And the award goes to… Improv Game

Quick Description

Two players act as presenters at an awards ceremony, alternating in announcing nominees and the films they are nominated for. The exercise focuses on quickly inventing believable names and titles on the spot.

How to Play

1. Choose the Presenters
   Two players come to the front and take on the role of presenters at an awards ceremony (similar to the Academy Awards).
2. Announce the Category
   The presenters announce a category such as Best Actor, Best Actress, or Best Director.
3. Announce the Nominees
   The presenters alternate announcing nominees.
   • Each nominee includes a person’s name and the movie they are nominated for.
   • For example: “The nominees for Best Actor are… Michael Davenport for A Winter Promise.”
   • The second presenter then announces another nominee with a new name and film title.
4. Continue the List
   The presenters continue alternating, building a list of 5 nominees. The focus is on quickly inventing names without hesitation.
5. Reveal the Winner
   After several nominees are announced, the presenters pretend to open an envelope and reveal the winner.
6. Acceptance Speech
   A third player comes on stage as the winner and gives a brief acceptance speech, thanking the many people who helped them succeed.

Notes

• This exercise is primarily a training game for improvisers, designed to develop the ability to invent names quickly and confidently. Many improvisers hesitate when asked to create a character name in the middle of a scene, and this game gives them a playful way to practice that skill.
• Players sometimes drift into presenter banter before announcing nominees. As facilitator, you may need to gently guide them back to the core of the exercise: naming nominees and their films.
• Encourage players to keep the names simple and believable. The goal is not to invent increasingly wild or ridiculous names or categories, but to build the muscle of responding immediately with a name when needed.
• When teaching this game, keep the atmosphere relaxed and playful. If the exercise begins to feel stressful or difficult, remind players that any name will do. The goal is practice, not perfection.

Variations

• Speed Round
  Encourage presenters to move quickly through nominees with very little pause.
• Multiple Winners
  Instead of one acceptance speech, several nominees come forward as the entire cast of the winning film.
• Different Industries
  Instead of movies, the presenters announce nominees for awards in other fields (books, music, theater, science, etc.).
• Acceptance Speech Focus
  Play the game with extra emphasis on the acceptance speech, encouraging the winner to thank a long list of mentors, collaborators, and supporters.

Origin

I learned this game from Tim Orr.

Get the Playbook so you have hundred of games in your pocket when you need them.