Backing Into Artistickiness

Last Monday, the Monday of Independence Day Week, a new guy showed up at my Improv class. (I say "my Improv class" like it's mine, which it isn't, so I'll amend that to say "our Improv class", which it is.) The teacher introduced him as a Director, and she actually did pronounce the capital "D", because he is a Director in the sense that he directs movies. At the moment, he is directing a short film.

Our teacher explained that he was there to meet the class because she thought he might find someone he'd like to cast in his film, and we all welcomed him, not because he is The Director Who Might Cast One Of Us In His Movie, but because that's how we are. Improv is fun and reasonable human beings like to share their fun, at least most of the time.

Later, when he was leaving, the teacher pointed to me and said, "Kurt is the guy I told you about who might be good for your lead."

Gulp.

Me?

He told us a little about the project, and invited me to what he referred to as an open casting call for the project on Thursday night.

So. I went.

Reading the pages, I immediately understood the character I was auditioning to play. Divorced dad, slightly angry, doesn't get along with his ex-wife. Got it.

Once I'd read the two scenes they wanted me to read, and done a couple more exercises the Director wanted me to do on camera, they asked how long I could stay. "We just want to have you read with a few of the boys auditioning for the role of the son, and if you can stay a little longer after that, with some of the women auditioning to play the ex-wife."

I was there for two hours.

When they let me go, I felt I'd done okay...there was more I could have done to polish the performance...but I knew it was a good sign that they's asked me to stay and read with a variety of other actors. It meant they wanted to see how well the other actors played off me.

Yesterday, he called and offered me the part.

One scene will feature me fly-fishing. I have never done any fly-fishing, so before we shoot that scene, the Director will arrange for me to get some tutoring on the subject. So, I did some research on fly-fishing, and it turns out that Brad Pitt had to do the same thing to prepare for his role in A River Runs Through It.

So, I will have that in common with Brad Pitt, at least.

Life is funny that way.

Licensed to Amuse

Tonight was graduation night for my improv class.

I won't try to explain the games we played in the lab...most of them involve a degree of physicality that makes them impossible to explain in writing without painting a fine glaze on the reader's eyes; there are high levels of you-had-to-be-there in this particular soup.

I will, however, say a few words about some of the people I've begun to know through improv in the last two months: These are kind, generous, intelligent, loving people, and I am glad they're in my life. It's rare to find another person who sparks your imagination and challenges you to reach without and within for warmth and growth, which makes this group of ten such human beings absolutely extraordinary.

Our graduation "ceremony" consisted of each person in the group taking a turn sitting in the center of our circle, to listen while the group pointed out the things they enjoyed about having each of us in the class. Some of the compliments I received were what I expected - things I've seen in myself; a surprising number were unexpected...things I never considered, and it's made me realize that people often see wonderful things in us that we never notice when left to ourselves.

I need to remember that. Yes, I do.

After sitting in the circle, each person had an opportunity to say a few words about what the class meant to them. I found it hard not to be emotional...it's astonishing how much more open and unreserved I am compared to how I was eight weeks ago. I love these people, this group of people.

The class is not over for me...there will be a holiday break, one which will seem far too long, and class will resume in January. Several of my classmates will return, and others will join the group, so the dynamic will change. Of course, improv is all about embracing change and building upon the unexpected, and Jacquie, our teacher, understands that it's important for her to assemble a group of people who play well with each other. Judging from this group, that's one of her great talents, so I have no doubt that it will continue to be something I dearly love.