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Starting a scene with two people standing there asking "who are you?" or explaining a bunch of backstory is one of the quickest ways to lose your audience. In this episode, I talk about why exposition bogs down the top of your scene and how starting in the middle of the action gives your scene immediate momentum.

This is the first in a short four episode series about the top of the scene, initiations, and base reality. I reference Truth in Comedy (linked in the show notes below) and walk through two exercises: a partner drill where one player starts a physical action and the other identifies and justifies it, and a solo version arbitrarily called Narrate This where you practice describing and justifying your own actions in real time.

Resources and downloads:

https://improvupdate.com

Truth in comedy: https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/truth-in-comedy-the-manual-for-improvisation/9781566080033.html

YouTube version of this episode: https://youtu.be/WFyTR-IJc-s

Newsletter:

https://improvupdate.com/newsletter

Chapters

00:00 Why backstory kills your scenes

00:59 Truth in Comedy and why exposition doesn't work

02:29 Start in the middle of the action

03:59 Partner exercise: identify and justify

05:26 Adding challenge by making actions illegal

06:27 Solo exercise: Narrate This

07:33 Wrap up

Downloadable content

Download the Free Post-Show Reflection Guide: Sent to your inbox when you subscribe to either newsletter (and added to the footer to each message if you're already subscribed).

Get a booklet with six exercises to help you get reps in challenging scenes called "Exercises to Ruin You"

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About

This podcast was created, written, and is hosted by Jen deHaan. You can find her bio here.

This episode was and edited and produced by StereoForest.com.

This podcast was made in British Columbia, Canada by StereoForest Podcasts.

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