Woody's Words of Wisdom

Brainne Edge isn't just ComedySportz UK's founder and manager. She is also a lecturer in Performance and Improvisation at Salford University and the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts where she recently attended an acting masterclass with Hollywood actor Woody Harrelson. Here's what he had to say about improvisation in acting...

LIPA gets a lot of interesting performers through their doors to chat to it's students and I was lucky enough to be present for the recent master class with Woody Harrelson. Something I'm always keen to learn about (or at least, to have reaffirmed) is the use of improv in the creation of Films. It's well documented about how much improvisation can be used in the formation or devising of theatre, but less is written or discussed about its use in film making (although it has gained more press in the last few years).

I was excited that I didn't even need to ask any questions about improv, Harrelson brought it up himself with no prompting – and as I was sat there with 100 of my improv students I was rather pleased he did. Here are some of the things he stressed.

"Don't play safe."

One of the first things he was keen to hammer home was to get out of your comfort zone as a performer. "Don't play safe." He went on to discuss how he would like to try things out on set. "It's always best to play larger at first and be brought back than to bring very little with you to start with". The idea of throwing so much at the wall and seeing what sticks and what new elements you can find. Not being afraid to put yourself out there and try things out. Play.

"Get to the point where you can improvise with the character."

In regards to the characters he plays and explores (his favourite he confessed to us was in a recent film: 'The Messenger' playing Captain Tony Stone) he stresses how important it is to get inside the character so much that you can improvise with the character and it feel true to the depth of that person.

"It's a critical part of acting. Relaxation and improv."

Do I need to add any more? It was great to hear a well established actor discuss how important relaxation is in creation, maintaining and delivery of a character. It's something I strive to do while teaching improv, I think being able to relax is key to a good embodiment of a character. Not to say if you're nervous you're not doing it right but relax enough that you can trust yourself to play and go with your gut.

So basically, even when you have a script in front of you improvisation is useful – even vital! We know this anyway. But for so many things not just the creation of narrative but the development of richer, more interesting characters. The training I provide at LIPA for their BA in Acting and Community Drama has already shown such great results. Improvisation is almost assumed in a lot of contexts, assumed in so much that it's expected for an actor to be ABLE to improvise. Most can of course, but the background training in ways to use these techniques is crucial, in my mind, to help the actor develop and relax into character.

Again, it was fantastic to sit amongst my students and feel validated in all the work we had done together and to help put it in more of a context. Cheers, Woody.