the Montreal Improv blog

Ah, word-at-a-time. Can be gimmicky, can be fun, definitely a good exercise. Our tips for WAAT are as follows:

• Pay super close attention to your partner. Look into their eyes. Form a mental link. Become one mind in two bodies.
• React. Don’t overthink it. Jill Bernard’s Fireball Theory applies here.
• Don’t be shy about using simple words. It, the, and, on, &c.
• You still need to tell a real story with a beginning, middle and end.
• Try acting out what’s happening in the story. Get inspired by the actions. Also makes a better stage picture.
• Avoid words like “thought”, “considered”. Use ACTION verbs. Punched, ran, kissed, reached, &c.
• If the story is going nowhere, starting a new sentence with “suddenly” always helps.

When teaching this for the first time, I get my students to alternate reciting the letters of the alphabet and then they sing Happy Birthday to me one word at a time. Even if it’s not my birthday.

-fv

Marc and Vinny are in a committed improv relationship based on trust, gaming and random punches.

The drop-in is tomorrow, Sunday the 10th at 1pm at Mainline (3997 St Laurent). Not today! And not the 17th, which is when Marc’s Scene class starts.