EndGames Improv

2012 Classes

2011-12-05T14:58:00.000-08:00

UPDATE: NEW 2012 CLASS CYCLE POSTED BELOW

Improv I : Essentials of Play ($199)
Pre-Requisite: None (7 week course)

This class is designed to maximize PLAY through teaching the essentials of what makes a good improviser, not just games or exercises that you can find in a book yourself. Our philosophy is that by breaking down our bad habits and honing our good ones, we are able to focus our skills and apply them to where they can be optimized - whether that's in our everyday lives at the office, improving our dating lives, actualizing our goals and ambitions or joining a team and performing on stage!

Improv II : Essentials of Performance ($199)
Pre-Requisite: Improv I or instructor approval (7 week course)

In this course we will learn the essential skills for a successful improv comedy show. Specifically, we will work on finding the game of the scene, and heightening for maximum laughs. By the end of the course, you will be able to identify strong game moves versus weak ones, learn how to play to the top of your intelligence, and discover that the key to being funny, is not to be funny.

Improv III : The Harold ($199)

Pre-Requisite: Improv II or instructor approval (7 week course)

Created by late Del Close (while in San Francisco), The Harold is the original longform. In this advanced course we work on developing as improvisers through the endless possibilities of longform improvisation by fully exploring the characters, themes, games, and relationships. In 7 weeks, this class will prepare students to open for EndGames' Friday night main stage show: 'F!#&ing Free Fridays'

2012 Course Schedule:
All Classes meet 1 Day a week, 3 Hours each day

Improv I w/ Chris Blair: Sat 2/25 - 4/7 (2:30PM - 5:30PM)
Improv I w/ Marcus Sams: Wed 2/29 - 4/11 (6:30PM - 9:30PM)
Improv II w/ Peter Kim: Tue 2/28 - 4/10 (6:30PM - 9:30PM)
Improv III w/ Max McCal: Thu 3/1 - 4/12 (6:30PM - 9:30PM)

3 hour classes @ EndGames Training Center (333 Valencia) 2 blocks from 16th BART
Grad Show (Improv I & II) for friends, family and the public
Student discount (33%) to the Tuesday Open Workouts
Free Admission to all EndGames Productions shows

View Larger Map

PLEASE READ the Student Policy before purchasing your class. Your purchase indicates your agreement to the terms set forth in this this document.

Questions? email us at: classes@endgamesimprov.com

Improv I: Essentials of Play (Wed/Sat)

Improv II: Essentials of Performance (Tue)

Improv III: The Harold (Thu)

Resting the Game

2011-11-10T16:53:00.001-08:00

Posted By: Peter Kim

A lot of people ask us what makes EndGames different in San Francisco. And my answer is always, "We teach longform improv focused on the 'Game' of the scene". It's the cornerstone of how we approach our longform scene work and introduced to our student players through our Improv II program.

The great thing about game based improv is that once an improviser understands the basics of it, it's very fun and exciting to heighten and exaggerate the unusual aspect of their established otherwise "normal" world.

The downside is that often times the more analytical player will forego the reality of the scene and just make moves to hit the heighten button (also laughter button) and go crazy on it. Often alone.

The game needs to be rested. Imagine a comedic scene as one of those old rickety roller coasters (i.e. one of the best things in life, ever). No roller coaster can be all up or all down, the valleys between the peaks, make them peaks.

We've done the hard work at the top of the scene by establishing a solid normal reality. We can always come back to the reality of the scene (often what makes these characters human) and rest our game, in order for our absurd or "game" to be heightened.

Take a break, then break a leg.

New Classes Starting 10/29!

2011-10-06T16:46:00.001-07:00

Improv I : Essentials of Play
Pre-Requisite: None (7 week course)

This class is designed to maximize PLAY through teaching the essentials of what makes a good improviser, not just games or exercises that you can find in a book yourself. Our philosophy is that by breaking down our bad habits and honing our good ones, we are able to focus our skills and apply them to where they can be optimized - whether that's in our everyday lives at the office, improving our dating lives, actualizing our goals and ambitions or joining a team and performing on stage!

Improv II : Essentials of Performance
Pre-Requisite: Improv I or instructor approval (7 week course)

In this course we will learn the essential skills for a successful improv comedy show. Specifically, we will work on finding the game of the scene, and heightening for maximum laughs. By the end of the course, you will be able to identify strong game moves versus weak ones, learn how to play to the top of your intelligence, and discover that the key to being funny, is not to be funny.

Improv III : The Harold

Pre-Requisite: Improv II or instructor approval (7 week course)

$199 Course Runs:

Improv I w/ Chris Blair: Sat 10/29 - 12/10 (2:30PM - 5:30PM)
Improv I w/ Max McCal: Mon 10/31 - 12/12 (6:30PM - 9:30PM)
Improv II w/ Peter Kim: Wed 11/2 - 12/14 (6:30PM - 9:30PM)

3 hour classes @ EndGames Training Center (333 Valencia) 2 blocks from 16th BART
Grad Show (Improv I & II) for friends, family and the public
Student discount (33%) to the Tuesday Open Workouts
Free Admission to EndGames Productions shows
Black EndGames Improv T-Shirt

Introducing "Confessions": Improv Comedy For The Soul.

