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Challenge Masters. Improv Resources. What’s special about the Improv Challenge?. There is no written script. It’s different every time. Teaches kids to think on their feet. No expense sheet. No side trips. No scenery in your garage in February. How do I teach Improv?. Improv games
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What’s special about the Improv Challenge? • There is no written script. • It’s different every time. • Teaches kids to think on their feet. • No expense sheet. • No side trips. • No scenery in your garage in February.
How do I teach Improv? • Improv games • Work on team-building skills. • Act out well known stories. Throw in twists. • Work on developing stories with a beginning, middle (conflict) and end (resolution). Freeze Frame. • Practice with different elements each time • Practice, practice, practice • Practice as if you were at the tournament.
Rule regarding clothing and accessories • Items of clothing worn by the team may not be used as a part of the presentation or skit. • Jewelry, hair accessories, watches, glasses, or items from team members’ pockets may not be used as props or be incorporated in any way into the presentation. • Teams cannot bring physical props or scenery other than as described in the souvenir section. Teams may not wear costumes.
Create a Skit • Skit must integrate 3 improv elements and an unexpected problem. They must also present 3 souvenirs and a Master Prop. • Skit should be an original story about a MISSION involving a mythological creature. • Discuss with your team what a Mission is. Get them to give you examples and discuss what elements make up a mission.
SKIT • The skit will be planned in front of appraisers and audience in 5 minutes or less. • The skit itself will be 5 minutes. • Points will be: • Up to 20 for originality and creativity. • Up to 20 for a clearly developed story.
Improv Element 1 - Culture • Culture = Customs, social behavior, arts, beliefs, and/or languages that are common to or characterize a specific group of humans.
Culture (page 4) • Choose 6 countries and research one culture found within each country. Can be from any time period. • These countries will be written on TDF (Tournament Date Form) and will be randomly selected in the prep area. Team won’t know their selection until right before 5 minute planning time.
Scoring - orWhat are we looking for? • Creativity of how they incorporate research about the culture- First, we want to learn facts about the culture, but we also want to see these facts presented in a creative manner. More than just a list. Up to 20 points. • Effective Integration of the culture - Show how the culture is a part of the story. Up to 30 points.
Improv Element 2 - Mythical Creature • A creature or individual without a known foundation in fact. • Teams will research mythical creatures from each of the cultures they selected and place one for each culture on the TDF. • Skit will include creature from the culture the team selected.
Scoring • Creativity of incorporation of research about Mythical Creature (MC) - Give us facts, but do it in a creative way. Show, don’t just tell. Up to 20 points. • Effective Integration of MC into the skit. Make the MC fit into the story. How is it important to the action? Up to 20 points.
Improv Element 3 - Souvenirs • Souvenirs are keepsakes that represent some aspect of a country or culture for visitors to remember. • Team will use items from materials and connectors lists to portray souvenirs from the culture in their skit. • They must portray 3 items as 3 separate souvenirs and then combine all 3 to make one Master Prop.
(page 6) • Must choose 6 different materials to list on TDF. • In the prep area, team will randomly draw 2 numbers to indicate which materials it will use. They won’t know these materials until right before their 5 minute planning time.
Team must select 6 different connectors and list them on TDF. • If the item comes on a roll, or in a container, those may also be used. • At the prep area team will randomly choose a number to indicate which connector they will use. They won’t know what it is until right before their 5 minute planning time. • Materials may not have any enhancements or alterations. Words or pictures on materials may not be incorporated into the skit.
Scoring • Each separate souvenir will receive 5 points if it is depicted as representing something in the Culture. These are gimme points - just make sure that they happen. • Creative integration of Souvenirs into skit. Show us how they are part of the story - Up to 15. • Creative use of materials in creating Master Prop. Use things in unusual ways. Up to 10. • Creative integration of Master Prop into performance. Make it part of the story - Up to 20.
Team should practice interpreting and combining the items as different “souvenirs” in different scenarios. Play the prop game - pass an item around the group and each person must act out what the prop is. It is not the creativity of the materials used, but what the team does with the materials. Spend time figuring out how to combine 3 items to make a prop that will become an important part of the story. Try various combinations Team should bring their materials in a container which will not be used in the skit.
Souvenir procedure • Teams will randomly select numbers to indicate their materials/connectors. • Immediately before planning time, announcer will tell them which souvenirs they will be using. • Team will remove those items from their container. The remaining items may not be used. • Souvenirs may be altered during planning time but must be 3 distinct, separate items. • At end of planning time, but before start of skit, team will place souvenirs in performance area to integrate at time of their choosing. • After 3 souvenirs have been presented individually, team will put them together as Master Prop and integrate it into the performance.
Improv Element 4 - Unexpected Problem • An obstacle or issue the team will encounter during the skit. • May be real or imaginary, simple or complex.
Unexpected Problem • In the prep area, the team will randomly select a number which corresponds to an unexpected problem that must be portrayed in the skit. • Announcer will place a card with the problem on it, at a specific place in the performance area. The team may pick it up at any time during the skit and must integrate it into their performance.
Scoring • Integration of the Unexpected Problem into the skit - how well it becomes part of the story - Up to 25. • Creative way team overcomes the unexpected problem. Not only must they portray the problem, they must come up with a solution to it. Up to 25 points.
Teamwork • Teamwork - up to 30 points - they will be scored on teamwork during both planning and presentation times. Be sure they can be heard by appraisers during planning time. • Teamwork is more than saying “Good idea.” It’s about all members working well together. • Don’t let one member dominate the group. Make sure everyone contributes.
Overall Presentation • Looking at the performance as a whole - all of the elements come together to tell a complete, creative story. • The team uses all elements and all team members to produce a finished product, including stage presence and acting. Up to 30 points.
Team Provided Items • Forms - 1 copy Declaration of Independence 5 copies of Tournament Data Form(2 pages) • Team Sign - not scored. • Research Notes - May be handwritten or typed - No scripts or scenarios. • Materials and Connectors - 6 different types of each as listed on TDF. • A clean copy of the challenge.
At the Tournament • Check in 20 minutes before performance time. • Bring all forms and materials. • At the check-in/prep area, teams will randomly draw numbers for Cultures, Souvenirs and Unexpected Problem. They will not know their choices until right before planning time.
At Performance Site • Teams will stand at launch area with their souvenir container. • Announcer will announce all of their elements. • Team will remove 3 materials from container. • Team will get 5 minutes to plan their skit and use of souvenirs. They may use the whole performance area during this time. If they are ready before the 5 minutes are up, they can tell the announcer. During this time they are being judged for teamwork. • At end of 5 minutes, team will place souvenirs in performance area then return to launch area. • Announcer will tell them to begin, and stop them if they aren’t done in 5 minutes.
Special Rules for Improv • Intent of the challenge- to create a unique improvisational skit based on the specific combination of Elements drawn at the tournament. It is expected that teams will choose to use and include some of the ideas that come from their practice sessions. As long as the team does not bring its ideas for scenarios, potential characters, etc, into the prep area in written form, using the ideas is acceptable and in keeping with the intent of this challenge.
