Sarah’s IFH Journal - Day 2
(Sarah & Simona - Anything Can Happen 2022)
Day 2 of Improv from the Heart
We started today with thoughts and observations left from last week.
Since the first class, I caught myself several times thinking about how to be a better improviser when I'm not on stage.
I thought about using my whole body to listen more carefully to the world around me and to pay closer attention to the people I come in contact with.
I also returned to the idea of being 'empty of self' so that I can be filled with the reality of the moment. If I'm worrying about the past or the future, those are good signs that I'm not in the present.
On our feet, we started with mirroring a partner. I noticed the temptation to make fast, sudden movements in order to 'make it look like something is happening'.
When I resisted this urge and moved slower, the result was more satisfying - my partner could mirror me much more successfully when my movements were slow. This was reinforced when we switched and I could fine tune my movements to hers. We then explored the space by walking the same way. Mirroring is a great way to find a different center than my natural, unconscious center. It's also a great way to drop my unconscious mannerisms and tics.
We played Soundball and Kitty Wants a Corner underscoring many of the elements of an improv scene - character needs, tracking energy in the group, getting agreement from your partner, committing to your choice, not taking anything personally, staying empty of self.
As we approached the repetition exercise, we found partners and asked a question three times, with the partner turning the question around on us rather than answering.
The tone or undercurrent of the question changes naturally, without having to push it in any direction. For me, what I took from this exercise is that as an actor I don't have to 'do' very much in order for interactions to be interesting, as long as they are truthful. The truth is more interesting than anything I can 'make up'.
.Yes! This is exactly why I love acting and why I love improv.
There were questions about how to know when the phrase is changing, and whether simply repeating counts as the truth. The more we do the exercise, the more subtle and fine tuned we will get at noticing the changes. And the beginning stages of this exercise are really about learning the vocabulary and getting used to just repeating.
So much of our programmed 'be nice and get along' socialization needs to fall away for this exercise to take hold. As beginners, we repeat at first even if the statement does not strike us as true, to try it on and to also practice feeling what it feels like. Later, we will be able to handle subtler observations and faster changes.
A few more pieces of wisdom from David tonight:
"'Maybe' doesn't activate anybody."
"Let it all go after the scene is over."
"Be gentle with yourself and others."
"Attach nothing to feedback. The more open you are to feedback, the more feedback you get."
- A character often has an impediment - something that prevents them from doing or being something. What is my impediment?
- Every character has a point of center, where their energy is concentrated. Where is my point of center?
- Every character has mannerisms or unconscious ways of moving. What are my tics or mannerisms?
- What is it like to be neutral of all of these above? What is it like to try out different impediments, points of center, and mannerisms?
Sarah Elovich - Writer, Actor, Writing Coach (Re-Write Yourself)
Alameda, CA
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