#96 Moves and shouts and throws bananas
Issue #96 Moves and shouts and throws bananas
10th January 2024
Welcome, everyone.
So, I don't know what happened but I've suddenly got about 100 new subscribers. It can't all be from leaving Facebook.
Thanks so much for coming on this journey. And if you are a new subscriber - please let me know how you heard about it. I guess I owe someone a thank-you.
Here's what you've signed up to:
My name's Chris Mead and I'm a full-time improv performer and teacher. I also write, make podcasts and voraciously consume popular culture.
I try and keep this newsletter concise and to the point.
Not a word wasted.
Not. One. Single. Word.
Every Wednesday, you'll get THREE recommendations for things I've enjoyed that week, TWO improv-related items (something I've written and a new class I'm teaching) and ONE picture of my loyal improv hound, Radio Harold Mead.
That last one is by far our most popular feature.
I love hearing from fellow improvisers and indeed, fellow human beings, so please click reply and let me know how you're doing.
Let's begin.
Rule of three
[Film] Past Lives
I watched this in the final days of 2023 and it snuck in under the line as my favourite film of the year. It's written and directed by Celine Song in HER FEATURE DEBUT - I can't get my head around how masterful she is. Past Lives introduces us to childhood friends, Na Young and Hae Sung, who reconnect after decades apart. The narrative refuses to go where you think it will and in so doing, beautifully delineates a unique relationship with real specificity and grace.
[Music] boygenius
Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus don't need to be in a band together - their respective solo careers are going great. But boygenius is a wonderful collaboration nonetheless. Love the sound of their harmonious vocals and the self-evident skill of their collective song writing. I have a particular soft spot for their version of trad classic - The Parting Glass.
[Games] Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit
Mario Kart is the best, but I was a bit suspicious of the augmented reality version that Nintendo released a few years ago. I shouldn't have worried though, it's amazing. You use your Switch to drive a tiny, camera-equipped remote control kart around a track you've built yourself using stuff from your house. And on screen, your plastic kart is replaced by a CGI counterpart that moves and shouts and throws bananas. It's so clever, the tech is jaw-dropping but Nintendo implements everything with such economy and skill. It's hard to explain - and hopefully I won't need to explain it to many of you as I'm absolutely bringing it to multiple improv classes this year for you to experience for yourselves.
Spotlight
I'm starting the year with an experiment. I love coaching improv teams but understand there's a lot of admin involved. So I'm going to make it simple - I've got a bunch of evenings free in January and February and I'd love to coach YOUR improv team as part of a new year tune-up. I'm happy to work with you towards whatever goal you're looking for - better connections, more ambitious storytelling, ideas to make your shows more theatrical or thematically-cohesive - I've two decades of experience in improv and four decades in theatre and I'd be thrilled to help.
Click here to book a 2 hour session with me, 7-9pm UK time. You can book us a venue in London or I'm happy to coach online.
I'm pricing it at £115 for the evening which is 30% off my regular coaching rate. I'll reach out to confirm details once you've grabbed a spot.
In other news, I'll be at the Soho theatre on Thursday 11th January to watch Expats if anyone's interested in seeing some top flight improv?
Longform thoughts
DISCLAIMER: I’m not even a bit serious about any of this.
What's on your Improv In-and-Out list?
Radio contact
Radio enjoyed being an interactive element on the Mario Kart track.
PS: Has this newsletter's formatting gone a bit weird over the past few weeks? With giant images and tiny writing? If so could you drop me a note and let me know what device you're viewing it on and what email software you're using? THANKS!