What happens when a pandemic
forces the entire world to shut down? No theatres, no schools, no large gatherings,
and no improv…Improv may not be a priority in those situations, however
remember “Improv is life and life is improv” Get some wifi, get a web based app
and zoom a zoom zoom and boom boom…there you go. It’s a good distraction from
the pandemic, but really health and safety is more important than improv.
ZOOMPROV
Dress for Zoom.
An online Web/Video/Zoom improv session to
work on fundamentals, short form games, and long form scene work. Some games
are described in the A to Z section and others deserve attention, especially
for video improv.
Introduction: Set the tone at the start of the
session with clearly defined boundaries. Make sure everyone knows it is a safe
space for everyone to participate without fear of sexism, racism, homophobia,
transphobia, ageism, ableism, and hate speech. This is also the time to share
pronouns and if there are any particularly triggering topics that the group
should refrain from mentioning or discussing. This is an opportunity for social
distraction and play time in a safe and friendly environment.
All players and participants are assigned a
number (1-10+). This will help determine talking order when speaking during
certain activities. Zoom can be difficult if people “talk over” each other. Assign
“first come”, alphabetically, random, or however you wish as long as it is
clear who/where each person is in the group order.
Here is the set list of our first ZoomProv
session along with some tips of how to make it effective.
WARM UP:
-Pick Two
Stand up! All players will move in
and out of their camera box, dancing and moving around. If only two players
seen in the gallery view they “high five” and cheer. Body movement!
-Alphabet Square
Sequentially go through the
alphabet. A category is provided to go around one word at a time A to Z and/or
Z to A. Real or made up words. Go quickly and as accurately as possible. If a
letter is skipped, it becomes the new reality of the alphabet. Just get the
team used to speaking through Zoom and going around the square.
-10,9,8 things
The first player has to quickly
list 10 things (any category) and then they challenge someone to list 9 things
of a new category. Then challenge someone else to list 8 things…etc. Go around until everyone gets the chance to
participate. Categories should start broad and progress to very specific. (10
foods you love…1 reason to fear commitment)
-Word Association 2-deep
Get a random word from anyone.
That is the beginning word. Follow the pattern and continue around the zoom
sequentially. Keep the responses to a single word or very short phrase.
Example: Peanut butter. Player 1:
“Peanut butter” makes me think of “jelly”. “Jelly” makes me think of “jam”.
Player 2: “Jam” makes me think of “dunks”. “Dunks” make me think of “Michael
Jordan”, etc.
Do this for 2 rounds. It’s helpful
and important to stick with the structure.
-Group Mind
Take the last word of Word
Association round 2. Can the group guess
what word is coming up next? Any player can say “one” and any other player can
say “two”. On a count of “one, two, three” both players will say their word. If
the words match, you have group mind. If the two words are different, take the
two words that were shared and seek a bridging word. Keep going until you find
group mind…or chaos since its zoom.
-Zip
Zap Zop
Call out the name of the performer to Zip/Zap/Zop also pass
along a facial expression in the cam
“Steve” Zip, “Stephen” Zap, “Freeto” Zop
Other Variations:
Colors or Words (Red/Blue/Kiwi)
Noun, Verb, Adjective
Short sentence (Example: Stephen Freeto/eats pineapple/ on
pizza)
Combine all (zzz and variations) “Zip/Blue/on Pizza”
ALL PLAY (Games for everyone)
-185 or any pun game
Go in order with no skipping.
Force yourself to come up with a pun): random noun (I call my sweetie, sex with
us, Hey Morty, B Movie, or any pun related line format.
-Press Conference
One person hides their eyes/ears (or
is sent to a breakout room. Various software features may make this easy) while
the suggestions are determined. Other players can write something on paper and
share it with the zoom screen or use the chat feature. That player is having a
press conference. They are someone famous and they did something (invented,
arrested, or why they are infamous). All other players ask leading questions to
get the person to guess who/what. Offer characters and personalities when
asking questions (name and media outlet).
-Word at a time story
Tell a story one word at a time.
Get a genre and a title. Start with “once upon a time”
-1 Minute Ted Talk
One person gives a 60 second
motivational or informative presentation.
-30 Second Monologue
One person starts a monologue and continues
for 30 seconds. After 30 seconds the monologue continues with the same tone and
same concept with a new player. Continue with other players. You may need
someone to show a timer to the zoom.
-Poetry: Each player presents a
piece of poetry based off a suggestion or single word. Free verse, couplets,
limerick, haiku, etc.
-Yearbook
Get
a suggestion for a “high school club” (improv club, yearbook, etc.) Each player
freezes in their camera box. One at a time, players will introduce themselves
in character and say something about the club, themselves, or others.
Character
Work
-Classic pairs
First player will introduce a brief character
Second player will add a “classic pair” to compliment the first
player. All players will clap and proclaim “Classic Pair”.
TWO PLAY (Games for 2 players)
-Ding (say it again, say what)
One person has a bell or makes bell sound
(simply say “ding”). Upon a ding of the bell, rephrase what was just said.
