Quick description
Choose a genre. Stand in a circle. Brainstorm different elements about that genre by tossing an imaginary ball around the circle. It’s Genre Circle.
How to Play
[Long Form Warm Up Exercise]
- Players stand in a circle.
- Identify the kind of long form genre you are going to explore. (For example, film noir)
- Players toss an imaginary ball around the circle (like sound ball).
- When they throw the ball they say a âline of dialogueâ that would be found in that genre. (For example, âI need help and youâre the only one I can turn to.â)
- The player receiving the line, repeats it and then âtossesâ another line to a player in the circle.
There is no evaluation of the contributions. Everything is accepted (and repeated).
Variation
This can be done with various elements within a genre:
- Character names
- Character types
- Locations
- Types of relationships
- Clichés
- etc.
Offered by Patricia Ryan Madson (author of Improv Wisdom*):
Turn it into a collaborative activity between two people in the circle using character descriptions and names. One player throws a name: i.e. “Wolfgang”… the partner in the circle catches and repeats the name and gives a description of that character: “Wolfgang, the aging janitor” and then throws a new name: “Lolita”… “Lolita the femme fatale” etc. Lots of variations are possible. Ask the people in the circle to come up with their own variations. Try everything.
*Improv Wisdom:Â A book that teaches the principles of improvisation as guidance for a life of adventure and meaning.
Notes
There is no evaluation of the contributions. Everything is accepted (and repeated).
This exercise is designed to tap into the knowledge of all the participants. This is different from a teacher telling the students the kinds of locations in a genre (which I’ve seen). In improv we want to empower the performers. This exercise builds confidence in the group and it builds ensemble.
Get The Playbook so you have hundreds of games in your pocket when you need them.