DIRECTING IMPROV with Brian James O'Connell

DIRECTING IMPROV with Brian James O'Connell

When young improvisers graduate from a program, they normally ask themselves, “What now?” Most of them figure that out. Until they want to start directing improv themselves and they ask the exact same question. There are fewer avenues to take when answering that question. The Directing Improv Workshop will train up and coming improvisers who wish to move into directing but have very few practical ideas of how to go about it.

Workshop begins at 3pm and will last approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes.

This workshop will tackle:
● how to de-construct a scene mathematically
● how to approach a scene from the inside out
● how to demonstrate the lesson to the student by performing their position in the scene without embarrassing the student
● how to utilize one’s personal performing history to troubleshoot the scene at hand
● how to choose the proper curriculum for the appropriate team
● how to utilize social media tools to construct a proper rehearsal schedule
● the difference between teaching and coaching
● how to protect yourself from being taken advantage of and what are your “rights” as a coach

*this workshop is not applicable for any Early Bird or BOC Bundle discounts*

Brian James O’Connell is a working actor, writer, director, filmmaker and teacher in Los Angeles. BOC (as his friends call him) is part of the improv powerhouse & comedy collective Dr. God, who delivered their first feature film project BLOODSUCKING BASTARDS in 2015, starring Pedro Pascal, which O’Connell directed as well as co-writing the script with Dr. God. Seasons 1 & 2 of Dr. God's new animated series HELL DEN is currently available on SYFY Channel where they serve as the Creator, Executive Producers, Producers, Directors and Writers. (He voices GIANTIC, a frost giant represented only as a large bare foot.) Brian travels the world teaching his expertise in The Deconstruction as part of his ALL IMPROV courses and as a founding board member of Camp Improv Utopia. A main stage performer, beloved bar manager, coach & teacher until the very end at iOWest (RIP), O’Connell is also proud to be a Co-Founder of The Pack Theater, LA Weekly’s BEST OF LA Pick for “Best Theater Company” two years in a row, a founding board member of Camp Improv Utopia and recently celebrated his one year anniversary joining the board of Baltimore’s Highwire Improv.