Sprezzatura #7 - A Nostalgia For The Present
Hello, friends.
I've been enjoying so many things lately. I'm watching The Sopranos for the first time. There's a new Beatles song out. I've got so many great ideas for Magic: the Gathering decks. I'm reading books again! I pretty much stopped through the pandemic but I can hold a book and read it and enjoy it.
I hope you're finding joy in things from days past.
TV SHOW: Jury Duty
12 people are chosen for jury duty in a case with a judge, lawyers, and everything that goes with it. Except all of them but one are actors. It's The Truman Show on a small scale. The show goes out of its way to take care of Ronald, the non-actor, which is what makes me like this more than Nathan Fielder's Rehearsal which I rate only as "cromulent".
MUSIC: Post Malone, Nirvana Livestream
Early in the pandemic Post Malone held a COVID fundraiser by live-streaming him and a band (Travis Barker on drums!) covering Nirvana songs. I've never been a Posty fan but these covers sounds great and surprised me with how much I liked them.
GAME: The Frog Detective Mysteries
He's the #2 detective in town and he's on the case! There's not much actual game here but there are three mysteries to solve by interviewing some fantastic and hilarious characters. Each one is short and sweet while featuring some of the funniest and most charming writing I've ever come across. Huge recommend!
IMPROV TIP
I was coaching some duos this week and one note that came up was: "Let your physical distance mirror your emotional distance."
When your characters are being honest, vulnerable, and intimate, let them get close together. Hold hands, sit next to one another. When they are emotionally distant or angry with each other, move far apart. It is often more powerful to show the audience what's happening than it is to say it. They will see how you're feeling, even if it's only on a subconscious level.
So get closer or further to your scene partner to echo the emotions at play. It creates great stage pictures, gives the scene some movement, and underlines what's happening between characters.
EVENTS
Not much to plug this issue other than our ongoing podcast series, Learn Real Good. This week's episode is about accessibility in video games with Georgia Loewen, a biosystems engineer out of Carleton University on Ottawa.
Also, I'll be watching the final (for the foreseeable future) show of This & That this coming Tuesday Nov 7 if you're in Montreal (tickets). It's a loss for the local scene that they're taking an indefinite break but totally appreciate the work they've done to create a great comedy space (and self-care rules!). Way to go, team! Feel free to say hello if you see me there.
An Interesting Wikipedia Page: Ictíneo I
L8r sk8rs,
Vinny