Jason Mantzoukas: "Improv is Funny, But it Doesn't Have to Be"
Summary
TLDRThe transcript from an improv-focused video discusses the pitfalls of prioritizing humor over scene building in improv performances. It emphasizes that while comedy is essential, it should not overshadow the development of a compelling narrative. The speaker, drawing from UCB's improv philosophy, illustrates how true success in improv is about creating a comfortable atmosphere and being at ease with silence. They share personal experiences from long-form improv, highlighting the emotional depth and dramatic shifts that can occur, leading to more profound comedic moments. The video concludes with a call to action for viewers to explore more content on the topic.
Takeaways
- 🎭 The script emphasizes that in improv, being funny is not the ultimate goal; it can sometimes hinder good scene work and the overall show.
- 😂 The pursuit of laughter can lead performers to prioritize personal glory over the success of the scene or show, which is counterproductive.
- 🤔 Improv is about putting the audience at ease and being comfortable with the absence of constant action or humor.
- 🧘♂️ A key exercise in improv is learning to be comfortable doing nothing on stage, which highlights the discomfort many performers feel under scrutiny.
- 🤝 Success in improv often comes from those who are at ease with being watched and can create a connection with the audience without relying on humor.
- 🕒 The script discusses a specific improv format, the 'mano scene,' which is a one-hour long improvised scene that allows for a natural ebb and flow of comedy and drama.
- 😢 The emotional depth of improv can lead to serious and dramatic moments, which can be just as impactful as the humorous ones.
- 😄 The script recounts a specific scene where a dramatic turn led to an emotional breakthrough, followed by a cathartic moment of laughter for the audience.
- 🎬 The freedom to explore various emotional and intellectual levels in improv can lead to richer and more satisfying comedic outcomes.
- 👏 The script concludes by encouraging viewers to subscribe and explore more content, highlighting the value of the insights shared.
Q & A
What is considered one of the biggest mistakes in improv according to the transcript?
-Trying to be funny is considered one of the biggest mistakes in improv because it can distract from building a good scene and sacrificing the show for personal glory.
Why does merely being funny not suffice to hold an audience's attention during a comedy show?
-Just being funny may satiate the audience's thirst for laughter initially, but it's not enough to sustain their attention over a longer period like 30 minutes to an hour. It lacks depth and engagement beyond humor.
What is the primary goal of improv according to the speaker?
-The primary goal of improv is to put the audience at ease and be comfortable with nothing happening, focusing on building a good scene with a partner rather than pursuing personal glory through laughs.
How does the discomfort of being watched play a role in improv exercises?
-In the advanced improv classes at UCB, an exercise involves performers sitting on stage doing nothing to confront their discomfort with being watched, which helps them learn to be comfortable even when not performing for laughs.
What is the significance of the one-hour improvised mano scene mentioned in the transcript?
-The one-hour improvised mano scene is significant because it allows for a real-time unfolding of a scene, which can incorporate serious or dramatic elements, providing a richer and more dynamic experience for the audience.
Why does the speaker believe that improv performers should be comfortable with not making the audience laugh?
-The speaker believes that improv performers should be comfortable with not making the audience laugh because it allows them to focus on the scene's development and emotional depth, leading to a more satisfying and cathartic experience for the audience.
What is the impact of a performer's insecurity on the quality of an improv show?
-A performer's insecurity can lead them to pursue laughs over building a good scene, which can degrade the quality of the show by focusing on personal glory rather than the collective experience.
How does the speaker describe the experience of performing in a long-form improv show?
-The speaker describes the experience as having the freedom to explore and move forward on an emotional and intellectual level, even if it means not making the audience laugh all the time, which can lead to a more profound and engaging performance.
What is the cathartic moment that the speaker refers to in the context of a long-form improv scene?
-The cathartic moment refers to an instance in a long-form improv scene where, after a period of serious or dramatic tension, something funny happens that releases the emotional buildup and provides a satisfying comedic payoff for the audience.
Why does the speaker emphasize the importance of not being in a rush to make the audience laugh during an improv performance?
-The speaker emphasizes this because rushing for laughs can detract from the development of a scene and the overall quality of the show. It's more important to build a strong foundation with a partner and let the humor emerge naturally from the scene's progression.
What is the secret link provided by the speaker for accessing the hour-long version of the conversations?
-The secret link provided by the speaker for accessing the hour-long version of the conversations is 'offcamera.com'.
