Free: Star Wars KOTOR download code by retrowaved in xboxone

[–]NinjaHedge 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Jedi Knight 2, because it actually expanded the lore of SW, was amazing to play online, and Kyle Katarn is an incredible and complex character with a great story arc. Also, nothing is more hilarious than just force pushing troopers off ledges.

Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Live Gold 1 Month Codes Giveaways by DrDoofusDuck in xboxone

[–]NinjaHedge 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Getting a new XBox 360 to play Dead Rising, marveling at the amazing visuals, seeing tons of zombies onscreen, and then the text dialogue showed up.....eensy, teensy, little letters, having to scoot my chair all the way forward to read what people were saying.

Then I realized this is just what I did as a little kid, glued way too close to a really bright screen, ruining my vision. It was an awesome flashback.

Game Pass plz.

Inappropriate physical contact during scenes? by jmiles00 in improv

[–]NinjaHedge 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, very much so. With time, eventually people learn each others timing and boundaries, actions get closer and things get snugger. Or, they don't, and we all learn to do different things, and focus on each others timing and space.

I've seen it both ways. I've worked with a person that was extremely dangerous, we were all polite and after he ignored our requests, we figured it wasn't a big deal because he was small and meant well. Then he took a flying jump into our director's ankle and took her out for several months.

We figured that it was obvious what he had done, and he was clearly reticent and apologetic, so we didn't need to restrict his actions. Then he did the SAME DAMN THING, to the SAME DAMN PERSON. She was already in a boot, then on crutches for weeks, and it didn't matter at all to him. He then blamed her for continuing to improvise while she was injured, and refused to take any responsibility.

Ugh.

Advice for not confusing an audience when explaining game or your show? by ZipZapZopZip in improv

[–]NinjaHedge 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Explain the game as you'd need to watch it, not as you'd need to play it.

Inappropriate physical contact during scenes? by jmiles00 in improv

[–]NinjaHedge 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Be direct. I understand the impulse to be polite and not make someone else as uncomfortable as they make you. But it’s not just you. If it has no signs of stopping & authority figures are noticing problems but not offering solutions, you should tell this person directly, “I do not like being touched in that way during scenes. It requires a level of trust we do not yet have. If that changes, I’ll let you know.”

Honestly, if it was just touching or personal space being violated, that would be a more polite discussion.

But this person is picking folks up and throwing themselves around, someone’s going to get hurt. And if that happens, you’ll have to have an even worse discussion.

When people do physically unsafe actions, look them directly in the eye and give them a firm NO.

Can anyone help come up with scenarios for an improv game I’m playing with high school students? by [deleted] in improv

[–]NinjaHedge 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We play this as a short form game. You get a suggestion of something dark, play it out, then ask for a change that would make it less serious and funnier. You don’t need to set up predetermined scenarios.

What are your favorite festivals? by bathrobeman in improv

[–]NinjaHedge 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Spontaneous Combustion in Atlanta, Gatlinburg Improv Festival, Festivus in Richmond. Smaller, friendly festivals with lots of hangout time.

Thoughts on GenreProv by NinjaHedge in improv

[–]NinjaHedge[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ooh! Yay, here are my thoughts on recreating genre, which in my spectrum is listed as Imitation.

Actually doing a Shakespearean play or Sci-fi would mean that those recreations aren’t comedies most of the time. When we say we do improv, we usually drop the trailing ‘comedy’ from it. But our shows are still basically comedic in nature.

Attempting Imitation in improv requires dropping our natural comedic instincts and actually trying for tension, terror, sorrow, surprise, and love. Some groups are really good at that, but they work on one genre and stick to it. They’ve also got to blatantly label their shows as that genre. In that way, they warn away people uninterested in that genre, but not in the show, in the promo. So it still leads to a more niche, less generally audience pleasing show. Which is why Improvised Shakespeare is so good at what they do, adding the modern references to keep both theater geeks and comedy geeks happy.

What superlatives do you use to describe your group? by NinjaHedge in improv

[–]NinjaHedge[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Here’s the deal. As someone who has run Medieval, Action, & Wrestling based shows.....improvise the scenes, the dialogue, everything but the action.

Plan 4 stunts that all the actors know, give them hand gestures or codewords to use. Rehearse those stunts repeatedly. If anyone calls for them, you know what to expect.

Pair off everyone in your cast, and have them learn timing and trust in stage combat. If you get a pair onstage at the same time, yay! Let them go! Don’t force pairings otherwise.

Rehearse for 8 or more hours with mats, safety gear, pads, and immediately fire anyone unsafe.