Alternate version “New Choice”: host requests “new choice or say what or say it
again” to change the words, accent, emotion, etc. The host can ding the players or a fun
variation is to have the players ding each other.
-Actors Nightmare
One person can only read from a
“book”. Other person must maintain the conversation and justify what is being
stated. Use a novel, text messages, Facebook, twitter, or any written words.
-2 Heads 1 Voice
Players play a scene every other
word or at the same time.
-Two Person Scene
Get an opening and closing line of dialogue. Using one sentence
at a time create a scene. Establish who, what,
where...
-Dear So and So
2 Players will have a pen pal
relationship (suggestion needed). Players will write a short letter (reading it
aloud while writing) back and forth to each other. First player read their
letter…”Dear so and so… and ends with love whoever”. Make the letters short,
interesting, and heightened.
-3 Act Play
Act 1 (2 Characters in a setting or event) Use only facial
expressions
Act 2 (Same 2 Characters 20 mins later) Single word
conversation
Act 3 (Same 2 Characters 20 mins later) Single Line of Dialogue
TWO PLUS (NOT ALL)
-First line last line
Get an opening line of dialogue. 2
players start a scene. Say freeze to stop the scene. 2 other players will start
an unrelated scene using the last line of dialogue from the other scene.
Continue using the last line of dialogue to switch back to the other scene. The
characters and the plot of the scenes continue.
-Pillar/Hesitation
Start a scene between 2 players. A pause
(hesitation) will prompt a third player to provide the next word (single word).
“Third player” will rotate sequentially through remaining players.
-Numbers: Assign each player a number which
represents the number of words they can speak.
-Superhero Wedding Best Speech
Similar to superhero eulogy but we want to
keep it positive. Superheroes are getting married. Two players will do a “best
man” or “maid of honor” speech. (Gender norms and heteronormative expectations
are not required. Marriage is between 2 (or more) loving people.)
LONGER FORM
-Free Form
Use any location, relationship, or
suggestion from the session to “cut to” the scene. Use characters and edits
(time hop, etc.)
-Scene paint
Each person adds an element of the
scene. Start with simple suggestion and each person adds to the element of the
scene. Add objects and characters but no plot. Once the scene is painted, start
the scene remembering and recalling what has been painted.
-Two person scene-start in the middle. Focus
on emotion. Be affected by the emotional response.
·
Every scene should have some object work.
·
Go vague to clear. But still answer who, what, where.
·
One line at a time. (Think about what happened, what was said,
object work and everything that just happened before responding.)
·
Rushing to get to the end you will miss stuff. Slow down take time
to appreciate the scenes.
-Make it worse 1-10
Actors play a scene and each time
the director shouts the next larger number (starting from 1 going to 10) the
actors have to make the situation worse for the characters (on a drive 1. We’re
lost. 2 were out of gas. 3. I hear something in the bushes 4. The baby is
coming! 5. I want a divorce 6. Whatever was in the bushes is getting closer 7.
Eat my husband! 8. The baby is here! It’s a vampire baby! (You cheated on me
with a vampire?) 9. Here’s my secret vampire lover. 10. Aliens!)
-4 Part Character
First player offers a name, second
player offers an adjective, and the third player offers a profession. The
fourth player then improvises a thirty-second monologue as “Harvey the paranoid
waiter” (or whatever.)
Other Ideas:
·
Overdub or voiceover a tv show: show a muted tv or movie clip.
· LaRonde:
Character 1 meets character 2. Character 2 meets Character 3. Character 3
meets 4…etc.
·
Character Interview: Pick a
character from the session and interview that character.
·
Practice job interviews.
·
Work on social skills.
·
Mute the mic and speak for each
other.
·
Have a conversation.
·
Book an online therapy session
instead of doing improv.
ZoomProv
may be the future of improv, indeed. Back in December 2019 we had a dream,
maybe even a premonition. The future of improv for GoProv would be unlike
anything we’ve ever done. GoProv was boldly going where no other team has gone
before. The theme of “Game On: The Future of Improv” was meant to be a nod to
the very distant future of cyborgs, robots, and SpaceProv. Thank you Ben for
designing a great image of the future. The season was meant to be a series of
game shows and mixed form of short games, long scenes, a projector, a movie
screen, and all of the technology available at our place. Fast forward to March
2020…the world shuts down. No live performance, no theatres, no face to face
interactions, and only the internet connecting people. Well, well, well, our
imaginary future of robots and technologically advanced screens became the only
source for improv. The future is now. We are learning to improvise using
computer, cell phone, Zoom, Twitch, Facebook live, IG live, and every new app
available. It is different indeed, but many of the rules and guidelines apply.
A rule for GoProv and friends is “if it’s not a hell yes, the answer is no.”
Get people who say “hell yes” and make sure everyone is participating because
they want to be involved. It’s the only way to embrace the changes and the new
normal.
Plus Zoom has a mute button.
