Improvisation for Actors and Writers: A Guidebook for Improv Lessons in Comedy

by Bill Lynn, Kim King (Foreword by)

Overview

Far more than simply an overview of improv comedy, this book helps actors, writers and comedians learn the basics as taught in all the major comedy schools. First, the do's and don'ts of the Comedy Improv Commandments. The concepts that, when understood, hit the student like falling anvils: Anvil 1: Collaboration -- Working with the 'Group Mind', Anvil 2: Agreement -- 'Just say Yes', Anvil 3: Foundation -- 'Who, What and Where, Anvil 4: Exploring -- 'Finding the Game'. Successful improv requires the skill of the actor, the talent of the comedian and the ideas of the writer rolled into one. This book tells how it can all be done for performers or teachers.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781566080941
Publisher:	Meriwether Publishing, Limited
Publication date:	08/28/2004
Pages:	250
Sales rank:	1,093,289
Product dimensions:	5.56(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.48(d)

Table of Contents

	Foreword	1
	Introduction	3
Section 1	Improv Comedy Schools	5
Chapter 1	Why Study Improv Comedy?	6
Chapter 2	Comedy Schools	7
	The Curriculum	7
	The Teachers	8
	The Classes	9
Chapter 3	Auditioning and Placement	10
	Audition Exercises	11
	Placement	12
Chapter 4	What Have I Gotten Myself Into?	14
	The Three-Minute Medium	14
	Failing Forward	14
	"I'm a Standup. I'll Do Just Fine."	14
	Receiving Notes	15
	Evaluation Criteria	15
	Performance Reviews	16
	The Odds of Making It	17
	Where's the "Ensemble" Feeling?	18
	Feedback from Fellow Players	18
	Gestation Time	19
	Improv as a Profession	19
	Be a Jack-of-All-Trades	19
	Fuzzy Syllabus	19
	Warm-Up	20
	Summary	20
Section 2	Improv Comedy Basics	21
Chapter 5	The Enlightenment	22
	Your First Lousy Improv--Help!	22
Chapter 6	The Comedy Commandments	23
	Don'ts	24
	Dos	25
	What Good Are These "Comedy Commandments"?	26
	Summary	26
Chapter 7	Four Falling Anvils of Improv	27
Chapter 8	Falling Anvil #1: Collaboration	28
	Group Mind	28
	Rolodexing	29
	Helpful Hints	30
	Summary	32
Chapter 9	Falling Anvil #2: Agreement	33
	Just Say "Yes"	33
	Don't Argue	36
	Positive Start	37
	An Offer You Just Can't Deny	40
	Nothing Pre-Planned	41
	Summary	42
Chapter 10	Falling Anvil #3: Foundation (Who, What, and Where)	43
	Object Work	43
	Setting Up the Foundation	45
	Helpful Hints	48
	Summary	52
Chapter 11	Falling Anvil #4: Exploring, Heightening, and Finding a Game	53
	Exploring	53
	Heightening the Game	56
	Summary	58
Chapter 12	Basics Wrap-Up	59
	List of Improv Side-Coaching Phrases	59
	Summary	60
Section 3	Developing Comic Characters	61
Chapter 13	Overview	62
	Get Personal	63
	Who Are My Models?	63
	The Class	63
	The Requirements	64
	Preparing for Character Exercises	65
Chapter 14	Developing Character Essences	68
	The Format for Most Solo Character Exercises	68
	Taking the Plunge	69
	Exercises	71
	Maximize Your Solo Exercises	74
	Summary	75
Chapter 15	The Character Toolbox	76
	Building Character History	76
	Building Character Game	77
	The Longevity Test	78
	Character Psychology 101	79
	Labeling Your Partner	82
	Helpful Hints	84
	Summary	85
Chapter 16	Character Workout	86
	Developing Your Character's Lingo	87
	Classic Character Exercises	89
	Bringing Your Prepared Characters to a Two-Person Improv	93
	Summary	95
	Celebrity Impersonations	95
Chapter 17	Character Wrap-Up	97
	Summary	97
Section 4	Long Form Improv	99
Chapter 18	Introduction to Long Form Improv	100
	Harold	100
	Other Long Form Styles	101
	Another Long Form Example	102
	Structure vs. Freestyle	103
Chapter 19	Long Form Skill #1: Building a Logical Absurdity inside One Scene	104
	Summary	105
Chapter 20	Long Form Skill #2: "Circling Up" (Replicating the Problem inside One Scene)	106
	Summary	108
Chapter 21	Long Form Skill #3: Extending the Game across Multiple Scenes	109
	Types of Scenes	110
	Building Accord, Not Accuracy	110
	Summary	113
Chapter 22	Long Form Skill #4: Editing Scenes	114
	Summary	115
Chapter 23	Long Form Extras	116
	Exercises	116
	Long Form--Don't Plan Ahead	116
	Cheating	117
	Bartender, Don't Cut Me Off	117
	Create Your Own Long Form Structures	118
	Themes	118
	Long Form's Influence on Sketch Comedy	119
	Summary	120
Chapter 24	Long Form Wrap-Up	121
	Summary	121
Section 5	Writing Sketch Comedy	123
Chapter 25	Sketches: Getting Started	124
	The Classes	125
Chapter 26	Finding and Shaping Sketch Material	127
	Turning Life into Sketch Comedy	127
	Exercises	132
	Guidelines	133
	Summary	134
Chapter 27	The Sketch Writing Toolbox	135
	Revising--Sketch Comedy Shorthand	135
	The Understructure of Sketch Writing	137
	Summary	152
Chapter 28	Getting Your Sketch on Its Feet	153
	Tricks of the Trade	153
	Writing and Working with Others	154
	Preparing for Performance	157
	Summary	158
Chapter 29	Sketch Writing Wrap-Up	159
	The Writer's Voice	159
	Summary	159
Appendix	Exercises	160
	Sample Audition Exercises	161
	Warm-up Exercises	162
	Exercises for Group Mind and Rolodexing	163
	Building a Story	166
	Practice Object Work	167
	Practice Adding the Foundation	167
	Beginning Improv Scenes	170
	"Taking the Plunge" into Character Essences	172
	Characters from a Random Suggestion...Like a Blender	173
	Building Characters from an Exaggerated Trait	174
	Solo Exercise--Characters from People You Know	176
	Building Characters from Labels	176
	Using Characters in Improvised Scenes	176
	Long Form Preparation Exercises	178
	Long Form Structures	180
	Great Character Improvs for Use in Sketch Shows	182
	Exercises for Writing Character Monologues	182
	Exercises for Sketch Writing	184
	Index	187
	About the Author	191