Sean Curry.

Posts tagged UCB

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This is really helpful if you’re an improv nerd.

improvnonsense:

Have you ever heard anyone discuss an “improv order of operations”? In high school math we have the acronym PEMDAS to help us remember that the rules must be followed in a certain order. I think it might be useful if we came up with one for improv students. I’ve found that when I’m teaching or coaching and I note someone on disagreement, they’ll say, “Well, I was playing top of my intelligence.” I think agreement should be first. I’m not sure what the rest would be or what order. Thoughts?

I love stuff like this! It’s also kinda like Asimov’s Laws of Robotics, in which each rule is only followed if you don’t break the previous one. Ok, here’s my pitch:

(presented like I’m describing a pyramid)

BOTTOM LEVEL: giving and accepting gifts (yes anding, accepting responsibility for accusations, agreement)

NEXT: truthfulness (top of your intelligence, reality, what would one really say)

NEXT: active choices (making this about the people in the scene, deciding you are invested, making things matter)

NEXT: justifying (philosophy, POV)

TOP: game (irony, juxtaposition)

I think seasoned improvisers do four out of those five every time they make a move.

Hello Nate Dern!

Filed under improv UCB theory will hines

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Improv Nonsense: YES over AND

This blog is awesome if you’re an improv nerd. Seriously, read the shit out of it.

improvnonsense:

When people are new to improv, all they notice are the ANDs. “Did you hear that line?” “What a great move!” “How did they think to say X?”

But once you’ve done it a while, you appreciate much more people who can just say YES: “He re-states the most important part,” “She keeps the idea alive,” “He…

Filed under improv UCB Will Hines reblog