Ah, the fearsome ‘extend’! If you’ve ever dabbled in the magical realm of improvisation theatre (or have tried your hand at scriptwriting), you’re probably familiar with the terms “advance” and “extend”. In a nutshell, you either move the plot forward, injecting juicy new elements, or… you linger.
Now, why on Earth would you want to do the latter?
As an engineer, I initially thought that lingering was just, well, unnecessary babbling. A bit like how we gossip at the water cooler about Dave’s weird sock choice. But soon, I realized this so-called “babbling” serves an even greater purpose. It’s all about getting up close and personal with our characters. After all, why would we care about a character’s adventure if we know nothing about them?
Sure, we’re naturally attracted to the exotic and extraordinary. But expecting every adventure to be a wild, uncharted roller-coaster can be a heavy burden. It’s akin to lighting a fire and having no clue how to put it out.
In the past, I hesitated when it came to “extending”. I mean, isn’t a story intrinsically engaging because of its main plot points? Turns out, I couldn’t have been more off the mark.
Our primary mission? To create a bond between the characters and the audience. Whether our protagonist is battling dragons or facing minor inconveniences like a missing sock, the audience should be invested in their journey.
Now, how do we foster this bond? Enter the “extend”.
To practice, consider the age-old tool from scriptwriting: the sidekick. This secondary character, be it a friend, a doctor, a waiter, or a random stranger on a train, exists to dive deeper into the protagonist’s psyche. Their chats aren’t just about the current situation but also about backstories that bridge the past to the present.
For instance, picture a character in a restaurant, chitchatting with a waiter about the menu. Suddenly, they delve into their experiences with Italian cuisine. This doesn’t necessarily propel the story forward but instead paints a richer image of our character’s life and preferences.
For the skeptics thinking, “But nothing’s happening!”, well, that’s where the gold lies. It demands even more creativity to sculpt a character’s backstory, opinion, and personal ties, than just making things “happen”. What are their thoughts on Italian food? Have they been to Italy? What adventures (or misadventures) did they encounter there?
Allowing our characters to breathe, to express themselves, and to be recognized is paramount. As the Bible says, “And Adam knew Eve”, emphasizing the importance of recognition and understanding personalities.
In improv, the “extend” should be congruent with prior events. And while introducing stereotypes is initially okay (it can later be shattered for added effect), it’s vital to ensure that the character’s attributes align with their narrative.
In the end, whether advancing or extending, it’s all about knowing and showing our characters, making sure the audience truly cares about their journey.
Happy improvising! 🎭
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In an Italian restaurant, the student sits at the table, examining the menu. The waiter approaches the table.
Waiter: “Good evening, Miss. Can I assist you with your selection? You seem a bit pensive.”
Student: “Good evening. It’s just that I spent an exchange semester in Rome, and the pasta there was simply divine. I’m trying to figure out which of these dishes is the most authentic.”
Waiter: “Oh, Rome! That’s wonderful. Our chef is actually from the Lazio region, which includes Rome. He places great emphasis on ensuring the recipes are as authentic as possible.”
Student: “That sounds fantastic. You know, I miss the taste of the Carbonara I had there. It was so creamy and had this wonderful balance of Pecorino and fresh black pepper.”
Waiter: “Our Carbonara is prepared precisely to the Roman recipe – no cream, just egg, Pecorino Romano, Guanciale, and black pepper. I remember the first time I tried it in Rome, I was enchanted by its simplicity and flavor.”
Student: “Exactly! Many places add cream, which ruins it for me. It’s amazing how something so simple can taste so heavenly when done right.”
Waiter: “Absolutely. It’s the magic of Italian cuisine – less is often more. And it’s all about emphasizing the freshness and quality of the ingredients. If you’d like, I can recommend a glass of wine from the Lazio region to complete your trip down memory lane.”
Student: “That sounds wonderful. I will definitely order the Carbonara and look forward to a glass of that wine. It’s so lovely to find a piece of Rome here.”
In this dialogue, the conversation deepened, and the atmosphere and theme of Italian food and memories of Rome were expanded (Extend) without introducing a new element or twist (Advance).