Topics in Improv (358-0-20)

Topic

Improvising Characters

Instructors

Denise E Ryan

Meeting Info

Wirtz 215 Instruct Black Box 3: Wed 12:00PM - 2:50PM

Overview of class

Students will learn improvisation techniques, with a focus on characters and comedy structures, that successfully translate to careers in film and television. This is an experiential performance class. Students will create scenes from the inside out to gain an understanding of how character actions create story. The goal of the class is to have a deeper understanding of what makes comedy work, voice, group mind, scene building, and how character building and the "game of the scene" move story forward. In the second half of the quarter, we use Save the Cat story structure to help us improvise longer forms to better understand story structure and genre with a goal of improvising a movie before our long-form performance final.

Evaluation Method

Class participation in warmups and improv exercises, scene writing, workshop of writing assignments in a non-judgmental, collaborative atmosphere, final performance and midterm late night monologue writing project.

Class Materials (Required)

Truth in Comedy by Charna Halpern, Del Close and Kim "Howard" Johnson, Meriwether Publishing; copyright 2001. ISBN 978-1-56608-003-3 ($17.95)

Improvise: Scene from The Inside Out by Mick Napier, Heinemann, Portsmouth, NH; copyright 2004. ISBN 978-1-56608-217-4 ($19.95)

Save the Cat by Blake Snyder, Michael Wiese Productions; copyright 2005. ISBN 978-1-93207-00-1 ($22.95)

Scriptwriting Software

Students are required to attend at least one improv show, cost will be kept as low as possible.

Enrollment Requirements

Enrollment Requirements: Students must have completed RTVF 260-0 in order to register for this course (concurrent registration is not allowed)