Outlines
🎭 The Pitfalls of Pursuing Laughter in Improv
The paragraph discusses the common misconception that being funny is the primary goal in improv comedy. It emphasizes that while humor is expected, it should not overshadow the importance of building a strong scene with a partner. The pursuit of laughter can lead to performers prioritizing personal glory over the collective success of the show. The speaker shares personal anecdotes from teaching at UCB, highlighting the discomfort performers feel when doing nothing on stage and how true improvisers are comfortable with the absence of laughter. The narrative also touches on the unique dynamic of long-form improv, where the absence of constant laughter allows for deeper exploration of emotional and dramatic elements, leading to more meaningful and impactful humor.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Improv
💡UCB
💡Scene Work
💡Personal Glory
💡Insecurity
💡Comedy Show
💡Emotional Level
💡Intellectual Level
💡Catharsis
💡Urban Flow of Comedy
Highlights
One of the biggest mistakes in improv is trying to be funny at the expense of scene work.
Improv should not just be about making the audience laugh; it's about building a good scene with a partner.
Chasing laughs can lead to sacrificing the show and scene for personal glory.
Insecurity can drive performers to seek laughs over creating a cohesive scene.
Success in improv is about putting the audience at ease and being comfortable with inactivity.
An exercise in improv involves performers sitting on stage doing nothing to confront their discomfort.
Great improvisers are comfortable being watched and can handle the pressure of inactivity.
Improv shows can have serious or dramatic elements that engage the audience beyond just comedy.
A one-hour improvised scene can explore emotional and intellectual levels, leading to richer comedy.
The freedom to pause comedic momentum allows for deeper exploration and more significant payoffs in improv.
An example of a dramatic turn in improv is a scene about a marriage counselor leading to a divorce revelation.
Emotional vulnerability in improv can lead to powerful, cathartic moments for the audience.
The ability to shift from drama back to comedy enhances the overall experience of an improv show.
It's important for improv performers to understand that the audience doesn't need to laugh all the time.
The value of improv lies in the exploration of various emotions and situations, not just comedy.
A secret link is provided for those interested in watching hour-long versions of these improv conversations.
Transcripts
in the book that is the Bible for UCB it
says one of the biggest mistakes you can
make is to try to be funny okay can you
sort of explain that because your improv
is funny improv is funny but it doesn't
have to be you know just being funny
isn't enough to hold an audience's
attention for 30 minutes to an hour you
know it just being funny is it satiates
the audience is thirst for a laugh they
came to a comedy show they want to laugh
and it makes the performer feel as
though they're doing their job right but
it's actually not the most important
thing it oftentimes can get in the way
of good scene work or a good show
because if you're pursuing laughs
instead of building a good scene with
your partner
you're sacrificing the show and the
scene for personal glory
and that really is someplace that a lot
of performers end up because they are
insecure or because they're just you
know I you know I say this a lot to
people who improvise is like success at
improv is putting the audience at ease
and is being comfortable with nothing
happening like when I used to teach the
advanced classes at UCB
one of the first exercises I would do is
I would have people get on stage and sit
and just have the audience watch them
watch them do nothing you know and
people's discomfort with being watched
is palpable you know with knowing that
they can't get out of it knowing that
they can't do a funny aside knowing that
they can't whatever people who really
succeed as improvisers are people who
are like I don't care that I'm being
watched
I am perfectly comfortable just sitting
here standing here doing whatever and
that is a great place to start because I
know if I step on stage I know
eventually I'll make an audience laugh I
don't mind waiting I don't mind
you know like I do a show once a month
at UCB omma Kayla Watkins talked about
it on this show and it is a one hour
improvised mano scene it's we get a
suggestion and then we just improvise a
scene for an hour like a real time
folding scene and a lot of times because
it's going on so long there is a real
urban flow of comedy so oftentimes this
show starts to starts to have elements
that's that become more serious or more
dramatic and suddenly the audience is
not laughing anymore and so this can go
on for I did a scene with Darcy Cardin
once where we were waiting to see our
marriage counselor and all of these kind
of personal grievances and gripes keep
bubbling up and then 20 minutes into
like a 60-minute shows she says I want a
divorce
and I just started crying and the
audience went silent and it was like I
don't know six seven minutes of very
unsettling weeping man talking to a
woman who the more emotionally upset I
became I felt like the more the more
clear she was that she was doing the
right thing in divorcing me and it was
brutal and then I don't know maybe six
seven minutes later something happened
that was so funny that it was like a
catharsis for the audience and you don't
get that in other shows because you
don't you don't you don't really get the
freedom to kind of really grind
everything to a halt comedic ly but
fully continue to explore and move
forward on an emotional level on an
intellectual level and as a result
everything that comes after that even
better even funnier even richer doesn't
matter if an audience isn't laughing all
the time you know hey folks thanks for
watching if you like what you just saw
then why not subscribe click right here
for lots more off camera and if you want
to see the hour-long version of these
conversations I'm gonna give you the
secret link here it is off camera calm
check it out
[Music]
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