Blacktop is Kind of a Big Deal in Norway

You meet a lot of incredible people when you improv. Sure, yes, you meet a lot of incredible people throughout life, but improvisers are.... unique. We're driven to entertain... but we don't like doing it alone. We like having a family of support around us. We like stepping onstage, and knowing there's an expectant audience in front of us, and a great support system behind us who will yes, and us to success.

So. Yep. Improvisers = Awesome.

And...awesome people find awesome opportunities

A few months ago a new improviser, Tess, joined Blacktop. She is a wonderful actress with extraordinary range. We were happy to have her with us. And, then, she was cast on a tv show.

What TV show? I'm glad you asked.

Alt for Norge. Yep! That Alt for Norge. On TVNorge! Don't worry. We hadn't heard of it either, but it sounded like such a great opportunity for Tess. We are really proud of her. She was off to Norway, to discover the country in a The Amazing Race style adventure. Alt for Norge is only for those who have Norwegian blood, but have never been to the country. I don't know if they have a Irish version of Alt for Norge, but I'd do it!

You'd probably like a longer description of Alt for Norge. Here you go:

I dag bor det over 4,5 millioner amerikanere med norske røtter i USA. Vi har hentet 12 av dem tilbake til "The Mother Land". Deltakerne kommer fra hele USA. Ingen av disse norskamerikanerne har vært i Norge før, men alle har et brennende ønske om å finne tilbake til sine norske røtter. Men for personer som har vokst opp med Hollywood, drive-through spritutsalg og ost på sprayboks kan imidlertid veien til den norske slekta bli lang. Nå venter nemlig bygdefest, polferd, friluftsliv og smalahove. For dette er en konkurranse om å mestre livet som nordmann - og hver uke møter deltakerne nye utfordringer. Én etter én må amerikanerne forlate konkurransen og reise hjem - inntil vi står igjen med Den Ekte Nordmannen som vinner 50 000 dollar og sitt livs første møte med sine norske slektninger. Men for å komme så langt må deltakerne først bevise at de er villige til å gi Alt for Norge!

Crystal clear?

Fantastic!

Before she ventured to Norway, she shot a getting-to-know-Tess segment for the show and invited Blacktop Comedy to perform improv with her. They wanted clips of us improvising for the show.

Well, we did it. And, the video is out! Watch me clearly know nothing about the wonderful Norwegian culture. I imagine polar bears make up 35% of the population. I'm kidding. I know more about Norway. (can I be honest? I will. I didn't know the capitol of Norway and asked the videographers. Turns out it's Oslo. Don't hate us Oslo. Just shake your head and mutter, "ignorant americans.")

Personally, I loved Betsaida, Jess, and Tess speaking 'Norwegian.' Of course, we didn't think we were really speaking Norwegian. Did you see the comments on Youtube? This might be our favorite.

Hilarious! Breathe Lassi117! We know at minute 1:14 was gibberish. Yes. We have the utmost respect for Norway. Don't send your polar bears on skis after us. We're vulnerable to your naval attacks. We know you have a cruise line.

Push the Door for Characters

Last week I was talking with a friend who is a fellow improviser. He admitted having trouble getting into characters, and staying out of his head. I'm trying this thing where I empathize more...you know... be a better human being an' all...so I responded with a very deep, and insightful, "Yeah. That can be hard. I've been there too." Oh man! What wisdom! I was making it rain empathy! Though, it wasn't super helpful. So we kept talking.

We continued talking about improv, and letting go of fear. The conversation curved all over the place, from improv characters, to scene commitment, to yes, and, etc. Then, we talked about scene starts, and where to begin.

We realized scene starts, and particularly, beginning in the middle, can solve a lot of issues. Since our first improv class we've all been encouraged to, 'begin in the middle.' I teach my improv classes and players to begin the scene' "five minutes later." Begin the scene five minutes in, make the audience work, let them figure out what's happening. They're smart. It's good to challenge the audience. They'll appreciate the challenge.

And....

In our discussion, we realized a whole new reason 'five minutes later' helps. An improviser appreciates the distraction. The start in the middle improv suggestion isn't just for the benefit of the audience, but for the benefit of the improviser. It helps everyone. If we begin 5 minutes in, those are five minutes we don't sit around doubting pour choice, or fearing our scene initiation. The "getting out of your head" issue really dissolves when you're in the middle of an improvised robbery, instead of carefully planning the heist. It's easier to be a cop when you start the scene busting a drug ring, and not beginning a scene doodling on your space work desk at the precinct (aside: I misspelled precinct, and Google Keep autocorrected my spelling to 'precenjnt.' What is a precenjnt? It looks Scandinavian).

We start a scene 'late' and we can just be. We start a scene 'early,' and we have a higher likelyhood of getting chased around by doubt.

