Improv Tip #48 - The Game Of The Scene (2016)

Improv, Improv Comedy, Improvisation - whatever you call it, we're here to help. In this week’s improv tip, veteran teacher and improviser Paul Vaillancourt talks about one of the most important yet most confusing ideas in long form improv - The Game Of The Scene. Whether you're doing improv comedy, playing improv games, using improv in your acting classes or expressing yourself with some other kind of improvisation, you are going to love this tip.
Paul Vaillancourt is the author of "The Triangle of the Scene".
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[@adamhiggins1294]

Great description, great energy! You get my subscribe!

[@PVImprov]

Hey there @adamhiggins1294 thanks for the comment ...and the subscribe! Glad you liked the video. Thanks for watching.

[@SantaFeActorsStudio]

Thank, Paul; just what I needed to clarify the notion of game. My teacher talks about the game within the game, but the concept has been somewhat illusive. I'm beginning to grasp it better now.

[@PVImprov]

There are a few different takes on what the game is - this is mine. Glad it helps.

[@BillieJolene1]

Why couldn't you be MY teacher!!!! I'm really unhappy right now and happy at the same time. What you said is EXACTLY what I thought the game is. Not to mention that's what this comedy manual basically said (the UCB manual). It's the characters POV and if you stick with that the game shows itself.

[@PVImprov]

Agreed. AS to why I wasn't your teacher, I'll say cruel fate.

[@brockarcher3857]

love this!

[@PVImprov]

Glad to hear it. Thanks for watching.

[@eugenioeoscomedia]

Hugs from Brazil🇧🇷🇧🇷

[@PVImprov]

Thanks Eugenino. Give my best to Brazil! Thanks for watching.

[@michaelgstauffer3474]

That inset that popped up said 'giving gifts vs pimping'. I can make some guesses what pimping means in this context but would rather hear your thoughts!

[@PVImprov]

Well, the whole video goes on to explain that but, in short, Giving Gifts is giving information or 'gifts' to your partner that are expansive and empowering to your partner versus pimping which is giving information to your partner that restricts them or makes them the butt of the joke. Again, the video explains it in more depth. If you check it out, let me know what you think.

[@michaelgstauffer3474]

@@PVImprov Got it. I heard you discuss gifts in the video yeah, but don't think it mentioned pimping. Or by 'whole video' do you mean a different video?

[@PVImprov]

@@michaelgstauffer3474 I meant this video here kzbin.info/www/bejne/pqW2Y4mIq8uHrtU. This discusses the difference between gifts and pimps

[@heididrew5982]

Love it. I never learned it this way but it seems like if you stick steadfastly with your character's major quirk, the game will appear. Yes?

[@PVImprov]

Without getting to deep into semantics I would say that your characters "quirk". ( although it can be maybe more accurately stated as "POV") IS your CHARACTER'S GAME and that the GAME OF THE SCENE is your character's game rubbing up against your partner's character's game. Does that make sense?

[@PVImprov]

+PVImprov *too

[@heididrew5982]

Yes. It doesn't have to be a "quirk" but clear or definitive aspect of their character.

[@PVImprov]

Yep - the reason I even clarified the term "quirk" at all is that often times beginning students tend to give gifts like "you're made of rubber" or "you're a police officer" or "you're so clumsy" - any of which my be true of a character but NONE of which are the character's game, which, as I said above is more a POV like "you're such a sad sack" or "you've got a problem with authority" or "you're such an optimist".

[@ryanjeanes5253]

Do you have any other examples?

[@PVImprov]

Ryan - I think you're asking if I have any other examples of characters and their games. For a whole ton of examples I recommend this book by Scott Sedita amzn.to/3JiMuTI Thanks for watching. New content coming soon. Stay tuned.

[@AsciiKing]

Love these. Your audio is a bit too quiet compared to the intro. Maybe just turn up the mic a bit?

[@PVImprov]

Thanks for watching. This has been an ongoing concern. Still trying to work out the kinks (after 48 eps). I'll keep an eye on it and, hopefully, future eps will be easier to hear. Thanks for sticking with me in spite.

[@franklinadams8246]

I like....

[@PVImprov]

Thanks man...

[@wealthychef]

Too abstract. I'd like to see an example of this type of game. I didn't understand this at all! :-)

[@PVImprov]

Thanks for your comment. I'll refer you to this video (kzbin.info/www/bejne/ppLWdmOjqbRlbJY) where I talk about it some more and I'll think about making a more in depth video about it in the future. Thanks for the idea.

[@nononouh]

2

[@PVImprov]

I feel like if i put al your comments on different videos together it'll be a coded message. True?