Who Directs Our Halloween Improv Comedy Teen Slasher?

Don’t miss teen slasher this year. Only 4 performances!

Learn more about the man behind this years improvised Teen Slasher: The Sequel Jay Miller is the director, and I had a chance to ask hima few questions. He has some great insight into improvising!

Jay Miller has survived a lot of Teen Slasher shows.

1.  How long have you been improvising?

I’ve been improvising for just over 9 years now.

2. How did you get started?

I was introduced to improv through a high school drama teacher. When Summer rolled around, I stated looking for places to do improv outside of school. This led me to Blacktop’s Meetup page and I started attending the theater’s drop-in workshops.

3. So many people are scared to improvise, and think, “I can’t do this.” Initially, when you started, did you have to push past fear? How did you do that?

Fear and anxiousness were certainly barriers I had to push past when I started doing improv. The key ended up being trusting my teammates to support me. I learned that improv is a team sport and realizing I wasn’t alone helped tremendously. I still feel anxious sometimes, but I think that nervous energy catapults me into some very fun and interesting performances.

Jay Miller…..sexy black and white version!

4. Teen horror films always seems to have that one moment the audience rolls there eyes and says, “why would you do that?” What was a moment when you were a teen you look back on and think, “why would you do that?”

Oof. I mean, I was a teenager, so I roll my eyes at pretty much everything I did back then. One example is my incredibly angsty MySpace page. I’m glad that site crashed and burned because I never want to see that profile again.

5. What would be something someone would be surprised to know about you as a teenager?

I wasn’t a people person in the slightest. I hated being the center of attention and avoided as human contact as much as possible. That’s still mostly true, actually, except for when I’m performing.

6. If you had to be shipwrecked on a deserted island, but all your human needs—such as food and water—were taken care of, what two items would you want to have with you?

Tough one. I’d go for a sleeping bag and a tent. Might as well be able to sleep comfortably if I’m stranded!

“Did you just see that improvised show! I nearly died!”

7. What’s your favorite horror film?

You’re going to make me pick my favorite? Okay. If I have to choose, there’s a horror-comedy called Gravy (2014) that has a special place in my heart. It wasn’t a critical or box office hit but I’ve always loved it to death. If we’re strictly talking horror movies, IT (2017) is still one of my favorites. I’m a huge Stephen King fan and I think the 2017 adaption was incredible.

Honorable Mentions Treehouse (2019), Get Out (2017), Us (2019) Scream (1996), Cabin in the Woods (2011), The Thing (1982), Psycho (1960), Dude Bro Party Massacre III (2015) and countless others that we really don’t have time to list. Trust me, picking my favorite out of all of these is near impossible.

8. Why did you want to direct Teen Slasher?

Teen Slasher has always been my favorite Blacktop Show. Horror and comedy are my favorite genres, period. They’re both difficult genres to execute well but garner incredible audience reactions when done right. Doing both at the same time and succeeding? That’s been a dream of mine for a long time. Did I succeed? You’ll have to see the show and find out for yourself.

9. How many times have you been in Teen Slasher? What's been your favorite memory?

Geez. That’s really tough, considering my bogus memory. The closest estimation I can manage is that I’ve been in five or so years of teen slasher. This is our ninth year performing the show and while I wasn’t planning on performing initially, you just might see me in the Halloween night show. That would make six!

A Halloween comedy that offers a step and repeat?! We have it at Blacktop!

10. What has surprised you about directing  Teen Slasher?

It surprised me how much I had to sharpen up my communication skills to direct effectively and bring my personal vision to life. I’m good at communicating in other parts of my life, improv included but directing required a new level of communication entirely. I’ve certainly grown a great deal from it. 

11. You've been in five shows… So you must know, what's the secret of getting the blood off your skin and clothes? Any tips on getting blood out of clothes, hair, or skin?

Yeah, that’s always fun. Clothes require a cold soak, followed by a cold wash. No hot water. None. I can’t stress that enough. For skin and hair, you just need a few gentle washes. It might take a handful to get the reddish color out, but rest assured that you will!

