Monday, April 27, 2009

This is going to be an amazing thing to see. You will love it. Check it out

So this is it. Pretty simple stuff but I think you enjoyed it. No?

edit html

If you post a content to your blog it will displayed on a main page, if you have a long post content, your blog will opened more long time. But it can be tricked with a script to short your post or only abstraction post will dispaled on a main page, and the full post will replaced by "Read More" link. Here's the trick to create "Readmore"1. You have to Login to blogger, then chose Layouts --> Edit HTML2. Click on "Expand Widgets Template" checkbox.3. Find the code below in your HTML Codes. ( the short way to find is by copy the code below then press "Ctrl + F" then paste in the box)
4. If you have found it, put the code below under the above code.

5. Under the code, you will found code like this

you have to put the code below under it.Read More......
6. You can change the "Read More" text with other.7. Save your job.8. Go to Setting Tab menu9. At the lower page you will found "text area" box beside text "Post Template"10. Put the code below to the box11. Then click Save the setting.12. If you want to post, put your short post or description above this code , and the next or full post put between and code.

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Arrested Development

Arrested Development is an improviser's asset. The show is a testament to the value in reincorporating ideas/words/locations. It's not genius to restate, "Mr F!" But, that Mr F., the second, third, and even fourth time around means something slightly different is genius.

So often, improvisers can panic, "no ones laughing! The audience hates me!" They begin jamming a scene with new ideas... lots of them. Inevitably, the scene is crushed under the weight of the half examined; hurling everything at the wall to see if anything sticks is death. The problem is you're substituting one assumption, "no ones entertained," with the truth, "the audience does not know where to focus."

If an audience is losing interest, and I've had my share, you can always reintroduce something. It adds something to a scene without overwhelming the audience with completely new content. Maybe, the taxi driver from the first scene suddenly calls and makes a proposition. Consider it a functional callback, because it contributes to the present while weaving in the past.

Watch Arrested Development, they twist the past in creative ways for new content.

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Comics as a Tool


As I was reading a novel yesterday.... of the graphic variety... and it struck me how valuable comics can be to the improviser, and actor for that matter. The comic book artist is an expert at capturing emotion in a moment. What a valuable archive of emotion in every panel. Jealousy, pride, envy and hundreds more are locked away in the pages of comics, ripe for the studying.

Sometimes, modeling your behavior off something/someone else, is helpful. Graphic novels can assist you.

P.S. I highly suggest the works of Alex Robinson. The guy is a genius with emotion.

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Which Way


Personal opinion: the best Improv explores the who/what/where of a scene; root around, and discover stuff. Mention the 3Ws in a scene, and make that scene about them.

You're best friends? Explore that!
You're building with Legos? Explore that!
You're in an abandoned mine? You sure as hell better explore that!

The who, the what, and the where don't just help the audience orientate themselves during a scene, it helps you, the performer, know what's important. Tune into the three Ws, because that's what the scene can be about.

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

A Quick Suggestion...

Please, please, please, please, please feel a suggestion. Suggestions are launching points, not beats you need to hit. If you get a suggestion, "dynamite," you don't have to have a scene about finding dynamite, or losing your hand to dynamite, or selling dynamite on the black market to feed your starving family.

Instead of cut and pasting dynamite, be aware of how dynamite makes you feel. Does it scare you? Dynamite can be unstable, does that make you nervous? Would you be proud to own dynamite? Ashamed?

Notice the wealth of emotion that comes from "dynamite?" You can enter a scene fearless, unstable, nervous, proud, or ashamed, and it all can be traced to dynamite. Responding emotionally to the suggestion, frees you up. Ditch dynamite, and go with emotion.

Let the audience catch up with your creativity. If they understand the leap you made, great. If they don't it's OK too. Truth is, the audience will never leave a show ranting, "they never used the word dynamite!" They will, however, rip a show with awful scene work, even if you peppered with a dozen dynamites.

Tap into your emotion. It's very liberating.

Monday, January 5, 2009

Painting Places

If you ever chide yourself for not seeing the environment, chances are you're not adding anything to it. If my scene partner makes the offer, "I love your new apartment," I might say something like, "thanks, this Monet was expensive, but I think it really brings the room together."

Yes, the line informs my scene partner, but it also helps me . Suddenly, I see the painting, and the wall behind it, the window to the right, the fireplace to the left, and the ceiling fan above it all. Adding a detail, like a painting, sets the mind off. I believe we can't focus on an abstract idea like "painting," but rather, like a cerebral Google image search, our brain culls all the images of paintings we know, all those moments we have interacted with a painting. It's not conscious, but I think the reference images are there, waiting to be used. As an improviser, just tap into the stream of images. The window, fireplace, ceiling fan, etc. flows from one simple addition, a painting.

I use this trick myself. I hope it helps you, because seeing an environment should be fun, not stressful.