#40 Cool, eclectic & joyous
Issue #40 Cool, eclectic & joyous
14th December 2022
Seasonal greetings, pals!
I am back at my desk, huddled next to the steady drone of a portable heater, having just returned from the magical snow lands of Devon.
The Virtual Reality residential event we ran was incredible, filled with scintillating company, gorgeous food and pitch-perfect improv. And sure, some of the technology exploded in a shower of virtual pixels. Still, such setbacks did little to dampen our mood nor our delight in exploring something so cutting edge with such talented fellow improvisers. Thank you to everyone who came out and supported us.
The year is winding down for me - just one more in-person class tonight and a couple of virtual coaching sessions before I'm in full relaxation mode. That takes the form of looking up various Best Films of 2022 lists and catching up with as many as possible. Utter bliss!
If you'd like to share a festive gift with me, could you reply and tell me what YOUR films of the year are?
Currently, I'm enjoying the following pop-culture treats...
Rule of three
[Films] Chris Miller and Phil Lord
These two are directors, writers and/ or producers of many of my absolute favourite films and TV shows. They encourage a loose, improvisational atmosphere on set and the results invariably hit the dead centre of what I find funny (and moving). If you are unfamiliar, let me recommend Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, The Lego Movie and Into the Spider-Verse. Also, check out this trailer for the Spider-Verse sequel. It already has more heart and spectacle than a dozen by-the-numbers superhero movies.
[AI] ChatGPT
I doubt the existence of ChatGPT comes as a surprise to anyone on this mailing list. It's a prototype artificial intelligence chatbot which specialises in dialogue. It's free to interact with, and the results are stunning.
Here's me talking to it about improv.
[Music] Ryan Millar's Christmas playlist
Ryan Millar is a talented improviser, speaker, author and MC. I was lucky enough to work with him when he lived in London, and I am still an avid reader of his excellent newsletter. Every year, Ryan creates a beautiful playlist of Christmas music that effortlessly sidesteps the obvious and instead offers cool, eclectic & joyous choices. You can listen here on Spotify or Apple Music.
Spotlight
Next year, I'm helping to bring Kevin Miller's brilliant Pints & PowerPoints show to the London improv community. It's already a massive success at Boom Chicago in Amsterdam. Here's a message from Kevin.
Pints & PowerPoints, the world’s best PowerPoint-based variety show, has its London debut at Hoopla on Tuesday 31st January, and we’re seeking submissions! The show concept is simple: presenters have five minutes each to deliver a PowerPoint they’ve created about literally anything. There’s an audience award for the best PowerPoint, and pickle juice punishments for going over time.
The only requirement to perform is a topic you’d be passionate about presenting. Maybe you’d like to rant about an underrated movie or an overrated book; perhaps you have a peculiar expertise. Past topics have included an introduction to tornadoes; the metabolism of Sonic the Hedgehog; the 2002 Olympic ice-skating scandal; and many, many more.
Submit your idea today at http://bit.ly/powerpints. Have a question? Message us via Facebook or Instagram at @powerpints, or email powerpints@happywaffle.com.
Longform thoughts
"An improv stage.
Two performers prepare to enter.
Between them, an infinite number of worlds collapse and reform. Possibilities beyond comprehension.
Now, they step onto the stage and look at each other.
And that great roiling infinity of choices collapse into the merely trillions.
One performer sighs. The other inclines their head.
The number of possible scenes shrink still further into the billions.
Each passing moment translates more of the show from the potential into the real.
Until finally it ends.
And now there’s only one possibility remaining.
The show you did."
Read An improv show is a diamond in which I talk about the roads not taken.
Radio Days
Radio has had a stressful week losing his one and only fully-formed testicle. For such a life-changing operation, he honestly doesn't mention it that often but he does have to wear this fetching medical one-piece to stop him from licking his stitches.
PS - That's the portable heater I mentioned at the beginning of this email.
PPS -
