Acting : Improvising Lines by Maurice Vaughan

Personally, I love improvising lines. My words feel so much more authentic, alive, and natural when I do. The downside, of course, is remembering what I improvised—especially if the director/acting teacher says, ‘That was great! Do it exactly like that again!’ And suddenly, I have no idea what I just said!

Hi, Alexandra Stevens. Thanks for sharing. "And suddenly, I have no idea what I just said!" Oh no. :D Ask for a second to take a look at the footage?

I read yesterday that two actors improvised a lot of their lines for a film. I think it's great when actors improvise lines. Some of the best lines came from actors improvising. But I thought, "would improvising lines throw off other actors?"

HI Maurice Vaughan sorry i thought i had replied to you but it seems not. I agree it could put others off if some actors start improvising. I wonder which actors and film you were reading about?

It's ok, Alexandra Stevens. I can't remember. It was a Comedy though.

Maurice Vaughan, as a viewer, I always love when I can tell that comedy actors are improvising and genuinely having fun in the scene. It adds this spontaneous energy that feels electric and real. You can sometimes even catch their scene partners trying not to break, which makes it all the more entertaining. It definitely brings a fresh layer to the performance, but I imagine the challenge comes in making sure it still serves the story and doesn’t derail the pacing or tone.

You're right, Ashley Renee Smith. You can sometimes catch scene partners trying not to break character, and it's hilarious! I think improvising lines should serve the story and not derail the pacing or tone. I wonder if actors ever get together (with each other or the director) before scenes and decide "Ok, we're gonna improvise in this scene."

It's easier to improvise lines in film than in theater. The big problem with improvising lines in film is that the director may not like it and it's another take. That make the boom pole operator tend to not like you so much.

Great point, Philip David Lee. I thought the same thing. The director might not like actors improvising lines. Why is it easier to improvise lines in film than in theater?

Maurice Vaughan You can't cut and reset during a live performance. Improvising could throw off your other actors with very little time to adapt to your version of the play.

Ok, gotcha, Philip David Lee. I shouldn't have used a theater picture for this post then. Haha I haven't seen many plays, but I've been planning on watching more. I've also been interested in writing a play. I did a little research on playwriting a while back, and a stage play looks really different than a movie script.

Depends on what it is. Theater you have to say every line exactly as written. I think there is some flexibility in TV, writers are usually there, and may be what's been written isn't working. Sometimes the improvised lines become the new lines. For film, I think it depends on the director. And if that director does rehearsals. There might be improvising in rehearsals but generally I would say lines are said as written. Though comedy probably has more leeway than a drama.

Great points, Suzanne Bronson. I think Comedy has more leeway than a Drama too. I usually hear about actors improvising lines in Comedies or movies that are Comedy/something. And if actors mess up the improvised lines in Comedy, I think they could play it off like the lines are part of the jokes/funny moments.