.
What is emotion memory?
Bella Lugosi, Christopher Lee, Jack Pallance, Frank Langella and Gary Oldman have all played this legendary vampire.
Who is Count Dracula?
The definition of catalyst (inciting incident).
What is the story moment that begins the rising action? The moment that launches the plot?
The core tenant of improv.
What is, "yes and..."
Even without the use of traditional draperies, this is the term used for the beginning and end of a show.
What is curtin?
Stanislavski's term for the area that an actor gives all of their focus.
What is the Circle of Attention?
Her best advice to get out of an abusive relationship is to throw hot grits onto the abuser's face.
Who is Media?
Storytelling technique that aids with character growth/change.
What is want vs. need?
Using pantomime to create props that aren't really there.
What is object work?
Type of theatre wherein the seating and staging can set up in a multitude of ways.
What is a black box?
This is the best way to define Objective.
What is what do I want and how will I get it?
This new horror film directed by Ryan Coogler is currently dominating the box office.
What is Sinners?
Storytelling technique that shows events that occured in the past.
What is a flashback?
When a new character enters a scene in progress.
What is third support?
When a performer has a long speech it is often called this.
What is a monologue?
When an actor only concerns themself with external expression and gesture.
What is mechanical acting?
Kirk Alyn, George Reeves, Christopher Reeve, Brandon Routh, Henry Cavill and David Corenswet have all played this superhero in film.
Who is Superman?
The period of time where the characters deal with the consequences of the All is Lost moment.
What is The Dark Night of the Soul?
Improvisers in a scene should establish these four things as soon as possible.
What are character, relationship, location and a problem?
When two or more actors exchange dialogue without any physical action.
What is, "static?"
Acting style that subscribes to Lee Strasburg's evolution of the Stanislavski system wherein an actor becomes completely immersed in their character.
What is method acting?
Some of this legendary director's films include Jaws, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, ET, Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Color Purple, Schindler's List, Saving Private Ryan and Jurassic Park.
Who is Steven Spielberg?
The definitions of Thesis, Antithesis and Synthesis.
What is the original idea, a new idea that conflicts with the original idea, and the results of the conflicting ideas?