Monthly Archives: July 2011
Solo Improv Learnings Thus Far!
Above: I got invited to attend a red-carpet premiere of a new film which my very talented friend Natasha Perez wrote a song for!
This trip is made possible thanks to the Ian Potter Cultural Trust, a wonderful organisation which supports early career artists to pursue professional development opportunities, usually overseas. During my time here I shall be posting about some of my learnings in my private sessions with Gary Austin and Michael Pollock respectively.
Above: My improv comedy and acting mentor, Mr Gary Austin. I adore him. This was taken last night outside The Groundlings Theatre, LA.
Days are filled with coaching and homework, nights are filled with going to see a many improv shows (and where I can manage it, extra classes!) as possible. I have been learning so much amazing stuff, seriously, even by day three I honestly felt as though the entire trip had already fulfilled my goals and then some. In short, here are a few tid-bits:
- the importance of physicality and not being “vague” with gestures and so on. Gary got me to do an exercise where I spoke lines of dialogue while mirroring his gestures (which, while having NO connection whatsoever to the words I spoke, somehow naturally ended up finding a connection anyway.) In short, making arbitrary but COMMITTED choices to physicality, not only looks better onstage, but can inspire completely unexpected choices when it comes to the verbal!
- assymetrical physicality is visually pleasing (i.e. hand on one hip, leaning on one leg, etc.) rather than standing straight with hands by sides and both legs straight.
- that good improvisation is a matter of committing to the unknown. That is to say, giving up the need to control everything onstage and instead being committed even in your lostness. In fact, Gary goes so far to say that “if you’re completely lost in what you’re doing, then you’re a great improviser.”
I have reams and reams of “Gary-isms” that I’ve scrawled down, which I will share in the coming days on here!
Above: An improv hip-hop show I saw at UCB which was JAW-DROPPING. I loved it so much, I was utterly inspired to bring some hip-hop musical improv (maybe some solo and/or group stuff?) to Oz!
Then there have been my solo sessions with Michael Pollock. Oh how I connect with that man! It was my hubby Tim, many moons ago, who read the intro to Michael’s book on musical improv, and said to me “Oh my goodness Jen. I just feel like you NEED to work with this man!”
Damn straight.
Okay, gushing aside, let me try to summarise some of the major learnings thus far:
- digging deeper for a stronger choice right at the top of a solo musical improv number, to set yourself up for success. For instance, if the suggestion from the audience is “dentist”, starting with a line like “I hate the dentist” is okay, but not the strongest choice, mainly because it’s expected (who doesn’t?). A better choice is something a little unexpected that sets you up for the rest of the song e.g. “I’m in love with Doctor Danny,” and then go on to use relevant vocabulary (e.g. “the way he holds the drill,” “his gas makes me dizzy like his love…” and so on.)
- to be aware of variation vocally and physically throughout. For instance, if a number has been quite dark and/or low-key for much of it, it’s a much stronger choice to finish it strong, let it crescendo and sell the ending.
- we’ve also been working on some chord progressions on piano that I can use to extend my range. It is HARD! But Michael is working with me to develop some drills that I can take with me back to Australia to continue to work on regularly. He reckons that within a couple of months of practice, I should have it down, which is fantastic.
I am so ridiculously inspired right now, particularly with regards to putting these solo improv skills into practice as soon as I get back. My mind is a-whirl with possibilites right now. I just need to calm down and enjoy the possibilites before me right here right now. Just like in improv. Funny that.
LA-LA land: Eddie Izzard, Sarah Silverman & more!
Training has been AMAZING. Agh! I’m learning so much it’s hard to keep up, I will post a nice juicy “things I’m learning” post tomorrow. But in the meantime, a few things of note in the past few days…
1. Eddie Izzard was, as expected, brilliant. He kicked off the gig by jumping into the crowd and running the entire length of the Hollywood Bowl, high-fiving folks all the way. As he caught his breath while taking to the stage again, he offered a word of advice: “If you’re ever playing the Hollywood Bowl and you decide to do what I just did…don’t.”
I got home and tweeted this:
…and 2 minutes later was re-tweeted by Master Izzard himself, yo! AGH! I had a little dance of happy, followed by lots of twittery chats of excitement both from others who’d been there and those who wished to be. United in Izzard-dom!