2011-08-26T16:42:00.000-07:00

Event registration for Confessions - Select Dates Only powered by Eventbrite

"Confessions" is an innovative new comedy inspired by real people's real confessions. You submit your true confessions and each week the Director chooses the ones that will inspire the EndGames Players to create a brand new show, completely improvised. Whether it be trite admissions like "I never give to the homeless" to more scandalous disclosures like "I stole my brother's wife", we all have something to confess, but not all of us need a church to do so. Launch into your weekends with the cathartic release of comedic absolution.

Fridays @ 8PM. 9/23/11 - 12/16/11

Submissions are collected in two ways:

publicly via @endgames_improv
anonymously via the private submission form

2011-08-11T11:52:00.000-07:00

THURSDAY, AUGUST 25th

Endgames Improv is performing at this year’s San Francisco Improv Festival

BUY TICKETS

Thursday, Aug 25, 2011 7:30-9 - $20-25

with Bobby Hot Stuff

The Eureka Theater

215 Jackson Street, San Francisco, CA 94111

Come check out EndGames Improv, performing along with Improv Bobby Hot Stuff as part of The San Francisco Improv Festival 2011. We're excited to be a part of an amazing lineup at The SFIF!

The fest, which runs August 18th - 27th at The Eureka Theater, is putting together a really fantastic event - from featuring acts like Uncle's Brother with SNL's Tim Meadows, Dr. God with Dave Holmes (FX's DVD on TV & Reno 911!) to an amazing pre-festival event with Improv Everywhere in Union Square (Aug 16th, 6:30pm), featuring a full bar to enhance your comedy experience! And, if you are an improvisor or want to become one, there are a load of amazing workshops to choose from - iO's Charna Halpern, Susan Messing, CIF's Jonathan Pitts, Ron West (Whose Line is it Anyway?), and more!

Check out our show, plus other performances and top notch workshops Aug 18-27. Festival passes and all tickets available through Brown Paper Tickets .

Immediately following our show:

9:30pm, Aug 25 show features

The Freeze & Big City Improv

FESTIVAL PASSES ON SALE NOW!!

Get Your Golden Ticket to All Fest Shows for $55

The SF Improv Festival is pleased to offer you, our faithful email subscribers, a deal that is really ridiculously great - our FEST PASS, (available in limited quantity) allows you to book as many shows as you want to see in the festival for the single price of $55. That's close to $300 worth of tickets for $55. BUY IT HERE.

JUST ANNOUNCED: IMPROV EVERYWHERE TALKBACK WITH CHARLIE TODD!!

The Improv Everywhere Live! event (Aug 17th @ 6:30PM) is an hour of behind-the-scenes stories from Charlie's unique personal experiences as the organizer of Improv Everywhere's legendary missions. The show also features clips of Improv Everywhere's best videos with Charlie's live commentary and an interactive question and answer session.

Special thanks to the SF School of Digital Filmmaking for agreeing to hosting the event in their space at the SF Chronicle building!

AH, WORKSHOPS...!

Spots are selling briskly to the Back to Basics: Improv Fundamentals workshop with iO's Charna Halpern, and the Specificity workshop with the specifically amazing teacher, Susan Messing. Get your tickets to these before they sell out!

Also, space is still available for workshops with the CIF's Jonathan Pitts, Ron West (Whose Line is it Anyway?), LA improv & sketch sensation Dr. God, and SF's own Zoe Galvez.

Get the lowdown on all workshops here!

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Love comedy? Want to see fest shows for FREE? Become a festival volunteer!! E-mail Josh@sfimprovfestival.com for more information!!

Make A Choice!

2011-08-01T18:45:00.000-07:00

Posted by: Peter Kim

Like any great Pokemon battle, any great improv scene starts with a choice. As improv players, all we have in our tool belts are the conscious choices we make on stage. Character choices help us take care of ourselves while scenic choices help take care of our partners.

It's important to be aware and be affected by our partners but sometimes we concentrate on that so much that we forget to make a choice on who we are and how we feel. This is evident in scenes in which players give vague offers (Please pass me that, Hey I got you this...) or even worse - questions* (GASP) - A gracious gesture ends up leaving most of the work to be done by our partners.

In improv, our offers (physical, emotional, verbal choices) are all packets of information we build on top of each other to create a realistic and sustainable fake world. Specific and intelligent information fills in this rich world, vague information lays a fragile structure, while questions* leave a vacuum in which your partner must now fill with more information.

It's important to remember that everything we do on stage is information we present to the audience - information necessary for them to trust 6 people with no props, no costumes and no sets. Every improv scene, no matter who initiates with what, is in essence, a state of chaos. Our job is to extract order out of that chaos and all we have are a series of choices built on agreement. So make a choice and create with confidence - the worst that could happen pales in comparison to the weight of inaction.

*Beginning improvisors usually ask questions out of fear. Some improv schools say don't ask questions, I say ask interesting ones. Ask questions that add information instead of require it:

Do you think your father's gonna approve of me?
Should I wear this dress tonight, honey?
Who's my new babysitter mom?

Questions are a part of reality. Ask them to provide information about yourself or the world, instead of relying on them as a "hot potato" pass on to your partner.

Open Audition for: "Confessions"

2011-07-21T12:06:00.000-07:00

Time: Saturday 7/23 1-4PM
Location: Alcove Theater 414 Mason St 5th Fl

EndGames Improv invites all SF based improvisers to this open audition for our new Friday night prime time show: "Confessions".

