Zoom recap of Tuesdays class!

Meeting assets for Out Of Your Head Studios Weekly Class!

Meeting summary

Quick recap

The class focused on improv games and exercises, with Gary leading the session and welcoming new participants. The group engaged in warm-up activities, including a chain story game and a category game. They then played a justification game where participants had to explain odd statements, followed by a character monologue exercise. The class concluded with scene work, including a buddy cop-themed scene and a guessing game where participants had to get their partners to say specific words. Throughout the session, Gary provided feedback and encouragement, highlighting the importance of intention in scenes and the value of adding details to enhance storytelling.

Summary

Class Introductions and Warm-Up Exercise

The class began with introductions and casual conversation, noting the unusual presence of an all-male class. Gary mentioned that two participants were absent, while another might join later, and he reminded everyone about upcoming holiday-themed games on the 23rd. The class then engaged in a warm-up exercise led by Alex, where participants took turns building on each other's comparisons in a chain reaction, aiming to enhance listening and creativity skills.

Word Association and Category Games

The group played a series of word association games where participants had to link concepts in a chain, starting with "Ramen is like salt" and ending with "icebox is like a storage room." After this, they played a category game where players had to identify three items in a category, with others confirming or providing related items. Gary then announced they would play a justification game called "That Makes Sense,"

Character Monologue and Justification Games

The group played a justification game where each person had to justify a statement made by Alex, followed by a character monologue game where participants had to incorporate an object into their performance. In the justification game, Alex suggested that toenails could be used for protein, which was humorously justified by the other participants. For the monologue game, Alex played a character named Bob in the 1950s who was excited about selling poodle skirts, while Jordan portrayed Paul in colonial Massachusetts dealing with a misfiring musket.

Historical Role-Play Monologue Feedback

The group discussed a historical role-play scenario where Ethan played a character from the year 15, who was introducing a wheel to the Azra family. Gary provided feedback on Ethan’s monologue, suggesting more interaction with the object and greater emphasis on the wheel's significance. Sam was next to perform, and Alex mentioned the era for his character. The session focused on improving monologues and object interactions in their role-play exercises.

Creative Role-Playing in 1900

The group engaged in an imaginative exercise set in 1900, where Sam portrayed a character named Isaac attending a party with a lantern and whiskey. They then played a three-line exchange game, with the first pair discussing an illegal bear trap that turned out to contain a llama, and the second pair dealing with a deflated basketball that was actually "never-flat." Gary provided feedback on the scenes, emphasizing the importance of unusual and odd scenarios, and praised the participants for their creative interpretations.

Word Game and Relationship Dynamics

The group played a word game where players had to start their sentences with the last word spoken by the previous person, and Gary praised their performance, particularly noting how the scene evolved from a discussion about Disneyland to explore deeper relationship dynamics between Noah and Alex. The scene effectively used contrast and character development, with Noah expressing frustration about being dragged to Disneyland instead of a whiskey bar, leading to a humorous yet poignant exchange about the challenges of relationships and parenthood.

Disneyland Storytelling and Improv

The group discussed and performed a scene set in Disneyland, with Jordan and Sam taking turns describing their experiences at the park. Gary praised their creativity and performance, particularly appreciating Jordan’s use of the word "pan" instead of "Peter Pan" and Sam’s tour-like narrative. They then played a storytelling game called "Tells It Better," where participants built upon each other's stories in a yes-and format. Gary joined in the game, explaining the rules and encouraging everyone to participate.

Office Christmas Party Chaos

The group shared a humorous recount of an office Christmas party that went awry, with Noah detailing how the event, held in a Motel 6 banquet room, descended into chaos after participants consumed suspect food and gummies. Gary, who was observing, noted the bizarre behavior and dancing, while Sam revealed he was the leader of the "lizard people" at the party. The discussion concluded with plans to play a game called "Director" focused on intention and relationships in scenes.

Exploring Acting Intention and Performance

Gary led a creative acting exercise where he directed Alex and Ethan in a Western-themed scene, which they performed multiple times with different comedic and dramatic intentions. Gary provided feedback and suggested changes, including moving the scene to New York, to explore different acting approaches. The exercise highlighted how altering intentions can affect performance and emphasized the importance of practice and experimentation in acting.

Buddy Cop Scene Direction

Gary directed a scene from a buddy cop movie, providing feedback to Ethan and Sam on their performances. He encouraged them to keep their lines short, maintain a light and fun tone, and focus on the playful dynamic between the two partners. Ethan’s improvisation about checking with the undercover department was praised, while Sam was advised to stay closer to the script. The scene was successfully filmed multiple times with different emotional intentions, with Gary expressing satisfaction with the results.

Scene Exercise: Emotion and Dynamics

The class engaged in a scene exercise where Noah and Alex performed a scene starting with "I need a handkerchief," which led to a discussion about using a tampon to stop a wound. Gary praised their performance, particularly noting Noah’s detailed stakes and Alex’s ability to switch gears in response. The exercise demonstrated how actors can use emotions and sudden changes to create dynamic scenes.

Performance and Guessing Game Session

The group performed a scene where Sam and Jordan portrayed characters robbing a liquor store, with Gary providing feedback on their performance. They then played a guessing game where partners had to get each other to say specific words through scene enactments, with Alex and Sam successfully completing their round using the word "bench press."

Word Game Session Cancellation

The group played a word game where players had to guess words based on clues. Gary and Sam successfully guessed "pot of gold" and "butcher knife" from Alex and Ethan respectively. The session concluded with Sam suggesting "Tinseltown" as a challenging final word, which Alex suggested could be simplified to "Hollywood." The game was cut short due to time constraints, with Gary expressing regret at not being able to complete the final round.