Getting actors to improvise
- Thread starter Semiazas
- Start date
I think I am pretty good at improv. I used to just make up vocals for songs off the top of my head while jamming with bands. I write music and come up with vocals a lot. I am also good at improv while acting.
I am no expert but here is my ideas on this topic. Let the actors know they can improve. Have them do the scenes as scripted. Then have them do some improv scenes if they would like. Give us a basic idea of what should happen in the scene and the attitude of the character. I think that would be enough to start improvising. Then tell us not to cuss if possible and not do ahh and umms. Once you get a good improv idea. Record that scene over and over tell you get a good take. Another idea is to do the improv while doing rehearsals that way you can hone your ideas ahead of time. It could speed up the filming. I think it is helpful to be on set while coming up with the improve. Rehearsals that are not actually on set may not be as good as rehearsals on set.
I am no expert but here is my ideas on this topic. Let the actors know they can improve. Have them do the scenes as scripted. Then have them do some improv scenes if they would like. Give us a basic idea of what should happen in the scene and the attitude of the character. I think that would be enough to start improvising. Then tell us not to cuss if possible and not do ahh and umms. Once you get a good improv idea. Record that scene over and over tell you get a good take. Another idea is to do the improv while doing rehearsals that way you can hone your ideas ahead of time. It could speed up the filming. I think it is helpful to be on set while coming up with the improve. Rehearsals that are not actually on set may not be as good as rehearsals on set.
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Not intended as flame at all.
A well writtten script will 99.99% of the time not be improved by improv. It's a way to save a bad script.
A well writtten script will 99.99% of the time not be improved by improv. It's a way to save a bad script.
I always read the entire screenplay with all the actors doing there parts before I shoot, and then sometimes we rehearse difficult scenes, but I always try to work with the actors believe it or not some actors would rather not rehease. others thank me profusely.
As far as IMPROV goes it depend on SP, actors, and the scene.
Improv can make actors look more natural, but if the actors are not on the same page it can be disasterous. Not to mention continuity issue in post.
As far as IMPROV goes it depend on SP, actors, and the scene.
Improv can make actors look more natural, but if the actors are not on the same page it can be disasterous. Not to mention continuity issue in post.