About the Show: "Confessions" is a completely improvised comedy inspired by real people's real confessions. EndGames seeks to tell and be inspired by the amazing stories of its City's residents. These stories will be gathered by anonymous web submission and live tweets during the show.

Cast: We are looking to cast 14 total players to perform, in rotation, Friday nights at 8PM between 9/9 and 12/30.

Format: 60 Minute show - Two 30 minute halves. 1) Premise-driven Armando 2) Character driven "Choose Your Own Adventure"

Auditions: We will be looking for players that can perform monologues, pull premises into scenes, make and retain strong commitments to character choices and of course naturally gel with the EndGames crew.

For more details on EndGames, please visit www.endgamesimprov.com and please feel free to invite awesome players to the audition!

New Improv Classes are here!

2011-06-23T18:34:00.000-07:00

EndGames Improv I : Essentials of Play
Pre-Requisite: None

This class is designed to maximize PLAY through teaching the essentials of what makes a good improviser, not just games or exercises that you can find in a book yourself. Our philosophy is that by breaking down our bad habits and honing our good ones, we are able to focus our skills and apply them to where they can be optimized - whether that's in our everyday lives at the office, improving our dating lives, actualizing our goals and ambitions or joining a team and performing on stage!

EndGames Improv II : Essentials of Performance
Pre-Requisite: Improv I (or instructor approval)

In this course we will learn the essential skills for a successful improv comedy show. Specifically, we will work on finding the game of the scene, and heightening for maximum laughs. By the end of the course, you will be able to identify strong game moves versus weak ones, learn how to play to the top of your intelligence, and discover that the key to being funny, is not to be funny.

Advanced Study: La Ronde
Pre-Requisite: Improv II (or instructor approval)

La Ronde is a long form improv format and technique originating in Chicago and named after the Arthur Schnitzler play: 'La Ronde'. This class will focus on training improvisers to make bold character choices and fine-tune hyper-awareness by breaking the class into smaller, more versatile performance-geared teams. In 8 weeks, this class will prepare students to open for EndGames' Friday night main stage show: 'F!#&ing Free Fridays'

The Alcove Theater
414 Mason St (@ Geary) 5th Fl.

$199 Course Runs:

Improv I: Mondays 7/18/2011 - 9/5/2011 (6:30PM - 9:30PM)
Improv II: Wednesdays 7/20/2011 - 9/7/2011 (6:30PM - 9:30PM)
La Ronde: Sundays 7/24/2011 - 9/4/2011 (6:00PM - 9:00PM)

Seven 3 hour classes @ The Alcove Theater (1 block from Union Square)
Graduation Show (Improv I & II) on 9/5, 9/7 for friends, family and the public
Student discount (33%) to the Tuesday Open Workouts (See Drop-In Tab)
Free Admission to EndGames Productions shows
Black EndGames Improv T-Shirt

Improv II: Essentials of Performance (Wednesday)

Advanced Study: La Ronde (Sunday)

50 Centaurs @ FFF

2011-06-15T16:19:00.001-07:00

50 Centaurs, a set on Flickr.

Long Form troupe based in San Francisco performs their signature form - "The Guest"

Latest FFF Videos

2011-05-31T16:14:00.000-07:00

Latest Videos from F!#&ing Free Friday shows
10:30PM Every Friday Night @ The Alcove Theater. Always FREE.

Summer Classes Start 5/16!

2011-04-27T11:49:00.001-07:00

EndGames Improv I : Essentials of Play
Pre-Requisite: None

This class is designed to maximize PLAY through teaching the essentials of what makes a good improviser, not just games or exercises that you can find in a book yourself. Our philosophy is that by breaking down our bad habits and honing our good ones, we are able to focus our skills and apply them to where they can be optimized - whether that's in our everyday lives at the office, improving our dating lives, actualizing our goals and ambitions or joining a team and performing on stage!

EndGames Improv II : Essentials of Performance
Pre-Requisite: Improv I (or instructor approval)

In this course we will learn the essential skills for a successful improv comedy show. Specifically, we will work on finding the game of the scene, and heightening for maximum laughs. By the end of the course, you will be able to identify strong game moves versus weak ones, learn how to play to the top of your intelligence, and discover that the key to being funny, is not to be funny.

Advanced Study: The Harold
Pre-Requisite: Improv II (or instructor approval)

Created by late Del Close (while in San Francisco), The Harold is the original long form. In this advanced course we work on developing as improvisers through the endless possibilities of long form by fully exploring the characters, themes, games, and relationships. In 8 weeks, this class will prepare students to open for EndGames' Friday night main stage show: 'F!#&ing Free Fridays'

The Alcove Theater
414 Mason St (@ Geary) 5th Fl.

