Newton's First Law of Motion

Here's the bulk of science behind Quantum Improv. The idea is that improv scenes - starting them, building them, and playing them out mirror the energy transfer of objects in motion in our universe. By looking at that scientific model, not only can we build a wonderful language and vocabulary which we can use to describe and analyze our improv scenes, but we can also see how energy transfer as discovered and studied in our real or natural world mirrors very similar dymanics at work in an improv scene.

This is especially true and relevant for improv scenes that desire to build stories that progress and move forward. For a physical demonstration of Newton's First Law of Motion, check out the accompanying video.
Why Newton's First Law of Motion? And what exactly is that one? As mentioned in the previous post, Newton's First Law of Motion states or suggests that a body at rest will stay at rest until some force puts it in motion. Conversely, or in addition to that idea, is the notion that an object in motion will stay in motion until a force acts upon it to stop it.

As we look at objects in motion, we see that there are many forces that are able to stop the object from its forward progression, once a force has put it in motion. Some of these are natural forces in our universe which we cannot control. The two most prominent and familiar to us are gravity and friction. But there are many other things that can stop, impede, hinder or inhibit forward progression.

This is a great lesson for our improv work. If our scene is the "object" we desire to be in motion, "motion" for us means a scene moving forward, progressing, building.

There are things we can do which inhibit the forward progression of our scenes - our most common and familiar is "blocking." There are also things we can do in our improv work to promote forward progression or movement in our scenes. The one we all know so well is "Yes!" followed closely by "...and."

The scientific logic behind Quantum Improv suggests that we can reach the greatest potential in our scenes (and as improvisers), converting that potential energy to kinetic energy (action, progression, etc.) by minimizing those choices that inhibit forward progression in our scene.

[Blocking is only one such inhibitor. More will be discussed in subsequent posts]

If we did only that, logic suggests our scenes would build and progress faster and more efficiently. If we add to that practices that maximize the promotion of forward progress we can do so even faster and even more efficiently.

Quantum Improv does both of these things to empower an individual to transform into an extremely dynamic and successful improviser. Not only one that engages the audience and brings pleasure to an improv performance, but one who other improvisers will kill to work with. An improviser who not only gives, but one who grabs - not the attention, but the potential. An active, exciting, dynamic, playful and imaginative improviser, never at a loss for ideas, connections and creative imagery, masterfully weaving in and around stories. Wouldn't it be great to improvise with that kind of gusto and confidence all the time? That is what is meant by Quantum Improv - using the science of Quantum Mechanics for Improv Success!