11 Improv Tips from a Galaxy Far, Far Away… Continued
This is Part 2 of some of my favorite moments of Darth Vader stepping into his true Improvisational Storytelling power. Read Part 1 here.
So let’s Hyperjump to the 2nd half of our list.
The sixth principle Darth Vader would want all improvisers to understand is:
6. “Yes And”…
After a silly Captain lets the Millennium Falcon slip away, the captain makes a bold stand and says he will accept full responsibility.
Darth Vader clearly and fully supports the captain’s decision, and “Yes And’s” him with the full power of the force… by choking him.
And then Darth takes his “Yes And” to the next level. He accepts Captain’s apology while leaning over his dead body.
7. Name Characters Onstage
What was that Darth? Did you just use that insignificant character’s name? That’s right!
Darth Vader teaches us here to endow and label other characters with names. It tells us more about the character. Let’s us refer to them again later.
Calling him Captian Needa lets us know his surname as well as his rank. That’s useful, and fun.
Thanks, for the specifics, Darth!
8. Destruction is Weak, Creation is All
When speaking to a doubting member of the Imperial fleet in a stuffy board meeting on the Death Star, Darth Vader said:
“Don’t be too proud of this technological terror you’ve constructed. The ability to destroy a planet is insignificant next to the power of the Force.”
While the ability to destroy a planet or an improv scene may seem incredibly powerful, it pales in comparison to the force – the power to create and play, and build scenes, places, and even entire worlds. So Darth says use the force! Use your creative powers of imagination! Thanks, Darth!
9. Practice
Darth Vader knew the path to mastering something was practice.
“When I left you, I was but the learner. Now I am the master.”
But how did Darth Vader become a master? Practice, practice, practice.
He put in his 10,000 hours in Jedi training and the Clone Wars, so that by the time he started wearing his fancy black suit, he was a master.
Practice! You must learn everything you can, but you must practice to become a master.
Take good classes, but practice on your own outside of class! Practice with friends and family or roommates.
Practice with our “Become an Improv Wizard” Online Course, our “Yes And Yourself” Improv Power Course or our other Improv Practice play along videos.
You can even mini-practice with our free #ImprovWeekly prompts on Instagram and Tiktok!
Whatever works for you!
10. Denial = Death
Very simply put, Obiwan Denys Darth Vader, and therefore must die.
Obiwan denies with “Only a master of Evil, Darth”
Extreme? Yes. But commitment? YES!
(Do not kill your scene partners if they deny you. In our Galaxy, this is not only bad manners, but also severely punishable by law.)
11. Believe in Yourself and the Process
It’s no question Darth Vader would find doubt in his creative abilities disturbing.
He believed deeply in his creative process, and states clearly that a lack of faith can really make things more difficult.
“I find your lack of faith disturbing.” -Darth Vader
You must believe in yourself and in the creative process… How do you believe in yourself?
By learning and doing. By practicing. By gaining experience. By proving to yourself each step of the way that you can do it. Baby steps. Only then can you have the faith to dive in and create. Thanks Darth! I believe in you too, buddy!
So that’s it! Darth Vader’s 11 improv lessons he taught us while ‘Yes Anding’ his way through a galaxy far, far away.
Thanks Darth!
So get out there and play, practice, create and share. And may the force be with you!
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Want MORE Practice?!
Of course you do!
Here’s a short Fan the Flames Play-Along video clip from our online improv course “Become an Improv Wizard”.
We cover this concept and many, many more along with several Play-Along videos to practice with.
In this video sample, we’ll give you a short prompt, and you play along like your our scene partner, and FAN THOSE FLAMES! Make things worse!
You’ll have 30 seconds for each response. Don’t be nice, don’t polite, really make it hurt!
If you’d like to really take it to the next level, our online improv course “Become an Improv Wizard” has many Play-Along videos, including Starting Scenes, Getting Specific, Get Emotional, Character Creating Videos, and many more.
If you want more storytelling prompts in deluxe play-along video format, check out our course “Yes And Yourself” for hours of play-along prompts for stories and practice getting specific with things.
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"Become an Improv Wizard" is a PROVEN STEP-BY-STEP ONLINE IMPROV COURSE to Build CONFIDENCE, UNLEASH CREATIVITY, and BECOME FEARLESS through Improvisation
Lincoln Hoppe is an actor, writer, director, and father of 5. He is the the Co-Founder of Improv Wizards training school and Online Courses and Co-Director of the Society Comedy Troupe.