12. What's one tip you would give another improviser interested in genre work?

The most basic advice I have is to learn to tell a story. Just about every genre comes down to telling a story, so understanding how narrative structure works will help you in every genre show you do. All that’s left after that is to learn the genre you want to perform by watching whatever you can to inspire you. Some genres tweak narrative structure a bit, so look for those changes and note any tropes you see popping up in those genres a lot.

In short, if you put in the time to understand the narrative structure and the specific genre you’re emulating, it’ll take you a LONG way.

13. Advice for future Teen Slasher directors?

Have a vision in mind and make sure you’re putting the performers through exercises that help them make that vision a reality. Also, make time to hear the performers’ ideas. They’re performing the show and might have insights that weren’t apparent to you. That was certainly the case for me!

How to Be a Comedian: Listen to Successful Comics

If you're thinking of jumping on stage and becoming a comedian, you should! There are lots of open mics in Sacramento and Placer in 2019. In fact, we have two open mics every week at Blacktop Comedy. While you have plenty of opportunities to get on stage, you might also be wondering, "how to become a comedian"? It's a great question, and every comics path is different but it begins at the same point. 

One-Step Stand-Up Process

There's not a seven-step process to becoming a comedian, a five-step process, or even a two-step process. There's one step.  It all starts with desire. Desire to make people laugh and share your thoughts with an audience. Feel that desire, listen to that voice, trust your instinct, and do it. Just do it. That's the step.

Are you scoffing? Rolling your eyes?” Muttering, "Great. Thanks, Paul for that inspirational pep talk. Got it. Do it? What wisdom!"

I understand. It does sound simple, but it's true. Getting on stage for the first time is a monumental challenge. It can be the hardest part. Personally, I waited 4 years before I had the courage to step onstage. Yikes. Don't do that! Believe me. I regret waiting.

Let's pretend you did it! Congratulations! You made people laugh, or maybe you made no one laugh….  but you still gave it a shot and that counts for everything! The second time is easier. And, believe me, you’ll probably want to get back up there. Did you feel that rush of endorphins onstage? It’s addictive.

How to Become Great

Now comes the hard part...becoming a better comedian, creating new jokes, and fine-tuning the material you already have. I think many people who ask, "how can I be a comedian," really mean, "how can I be a GREAT comedian?"

Luckily, you don’t have to just listen to me. I brought in the professionals. I asked comedians who are killing to share some comedy advice. They all started at local open mics, love what they do, and perform regularly. These are the people you want to listen too, and I’ve compiled their wisdom here, for you (and for me! I got a lot out of this too. Thank you so much John, Wendy, Becky, Al, Josh, Drew, Benton, Aurora, Luke, Jack, and )

Stand Up Comedy Tips. 

I asked, "What do you wish you knew when you began stand up?" and their answers blew me away. Thoughtful and insightful comedy insights. Enjoy!

Make friendships look around you at the mic you are standing at now. Find the circle of comics walk up to them and introduce yourself. Friendships will take you past the starting line of comedy before your talents will.

Johnny Casino

Don't forget to have fun. It doesn't matter city or venue appreciates that someone booked you for a show. Be kind even to the assholes it helps you sleep better. Be on time but don't be a pushover. Thank your crowd they are why you have the ability to call yourself a comedian so just go be funny and try your best.  Don't be a dick in anyone eye copays are too expensive for that nonsense. Love Mama Wendy

Wendy Lewis

One, study the greats. Great basketball players study shot form; great architects analyze past construction. Why should comedy be any different? Pay attention to what makes a joke work well and incorporate those same ideas into your jokes. Maybe it’s a tone of voice, a style of act-out, a moment of vulnerability. Whatever it is, use it!

Two, be your unique self! Everyone has used Tinder, but has everyone else gotten detention for reading a Bible in class? Did everyone else grow up on food stamps and think there was a separate economy for food-based purchases versus non-food purchases? Share the perspectives, opinions, and life experiences that make you who you are.

Three, when something in life makes you laugh, write it down. Your job is then to take that funny idea and put the audience in the same context as you when you laughed at it so they can laugh at it too. If they don’t laugh at something that made you laugh, work harder on setting them up so they experience the thought the same way you did.

Four, be a reporter. Don’t stop at the funny idea/premise. Ask the Ws: Who, What, Why, Where, How, When and build a better joke. “Nevada is ranked 51st in education” is a funny joke, but answering questions like “Why are they ranked so low?” “What was it like learning in the 51st ranked state?” are where you find the best jokes and really turn an idea into a real bit.

