The Golden Rule (It's so shiny)

No catchy title this time around.
I have beat around the bush too long.

So far, I posted about several important aspects of improv, ranging from what it is to respecting space to its elements (complete with a bad reference to a 60's band). But now, I think is is time to explain the most important rule of improv. And that rule is...Seriously, you can't even consider yourself an improv actor if you don't listen. The Golden Rule is...

"Yes, and..."

Let's spilt it up.

In improv, the word, "no," does not exist. Plain and simple. If you say "no" during a session of improv, it is the equivalent of getting up during the middle of Sunday Mass, putting on a chicken suit, pole-dancing on the altar, all while singing Justin Beiber's "Baby." So yeah, its just that bad.

You see, while doing an improv scene, that scene is real. It is actually happening. This why improv is so difficult for a lot of people. Sometimes a scene calls for something you aren't comfortable portraying or doing. The easiest way for most people to get out of that situation is to say, "No." But in improv, that is not an option. To deny a scene's existence destroys not only the scene, but any connection the scene had with the audience i.e. the humor goes down the drain. 

The second part of the rule is, "and..." Improv is a two-way street. Have you ever watched a comedy show. Do you see one character guiding all the humor in the scene? No you don't. Other characters react to that one character, and usually, those reactions are hilarious in themselves. The "and..." portion of the Golden Rule of improv is like that comedic play. When you are on stage, and some one asks you, "Why are you juggling armadillos?" you need to be play off that, giving both your partner some direction in dialogue and the audience something to wonder. Just standing there isn't funny. Action and reaction are.

Earth, Wind, and Fire (and Water)

Odd way to start off a post, right?


I guess you are thinking, "Hm, what does a funk band from 1969 and a bucket of H₂O have to do with improv?"


Well, since I'm basically reading your mind (By the way, you should be ashamed of yourself), here's the simple answer; Like the classic idea of four elements making up the world and everything in it, improv also has for elements which are crucial to it's existence.


Those four elements are:

• Truth (Fire): "God offers to every mind its choice between truth and repose.  Take which you please - you can never have both. " Truth is the first of the elements of improv. But what does it mean? It means that the story happening between to actors is real. If one of the actors denies that truth, then what are they really doing? Truth in improv is like a fire; you just enough light to show what your doing. Too much reveals the actors portraying characters. Too little leaves the audience confused. And if it is ignored, you burn the whole theatre down.

• Trust (Earth): I have a question; Do you wake up and doubt the the ground under you will hold? If you don't live in Japan, then I guess your answer would be no. Trust is key in improv. While on stage, your fellow actors trust that you will go along with what they say, and if they blank, you can help them out of their rut. If trust doesn't exist between the actors, then there is no scene, nor humor. Any laughs you get are going to directed at you, not the character.  

• Spontaneity (Wind): What has been one of the things constantly repeated in this  blog? I'll give you a hint; IMPROV IS NOT PLANNED OUT. Enter spontaneity. Your mind is full of creative, funny ideas. Don't plan what you are going to say. Let it just come to you at the moment, and the scene will fly. You never know where the wind will blow you, or how fast you will get there.

• Communication (Water): This includes stage presence, vocalization, acting ability, and probably most important, observation. Communication is key to improv. Even the most basic improv scene requires two actors on stage. The scene created between them should be able to flow, like a stream. One actor should be able to listen and react, and same goes for the other actor. However, if communication is broken—or even worse, ignored—then that is like a dam, or a giant boulder being thrown in front of a river. It stops the flow. It makes the scene turn from something dynamic, into a swamp.

Huh, that actually worked out better than I planned.

So, to end...

"See what imagination can do,

It's not hard to conceive
Love Ecstasy Imagining you, imagining me
The beauty we both can see"

Another Successful Night!

Tonight was yet another successful night of improv.

The night started out with the classic warm-up games. Tonight's highlight was a intense game of Angry Samurai. It is primarily a focus game were one person has to pass an energy to another person (and on and on). There is a catch, though. The people along side of you decide when you send the energy, and until that point, you have to yell Japanese  gibberish as loud as you can (Sushi, Kimono, Godzilla, Jackie Chan, We all look the same, etc).

After a good warm up, we moved on to focus on space. One rule of improv is to respect others choices (example: If a character is named 'Fred,' you can't change it to 'Ron' or 'Paul' or 'Chesterfield Steak Knife McFistycuffs). Another rule is learning to  respect the idea of space and objects within that space. So we played around with "imaginary" rooms, from a classic bedroom to a whole secret chamber,  devoted to *censored*  and filled with *censored* .

Learning to respect space is one of the key concepts. If you don't respect the space you are given or has been established, then neither will the audience. Then all your attempts at humor go right on down the drain, because they now only see people being stupid, not a funny scene occurring in a gay Greek butcher shop.

With that point out of the way, the rest of night was devoted to more improv games, from comparing fish sizes to questionable art to the aforementioned gay Greek butcher. All in all, a good night.

Quote of the Night: Channing Tatum has big, sexy ears. (Devin Woodall)

The Anatomy of Stupidity

Here's a question to everyone: What is improv?

I'll give you a minute. Or better yet, I'll just tell you.

Well, we can view improv on three different levels. The first level is the actual performance level—getting out on a stage or whatever and perfuming games or scenes. One of the most basic, yet crucial points of improv is that there is no scripts. No prior planning whatsoever. Us actors are quite literally jumping in front of bus, with no idea what's going to happen. OK, we don't LITERALLY jump in front of a bus (that's stupid), but you get the idea.

On a higher level, improv can be seen as a way of life or a way of opening mind for examination. Being in a scene is like breaking the floodgates that surround your confidence, emotion, fear, etc. etc.. As a blogger and improv actor Jochen Rick put it, "For many improv players, improv is therapy and knowledge."

ON AN EVEN HIGHER LEVEL, improv could be scene as a break of from our conscious adult selves, and a falling back on to our inner child. As children, we constantly played imaginary games or acted in imaginary stories, all of which were made up on the fly (see the connection?). As time goes by, we lose that wonder and creavity, but improv allows us to reach back and feel that creativity we had as a child. We become children again, or at least, are able to see ourselves as children and play off that (kinda like old Bruce Willis movie, The Kid, except with a lot less drama and daddy issues).

So you see, improv can be a life-changing or thought provoking experience.
Or, it could be a lot of people who just love being able to let there inner stupid out.
X-D

If you want to learn a bit more about improv, check out Jochen Rick's webpage/blog. Its got some good stuff: http://home.cc.gatech.edu/je77/1

First Post - General Info

Well, Howdy!

First off, I'm Joe (look LEFT for more info) and this the mini-blog for ChainLink Improv! *insert excitement*

Now, what is ChainLink? Well, if you are ever in the Sverdurp Building in Webster around 11 o'clock at night, and randomly hear the chorus of primal screams, then you found us!

"Improv," short for improvisation is a style of acting where usually comedic scenes are played out on the fly—no pre-planning, no script, no clue what to do.


ChainLink is a group of students from all levels, gathering together and performing various improvisational games  and scenes, all for the sake of laughter. Even if you don't have any experience in theatre or improv, you are still welcome to come and participate!

We usually meet at 9:30 on Mondays in Room 125 in the Sverdurp Building. If ya'll forget or just choose not to see this post, look RIGHT and there is the meeting info (Why am I putting this down here, assuming people aren't going to read it anyway? Paradoxical Yoda thinks. Or reads. I'm rambling.). See ya there!