2. Last night I did a musical improv workshop and thought I recognised the young guy sitting next to me, but wasn’t quite sure. Then another lady in the class said to him: “Oh! My daughter is going to be so jealous when she finds out that you’re here!” Which was when the penny dropped: Jake Ryan off Hannah Montana! Well, “Jake Ryan” is purely how I know him, thanks to Miss Eight watching Season 1 a whole 17 gazillion times. He was lovely and even indulged my request for a photo (which I shall post here the moment I get one.)
I took great joy in telling Ella my news last night on skype. She said: “Really?!” Then… “I’ll be really impressed if you meet Pink.”
Ok-aaaaay…
3. I went to catch a late show at UCB last night (which, sadly, was SOLD OUT! Not sad for them, obviously) yet it was worth the valet charge just to meet Ms. Sarah Silverman! YAZZAH!
Today has been INTENSE. Privates with Michael and Gary, I feel like already I have learned such a tremendous amount, I am trying as hard as I can to take copious notes, and I may end up video recording some of our sessions too just to keep up!
More adventures a’comin!
x
Initial Thoughts on Solo Improv: Day One of Training
This trip is made possible thanks to the Ian Potter Cultural Trust, a wonderful organisation which supports early career artists to pursue professional development opportunities, usually overseas. During my time here I shall be posting about some of my learnings in my private sessions with Gary Austin and Michael Pollock respectively.
Already this trip has surpassed my expectations.
The latest twist, discovered in my first session of private training with Gary Austin, is the potential of solo improv skills to be applied to scripted work.
I say a ‘twist’, because I thought I had my head pretty clearly around what solo improv was, which I realise already is not the case. Let me explain: I already do some solo improv, both within my stand-up and as a small portion of my one-woman show. However, I really wanted to come and expand my knowledge and skills in this area, specifically so I could be better at doing it (naturally) and expand my repertoire of what is possible in terms of using it onstage.
What I didn’t really even think about was how the skills of solo improvisation can be directly applied to text, to:
- keep a performance fresh (which, I’m already realising is going to be hugely helpful in terms of the future performance life of my full-length show);
- discover new possibilities (rather than getting stuck in one way of thinking about approaching the text); and
- connect unexpected emotions to pieces of text.
It’s difficult to put this into words! But Gary spent much of the first session going through a number of exercises with me – some physical some verbal – to this end, which are now officially my “drills!” I have to practice them for homework, with the idea being that after drilling it and drilling it, it will eventually become a habit.
He spoke to me about the work of people like Dean Martin (whose work we’re going to be looking at further in our time together) and his improvisational approach to his hit variety show, and, most specifically, the EASE with which he did everything.
And finding that, within solo improvisation (and solo scripted performance too, for that matter), is key. As Gary said to me:
“You need performing to be easy. And to do that, you need to work really hard.”
Here goes!
Photo update from LA LA land
My hostest with the mostest, Natasha!
My precious…
Kick-ass lady, new soul-sister, producer of the celebrity improv show last night and daughter l’extraordinaire of my wonderful mentor Gary Austin, Audrey Moore.
The improv show last night “Gary Austin and Famed Friends” at The Groundlings. Twas awesome. On centre stage is Gary Austin himself, far left is Helen Hunt (whose hand I shook much to my tremendous and very un-cool excitement.)
Natasha and I inside the Groundlings Theatre.
Much to my delight, at interval I heard a cry of “Jenny!” and turned around to see fellow improviser Craig, whom I met at last year’s improv retreat in New York. Reunited with my onstage husband! Lovely!
More of the show. I was so inspired and excited, I felt like very improviser does when they see a great show: the desire to JUMP UP WITH THEM!
A lovely lady I met backstage, who, as it turns out, played a part in one of my favourite movies EVER from my high school days, “Overboard!” Have you guys seen that movie? Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell are adorable. Now I wanna go see it all over again!
I’ve lost count of the number of celeb encounter stories I’ve heard since I got here. The reality that EVERYBODY in LA is in showbiz certainly seems to ring true thus far. As does horrifying traffic.
My training starts in ernest tomorrow. And I am chomping at the bit.
Stay tuned!