Drew Shafer

I would say the best advice I can give to someone who wants to take it more seriously is to stick with it. There is going to be a times (especially when you first start) that’s it’s not going to go well, but you have to learn to just brush it off and keep going. Don’t get discouraged by a bad set; everyone has them. I know it comes off a little cliché, but it’s true. The only way to get better is to keep at it.

Jack Scotti

One, write as often as possible.  Every day if possible. Every time you get an idea or the thought for a joke, write it down.  Try to take between 30 – 60 minutes a day and just sit somewhere where it is nice and quiet and write.

Two, go to as many open mics as you can.  There seems to be an open mic just about every night of the week.  Sometimes multiple mics on the same night. Try to get as much stage time as possible.

Three, when you go to an open mic, have a plan.  Before you go, set a goal for the night. Do you want to do only your new material?  Work out jokes you’ve been struggling with? Go with a plan in mind and stick with it.

Four, be supportive.  Go to a show that you are not on.  Go to open mics. Introduce yourself to fellow comedians, producers and venue managers.  Be nice and courteous. If you go to a show that you are not on, stay out of the way. Stay out of the green room.  Just sit in the audience and enjoy the show

Five, don’t be a jerk.  This should be a no brainer but needs to be said.  Be nice to people especially other comedians, producers, venue managers etc.  If you come across as cocky or jerk, nobody is going to want to work with you or put you on their show.  So yeah, be nice to people because you never know where other comedians are going to end up in a few years.  They may end up managing the comedy club or be the next big up and coming producer. Trust me, if you are a jerk, they WILL remember you.

Six, don’t run the light.  Let’s say you are at an open mic and you get 5 minutes.  When you get the light, wrap up and get off the stage. Don’t try and cram in the rest of your material.  If you are on a booked show, the same rule applies. If you are on a show, when you get the light, wrap up and get off the stage.  The biggest pet peeve that venue managers have is comedians that run the light. They will notice if you take advantage of the time given you.  Just don’t do it.

Morty Stein

There are so many things I wish I knew when I started comedy. The number one thing I wish I knew was : Don’t try to be funny. Be yourself and speak your truth. The reason a lot of us get into comedy is because when something bad or good happens, we tend to start laughing. Maybe because we’re a little sick in the head, but I think it’s because, at that moment, we feel like everything is out of our control and we just have to throw our hands up, take it, laugh, and move on. Showing that vulnerability in an honest way is funny. The way you explain your truth is your voice. The moment you stop trying to be like what you “think” a comedian should be is when audiences will respect you and, dare I say, laugh. Also, move the mic stand behind you if you pull the mic out of it. It upstages you and is distracting!

Aurora Singh

I would say get up on stage as much as possible. Professional comics have told me 10 times a week is not enough. I know where we live it can be tough to even get on stage 3-4 times a week. But having two mics a week at Blacktop certainly helps!

Also record EVERY set, and label the recordings. Listen to them, refine your stuff. This is the work part. It sucks, but it helps a lot. Don't worry about hating the sound of your own voice, that's normal. 

Write detailed notes. It sucks to write a good idea down and then not be able to find it later. It doesn't matter if you use a notepad, sticky notes, or an app on your phone, just be organized

Luke Soin

Be yourself but be different.  Comedy is crazy, it's not like any other day job or hobby. You're in control of your own destiny. There are no guidelines to stand-up. You don't have to wait around for comedy clubs to start giving you work, you can create your own shows, make friends with comics who put on their own shows, there are so many different outlets nowadays that you can forge your own path.

And if you ever feel like you're getting comfortable on stage, change something about your set. Sit on the stool and tell some jokes, open with your closer and close with your second-best joke instead, etc. Putting yourself in uncomfortable positions can bring out the best in you, and is a great way of learning how to be better in different environments

Josh Means

Learn how to bomb a single joke without it taking your whole set down. Just acknowledge the joke bombed in a way that's funny and shows you're okay with it, and let it strengthen your connection to the audience rather than weaken it. You can cross it off your list, promise not to do it again, claim you bout it off that $5 website, whatever, just make sure you don't let it plunge you into a flop.

