We’re in 2026. The distant future for some. Deep in the past for others. But not for us. We are suspended, like a spider at the end of a thread, in the present.

Computers are in charge and they are drinking all our water. The wealthiest people in the world are sending celebrities into space. Everything is FOR SALE. Everyone is FREAKING OUT.

The only cure: an improv newsletter written by a meat-based LLM named “Vinny”.

A Variety of Things

[VIDEO] The most difficult Super Mario level ever made?

Look, this is the kind of stuff I stay on the internet for. Someone recently said that the internet has mostly turned into four social networks with screenshots of what’s happening on the other three. Hard to disagree with that.

But this, this half-hour video about Super Mario encryption (!), is why I’m still here.

[ESSAYS] Peter’s Improv Essays

Peter Rogers is an improviser that recently moved from Austin, TX to Ottawa and is part of the group that started Wayward Improvised Theatre. They’ve been doing great work and if you get a chance to see them, do so. (Also, Austin has one of the best improv scenes in the US and it doesn’t get talked about enough.)

Peter also has a repository of seven wonderful, deep-dive improv essays available on Medium. And while some tackle subjects through an Austin-shaped lens, each one is a thoughtful gem and worth a read for improvisers of any level.

[MIXTAPE] VF 2025

I listen to a bunch of music throughout the year as I work and write and play. It helps me focus and I enjoy finding new songs to love, like seashells on the beach.

VF 2025 is my mixtape of songs released in 2025. It’s the 11th year I make such a thing and I hope you find a song or two to enjoy.

Download the album (22 songs, 72 mins, 161 MB)

Directory of all VF Mixtapes (2014 to 2025)

IMPROV TIPS

Questions from readers for this month’s tips:

== Q: Because you are super comfortable with online improv projects, are there any important points to keep in mind to create something online that is both technically viable and fun for everyone? -Janne Richard

== A: Let me start with: online improv is not for everyone. Many of us are in front of computers all day long and spending free time in front of one is a lot to ask. Especially to do something where a huge part of the appeal is connecting with people in person.

But for those of us who do enjoy it, or enjoy the challenge, or, as in many cases, it’s the only kind of improv available to us, online improv is its own form of improv joy.

Tips in point form:

• If they are all meeting each other first time, have everyone (briefly!) introduce themselves with their name, location. Invite them to add their pronouns to their usernames if they wish.

• Do a sound check. Loud or quiet users can adjust their mic input under the audio settings of either their computer or the meeting software.

• Encourage people to stand, if possible. It allows much more movement and physicality.

• Perform for the camera. This is performing for film more than on a stage. Small expressions on your face and tiny changes in body language can do much more than big gestures.

• Take a 5 minute break halfway through. Let people get water and stretch their legs.

• Practice entering and exiting “the stage” by turning on and off your camera.

Hope this helps!

== Q: How do you Start in the Middle without “setting the house on fire right away” and assure you have established the who, what, and whereabouts (CROW) of the scene? -Jane Petring

== A: (Quick explainer: I often use the term “setting the house on fire right away” when I see newer improvisers start with a major conflict in the first couple lines without setting up any kind of relationship.)

Starting in the middle means that the first line has to establish a moment in an existing story. You’re making a lot of choices and communicating them in one or two concise lines of dialogue. So it’s not just who/what/where but who/what/where/the past/the stakes/etc, all in one go. For those of you who don’t do a lot of premise-based improv, this is a very specific skill that you have to practice (ideally with feedback, but trial-and-error also works).

So if you do have a premise that starts in media res, you will likely start with the house on fire.

“Ugh! You’re making a mess!” has no specifics and just gives everyone little to work with except for negative energy. As a coach, I’d flag that and ask for more. Compare that to:

“I don’t know what you’re so upset about, Marie. The museum said they wouldn’t take BOTH children.”

With one line, you’ve gone a long way to set the relationship (parents), the mood (tense/a fight), where (at home), the past (offered children to the museum!), and the stakes (they did agree to take one!). You’ve also left plenty of room for your scene partner to do some work (What kind of museum is this, why are they taking any children, why did the speaker offer both of them??).

There’s plenty of material here and it still sounds enough like a line of dialogue without feeling like a paragraph of narrative dump. The key is that there’s a lot implied about the relationship, the history, and the setting here that it doesn’t feel like an empty offering. The trick is to be open to whatever your scene partner infers which may not line up exactly.

This kind of opening is hard to do elegantly, clearly, and off-the-cuff which is why it takes practice.

_{[PS: Writing sample improv dialogue is THE WORST precisely because it’s not improvised and we all judge it accordingly.]}

EVENTS & THINGS

We’ve got two online classes starting this weekend at Improv College and both of them only have a couple spaces left!

1) Fiona is teaching Out of the Ordinary (starts Sun Jan 18), a chance to explore unusual characters and location in your improv scenes. Break out of your improv rut and channel your bizarro side! Register here.

2) I’m teaching Intro to Dramatic Improv (starts Sat Jan 17), which stretches our acting chops, gets into some emotional work, and elevates our comedy (no joke!) Register here.

An Interesting Wikipedia Page: Alan Smithee

As always, you can email me more reader questions at: hivinnyfrancois@gmail.com!

L8r sk8rs,

Vinny