Why Improvise? The Impetus & Application for Improvisation in Filmmaking

McNair, William Nathanael

Savannah, Georgia: Savannah College of Art and Design (Atlanta)

2020-08

Thesis (M.F.A.) -- Film and Television

Savannah College of Art and Design -- Department of Film and Television

Includes bibliographical references (pages 75-76).

Visual component is the short film "Infin8" which is described as "A Filmed Self Portrait."

"This thesis explores the ways filmmakers choose to incorporate improvisation into their processes, bringing realistic or artistically inspired production elements into their projects. Techniques include comedic improvisation applications, as well as those serving other genres, providing a window into the minds of the director, production team members, and actors participating in the project. Approaches to incorporating improvisation within the film industry reveal experimental, artistic and innovative ways to break paradigms that classical filmmakers have relied upon to meet audience expectations. This investigation promotes improvisation's role in collaborative filmmaking, describing the creative freedom afforded to those involved in an improvisational production process." --Abstract

*Keywords: improvisation, film, director, creative, innovation, art, jazz, collaborate, audience

CHAIR: Devine, Scott

Orear, Quinlan

Lucas, Stephen

English

Film and Television

Text, film

PDF (76 pages, color illustrations) + 1 mp4 film (approximately 12 min., sound, color)

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