$199 Course Runs:

Improv I: Mondays 5/16/2011 - 7/11/2011 (6:30PM - 9:30PM)
Improv II: Wednesdays 5/18/2011 - 7/13/2011 (6:30PM - 9:30PM)
Harold: Sundays 5/22/2011 - 7/10/2011 (6:00PM - 9:00PM)

Seven 2.5 hour classes @ The Alcove Theater (1 block from Union Square)
Graduation Show on 7/11, 7/13 for friends, family and the public
Student discount (33%) to the Tuesday Open Workouts (See Drop-In Tab)
Free Admission to EndGames Productions shows
Black EndGames Improv T-Shirt

Improv II: Essentials of Performance (Wednesday)
T-Shirt Size

Advanced Study: The Harold (Sunday)

Emotional Intelligence

2011-04-16T21:16:00.000-07:00

Posted By: Peter Kim

"I feel tired"
"I feel that I'm in a forced marriage"
"I feel like I know everything"

These are all "statements of emotions" that we hear in class when we work on 'Character". The problem is that these are all statements of situation or psychological states. Sure, you described something about who you are, maybe, but we still don't know how that makes you FEEL (Btw, "Fuzzy" is not an emotion, it's an ironic first name for a bear).

So, why is it so hard for us to describe or show our feelings? I am positing that we've been transformed as a generation whose entertainment, news and creative content is almost completely visual. We are increasingly being chased away, as a cultural mass, from the written word (check out the best apps on an iPad). In fact, the last time I recall reading about a character's emotion is in my Sci-Fi/Fantasy novels that I, now, proudly display.

In video, we understand someone is upset by an actor showing us that she's upset, whereas before cable TV, we used to read books and learn about a character's emotions through words that described them. We've lost the language needed to communicate what inherently makes us human; an entire sub-generation suffering from Alexithymia.

The nice thing about improv class is that we can challenge a player to actively define emotions and sit in them and really feel them. What does it mean to feel an emotion? What grounds it? What are logical reasons why I feel this way?

A lot of times this is scary, especially for newcomers. But something remarkable happens when we follow that fear, commit and discover. We're lucky as improvisers because we can start from an singular emotion and by grounding them in our scene with our partner, we create a character. How does that make you feel?

"What you do and How you do it is Who you are" - Joe Bill , Bassprov

Your F!#&ed Up Relationship

2011-03-28T16:26:00.000-07:00

F!#&ing Free Fridays: 10:30PM Every Friday Night @ The Alcove Theater. FREE!

New Round of Improv Classes start this week!

2011-03-20T16:17:00.001-07:00

The secret to happiness? - doesn't exist... BUT you can get close with Improv Comedy.

We're tired of the same old "intro to improv" classes. We're sick of endless levels of classes that leave you confused and stressed. Improv is, and always should be, FUN!

EndGames Improv I : Essentials of Play

This class is designed to maximize PLAY through teaching the essentials of what makes a good improviser, not just games or exercises that you can find in a book yourself. Our philosophy is that by breaking down our bad habits and honing our good ones, we are able to focus our skills and apply them to where they can be optimized - whether that's in our everyday lives at the office, improving our dating lives, actualizing our goals and ambitions or joining a team and performing on stage!

EndGames Improv II : Essentials of Performance

In this course we will learn the essential skills for a successful improv comedy show. Specifically, we will work on finding the game of the scene, and heightening for maximum laughs. By the end of the course, you will be able to identify strong game moves versus weak ones, learn how to play to the top of your intelligence, and discover that the key to being funny, is not to be funny.

The Alcove Theater
414 Mason St (@ Geary) 5th Fl.

$199 Course Runs:

Improv I: Mondays 3/21/2011 - 5/9/2011 (6:30PM - 9:00PM)
Improv I: Saturdays 3/26/2011 - 5/14/2011 (12PM - 2:30PM)
Improv II: Wednesdays 3/23/2011 - 5/11/2011 (6:30PM - 9:00PM)

Seven 2.5 hour classes @ The Alcove Theater (1 block from Union Square)
Graduation Show on 5/9, 5/14, 5/11 for friends, family and the public
Student discount (33%) to the Tuesday Open Workouts (See Drop-In Tab)
Free Admission to EndGames Productions shows
Black EndGames Improv T-Shirt

F!#&ing Free Fridays!

2011-03-05T17:52:00.000-08:00

F!#&ing Free Fridays

Late Night Improv. 1 Block from Union Square. Free.

Every Friday night @ 10:30PM, EndGames Improv brings you the hottest new show: "Your F!#&ed Up Relationship" - an entirely improvised comedy inspired by stories of your own ridiculous REAL relationships. We've all had at LEAST one. You tell us your amazing story and we'll show you ours - you laugh, we laugh, we all hook up at the end. KIDDING! Maybe.

Fridays @ 10:30PM: @ The Alcove Theater
(414 Mason St)
It's F!#&ing Free!!

Stop Being Cute!

2011-02-16T15:37:00.000-08:00

Posted By: Peter Kim

Cute: adj. affectedly or mincingly pretty or clever; precious

I cannot stand watching an improviser being cute on stage. Cute players are needy players - much like people who act cute in real life. Let me rephrase that - "acting cute on stage" - naturally cute improvisers are born that way and often forgivable.

I sat in on an Improv I session the other night and sidecoached a player to stop trying to be funny. He was pushing a joke that broke all the great character work he had done at the top of his scene. His retort: "but I like being funny, that's my thing!"

I get this response all the time by improvisers who get on stage and play for themselves. They want the attention to be on how smart, funny, attractive, and how much of a classically trained thespian they are. These players also usually steamroll scenes, walk on to scenes when they are not needed and tag out players as soon as they establish a fun game because they have a witty edit with which they are DYING to show off. To which, my response is always - "go do stand up".