Also, quit worrying about being hack. You can be the most shockingly original comic since Emo Phillips later, for now, go ahead an be a hack. You're learning to stand on stage, handle a mic, project your voice, time a joke. Get all that down, and then you can work on making sure your true, unique voice is coming through all of the time.

Keith Lowell Jensen

Teen Slasher is Back!

It's time to grab a poncho, and head to Blacktop Comedy. Teen Slasher 2019 is here!

Teen Slasher is our annual blood-soaked love letter to horror films, and specifically teen slasher films. You know the type. Where teens are making lots of bad choices, taking showers at inopportune time, walking into backyards alone, and insisting, "there can't possibly be a killer in the neighborhood."

Well, there is a killer in the neighborhood, and he/she/they are different every night at Teen Slasher! Every show is improvised. Every killer is different and inspired by audience suggestions. Yes! Your choices help our improvisers live, die, and... just maybe.... get help. It's always a new show full of surprises. Live comedy where everyone may not make it out alive. And, this Halloween, it's getting sequel-y-ier! The director, Jay Miller, came up with a brilliant idea for this years show.....sequels. Every Slasher is a sequel to a fictional original film. That's right! You'll be watching an improvised sequel to a movie that doesn't even exist.

Who would undertake such a...ummm....undertaking? Six incredible improvisers: Christina Duran, Kevin Scott Brown, Austin Jansma, Jay Brundage, Jason Alviar, and Jessica Deprez.

I had a chance to sit down, ask them a few questions about improv, horror films, and what they've learned creating Teen Slasher the Halloween Improv Horror Comedy Spectacular that Shan't Be Missed (a working title I suggested and Jay Miller, correctly shortened).

1. How long have you been improvising?

Teen Slasher photo shoot fun. We got some looks at the park.

Jessica Deprez

Christina Duran (CD): About 1.5 years

Jessica Deprez (JD): Since 2007

Jeff Brundage (JB): 2 years.

Kevin Scott Brown (KSB): I started doing it in my Freshmen year of college, in 2001, but I didn't start taking it seriously until 2006.  

Austin Jansma: (AJ):  I started improvising in late 2015; so probably 4-ish years now.

Jason Alviar (JA): Since 2016, so about three, three-and-a-half years or so.

2. How did you get started?

Austin Jansma

CD: My mom found a facebook ad of blacktop and I went to Thursday (game night at the time) playground.

JD: I wanted to take a class to help me through a difficult grieving process. The person who had passed had been egging me to take an improv class for years because they thought I would really enjoy the class. So I enrolled as a way to heal. And it turns out that I was pretty OK at it in the beginning. 

JB: I originally took a class to help my stand up and ended up enjoying imorov more than stand up. 

KSB:  I had just been dumped by my first ever major girlfriend and a lot of my friends at this time were theater majors so they made me go to their improv club to have fun and forget about my problems. After that, I was hooked. 

AJ: I started attending Blacktop comedy to progress in my journey as an actor.

JA: My partner would go to Blacktop’s Improv Playgrounds and I would sit in the car waiting for her.  Then one day I joined in and haven’t stopped.

3. So many people are scared to improvise, and think, “I can’t do this.” Initially, when you started, did you have to push past fear? How did you do that?

Kevin Scott Brown

CD: Because my first improv experience was a playground there are more games and everyone knows how to interact with a game. When I started doing long-form I was more at ease because I knew my scene partners would support me and I would support them so it's less scary with a kind of friend.

JD: Oh dear, yes! I was TERRIFIED. I had anxious breakdowns before class because I was afraid I wasn't good enough, or people would hate what I said, or did. Or I would offend someone beyond belief. It was a lot of EGO and FEAR that dominated my thoughts in the beginning. The way I pushed past that fear was becoming open and vulnerable with my fellow classmates. We were all beginners, and as it turned out, we were all a bit terrified! Building up trust helped me get through those first few classes. 

And SURE. I still get terrified, and I still get nervous, and I still have moments of 'oh-mi-gawd-im-gonna-be-terrible-and-everybody-hates-me', but in the end, I know that whatever happens on stage, I will 100% have my fellow performer's and audience's backs, and they will 100% have mine.