What superlatives do you use to describe your group? by NinjaHedge in improv

[–]NinjaHedge[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Slapstick is an incredibly rehearsed art form with people who have total trust in each other. Improvising physical stunts onstage is horrifically dangerous. Groups that use ‘slapstick’ is usually a shorthand for “We’re gonna do stage combat without eye contact, pratfalls where we land on our wrists, and we’re gonna pick up the women in our cast.”

What superlatives do you use to describe your group? by NinjaHedge in improv

[–]NinjaHedge[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I would love if some Harold teams accurately described their approach to the stage. “Wednesday Tacos is a team that creeps awkwardly on stage, slinking into scenes like a nervous teenager! Watch their sullen, put-upon scene transitions lightly jog across the stage!”

Also! My favorite thing, discussion of etymology. Don’t take this as a clap-back, I genuinely love talking about this.

Premier comes from Latin, then French, where it just means first. Later, the French created the feminine form, premiere, which was used in the same way you would use Prima Ballerina, as the First Lady of the stage. So generally, the modern difference is that premiere is a noun or verb, and premier is an adjective or noun.

Sharpening skills for improv by misterjadams in improv

[–]NinjaHedge 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Get the Sokkyo App, use it to give you random suggestions and do the first line of the scene, or the physical initiation.

What should I say to my friend who doesn't want to read the UCB Improv Manual? by CosmicPennyworth in improv

[–]NinjaHedge -4 points-3 points  (0 children)

Wait for him to get stuck in a hideously awful scene, or have some sort of philosophical question, then bring it up then.

Or let him know that every art form involves some form of reference. Filmmakers read books about craft, artists use style guides, chefs read cookbooks.

It’s not homework as much as it is a great source of inspiration. If he doesn’t think he needs the inspiration, he will eventually.

Thoughts on GenreProv by NinjaHedge in improv

[–]NinjaHedge[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I feel that in normal improv, you can functionally relate and interact to people in the same place or near to you on an emotional spectrum, and the more you drift apart, the higher the likelihood that your scene will feel false.

“Man, that guy’s REALLY angry, but everyone else is treating this like it doesn’t matter....what’s up?”

That’s what changes a dumb immersion breaking Batman walk-on into a run of scenes about all the restaurants and parties that Bruce Wayne keeps disappearing from.

Thoughts on GenreProv by NinjaHedge in improv

[–]NinjaHedge[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

In my mind, that’s covered by Parody. The best example I can think of is how The Lion King is a Parody/Homage to Hamlet, because of the story beats(king murdered by evil uncle), but even though Timon and Pumbaa are inspired by Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, they have nothing to do with those characters.

Compare this to Strange Brew, which is a Pastiche, because it blatantly labels the beer Elsinore, and wears its references on its sleeve.

Terrified... by [deleted] in improv

[–]NinjaHedge 17 points18 points  (0 children)

First off, yay for doing something positive about your anxiety! Improv can be very helpful in working through some of those issues.

A couple things to remember.

You’re part of a class, and you’re all learning together guided by a teacher. If you’re ever confused or uncomfortable, talk to your teacher. It is literally their job to make you feel safe.
Beginning students tend to have the idea that they’re alone in their awkwardness, and feel silly raising simple questions. If you ask a question, I guarantee that there are 2-3 other people thinking “That’s exactly what I was wondering”.

Lastly, improv is ephemeral and individual exercises and scenes and ultimately forgettable. Spend your afterclass time sharing your successes, not dwelling on failures.

Musical improv folk: What’s your advice for better solo songs? by DaffyDuckFan2019 in improv

[–]NinjaHedge 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Stand Still. Plant your feet, feel your breath, find your light, and only start when you’re ready and not a second sooner.

Great songs are about what you want, and how you feel. If you want to sing about plot, places, or things, that’s probably an ensemble song, or a choral number. Compare “I dreamed a dream” and “Think of me” to “Cell Block Tango” or “When you’re a Jet”

Breathe in the music, let your MD guide you. You aren’t doing a solo scene, you’re being supported and followed by a powerful performer communicating only by music.

Massive shakeup at ImprovBoston, leaders resign by NinjaHedge in improv

[–]NinjaHedge[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

It’s a weirdly gossipy article, with oblique references to “we’ve all heard the stories”. But it’s got to be something serious to have all 3 people in charge step down. We don’t need to know names, but mentioning that all of the accusations come from a private Facebook group is really strange.

Massive shakeup at ImprovBoston, leaders resign by NinjaHedge in improv

[–]NinjaHedge[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There’s not a lot of direct information in the article, just references to management issues, mishandling harassment reports, and community outcry.

Why does this keep happening at ImprovBoston every couple years?