As I write this, I'm flying to Vancouver which is a stop on the way to the Philippines for the 2026 Manila Improv Festival. Last year, I set a personal goal to visit at least one international festival each year. I was lucky enough to be invited to Oslo in 2025, and this year: Manila. Because that's a long way to go for one week, I added on a week in Hanoi to teach and perform with the wonderful Improv Hub. Big thank you to both the crew of the Manila Fest and Lê Kim Thanh for welcoming me so warmly.

I don't know exactly what to expect as it's my first time in Asia but I’m eager to learn and watch! And, of course, eat very well.

A Variety of Things

[MOVIE] PROJECT HAIL MARY

Saw this yesterday. It runs over two and a half hours and somehow it really doesn't feel like too long (ok, maybe I’d prefer it to be just a leeeetle touch shorter).

It’s a sci-fi buddy movie that has the usual delicate balance of comedy and drama from directors Lord & Miller (21 Jump Street, The Lego Movie). Even then, it's way funnier than I expected and Ryan Gosling is one of a very small number of actors that convincingly manage both impeccable hilarity with sincere vulnerability.

The practical effects are stellar, the story has everything you might want, and the relationship at the core of it all is more than worth the ride. I am still thinking about this movie 24 hours later and maybe I love it more with each passing moment? Ask me again later.

[MUSIC] ANGINE DE POITRINE

Maybe you've seen these interstellar music weirdos in your algorithms already. If you haven't, here they are now. I don't really have a great way to describe them other than to share my favourite YouTube comment about them: "Finally, music 2 has dropped."

Think microtonal math-rock with a healthy dose of performance art that will both mystify you and have you bopping your head in equal measures. At first you’re like ??? but soon enough you are !!!. They are from Quebec and we cannot escape them here. Nor do we wish to.

[ARTICLE] The Tao of Play, an improv essay by Yuehan Liu

I read this piece last month examining six Chinese idioms that can apply to improv. It’s written with a clarity and elegance that I adore. Plus, I learned a bunch of stuff (one of my fave activities).

IMPROV TIP INFO

Instead of a tip, this month I want to talk to the subscribers living Quebec (though perhaps it may inspire others to do somethign similar in their own regions?). I want to talk about Improvisation Québec.

Improvisation Québec is a brand new, grassroots, non-profit org with a few goals that are dear to me:
- Establish improv as an eligible funding/grant category in the arts with the QC government.
- Provide tools and best practices to emerging and established QC improv communities.
- Connect improv performers, teachers, and administrators throughout QC with one another in French and English.

ImproQC (coz me no lyk typ mor) is just a wee bairn. The first ever general assembly was last June in Quebec City. There they established an executive council. The council has since formed several committees, and I've joined two of them: Membership and Inclusion. These committees are even newer, with our first meetings happening just this year. For both of them, we are still figuring out our mission, priorities, and first steps. Our resources consist mainly of the labour of volunteers so it won't be anything grand right away but this is a decathlon, not a high jump.

Improv is already so ingrained into Quebec society. LNI started here in 1977 and spread throughout the francophone world. We teach improv as part of our educational system. Many French High Schools have an improv team doing ligue matches and there is a small but hearty CIG organization in English. Just about every CEGEP and university has an improv team. There are multiple, large PROFESSIONAL improv organizations throughout the province where people are paid to perform, teach, and manage in the field of improv. We need a collective hub, a place to gather (figuratively, plus sometimes literally), and a forum to amplify ideas and resources.

So if you are into growing improv in Quebec, and you want to register as a member, go to: https://impro.quebec/. It's 25$ for the year to support what we do and you’ll be invited to this year’s general assembly in Montreal (Sat Jun 6, 1-4pm @ JIM).

More news as I have it but don't be shy to email me if you have more questions or want to get involved (hivinnyfrancois@gmail.com).

EVENTS & THINGS

[Montreal Show - FR] J'aime l'impro

Ton spectacle favori qui tourne autour l’amour est de retour @ Aux Angles Ronds, le 16 avril, 20h

[Montreal Show - EN] Here Comes The Judge

TSC is bringing back Theatresports to Montreal. I’ll be a judge for the show on April 12 at 7:00pm. Would love to see ya there!

[Online class - EN] New class alert!

I’m bringing back Advanced Scenework in May where we get to practice multiple skills at once, get direct feedback, and just work on making our scenes better. Specfic skills? NO! Do good work? YES! As always, there are equity prices. But if you’re priviliged out the wazoo, you can also use code NEWSLETTER30 to take 30$ off the full price (total 90$ CAD for 4 weeks of classes!)

An Interesting Wikipedia Link: Ida Lewis

L8r sk8rs,

Vinny