Yes, our goal is to create comedy. I'm a big proponent of Improv Comedy (vs Improv Theater). If improv isn't funny, I don't care to watch it (nor does the general public who would pay good money). The difference is that when performing improv, you get to the funny together as a team, as opposed to stand up where you get to the funny alone. By selfishly going for the joke, some ridiculous endowment and personal cuteness, you are making it harder for your scene partner to play with you.

We laugh for 3 main reasons: 1) Surprise 2) Release of Tension 3) Reflected Truth. Sure it's easy to shock and surprise the audience with a dick joke, but we as long form improvisers are called to play at the top of our intelligence, both mental and emotional. We are striving for that 3rd funny factor - the Truth in Comedy. So stop being cute, and start being honest.

Ugh, Who Cares...?

2011-02-04T16:04:00.000-08:00

Post By: Peter Kim

During a scene I was in, I once heard Neil Casey from Death By Roo Roo (UCBT NY) whisper under his breath, "ugh, who cares...?"

I was caught off guard. Besides the fact that one of my improv "heroes" didn't like my work, I was stunned by how honest his comment was, albeit made with covert intentions. He was honestly bored of my scene.

The scene did suck. I realized at that moement what was happening. We were being what he calls "annoying improv characters". An example one of these characters talking would be, "Thank you for inviting me over to play Xbox, Joey". No one has ever thanked a friend for inviting them over to play video games, but why do SO many scenes start that way?

Because we're constantly drilled to give information to our partners. To fill in your Who, What, Where. But these are training wheel guidelines for new improvisers to practice giving more information than not. The scene continued on to establish a base reality and find an unusual moment. But because the start was so awkward, we ended up playing caricatures of kids hanging out.

Neil's coaching seemed to always resonate from the audience's POV. What he said right after our scene really sticks with me till this day: "A scene, above all else, needs to be watchable". When performing long form improv, we are asking the audience to trust us and buy in to a world of characters we are creating. That initial buy-in or commitment from the audience is so crucial to what the rest of your show will be.

Unless the scene is about a character who always thanks people for trite gestures, that above-mentioned information is not needed. Instead, why not BE the kid who's come over to play some video games? A character that says "Oh man, you got the new Call Of Duty? Sweet.." conveys the same intention, but is much more natural and watchable.

The audience knows it's made up. Take them along for the journey.

New Round of Exciting Classes!

2011-01-11T05:55:00.001-08:00

Add caption

The Alcove Theater
414 Mason St (@ Geary) 5th Fl.

$199 Course Runs:

Improv I: Mondays 1/24/2011 - 3/14/2011
Improv II: Wednesdays 1/26/2011 - 3/16/2011

Seven 2.5 hour classes 6:30-9:00 PM (First Class meets 1/24 meets at Off-Market Theater 965 Mission St)
Graduation Show on Monday 3/14 for friends, family and the public
Student discount (33%) to the Tuesday Advanced Drop-In Workshops
Free Admission to EndGames Productions shows
Black American Apparel EndGames Improv T-Shirt

New Shows for the New Year

2011-01-04T15:06:00.001-08:00

Upcoming from EndGames Productions...

Tuesdays @ 8PM: @ Circolo Ultra Lounge

(500 Florida St: $5 @ Door)

The Comedy Shop

The Comedy Shop at San Francisco's Circolo Bar and Ultra Lounge is a unique mixture of standup, sketch and improv comedy, and of swank atmosphere, delicious food, top-notch drinks and incredible comedy. Check out our calendar for details: we fix up something different every Tuesday and Thursday at 8pm.

Booking: comedyshopsf@gmail.com

Sunday @ 9PM: @ Actors Theater of San Francisco

(855 Bush St: $5 @ Door - Next Show: 1/9)

A Funny Night for Improv

On the second Sunday of every month, following the hit show "A Funny Night for Comedy", the EndGames Improv teams perform an exciting set of different forms for this late night jam (come out and play improvisers!)

Sunday night's not what it used to be, because now it's "A Funny Night for Improv". Grab a friend, grab some beers and laugh your way into your Mondays.

Booking: peter@endgamesproductions.com

Thursdays @ 9PM: @ Ninth St. Indie Film Center

(145 9th St: $10 @ Door or online)

The Pregames

Following their three-month-long improv talent-search, Endgames Productions kicks off 2011 with a King-of-the-Hill improv comedy show!

Each week at The Pregames, two improv teams take the stage and throw down their best twenty minute improv set. Vote for the team you want to take home The Pregames Champion Cup and defend it the next week against a new challenger!

Live it up with the crowd at The Pregames. Revving up Thursday, January 13, a new battle on the first three Thursdays of every month. 9pm at the Ninth Street Independent Film Center, 145 9th St @ Minna. It's good to be the king!

Booking: max@endgamesproductions.com

Happier Holidays!

2010-12-11T18:12:00.000-08:00

We would like to invite you to the SF Bay Area Improv Community Holiday Party! Whew, that was a mouthful...

Tis the season to reflect on this amazing year of improv in our community as well as meet and greet the other players in our area, indulge in holiday snacks & drinks and much much more.

When: Thursday, December 16th 7PM-11PM
Where: The Ninth Street Independent Film Center (145 9th st)
What: You can expect:

7PM-11PM: Holiday music, snacks and drinks, cheer, misuse of mistletoe
8:30-9PM: Gift Exchange ($10-$15 Gift)
9-10:30PM: Performance By: Dragon Viper Cobra featuring Dad's Other Family

If you are an improv team or theater, please bring some fliers and/or postcards for our community announcement tables.