JB: Absolutely, I still have to push back fear but it’s a lot easier now. I just remind myself that it’s going to be fun and I trust my brain and team to help me if I get stuck.

KSB:  Yeah. I would say so. It was a combination. You can't push pass it alone. You need the support of the people around you. You also need to believe in yourself and believe in the people your on stage with. 

AJ: Well, even to this day I have a little bit of fear, or pregame jitters, before getting on stage to perform, and I think that's healthy. But once I’m up there on stage, the fear starts to just roll away. Now have a job to do - have fun and support my friends on stage.

JA: I’m a naturally introverted and shy person, especially when it comes to new things and new people. But the moment you just let loose in front of supportive people (especially the folks at Blacktop) it gets easier and easier, and eventually, you just forget about being afraid and focus on having fun.

4. Teen horror films always seems to have that one moment the audience rolls there eyes and says, “why would you do that?” What was a moment when you were a teen you look back on and think, “why would you do that?”

Christina Duran

CD: Trying to take part of my high school boyfriends' extracurricular and hobbies even though I hated most of them like biking so I could spend extra time with him even though I pretty much knew he wouldn't do the same to spend time with me.

JD: Hooboy. Ok. I was the kid that refused to take off their black leather jacket in class. It might've been 'cool' if I was fashion forward, or I wasn't constantly drowning in my jacket. I was legit cold, nearly ALL the time. So you would've thought 'GET A BETTER SWEATER' but oh no. not me. I mean. Why do I need a better sweater, when I have a perfectly good leather jacket laying around?!

JB: I had long blue hair for a few months

KSB: Man. That was so long ago. I remember going on a date to the State Fair and we walked (since neither of us had a car) to the Arden Mall. It was a long walk and not the best date, overall.  

AJ: I did stupid stuff to try and impress people that I would never see again thinking it would make them like me.

JA: One time my friend and I were play fighting before 9th grade English, and I kicked him square in the nuts. I didn’t mean to, but I look back and think why were you play fighting in the first place? And why in English? Why any of it?

5. What would be something someone would be surprised to know about you as a teenager?

Jeff Brundage

CD: I took defensive driving after I got my license so I got to go on a training course to drive trough cones backward and hydroplane on a skid pan.

JD: I performed approximately 150 hours of community service every year.

JB: I was in band for a year. 

KSB: I didn't go to any of social events (dancing, sports games, ect) at my school, expect homecoming in my senior year. I was at home playing Goldeneye and babysitting my brother.

AJ: As a teenager I hated cats. I currently have one sitting on my lap and I’m loving every minute of it.

JA: I went through a really “emo” phase in 11th grade, I had a long bang, wore tight band shirts and skinny jeans. I would play sappy pop-punk songs on my guitar.

6. What’s your favorite horror film?

Jason Alviar

CD: The Orphanage (2007).

JD: A Tale of Two Sisters, directed by Kim Jee-woon has had the honor for a re-heally long time.  

JB: Devils Rejects

KSB:  Of all time? The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920). For a more modern film? Rosemary's Baby or Get Out.  

AJ: That’s a very hard question. I have a wide range of horror films in my collection for different reasons. I have almost every Sir Alfred Hitchcock film because I believe he was the master of misdirection. I also have a lot of classics like The Exorcist, Friday the 13th (1-4), Silence of the Lambs, and much more. If I had to choose a favorite though, I would go with American Psycho.

JA: As of late, I’ve been really digging the Scream series.  But all-time favorite would have to be the original (and maybe the second) Paranormal Activity movies.

7. Teen Slasher has been around for eight years! And this year Jay Miller created some all-new, and it sounds brilliant. Every performance is an improvised sequel to an original movie ...that has never been made. The audience supplies the title, and you and the cast perform the sequel to the movie. I can’t wait to see the show. What attracted you to being a part of Teen Slasher?

CD: I like all the shows at blacktop. Jay and playing with blood make it extra special.

JD: I've always wanted to participate in Teen Slasher since its inception! I love the horror genre so much, and it is such an honor to be cast this year.

JB: Someone messaged me and told me I should audition so I did and here I am. 

