So This Was Last Year

I started 2011 with one specific goal in mind for this particular blog: have a new posting every two weeks, which, excluding posting one a week late back in June, I've managed to actually maintain this year. As a little change from last year, I thought I'd start 2012 off with a re-cap of what I covered in 26 unique posts over this last year.

January – Make some improv resolutions – be invested in making yourself a better person. “Real” actors are weird with their scripts and whatnot, but work harder than improvisers. Seriously – we are a lazy bunch of artists. Also, we continue the tale of how I spend way too much time thinking about “American Pie” that started in November 2010.

February – Referring to good scenework as being based in just naming a relationship (e.g. “Dad”) is shortsighted and ignorant. The rule that you must know each other for amount of time X is equally inconsequential and narrow. Instead, worry about the dynamic (“How do I feel about this person”) - this will always have more consequence than time or identifiers. Also, I advertised a workshop that I ended up running in April.

March – A follow up to my writing in February, I presented some exercises that can be useful for developing a framework for defining scenes by the dynamic, rather than time or name. Also, I discussed how to approach doing an improv charity show.

April – The stirring conclusion to my essay trilogy examining the philosophical implications of “American Pie” - tis better to have legitimate honest relationships, than rely on technology, it seems. (Luddism 1, Technology infinity). Also, talk on erring in improv, both major and minor, and how it affects the scenes we do. Improv lacks controls in it inherently – it's up to us to keep the thing rolling.

May – More on errors: things are only mistakes if we allow them to be so, and paying attention to the details (i.e. slowing down) can help avoid erring. Also, the conclusion of the errors trilogy – coming to grips with facing the fear, making choices, and committing to them. After all, it's all pretend anyway.

June – Movie(s) review – college, graduation, and the cinema.

July – A response to “Why Improv Sucks”. Crappy players drag down teams, and we've convinced ourselves that being nice to them because they're “family” means keeping them around forever. The choice is: break new ground, or be friendly. Also, a review of status, and why large status differences drag scenes down. Longer, more representational scenework is rooted in narrow status choices.

August – The downside to the game “Hot Spot”, and where it fails us in teaching us to back each other up, and the conclusion to being Soft Skilled. Spending time with your fellow team mates will never be time wasted. Also, a thank you letter for teaching improv to the YMCA.

September – I rip into a guy I saw do improv three years ago for hogging the stage, stomping on his team mates, and not playing into the group mind. And, the human brain can't cope with stimulus not creating change. Be affected – by everything. There are also the pictures from the YMCA workshop.

October – I led off with a movie review for “Team America: World Police” that I wrote back in 2004. And, being affected means you get to make someone else be awesome. Honestly, I can't think of a better reason to let someone else change you on stage. (Also, I went to Australia!)

November – More about badasses and cause & affect – how even the tiniest things can be made monumental by being deeply and profoundly effected by them. A review of “Sideways” that I wrote back in 2004 as well.

December – I review my thoughts on the upcoming “American Pie” movie – Reunion. This installment represents the end of the innocence that was established in the first movie. Also, technology will probably embarrass someone in a significant way in the middle of the second act. And finally, I presented my unified theory for playing good characters – make them human.

And where am I after that year? The scripted show I talked about in the beginning of the year folded after two shows, but they were fun shows. I joined the Dinner Detective San Diego, and have found a large share of success with a fantastic bunch of performers who really take their craft seriously. I taught workshops for two youth groups, did a four-week longform workshop and a one-shot using improv for professional development for UCSD, and also a fund-raiser. (My blog has, however, gotten two shout-outs from Zenprov now (thanks Tracy Kobble (sp?).) My two-man team with Claire Yale has started to really develop some good legs, and the team I coach, the Stage Monkeys, was blessed with two separate professional improvisers coming down from LA to work with us. Also, I started doing an improv podcast (As Ink) that now has ten listeners (trombone glissando). As for where I was last year, I still feel pretty stagnant – I can't really tell if I'm improving anymore, but mostly I'm just trying to put in the work, and find ways to keep pushing myself.

“I resolve to accept challenges. When someone says that something is impossible because it's never been done before, that just means I'll be the first.”

“I resolve to not get comfortable. Nothing is ever 'good enough'.”