TV comedy acting: Gervais to Curb

Explore how The Office, Curb Your Enthusiasm and more create comedy from awkwardness and social embarrassment. Using impro in the TV studio, develop a naturalistic comedy acting style, find characters and create excruciatingly funny scenes.

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Key course information

Dates
24/03/12 - 25/03/12

Day(s)
Sat-Sun

Duration
1 week

Time
13:00 - 18:00

Fees
Full fee: £78^NC

Venue
KS - Keeley Street

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Course code
DT055

Availability
This course has finished

^NC: No concessionary fees available as there is no government funding for this course.

This course has finished

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Still got questions?
drama@citylit.ac.uk or call 020 7492 2542

Course outline

What is the course about?

Experience how to create, act and exploit the comedy of social embarrassment and awkwardness.
While The Office is carefully scripted, it aims for a feeling of truth and naturalism that heightens the discomfort of the situation and maximises the comedy – using the documentary format to achieve this. Meanwhile Larry David's sitcom Curb Your Enthusiasm and Armando Iannucci's political comedy The Thick of It use storylines and improvisation to achieve the same effect.

We'll be working with this process of improvising in front of the camera to achieve the squirming discomfort of these shows. We will devise characters and relationships and then scenes that are pregnant with the kind of cringe-making awkwardness of these shows. We will then improvise the scene, improvising the same scene several times, reviewing the results and begin to think about how in the edit the finished scene would be constructed.

We'll also look at clips from Peep Show as another exemplar of a show that finds comedy in putting characters in excruciating situations.

What topics will we cover?

Creating characters that are realistic, flawed and funny.
Putting these characters within a dynamic that is comically fruitful.
Setting up situations full of the potential awkwardness and discomfort that fuels this kind of comedy.
Playing out the scenes through improvisation.
Working with the discipline of playing the truth of the situation rather than going for quick laughs – which opens up richer comedy.
Constructing scenes from multiple improvised versions.

By the end of this course you should be able to:

Describe how the comedy of awkwardness achieves its effects.
Deliver a naturalistic comedy performance for the camera.
Understand the importance of interacting, reacting and maintaining the truth and integrity of the situation.

What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?

Intermediate. Actors should have some previous experience - although not necessarily in front of the camera or with comedy.

How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?

You will be taught through a mix of watching and analysing clips, discussion, group work and practical activities. The activities will include improvisation and games and exercises to create characters and develop scenarios.

Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?

You only need bring pen and paper to the first session. There are no purchases to make.

Do I need to have an interview before I can enrol?

No.

What feedback will I get?

You will receive regular feedback from your tutor throughout the course, as and when appropriate. At the end of the course you and your tutor are asked to assess the progress you have made.

How will I be able to give my views on the course?

Please complete the evaluation form at the end of your course. These are monitored and help us to continually improve our courses.

How do I find out if I can get some support for my learning?

You may be interested in: education and careers advice; financial and childcare support; disability support; support for Deaf and hearing-impaired students; dyslexia support; English and maths support; counselling, and library services (supported learning centre). To find out what may be available to you, and how to apply, see page 213 of the 11/12 course guide, or visit www.citylit.ac.uk/students

When I've finished, what course can I do next?

General information and advice on courses at City Lit is available from the Information and Advice Shop, open Monday to Friday 12:00 – 19:00 during term time, and Monday to Friday 12:00 – 17:00 out of term time. See the course guide for term dates and further details.

Who can I contact for further information?

Tel: 020 7492 2542

drama@citylit.ac.uk

Drop-in advice During term-time: Monday & Wednesday 12.30 - 13.30 and 17.30 - 18.30 Thursday 17.30 - 18.30 Non term-time Tuesday 12.30 - 13.30 Wednesday 17.30 - 18.30.

To enrol on a course, call 020 7831 7831.