The Elements of Improv
by Tim Driscoll
Copyright (c) 2002 by Tim Driscoll, all rights reserved.

ACCEPT: (yes and, everything)
Denials (no's, can'ts, etc...) can stop a scene
Buts are half denials
When in doubt, yes and

Make your partner look good by adding positive energy to whatever they are doing

The audience wants to know:

WHO the people in the scene are? (Best done w/ Characters)

WHAT the people in the scene are are doing? (Reason's your Characters are in the particular event)

WHERE the people in the scene are? (show us, then tell us)

SPACE WORK: Pantomime. A sustained physical activity, which helps add reality to a scene or the illusion of reality.

LABELS: A name or title put on a person place or location {label as much as possible in the beginning of a scene (locks down
information quickly)}.

OFFERS: Anything brought into a scene, which adds to the scene or progresses the scene forward (Offers can be verbal,
non-verbal, emotional or physical).

MAKE STATEMENTS: As opposed to questions (Again, locks information down quickly)

MAKE SPECIFIC STATEMENTS: The use of pronouns idles a scene, as opposed to progressing it.

ASSUME to know the person you are in a scene w/ (Creates History and recognition)

COMMITMENT or SUPPORT: If one Character (player) commits, support (the person) and, vice versa.

RESPECT and TRUST: If you respect and trust a person in a scene, by accepting offers, w/ positive superlatives, and adding
support; you, in turn, will be respected and trusted, thus given support back

Find THE TRUTHS of/in the moment, in the scene.

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This site was last updated 11/07/07