Quick Description
Players improvise a scene while an off-stage player add comments as if they were the films director providing commentary for the DVD version.
How to Play
One or more players improvise a scene as one player (off stage and on microphone) gives a voice over commentary about the scene like it was the director’s commentary on a DVD. S/he can reveal stories about the actors, the scene, locations, etc.
Notes
The comments in this game plays with the relationship of the director and the actors. The ‘Director’ stands away from the action of the scene and can use a microphone if available. I have also seen this with two people supplying the comments, a director and the writer [or cinematographer, producer etc.]
You can think of it as a split focus scene – with two scenes happening at the same time but each one informs the other. It may be helpful to practice keeping the action going during a section of commentary.
Listen to any commentary on a DVD for reference. They talk about how the great acting, writing and directing in the film. They foreshadow things that are just about to happen. They shed insights about the plot as well as the relationships. This can act as a sub-plot, power dynamic or distraction. Play with it and see what you discover.
DVD commentary defined.
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