I like this piece of advice for improv scenes from Will Hines.
Someone says you’re late for dinner —- admit it, then justify why you are late with a philosophy. Don’t blame it on traffic or your boss — that’s deflecting. Even if it’s a reasonable excuse, you are deflecting the gift. Don’t be surprised to learn you are late. Own it — it’s a gift.
(via improvnonsense)
A: “You cheated on me!”
B: “I did. It’s the best way I know to test how strong our relationship is.”
or
A: “You praise your child too much.”
B: “You’re right. My child is stupid, so I praise him a lot because it would be too awful to be honest with him.”
or
A: “I saw you kill him.”
B: “I wanted you to see, so you would have no doubt what I’m capable of.”
A: “It had nothing to do with him?”
B: “It’s a more powerful statement when the victim is random.”
Kevin,
I love this notion. The team I’m coaching right now has been trained for years around short-form improv, which means while their performance chops are pretty solid, they focus way too much on plot instead of the character work. Personally, I’m more compelled by focusing on the character’s truth through their worldview, and then letting the action cascade from that.
This is post is very helpful as it gets to the root of that notion, and from this I could imagine constructing a couple of exercises that helps performers begin there, as opposed to looking “externally.”
Thanks for the feedback, Mac. Always great to hear from you.