KSB:  I really enjoy bringing something new and different to the stage that people haven't seen before and making lasting memories. Even though we been doing it for over 10 years, I enjoy the challenge of making a show that feels fresh. And there's the blood. The blood is fun.  

AJ: i had watched Teen Slasher for 2 years prior to joining the team and it always looked like so much fun. You can see the cast members smiling and having a grand old time. Last year I had the honor of auditioning and being offered a part in Teen Slasher and what I had seen for 2 years was so true. It was so much fun! You could be the hero, the villain, or some random character that moved the story forward. Also, you got to cover the audience in fake blood. It’s like you are making a 3d horror movie. 

JA: I’ve been playing with most of the cast at some capacity since I’ve started.  Teen slasher also happens to be the first real genre show I ever watched at Blacktop. So when the opportunity arose to do it this year, I had to go for it!

8. What has surprised you during the rehearsal for this Teen Slasher?

CD: The amount of running.

JD: How much fun it is to pantomime blood squirt bottles to prepare for the real thing. I will apologize in advance for those in the front rows. I will probably get lots of blood on you. 

JB: How out of shape I am! We have been extremely physical in our rehearsals and I’m always winded and out of breath fast. 

KSB:  How well the cast has been working together and taking care of each other in rehearsal. We all really do have each others back out there. 

AJ: One scene comes to mind between me and Jason. As Kevin entered the scene, he asked, ‘who are you talking to?’ I backed out of the scene as Jason’s back was turned and it appeared like my character was a figment of Jason's mind. I love that all of that happened organically, which gave depth to the show. 

JA: The amount of imagination and creativity everyone has on this team, the choices we make when we’re on stage and on the sidelines are always fun and exciting.

9. What’s been your favorite death during rehearsal?

CD: A favorite death I died was when Jes slit my throat. But my favorite death was when people were being picked off and redressed as train conductor mannequins.

JD: Mystery bear traps from the darkness!!

JB: One time we kept killing Austin’s character right away as soon as he stepped on stage and it was very funny and enjoyable. 

KSB:  Oh man. There's been so many. I would have to say the one where Jason's character was   decapitated by a bear trap and Jessica’s character holding him, saying he's going to be okay for like a minute. But he was missing his head.    

AJ: There was a scene where everyone was a ghost and we were all spinning around Jason and Christina chanting “WE NEED ONE MORE!!!”.

JA: We were doing a teen slasher that took place at an old summer camp and Austin kept coming back as characters that would keep dying by beartrap. 

10. I saw the pictures from the photoshoot. You and everyone in the cast are covered in blood. Any tips on getting blood out of clothes, hair, or skin?

CD: Cold water for clothes, and patients for getting it off the skin because it's not coming out the first time.

JD: We...we use fake blood. Are you asking about real blood? I don't... fake blood you can wash out with cold water. 

JB: The blood came off fairly easy in the shower. I still have a little blood in my pants so I’m looking for tips myself. 

KSB:  One. Don't wait. Get it cleaned sooner than later. Two. Soak and wash. Three. Wash, wash, and wash again. It will come off. Give it time. Four. Don't dry until your sure it's clean.    

AJ: Clothes: still working on that one, but I hear a cold-water rinse is the trick. Hair: shampoo x2. When it says rinse and repeat- actually rinse and repeat. Skin: Old Spice body wash and a loofah

JA: For clothes, you just soak in cold water and run the machine, hair you use shampoo. Skin. Skin has been the trickiest.  At the time of writing this I’ve had blood stains on my skin for about two days.

11. What's one tip you would give another improviser interested in genre work?

CD: Watch a lot of movies of that genre and note all the tropes.

JD: Watch movies and plays in that genre Read books! Talk to people about the genre! All base genres also have subgenres, so learn enough about the genre to know which ones really strike a cord with you. And of course, PLAY. You may discover something way more special to you through play than research.

JB: Have fun, stay out of your head, and the rest will come together.

KSB:  Be in love with the genre. It's hard to do something like this without having a love for the source martial that can transfer over to the stage. I really do love movies and espcally horror movies and this is my way to “contribute” to that culture.

AJ: Research the genre, figure out what the tropes are and play to those character types. Also, rehearsal is amazing; never take it for granted, play and hangout with your friends

JA: Know the genre as best you can, be confident, and trust in your team.