Idle hands are the devil's playground, and an idle mind is an improviser's hell. Ultimately, it'll be a great day on the improv stage when we can let go of the doubt devil, and just tell ourselves, "OK. This is the scene I'm in. It's a great scene. I just have to listen and respond, and it'll become even better!"

Until then, jumping into a scene, pushing that door open, instead of planning on pushing the door, will help us get out of our self inflicted critiques, and into living in the moment.

List of Emotions

This is one of those helpful blog posts. Well, that's my intention. Don't worry! I won't ramble very long. I'll let you know what's coming, and then step aside. I hope it's a revelation. I hope you do that thing scientists do in movies when they discover the world will never be the same again: the oh-my-god-glasses-removal-dramatic-stare-into-distance. This thing:
 

Improv students, remember...there are hundreds of emotions you can portray. The four core emotions, happiness, sadness, anger and fear, can assembled in seemingly endless combinations and degrees. Emotions are like a cocktail. A quart of sadness, with a pinch of anger, dissolve in fear, and you have something. Try it.

Trying all the combos can be challenging, if you don't have a list of emotions in front of you.

What's this? Oh joy! Here you go! A list of emotions. This is pretty extensive, and worth your time. In fact, it's worth downloading and perusing offline too. Sign up for the newsletter and receive these lists in the mail. 

If you have any emotions you'd like to add, please let me know. I'd love to make the list even more comprehensive.

Download the List

List of Emotions:

Able

Adequate

Adoration

Affection

Aggravation

Aggressiveness

agitation

Agonize

Agony

Alarm

Alienation

Amazement

Amusement

Anger

anguish

Annoyance

Annoyed

Anticipation

Anxiety

Anxious

Apathy

Apprehensive

Arousal

Assured

Astonishment

Attraction

Awe

Fascinated

Fear

Ferocity

Fondness

Friendliness

Fright

Frustrated

Frustration

Fury

Bitterness

Bliss

Bored

Boredom

Burdened

Gaiety

Glad

Gladness

Glamorous

Glee

Gloom

Glorious

Glumness

Good

Graceful

Great

Greed

Grief 

Grouchiness

Grumpiness

Guilt

Guilty

Calm

Capable

Caring

Cautious

Certain

Charmed

Cheerful

Cheerfulness

Comfortable

Compassion

Competitive

Concerned

Confidence

Confused

Contempt

Content

Contentment

Courage

Courageous

Crosspatch

Happiness

Happy

Harassed

Hate

Helplessness

Hesitant

Homesickness

Hope

Hopeful

Hopelessness

Horror

Hostile

Hostility

Humiliation

Humorous

Hurt

Hysteria

Defeat

Dejection

Delight

Delighted

Depressed

Depression

Desire

Despair

Destructive

Determined

Disappointed

Disappointment

Disgust

Disgusted

Dislike

Dismay

Displeasure

Distracted

Doubt

Doubtful

Ignored

Impatient

Indifferent

Infatuation

Insecurity

Inspired

Insult

Interest

Interested

Intimidated

Irritated

Irritation

Isolated

Isolation

Eager

Eagerness

Ecstasy

Elation

Embarrassment

Empathy

Energetic

Enjoyment

Enthrallment

Enthusiasm

Enthusiastic

Envy

Euphoria

Exasperated

Exasperation

Excellent

Excited

Excitement

Exhausted

Exhilarated

Exhilaration

Expectant

Jealous

Jealousy

Jolliness

Joviality

Joy

Joyful

Jubilation

Jumpy

Liking

Loathing

Loneliness

Lonely

Longing

Love

Lust

Lust/Sexual Desire

Mad

Magnificent

Manipulated

Melancholy

Miserable

Misery

Mortification

Sad

Sadness

Satisfaction

Satisfied 

Scared

Scorn

Sentimentality

Serene

Shame

Shock

Shocked

Sorrow

Spite

Stable

Stress

Sublime

Submission

Suffering

Superior

Surprise

Surprised

Suspicious

Sympathy

Neglect

Nervousness

Tenderness

Tension

Terror

Thrill

Thrilled

Tired

Torment

Triumph

Trust

Obnoxious

Optimism

Outrage

Overwhelmed

Uncomfortable

Uneasy

Unhappiness

Used

Panic

Passion

Peaceful

Pity

Playfulness

Pleasant

Pleasure   

Politeness

Positive

Powerful

Powerlessness

Pressured

Pride

Vengefulness

Rage

Rapture

Regret

Rejection

Relaxed

Relief

Relieved

Remorse

Resentment

Revenge

Revulsion

Wary

Wasteful

Weary

Woe

Worry

Wrath

Zeal

Zest