Part 1: Improv – Introduction   Definition of improvise:  To compose, recite, play, or sing extemporaneously   Alright, so here we are again, throwing out Hollywood slang like “buff and puff” (getting an actor to hair and makeup), and “the Abbey” (second-to-the- last shot of the day on set). However, this time we are talking about “improv” which stands for improvisation: Words made up by an actor on the fly with little or no regard to the script. You may remember some improv’d (aka ad libbed) lines in movies such as “we’re gonna need a bigger boat” in Jaws or “I am Iron Man, spoken by Robert Downey Jr. in the movie Iron Man. Many actors have vented their frustration working with guys like Robert Downey Jr. who improvises lines so much, it throws off actors who are traditional in their psyche of rehearsing and saying their lines verbatim. Most people don’t realize that the ability to improvise, although it appears to be natural and most likely it is in Robert’s case, is an acquired skill. Why would you want to take improv classes? Well, many improv students I’ve met weren’t interested in movies. They had their sights set on getting into improv groups like The Groundlings or The Upright Citizens Brigade. Taking improv class would be the first step in achieving that goal.        Can anyone take improv classes? Yes, rest assured, students come from all walks of life; many just want to overcome shyness in front of people. However, one student was overheard saying, I get stuck in my head and want to find a way to be in the moment. Unknowingly, she summed up the zeitgeist of improv; staying in the moment. Improv classes, now offered online, will focus on exercises and techniques geared toward stretching your imagination and creativity.  Remember, the goal is to get out of your head and to become a confident improviser. In the process, you’ll have a blast doing it.          Related Articles:- Part 2: Improv - First day of class Part 3: Improv - Acting Class - Acting Technique

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Part 2: Improv - First day of class

Part 3: Improv - Acting Class - Acting Technique