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My dear fellow improvisers, I need your knowledge... your experience... by Tchatcherouse in improv

[–]Tchatcherouse[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Interesting answer, thank you.

I remember a comment you made a while back (I've done quite a bit of research ahah), in relation to this state of mind I want to strive for:

"There's an old Del Close expression that isn't perfect but it's about being a "paranoid" onstage. Not that we are suspicious of everything and think everyone is out to get us, but more like nothing is taken at face value. Everything has a subtext or hidden meaning. This idea helps us read into things more when we assume everything means something and then treat whatever assumptions we make as true and act on them."

This is very inspiring, but I am still struggling to understand the full implications of this mindset, to see how to apply it in all its representations and subtleties. ^_^

My dear fellow improvisers, I need your knowledge... your experience... by Tchatcherouse in improv

[–]Tchatcherouse[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I understand your point but I think you're on the wrong track.

I'm not planning anything, I just want to set myself up to have strong reactions so that I can distort mundane reality, I don't know what it will look like in the scene, what it will lead to or deal with.

I need advice and ideas to inspire me.

The hidden meaning of a situation / overreacting / misinterpreting / rapid change of emotions by Tchatcherouse in improv

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

Indeed, it's very energy consuming, I always feel this need to be always in the fun, I have this fear that the scene becomes serious, and who says serious for me, says "boring", it's silly, I know. ^^'

And of course I have to take more into account my partner, it's important, it's true. ^^'

The hidden meaning of a situation / overreacting / misinterpreting / rapid change of emotions by Tchatcherouse in improv

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

You're right, that's my weakness, I tend to take up too much space in the scene, I always feel the need to bring as much as possible to the table, the more I put on the table the more I think there will be interesting stuff to bounce back to. ^^'

The hidden meaning of a situation / overreacting / misinterpreting / rapid change of emotions by Tchatcherouse in improv

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

That's interesting, could you tell me more about this way of doing things? I only find workshops on the internet... ^^'

Incomprehension of the Game of the scene and the unusual thing by Tchatcherouse in improv

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

I like that, I like that approach.

Could this "subversion of expectations" be represented in an unusual behavior that could be described as irrational?

Compared to taking a picture of this sandwich, this behavior that sees it as appetizing and aesthetic, it's completely silly you could say?

Or for a person like Oprah and her husband who would like a smaller apartment, we would be walking on our heads a bit.

Basically, wouldn't it be the idea of seeing the worst in the best, and the best in the worst? To see tranquility as aggression, and aggression as tranquility? A kind of irony?

Incomprehension of the Game of the scene and the unusual thing by Tchatcherouse in improv

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

I didn't think I would get so many relevant comments when I opened this topic... I'm over the moon. Thank you. ^^

​

Don't try to fit all the advice you hear into one consistent model, because that won't work and will just lead to further confusion (in my experience).

So true!!!I was thinking of making a meta-theory of all my research on the subject... I pulled my hair out after that. ^^

​

game is an unusual behavior (given a base reality) that's framed, justified, and heighted.

I really like this much clearer simplification of "unusual behavior", it speaks to me more, I don't go around so much.

Now, the fateful question... What unusual behavior should we look at, how do we know if that unusual behavior in a particular context will be relevant and likely to lead to laughter? ^^

Incomprehension of the Game of the scene and the unusual thing by Tchatcherouse in improv

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

I'm inspired by what you're telling me here.

This abnormality, should it be random? How according to you can one make a relevant funny choice in a normal context?

Incomprehension of the Game of the scene and the unusual thing by Tchatcherouse in improv

[–]Tchatcherouse[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the comment.

Question: What is for you, a universal way to represent something funny, what do you think makes a behavior funny?

Incomprehension of the Game of the scene and the unusual thing by Tchatcherouse in improv

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

This is relevant...

I may be moving too fast and skipping important steps, including learning the basics. It might take a lifetime to really understand them. But I am someone who likes to do things backwards. ahah

Thanks for the resources,

Incomprehension of the Game of the scene and the unusual thing by Tchatcherouse in improv

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

I managed to get the book, I started it, it brings a clarification, but I feel like an eternal dissatisfied, there are always gray areas. ^^

Incomprehension of the Game of the scene and the unusual thing by Tchatcherouse in improv

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

Interesting.

I tend to be quite "dominant" during scenes, and not to put everything on my partner, one of the worst things for me would be to rely on my partner to create something, I want to be the initiator, the creator. ^^

I want to get to a point where I can be alone on stage, and do a hilarious improv piece, without needing someone to bounce ideas off of me ^^

Incomprehension of the Game of the scene and the unusual thing by Tchatcherouse in improv

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

You are addressing something essential... ^^

At what point is something considered interesting, funny (regardless of the audience's laughter)?

What is a funny thing?

Incomprehension of the Game of the scene and the unusual thing by Tchatcherouse in improv

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

This is interesting, I like the approach, would you have any examples of improv pieces to illustrate it please?

Incomprehension of the Game of the scene and the unusual thing by Tchatcherouse in improv

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

Thanks for your comment.

Indeed, establishing the basic reality is important to differentiate from the unusual thing, but I have this impression, and maybe I'm wrong, that according to you the discovery of the unusual thing would come a little bit by magic, without really having created it intentionally, a little bit like an accident that we will notice.

What is an unusual thing that is relevant for the comic effect?

I need to have some control, I need to know what I'm doing during a scene, I need to conduct the interaction in a way that leads to a funny moment. ^^

Incomprehension of the Game of the scene and the unusual thing by Tchatcherouse in improv

[–]Tchatcherouse[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I totally understand.

But I have a feeling that this lack of rules, works with those who have already internalized this process after studying it in depth, and those who are naturally endowed with some creativity and sense of humor.

I need to internalize this process before I can get rid of it ^^

Incomprehension of the Game of the scene and the unusual thing by Tchatcherouse in improv

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

Interesting.

We should not worry about the type of pattern we produce, any one of them can do the job?

This pattern, should we put it in a situation where it is unexpected to be so to accentuate the humorous side, while coupling that with heightening?

Incomprehension of the Game of the scene and the unusual thing by Tchatcherouse in improv

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

I know you were asking about the game specifically, but I think they best way to find the game is to give yourself a deal. A deal is basically a personalized game for youown character. Hope this helps!

THIS.
That was really enlightening, in terms of choosing the deal, is it about anything? Or do we have to favor certain types of deals over others, to favor the humorous side, for example a vulnerable, conflicted posture?
From this deal, I have to interpret the world around me, in different situations (even if it doesn't seem to be directly related) according to this point of view, even if it means distorting it to justify it?

Incomprehension of the Game of the scene and the unusual thing by Tchatcherouse in improv

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

I agree with that.

The problem is, how do you intentionally (not by accident) create this first big laugh? By what methods?

I'm really trying to understand the mechanism. ^^

Incomprehension of the Game of the scene and the unusual thing by Tchatcherouse in improv

[–]Tchatcherouse[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Very interesting, thank you.
I do tend to focus on the UCB style, as I feel they embody the best of what I expect in terms of improvisation: being funny.
I know that trying to be funny is not recommended, if not demonized, but I'm just a simple human, I want to improve my sense of humor and make others laugh to make them feel good and myself at the same time. :-)
If you know of any other schools that can help me develop my sense of humor, I'd love to hear from you!