Improv Skills Help!!!!?

Question

I started acting about last summer, I've learned a varitey of new things, but the one thing I never learned to do confidently is Improv. Everytime someone forgets a line, I can't think of anything that would make it match and seem as if it were ment to be there.

So; does anyone have any hints or books that I can use to help improve my improvisation skills??

P.S. Please don't talk to me like I'm a 12 year old. I may only be 16 but I know what I'm talking about.

Answer 1

Hey it's ok... I understand how you feel I'm 16 too. In started Improvisation two years ago, and I am pretty good at.

First, understand that you will only improve your improv skills when you truly are ready.

Second, learn the difference between blocking and accepting. Remember that if you respond to the following line, "Milena wait I can explain..." with the improved line, "No leave me alone john." then you will be blocking him from being able to comment on your statement. if you accept and say instead, "What... you better hurry," then you could probably get away with getting back onto track with out notice of messing up.

Third, DO NOT PAUSE. any pauses between line that take more then five to eight seconds seem like an eternity for the audience. Unless it's a dramatic pause when someone dies.

Fourth, always think spontaneously. Acting is two things Thinking fast, and reacting to others. So always be ready with a comeback if you are winging it.

Fifth, Don't panic! If you panic you will only think of the things that is going to happen after you get through. Push your worries away and learn that if you take it step by step it will go by with out notice and with ease.

You will also learn that people will praise you for saving the scene.

GOOD LUCK!

Answer 2

The rule is to know the story and your character, not just your lines. If you know the storyand your character well enough , then you know (or can guess) what he or she would do at that point no matter what the other person does or doesn't do. It's definitely a hard thing when you or someone else blanks out in a scene, but you can try to come up with your own starter phrases like, "Well then Mr. so and so... I see where this is going. First, you did this, then we did that..." anything to give you a second to think and stall. You can always say something to recap the scene out loud and hopefully get you back on track. Hopefully your scene partner will catch on and grab his or her line at the appropriate moment or you can do it for him or her if they're still not grasping the concept!

Also, in drama, acting class, or whatever classes or workshops you take... when doing improv, the rule is tht you never say no. If someone says, " I hear you love purple cats," your response should be something in the positive like, "Why yes I do!" or "How did you know?" If you respond in the negative like, "No I don't" then it tends to stop the action. If they say you love fat men, then you do... see? But you can always come back with something at that person too! Just have fun with it and be creative. The more you learn to think on your feet, the better you will be with improv!

PS. No one would know your age if you didn't say it. You presented yourself well enough until you added that little tidbit. Don't sell yourself short. Most of the adults on here can't spell despite the free spell checker nor can they use the proper parts of speech among other grammatical faux pas despite being many years older than a 16 year old.

Answer 3

I want to agree with some of the above people. Take an improv course. That is by far your best bet. You will learn by doing and be able to ask questions and bounce ideas off of your instructors and fellow classmates. This will help you to develop your own method to doing improv. You will learn to adapt excercises and techniques and you will have the potential to not only run an improv troupe, but teach it to others. I don't know where you are from, so I can't reccomend any good classes to you.

Also, beyond the Spolin book, which is more for theatre games style improv, there is a great book called Truth in Comedy. It's by a god of a man named Del Close, who until his death, was the founder and the head of ImprovOlympic in Chicago, where he basically invented the style of Long Form Improv. He's trained such greats as John Belushi, Amy Poehler, Tina Fey, Mike Myers, Chris Farley, Neil Flynn, and many more. He's amazing.

Answer 4

Something that might help would be taking a course in improv. I know you don't mean you want to be good at improv sketches, but in an improv couse you would learn skills like thinking on your feet, helping the scene progress, etc, and those are the things you need to be able to do in a performance when something doesn't go quite right.

Also, you should do focus exercises with your cast/class before you perform. There are lots of games you can play that are a little too hard for me to try to explain on here. But ask your directors/teachers about some games and warm-ups you can do that get everyone focused, alert, and reactive together.

Good luck!

Answer 5

Viola Spolin - Improvisation for the theatre.

Answer 6

advance is improvisation. that's fairly unprepared appearing. so which you should in basic terms randomly commence appearing, devoid of having went by way of something or worked out the plot. To practice? there are various techniques. practice with a fellow actor/actress or ask an intensive buddy or do it infront of the mirror.

Answer 7

I think it is like having quick come backs for people you practice it daily. I think that teaches your mind to respond quickly. I hope that helps.