5 Things That Have Happened Thus Far on this LA Trip
1. I sat next to a very large American woman and her very petite Aussie husband on the plane. Both were very friendly, lovely even, to the point where the woman would not stop talking to me. Not stop. Even when I did my best ”I’m watching my movie here and I’m really, really into it!” look. She was immune. Clearly I need to do some work on this much-neglected superpower.
2. I arrived to squeals of delight from my wonderful host Natasha (whom I met at last year’s Improv Masterclass in New York) who promptly greeted me with “I do hope you’re not doing anything Wednesday night, because I have a spare ticket to EDDIE IZZARD!” Long term blog readers will know why my head then fell off.
3. We had a delightful dinner in beyond-delightful Santa Monica, which I have now decided that I want to adopt. I just don’t know how I’m gonna fit it on the plane and convince Australian customs that it is a legitimate import.
4. Spent the evening with Natasha, chatting, giggling, exercising (yes, I know, I can’t believe it either. I think it’s something in the LA smog that implores you to do a midnight session of ‘Classical Stretch’) and talking comedy. I’ve already been struck by an idea which might just focus my good self over the next six months. I am enthused and terrified. Which is always a good sign.
5. Skyped my beautiful family, whereupon I discovered that:
a) It is possible to feel quite close when you can actually see each other from across the globe;
b) Master 2 is actually quite happy to see my this time, rather than confused and upset like he was during last year’s skype sessions from NY; and
c) It is still possible for Mister 7 to get angry at me through the magic of web-cam. Because I called him a “cheeky monkey” (said WITH LOVE, PEOPLE!), but which, in the wrong mood, evidently doesn’t go down that well.
***
Coming up today: Getting a SIM card for my phone (upon which time I shall have some photos for you!) and tonight, going to see this ridicu-cool piece of awesome…AGH!
On pre-trip jitters.
I always get a little freaked out before any plane trip that, while making all my preps, I am actually whittling away my final earthly moments.
I comfort myself in knowing that these feelings always come up.
And I haven’t died yet.
But, when I find myself texting my kids a last minute pre-boarding photo of mummy blowing them a kiss, the vain side of me cannot help but hope like hell that this is not the last ever photo taken of me.
Why Jealousy Sucks Hairy Buttocks: (Or “The Hole in The Green Eye”)
Jealousy sucks hairy buttocks.
Yes, you heard me.
Hairy ones.
I include my own in that statement, by the way (my jealousy, not my buttocks, which are beyond reproach).
When I feel myself getting embittered, usually by somebody else’s achievements – whether it be their career success, their incredibly buff and fat-free body or their incredibly gorgeous OWNED house – I hate myself for it. Really.
This is because:
a) it’s not an attractive quality in anybody;
b) It doesn’t actually HELP anything; and
c) It’s not an attractive quality in anybody.
But the biggest thing that shits me about all this is the realisation that me being jealous of anybody is ridiculous and unfair because that person has taken steps that I myself have been unwilling/unable (for whatever reasons) to take.
Take, for instance, the body thing.
I have a friend who for all intents and purposes, several years ago, was a similar body shape to mine (I like to call it “flabby chic”). Suddenly, however, she decided to turn her body into a total temple of health, and she now looks AMAZING. All the freaking time.
Am I jealous? Hell yes! Of the RESULTS.
Am I jealous of her not letting a morsel of crap through her lips?
Am I jealous of the hours upon hours, days upon days and weeks upon weeks (soon to be years upon years) of physical effort that have gone into making her body the blossoming beacon of beauty that it is?
Am I jealous of the WORK?
Hell no.
I’m jealous of the RESULTS.
Or what about the incredible globe-trotting career of somebody like Lady Gaga, who can sell out seats faster than change meaty undergarments?
Am I jealous of the constant gigging, travelling and performing day-in and day-out and the personal sacrifices after sacrifices to make that happen? Well, to be honest, kinda. In another life, sans kids, I would actually love that. But…the reality is that I have a family who I actually WANT to be around. We’ve done the night-after-night performance thing – albeit, not in a Gaga scope – yet have worked out that it cannot work for us. Festivals, short tours and little bursts of insanity? Yes. Week after week of incessant gigging? Nup. So in those terms, am I jealous of having to be away from my family to do that stuff? Am I jealous of the work?
No.
I’m jealous of the RESULTS.
And finally, on a smaller scale, what about the many folks I know who now own their very gorgeous homes in very gorgeous places with very gorgeous creative touches that make it their own?
