In the performance of Improvisation, anything we can do to encourage the imagination of the audience is a great help in making connections. Establishing the style of a piece is another way to get the audience engaged. Everyone knows the stereotypes from various genres. You will have endless possibilities.
Here are some classic example of styles and some films you may know.
WESTERN 310 to YUMA, Wild Wild West,
FANTASY Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Percy Jackson
ANIMATED Anything Disney, Pixar, Nickelodeon
SCIENCE FICTION Star Wars, Star Trek, AVP
SOAP OPERA / MELO DRAMA TV soaps
FILM NOIR Casablanca, New BATMAN films, Sin City,
MUSICAL High School Musical, Grease, Chicago, The Producers, Hairspray,
MOBSTER/GANGSTER Godfather, Boardwalk Empire, Casino, Goodfellas
MARTIAL ARTS Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan
Exercise 1) FREEZE FRAME / HUMAN SLIDE SHOW: MC gets a few audience volunteers to join some players on stage and a suggestion for a famous historical event. The players on stage create a series of human pictures, freezing in place. The MC, perhaps with an assistant, narrates the pictures telling the historical story with a few twists and turns.
Exercise 2) FILM & THEATER STYLES: MC gets some ideas of styles – or even specific titles – of films, TV shows and plays. Two or more actors start a scene. Once THE WHO and THE WHERE are established, the MC can yell, “FREEZE!” The MC announces one of the styles or titles. The players have to now take attributes of the new title or style and overlay them onto the scene. The challenge is to keep the scene moving forward while honoring each new style.
Mr. Frasier has appeared on film, TV, Commercials and the Live theaer and is currently the director of intruction for the COMEDY HALL OF FAME FOUNDATION (www.comedyhalloffame.com) See Walt Frasier live in Times Square and touring nationwide in Improv Comedy Troupe EIGHT IS NEVER ENOUGH. (www.eightimprov.biz)