Happier Holidays brought to you by:

EndGames Productions, Leela and The San Francisco Improv Festival

The 2010 EndGames Champion is...

2010-11-14T16:08:00.000-08:00

Dragon Viper Cobra!

Congratulations to this amazingly talented team. Check out their holiday season run at the Ninth St. Independent Film Center Thursdays at 9PM concluding in the San Francisco Improv Community Holiday Party.

Thursday: November 18
Thursday: December 2
Thursday: December 9
Thursday: December 16 (Holiday Party - www.sfimprov.com)
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/124924

Thank you for an amazing tournament season! Coming soon in January: The Pregames

This is it...

2010-11-10T15:39:00.000-08:00

The 2010 EndGames: Final Round

The lights go down, the intro video plays and there's an anticipated hush that descends onto the theater. Two teams wait just outside the doors shooting their opponents "break a leg" glances while connecting deep into their teammates' eyes. This is it.

It took 11 weeks and 12 of the best of the San Francisco Bay Area teams to battle each other for the title of The 2010 EndGames Champion and claim their prize of a 4-week holiday run and a team photoshoot by an amazing Bay Area photographer.

In one corner is Awkward Face - the premier house team at Pan Theater. This team of veteran improvisers have brought down the house at the San Francisco Improv Festival, hosted the UCB Touring Companies and is one of the best long form teams in the Bay Area.

In the other corner is Dragon Viper Cobra - the young, energetic, extremely talented short form team from Concord CA. They play for Under the Sun Studios and have truly been the "Cinderella Story" ever since they were added late to the competition after one of the teams dropped out last minute.

This Thursday at 9PM, it all comes to an explosive end. One will be named as Champion but The EndGames has been a victory for the San Francisco Bay Area improv community as a whole. The mission was to bring the scattered community together for a celebration through competition. Come join us as we make history. Thursday 11/11 @ 9PM only at the Indie Film Center (145 9th St). Laugh. Play. Socialize.

Improv I: The Essentials of Play

2010-11-01T16:14:00.001-07:00

EndGames Improv I : The Essentials of Play

The secret to happiness? - doesn't exist... BUT you can get close with Improv Comedy.

We're tired of the same old "intro to improv" classes. We're sick of endless levels of classes that leave you confused and stressed. Improv is, and always should be, FUN!

EndGames Improv is dedicated to maximizing PLAY through teaching the essentials of what makes a good improviser, not just games or exercises that you can find in a book yourself. Our philosophy is that by breaking down our bad habits and honing our good ones, we are able to focus our skills and apply them to where they can be optimized - whether that's in our everyday lives at the office, improving our dating lives, actualizing our goals and ambitions or joining a team and performing on stage!

EndGames Improv's system is unique in that we are a network of highly trained instructors, producers and professional improvisers who bring real world experiences to the classroom. It's time we not only offer instruction but also guidance to real world applications. What's your End Game?

$199 8 Week Course Runs on Mondays 1/24/2011 - 3/14/2011 includes:

Seven 2.5 hour classes 6:30-9:00 PM conveniently located near the Powell BART station
Graduation Show on Monday 3/14 for friends, family and the public
Student discount (33%) to the Tuesday Advanced Drop-In Workshops
Free Admission to all EndGames Productions shows
Black American Apparel EndGames Improv T-Shirt

Tournament Update: The Semifinalists!

2010-10-26T18:25:00.000-07:00

We started with 12 amazing teams... 8 weeks later we are down to 4 extremely talented teams.. and here they are!

Come see them live Thursdays at 9PM and help you favorite teams move on to the FINAL on 11/11!
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/124924

Oh yes.. it's a JAM Week!

2010-10-18T13:54:00.000-07:00

This week is JAM week!

On the following dates we will be hosting an scenic improv jam open to all audience members:

Thursday 10/21 - Quarterfinals: Round 4 @ 9PM
Thursday 11/4 - Semifinals: Round 2 @ 9PM
Thursday 11/11 - Final @ 9PM

Here's how it works: At the top of the show, you can fill out a Jam form. Jam as an INDIE or grab 1, 2, 3 other improvisers and give yourself a Jam team name and play together. INDIEs will be placed on a random team and given a kickass team name. Drink, jam, socialize and come back and play some more!

Name: Peter Kim
Email: endgamesimprov@gmail.com
Jam Team Name: _[Homiedoplaythis] or [INDIE]__

See you Thursdays
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/124924

Improv Compendium: Fun with Circles

2010-10-15T18:58:00.000-07:00

La Ronde Circle

Sure the name's redundant but La Ronde Circle* is a great exercise to train for character second beats and "finding the game". La Ronde is a mid-long improv form that was once used as training for the Harold but is now widely played as a performance form by the likes of the fantastic UCBLA team Convoy. You can download a video of their comedy central performance here.

In a workshop or class setting, gather all players in a circle with one player (A) starting in the middle.

