Stand-Up Comedy:
UNIT 1: STAND-UP!
UNIT PLAN
In this project we will explore stand-up comedy. Through careful observation of professional comedians and an exploration of our surroundings we will try to get at the truth of what it means to be “funny.” The challenge is to develop 10 minutes of stand-up comedy.
RUBRICS! READ THEM!
Essential Questions (These rotate depending on where you are in class- I will help guide you through)
1. How do we start to generate our own material?
2. How does delivery of material help to get laughs?
3. How do we use feedback from the audience and ourselves to revise?
4. What is your personal style of observation- what is your Point of View?
5. How do we go from "idea" to "performance?" What is our "creative process?"
Generating Material: WRITTEN
USE THIS TEMPLATE TO HELP STRUCTURE YOUR JOURNAL!
You need to record your written brainstorm in your COMEDY JOURNAL.
Here are some written BRAINSTORMING ideas. Try all 4 and see which one works best for you.
If you find a method that is working for you then repeat this process until you have amassed a HUGE amount of material. Good, bad, funny, not funny- it doesn't matter but the MORE THE BETTER.
HOW DO WE WORK ASYNCHRONOUSLY TO GENERATE MATERIAL?
We'll be rotating between written material and material that you get from playing a game.
Below are the lists of options. It will looks something like this...
Day 1: Letter of Hate- Coach with Caitlin to get started.
Day 2: Finish letter of hate, then play pattern game with friends and video tape.
Day 3: Watch video and pull out the funny bits- brainstorm around how you could make them into jokes.
Day 4: Share Day
Day 5: Share Day
USE THIS TEMPLATE TO HELP STRUCTURE YOUR JOURNAL!
You need to record your written brainstorm in your COMEDY JOURNAL.
Here are some written BRAINSTORMING ideas. Try all 4 and see which one works best for you.
If you find a method that is working for you then repeat this process until you have amassed a HUGE amount of material. Good, bad, funny, not funny- it doesn't matter but the MORE THE BETTER.
HOW DO WE WORK ASYNCHRONOUSLY TO GENERATE MATERIAL?
We'll be rotating between written material and material that you get from playing a game.
Below are the lists of options. It will looks something like this...
Day 1: Letter of Hate- Coach with Caitlin to get started.
Day 2: Finish letter of hate, then play pattern game with friends and video tape.
Day 3: Watch video and pull out the funny bits- brainstorm around how you could make them into jokes.
Day 4: Share Day
Day 5: Share Day
GENERATING MATERIAL: Writing! Explanations of these are available on paper. Please see Caitlin when you're ready for the next one. Letter of Hate (here is my example) The Seven Deadly Sins Multiple Choice Test When you are finished with these activities- please ask Caitlin to check your COMEDY JOURNAL so you can be assessed. The rubric is attached below! |
Generating Material: Out Loud Grab a partner or two. Share any written material out loud with them- note their reaction. If anything sticks out as interesting or funny, highlight or circle it. If you have none, or not enough grab your phone to record and play some GAMES. Share your work in your COMEDY JOURNAL. You can embed video clips or transcribe material you want to keep. |
WRITING YOUR FIRST BIT!
Before you start- watch this video for some inspiration.
THEN- CLICK ON THIS GUIDE. There are paper copies available as well.
Read through it, give it a try, THEN COME COACH WITH CAITLIN!
Before you start- watch this video for some inspiration.
THEN- CLICK ON THIS GUIDE. There are paper copies available as well.
Read through it, give it a try, THEN COME COACH WITH CAITLIN!
VIDEO ASSESSMENT FOR PERFORMANCE
So, because there will be days when I don't get a chance to see your work every day, please submit a video assessment to me at least once a week.
PROCEDURE FOR SUBMITTING VIDEO ASSESSMENT:
1. Make a note in your journal of when you took the video, so there is a record.
2. Submit your video to [email protected] with the subject line: VIDEO ASSESSMENT and the name of your group.
4. Each video assessment will be added to your evidence for COMMUNICATE.
5. After you finish, watch your video back and do some self assessment. ANSWER THE QUESTIONS BELOW
PROCEDURE FOR SUBMITTING VIDEO ASSESSMENT:
1. Make a note in your journal of when you took the video, so there is a record.
2. Submit your video to [email protected] with the subject line: VIDEO ASSESSMENT and the name of your group.
4. Each video assessment will be added to your evidence for COMMUNICATE.
5. After you finish, watch your video back and do some self assessment. ANSWER THE QUESTIONS BELOW
Video Assessment
1. What part of your video is the strongest? Why? Is it connected to style or content?
2. What part is the weakest- is it a problem with point of view? The content? Did you forget what you were saying? Describe.
3. What goals are you setting for your next performance?
1. What part of your video is the strongest? Why? Is it connected to style or content?
2. What part is the weakest- is it a problem with point of view? The content? Did you forget what you were saying? Describe.
3. What goals are you setting for your next performance?
AFTER PERFORMANCE REFLECTION QUESTIONS
1. Describe a moment during your performance where you felt like you were doing "good." What did it feel like? How did you know you were successful? What part of your material were you talking about?
2. Describe a moment during your performance where you felt unsuccessful. What did it feel like? How did you know it wasn't going well? What was missing? What could be added?
1. Describe a moment during your performance where you felt like you were doing "good." What did it feel like? How did you know you were successful? What part of your material were you talking about?
2. Describe a moment during your performance where you felt unsuccessful. What did it feel like? How did you know it wasn't going well? What was missing? What could be added?
In-CLASS Performance PROTOCOL
Audience Expectations:
We will be kind, generous and attentive.
Feedback:
1. Material and Structure of the Joke
2. Stage Presence and Style
3. Performer Questions
We will be kind, generous and attentive.
Feedback:
1. Material and Structure of the Joke
2. Stage Presence and Style
3. Performer Questions