Am I jealous of the financials, the paperwork, the constant saving, the sacrifices that they’ve had to make to get there and continue to make to stay there? Am I jealous of the work?
Heck no.
I’m jealous of the RESULTS.
Which brings me back to my favourite subject of all, moi. I am so unique in that way, don’t you see?
When people get jealous of me – and yes, it does happen on occasion, thanks for asking – it’s usually about career stuff. I know this because they tell me. Often in no uncertain terms. This is especially true when it comes to overseas jaunts to do improv/comedy stuff.
And I get it. Because, as you can see from the evidence laid out before you, I get hit by the green-eyed monster as much as – if not more than – anybody.
But, I wonder, would anybody be jealous of our bank balance? This is, after all, the direct result of us committing to developing my career in the arts, even when it’s involved costly overseas jaunts. I want to point out here that while a couple of these trips have involved arts grants:
a) every grant funded trip I’ve ever done has still included a significant personal cash investment;
b) the two years we spent in Canada were 99% self-funded; as was last year’s Improv Masterclass in New York. My credit card says so.
Would they be jealous of the fact that because of this, we are unlikely to own a house anywhere we would want to live any time in this millennia?
And, money aside, would they be jealous of the amount of work – and it is a FREAKING LOT OF WORK – and sleep deprivation that are a direct result of trying to carve out this career thang?
This is not a pity party. I really am happy with these choices (and they are my CHOICES!). But I’m just sayin…
JEALOUSY IS ULTIMATELY ILLOGICAL BECAUSE WE ARE OFTEN JUST JEALOUS OF THE RESULTS, RATHER THAN THE EFFORT INVOLVED TO GET THEM.
End.
P.S. If I’m wrong and you can actually earn jealousy (i.e. “I worked just as hard as X, I put in all the same effort and therefore am entitled to my jealousy!”) then I salute both you and your green eye, sir/madam.
FAQ on the LA trip!
How long are you going for?
2 weeks!
What exactly will you be doing while you’re there?
I’m gonna be doing a tailor-made residency focusing on solo-improv, made up of a series of private coaching sessions in the day-times, checking out improv stuff at night!
Who will you be doing it with?
Two of my FAVOURITE people on Planet Earth. The first is Gary Austin. He founded The Groundlings (where the likes of Will Ferrell, Lisa Kudrow and many many more have come out of. Helen Hunt even thanked him in her Oscar speech) and is generally regarded as one of the finest improv teachers around. I had the tremendous fortune to meet and work with Gary last year when I went to the Masterclass in NYC and connected with him immediately. I am beyond excited to work with him again, particularly in such a focused way and in the area with which I need the most help. I’ve heard people speak so highly of his solo improv exercises (I’ve heard whispers on the breeze already of a pretty famous one he does called 42nd street…sounds tremendous) so yes. Will be most cool indeed!
The second is Michael Pollock, who literally wrote the book on musical improv. We first met many moons ago when I did his intensive workshop in Vegas, where this vid was shot on our graduation. I LOVE him. He is a genius at both the doing and the teaching. And musical improv is my complete and utter passion in this life. I’ve experimented with solo musical improv (including accompanying myself on the keyboard) quite a bit since that time, but am so looking forward to getting into the meat of what else is possible with him!
What’s the grant that you got?
The grant is courtesy of the Ian Potter Cultural Trust, a fantastic organisation that supports early career artists to undertake overseas professional development.
Who’s looking after your kids while you’re gone?
I have a most wonderful nanny who is moving into Fort Comic Mummy to hold the…well, Fort…while I’m away. Yes, I am pretty crazy lucky.
Are you going to miss them like crazy?
Ehem. I don’t want to think about it. The first time I left them for an overseas trip I spent the first 8 days bursting randomly into tears. It nearly ripped my heart out. These days of course, we have skype, which helps. But I am firmly resolved to just make sure I make the most out of every damned minute so it is WORTH being away from them for. Bring it AWN!
What are you most excited about?
Oh gees, I don’t know. Everything. The night I fly in I’m going to see an amazing improv show that Gary Austin is directing, featuring Helen Hunt, Helen Slater (who I used to adore in Supergirl when I was a wee lass) and many more amazing folks. Excuse me. AAAAGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!
Why are you still typing?
