List of Genres for Improv
Running an improv class requires some preparation. You have to rent the space, setup the chairs, create a list of exercises, coordinate payments, etc.
Running an improv class, or rehearsal with friends requires some preparation. You have to rent the space, setup the chairs, create a list of exercises, coordinate payments, etc. It’s a lot.
Sure….you’re definitely capable of doing everything, but a little help is nice too.
Well, let me introduce this fancy little device I like to call, “The Random Improv Genre Generator,“ because it randomly generates genres for you.
We can both agree, I’m terrible at naming, but I can put together a decent list of genres.
No longer will you be burdened with thinking of “noir,“ and “post-apocalyptic.“ You need only click a button, and you and your scene partner will be whisked away to a shipwrecked beach…or maybe a jail cell.
And, if you hate clicking buttons (no judgments here!) I’ve included the list of genres too so you can turn the Random Genre Generator into a Random Genre Noticer.
I hope this helps. Have a great day!
Improv Genre Generator
:LIST OF GENRES
Young Adult Fiction
Science Fiction
Romance Novel
Crime
Urban Fantasy
William Shakespeare
Jane Austen
Hemingway
Dr. Seuss
Legal Drama
Police Procedural
Anime
Western
Post Apocolytpic
Horror
Disaster Film
Silent
self help
Game of Thrones style
Coming of Age
Musicals
Film Noir
Superhero
Buddy Cop
Adventure
Adult
Animal
Beach Party
Buddy Cop
Christmas
Costume Epics
Escape
Espionage
Ghosts
Mafia
Man v Nature
Heist
Historical
Lovers on the Run
Monsters
Small Town
Witches
Play This Game Right Now!
Like improv. Keep it simple. Don't complicate a scene. Have a goal, stay true to your goal, work towards that goal, and the scene will be interesting and funny.
OK. Stop what you're doing right now.
Shoot. Wait. Don't do that. Damn. Maybe you already stopped reading. I lost you! You're just staring at the computer and not doing anything. I need to get your attention somehow.
Are you back? Great. Pictures of Channing Tatum tend to get people's attention. Finish this blog post and THEN stop what you're doing and download this game: PIVVOT.
I tried it yesterday....and...well. I'm addicted. It's a beautifully simple game and mission: navigate this little node through a course.
Don't die.
Goodluck.
It's literally a line, simple shapes, and pulsing beat, a frequent restarts. And, I can't put it down. I admire games that offer a simple premise with beautiful execution.
I found this game when I was waiting for an improv class to begin at the Rocklin theater.
It reminds me of improv. Keep it simple. Don't complicate a scene. Have a goal, stay true to your goal, work towards that goal, and the scene will be interesting and funny. Mission accomplished PIVVOT. You are both interesting and funny...... and infuriating (in a good way).
Some games last 3 seconds, while others last 30 seconds. When you last 30 seconds you'll feel like an unstoppable gaming god. You're body is flooded with endorphin's! Sweet sweet stimulants!
"Look at me world! I just lasted 30 seconds in PIVVOT."
And, then, you'll die. Your little node will shatter into a dozen
"Noooooooooooooo," you'll scream and you hit restart.
You won't even think about hitting restart. It becomes instinctual, like hunting and gathering....and now PIVVOTING.
The game is on sale right now, for 99 cents, even though I'd gladly pay the 1.99 it normally costs (yep, ladies. I drop 1.99 like it's nothing!)
How bad did the first game go? Well, I completed the game, but it took me 137 lives. I know. That's not great.
The second time I did better. I completed the map in 34 lives.
I keep playing tying to best that score.
The game also comes with challenges like Endless, Berserk, and Looper.
Go scrounge in the car for some change, and then put that change down. You can't play game with change anymore (sign). Go get a credit card. I know the game is available in on Google Play.
Have fun! Eat before playing cause you'll be consumed for awhile.
Push the Door for Characters
Last week I was talking with a friend who is a fellow improviser. He admitted having trouble getting into characters, and staying out of his head.
Last week I was talking with a friend who is a fellow improviser. He admitted having trouble getting into characters, and staying out of his head. I'm trying this thing where I empathize more...you know... be a better human being an' all...so I responded with a very deep, and insightful, "Yeah. That can be hard. I've been there too." Oh man! What wisdom! I was making it rain empathy! Though, it wasn't super helpful. So we kept talking.
We continued talking about improv, and letting go of fear. The conversation curved all over the place, from improv characters, to scene commitment, to yes, and, etc. Then, we talked about scene starts, and where to begin.
We realized scene starts, and particularly, beginning in the middle, can solve a lot of issues. Since our first improv class we've all been encouraged to, 'begin in the middle.' I teach my improv classes and players to begin the scene' "five minutes later." Begin the scene five minutes in, make the audience work, let them figure out what's happening. They're smart. It's good to challenge the audience. They'll appreciate the challenge.
And....
In our discussion, we realized a whole new reason 'five minutes later' helps. An improviser appreciates the distraction. The start in the middle improv suggestion isn't just for the benefit of the audience, but for the benefit of the improviser. It helps everyone. If we begin 5 minutes in, those are five minutes we don't sit around doubting pour choice, or fearing our scene initiation. The "getting out of your head" issue really dissolves when you're in the middle of an improvised robbery, instead of carefully planning the heist. It's easier to be a cop when you start the scene busting a drug ring, and not beginning a scene doodling on your space work desk at the precinct (aside: I misspelled precinct, and Google Keep autocorrected my spelling to 'precenjnt.' What is a precenjnt? It looks Scandinavian).
We start a scene 'late' and we can just be. We start a scene 'early,' and we have a higher likelyhood of getting chased around by doubt.
Idle hands are the devil's playground, and an idle mind is an improviser's hell. Ultimately, it'll be a great day on the improv stage when we can let go of the doubt devil, and just tell ourselves, "OK. This is the scene I'm in. It's a great scene. I just have to listen and respond, and it'll become even better!"
Until then, jumping into a scene, pushing that door open, instead of planning on pushing the door, will help us get out of our self inflicted critiques, and into living in the moment.