A silently sets her scene w/ a suggestion, then a player from the circle (B) joins
After A & B's Who, What, Where is established, the next player from the circle (C) calls freeze and/or tags A out and time-dashes (moves foward in time and/or space) keeping B's character consistent.
B & C establish a completely new scene "yes-anding" off of the universe that was built in the first scene.
D calls freeze and/or tags out B and plays a completely new scene with C
Go all around the circle until Player H does a scene with the original character A
Le Fin

Focus: The objective of La Ronde is to use time-dashes to expand each character but to circle back to the original character. It is essential to work on listening as a team to every scene that's set before and making bold choices that also support what's already been established. It's a lot of fun to see how character games can heighten in the second beats, rather than just making similar game moves in a different scenario.

This and other great workshops are available every Tuesday at the EndGames Improv Workshop Series.

*This workshop exercise is credited to a drop-in class from the People's Improv Theater in NYC (http://thepit-nyc.com)*

"Follow the Fear" - Columbus Day Version

2010-10-11T10:55:00.000-07:00

It's my favorite Del Close quote because it encompasses a strong call to action. Don't take the easy, trite, expected and comfortable route but rather explore the unknown and unexpected in the scene. Also tells us to discover a new world together with your partner, rather than mapping out a journey and asking your partner(s) to simply carry half the load.

"Follow The Fear" is incredibly pertinent in my life today. As many people equate improv to life and vice versa - it's a strong a call to live. It dares us to be bold and react "illogically" to fear, allowing a sense of challenge and ambition to guide our lives.

Fear drives so much of our everyday behavior from taking vitamins to constantly existing in anxiety that your boss knows you're blogging during work. So today, to me this means "be like the explorer in Christopher Columbus". As a man, he shouldn't be celebrated but his sense of challenging the unknown is something we should try to invoke in ourselves on and off the stage.

Here's the short film "Follow The Fear" highlighting Del Close's life and influence.

Improv @ The SFMOMA!

2010-10-05T14:09:00.000-07:00

Jim Soderborg, Associate Producer of The ENDGAMES, will be performing an improvised exhibition this Thursday, Oct. 7th, @ 6:15PM, at SF MOMA. It is a Thursday night where the admission fee is either $5 donation or free! Great reason to get yourself down to the museum if you have not been in a while. Jim's date highlighted below. Check out the SF MOMA press release: http://www.sfmoma.org/press/releases/events/854

SFMOMA Presents SCULPTURE L.A.

A New Work by Muistardeaux Collective

Thursdays, September 30, and October 7, 14, and 21, 20106:15 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

On Thursdays from September 30 to October 21, 2010, Muistardeaux Collective creates SCULPTURE L.A., a multimedia lecture and performance series. SCULPTURE L.A. features performance-based introductions to and overviews of some of SF MOMA's upcoming exhibitions.

Actors deliver the lectures based solely on the titles of the exhibitions; no prior research or exposure to any of the museum's advance materials will be allowed. The lectures highlight a borderline between fact and fiction, and ultimately, as an institutional critique, they call into question the notions of expertise and authorship. The actors have been trained by Muistardeaux Collective not to be experts but to believe they are experts.

Attend this performance, go have dinner and come to the Quaterfinals of the ENDGAMES at 10PM later that evening. A double evening of different forms of improv. Doesn't get much better than this! Kudos Jim!

http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/124924

Improv Compendium: In The Beginning...

2010-10-03T17:49:00.000-07:00

The Beginning Moments...

The following is a series of exercises that can help players commit to emotional choices thus developing character. Most of the exercises and all the wise words are from a workshop taught by Jason Pardo at iO West during the 2010 LA Improv Festival.

Emotional Offers x 3*

2 players: Each player makes a bold emotional choice and gives a verbal offer. Repeat the offers with different words while keeping the emotional commitment. i.e. "Please come in, Take a load off, Could I get your some water" - all lower status and hospitable
Trains: that our words do not matter as much as our intention behind the words. Practice saying things that essentially MEAN the same thing.

Emotional Environment*

2 Players: Each player chooses an emotion at the top and commits to it. Scene starts with emotional and physical offers only. Instructor provides location and players verbally justify their emotions in the environment. After the scene is set, the instructor changes the location again. Justify again.
Trains: Our emotional commitment drives our characters, not our situation.

Heighten Your Partner**

2 Players: Player A chooses an emotion and commits to it and gives first verbal offer. Every offer Player B makes tries to escalate that emotion till it breaks.

Wise Words by Which to Play: by Jason Pardo

"Be Bold and confident about your initial choice/offer and commit to it. It's not WHAT you say, it's HOW you say it"
"Be married to your character, DON'T be married to what you want to happen"
"Take care of yourself, don't be a needy character"
"Let the audience discover with you, don't slap them with the punchline"
"Be inspired by everything and explore it!"
"Be a CONTRIBUTOR to a scene, rather than just a PARTICIPANT"
"Situation is not as important as the relationship. Don't be boxed in by narrative, discover together"

Check out our Improv Workshop Series tab or click here for more ways to get involved.

*This workshop exercise is credited to an LA Improv Festival workshop taught by Jason Pardo (http://west-festival.ioimprov.com )
**This workshop exercise is credited to a UCB Tourco workshop July 2010 (http://www.ucbtourco.com/)

Joe Klocek hosts the ENDGAMES finale

2010-09-29T15:53:00.000-07:00

It's official!
SF Bay Area favorite comedian, "The Riff Master" Joe Klocek will be hosting the finale of the competition on Thursday 11/11 @ 9PM.

