Steve Carell has made his living off of making people laugh. But how exactly does he do it? The answer is quite simple improvisation. Chicago-style to be exact. This type of improvisation first started off at the University of Chicago, and actors would perform skits based on a few general plot points, not scripts. This style of acting soon evolved to being used on movies and TV shows. Steve Carell was able perfect this technique and make millions doing it. Now with this how to, you can too!
Things you’ll need:
· Outgoingness
· Fearlessness
· The ability to think on your toes
· Being self-deprecative
· Time to practice
Steps
1. Realize that the outcome is completely unpredictable.
· Know where you are supposed to start but never where it is going to end up. In the comedy, Dinner For Schmucks, Steve Carell was able to create five completely different takes of the same scene by utilizing this technique. You can even know some specific plot points. Just as long you don’t have a predetermined end point.
· Another way to focus on the short term would be something called, “Getting behind the Story” or trying to think of your character in the short run versus the long. This technique makes actors contribute to the larger picture rather than just thinking about your character in the long run.
2. Understand that improv is based solely on a moment-to-moment contingency.
· One way improv actors are able to perform moment-to-moment is by entering and exiting with a purpose. For this, one must have a justified reason for either entering or exiting or even just staying in the scene. If your character is going to come into the scene, make it exciting and don’t just walk in and say, “hello.”
· Good improv actors, like Steve Carell, make sure they “go line for line”. All this means is that the actors only say one line and then use what other characters have said to formulate a response.
3. Be aware that your actions will dictate what will happen next in the skit.
· To be a good improviser, you have to know that how to be able to make the conversation flow, and accepting information is a great way to do this. When a fellow actor says a piece of information, you have the responsibility to, first, accept what has just been said as the truth and then also to add your own personal spin to it.
· One thing that is bad for the progression of the scene would be to try and fit jokes into the dialogue. If you try to put cheesy one-liners, you stop focusing on what exactly is going on. If you direct your attention to the conversation, humor will naturally fall into place.
4. Contribute equally.
· Being able to contribute equally is the only way an improvised skit will survive. For instance, Steve Carell, Anne Hathaway, and Alan Arkin along with others are able to improvise scenes because they understand that without equal collaboration the scene will get nowhere.
· Another way for you to be able to contribute to the group would be to provide information about other characters. If the scene is going nowhere, you can easily just point out something about one of the other characters, like, “Wow! You’re tall” or “You’re much more beautiful in person.”
Now you have all that is needed to become an improviser. Go out with your friends and have a good time coming up with interesting scenarios. With a little bit of practice, even you will be improvising like Steve Carell!
Things you’ll need:
· Outgoingness
· Fearlessness
· The ability to think on your toes
· Being self-deprecative
· Time to practice
Steps
1. Realize that the outcome is completely unpredictable.
· Know where you are supposed to start but never where it is going to end up. In the comedy, Dinner For Schmucks, Steve Carell was able to create five completely different takes of the same scene by utilizing this technique. You can even know some specific plot points. Just as long you don’t have a predetermined end point.
· Another way to focus on the short term would be something called, “Getting behind the Story” or trying to think of your character in the short run versus the long. This technique makes actors contribute to the larger picture rather than just thinking about your character in the long run.
2. Understand that improv is based solely on a moment-to-moment contingency.
· One way improv actors are able to perform moment-to-moment is by entering and exiting with a purpose. For this, one must have a justified reason for either entering or exiting or even just staying in the scene. If your character is going to come into the scene, make it exciting and don’t just walk in and say, “hello.”
· Good improv actors, like Steve Carell, make sure they “go line for line”. All this means is that the actors only say one line and then use what other characters have said to formulate a response.
3. Be aware that your actions will dictate what will happen next in the skit.
· To be a good improviser, you have to know that how to be able to make the conversation flow, and accepting information is a great way to do this. When a fellow actor says a piece of information, you have the responsibility to, first, accept what has just been said as the truth and then also to add your own personal spin to it.
· One thing that is bad for the progression of the scene would be to try and fit jokes into the dialogue. If you try to put cheesy one-liners, you stop focusing on what exactly is going on. If you direct your attention to the conversation, humor will naturally fall into place.
4. Contribute equally.
· Being able to contribute equally is the only way an improvised skit will survive. For instance, Steve Carell, Anne Hathaway, and Alan Arkin along with others are able to improvise scenes because they understand that without equal collaboration the scene will get nowhere.
· Another way for you to be able to contribute to the group would be to provide information about other characters. If the scene is going nowhere, you can easily just point out something about one of the other characters, like, “Wow! You’re tall” or “You’re much more beautiful in person.”
Now you have all that is needed to become an improviser. Go out with your friends and have a good time coming up with interesting scenarios. With a little bit of practice, even you will be improvising like Steve Carell!
Work Cited:
Goldstein, Dan. "How To Be A Better Improviser." Dan Goldstein. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Oct. 2012. <http://www.dangoldstein.com/howtoimprovise.html>.
"The comedy improvisation of Steve Carell : The New Yorker." The New Yorker. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Oct. 2012. <http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2010/07/05/100705fa_fact_friend>.
Goldstein, Dan. "How To Be A Better Improviser." Dan Goldstein. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Oct. 2012. <http://www.dangoldstein.com/howtoimprovise.html>.
"The comedy improvisation of Steve Carell : The New Yorker." The New Yorker. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Oct. 2012. <http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2010/07/05/100705fa_fact_friend>.