Seen on

- Comedy Central’s “Live at Gotham”

- NBC’s “Last Comic Standing”

- Commentator for “The Bridge so Far”

- Runner up- San Francisco Comedy Competition.

- Creator of storytelling show, Previously Secret Information

We are very excited for Joe Klocek to be hosting the final show.

Check out his Joe's famous Heckler vs. Comedian Youtube video here: http://www.youtube.com/joeklocek as well as his new show: Previously Secret Information

Tournament Update: The Final Teams Advance From the Prelims

2010-09-24T15:50:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Dragon Viper Cobra and Shades of Grey for advancing to the Quarterfinals!

NEXT WEEK 9/30 @ 9PM: Come catch Dragon Viper Cobra as they battle against Reply All in Round 1 of the Quarterfinals!

For online tickets: http://brownpapertickets.com/12494

ENDGAMES Improv JAM!

2010-09-20T14:26:00.000-07:00

Announcing the ENDGAMES 2010 Improv Jams!

On the following dates we will be hosting an scenic improv jam open to all audience members:

Thursday 9/23 - Preliminary: Round 4 @ 10PM
Thursday 10/21 - Quarterfinals: Round 4 @ 9PM
Thursday 11/4 - Semifinals: Round 2 @ 9PM
Thursday 11/11 - Final @ 9PM

Here's how it works: At the top of the show, you can fill out a Jam form. Jam as an INDIE or grab 1, 2, 3 other improvisers and give yourself a Jam team name and play together. INDIEs will be placed on a random team and given a kickass team name. Drink, jam, socialize and come back and play some more!

Name: Peter Kim
Email: endgamesimprov@gmail.com
Jam Team Name: _[Homiedoplaythis] or [INDIE]__

See you Thursdays!

Prelims Week 3 - Tournament Update

2010-09-17T13:53:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Hobofish and Reply All for advancing to the Quarterfinals!

NEXT WEEK 9/23 @ 10PM: Final round of preliminaries and a JAM for improvisers! Come out and play SF Bay Area!

For online tickets: http://brownpapertickets.com/12494

Show Time Updates!!

2010-09-13T17:38:00.000-07:00

The ENDGAMES will be on at 10PM on the following nights:

Thursday 9/16 - Prelim Round 3
Hobofish
Reply All
Stone Soup

Thursday 9/23 - Prelim Round 4
Dragon Viper Cobra
Shades of Grey
Room Temperature

Thursday 10/7 - Quarters Round 2
TBD

Check your latest ticket time information at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/124924

Improv Compendium: Meat, Potatoes, Parsley

2010-09-10T14:58:00.000-07:00

Meat, Potatoes, Parsley

Players are divided into 3 lines: Meat, Potatoes and Parsley
1 player from Meat line and 1 player from Potato line starts a scene. Meat initiates.
After the Who/What/Where is established Parsley joins the scene as an "accent" or walk-on to heighten the scene. Rotate lines. Meat -> Potatoes -> Parsley.

This workshop exercise is really fun because all players are up on their feet and rotating in and out of quick scenes. Also each line has a different "role" which tends to relax players and provide room for creativity. Consider heightening as different walk on roles:

character
scene painting
surround sound

**This workshop exercise is credited to a drop-in class from the People's Improv Theater in NYC (http://thepit-nyc.com)**

Prelims Week 2: 5 Play vs 50 Centaurs vs Chicken Scratch

2010-09-09T15:15:00.000-07:00

Tournament Update: Chicken Scratch Improv and 5-Play Improv advance to the Quarterfinals! Congratulations on all teams for an exciting night of comedy.

It's week 2 of preliminaries and we have a fiery competition tonight between 3 very strong teams. Come on out on THURSDAY 9/9 @ 9PM at the Ninth Street Independent Film Center to watch 5Play battle the 50 Centaurs and Chicken Scratch!

Tickets: $10 @ the door; $5 w/Student ID
Online: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/124924

View Larger Map

Watch the teaser video and visit the Competitors' Site for more information on the teams, their unique styles and their other show dates.

ENDGAMES Improv Compendium

2010-09-07T14:35:00.000-07:00

We are dedicating posts to improv, seeing as though we are celebrating a tournament of improv comedy. We'll be posting a collection of improv warm ups, exercises, games, forms, or anything else we come across that could be of help to you categorized nice and neat under "Labels" in the sidebar. All entries will be marked with credits to where the original source comes from. Please feel free to comment with edits or add-ons.

Also, if you'd like to share your improv classics, email them to endgamesimprov@gmail.com with your name, team and original source and we'll post it for you!

Thanks and happy playing!
The ENDGAMES

A New Team joins the Competition!

2010-09-07T12:26:00.000-07:00

Ladies and Gentlemen...

Please welcome to Dragon Viper Cobra to The ENDGAMES 2010!

This young and energetic team hails from Under The Sun Studios in Concord, CA and is replacing Crisis Hopkins in the final round of the preliminaries. We are excited to have them in the competition and be sure to check out Round 2 of the tournament this Thursday @ 9PM at the Ninth Street Independent Film Center!

http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/124924

ENDGAMES 2010 Launches this week!

2010-08-30T14:35:00.000-07:00

We are officially launching this week, THURSDAY 9/2 @ 9PM at the Ninth Street Independent Film Center!
Tickets: $10 @ the door; $5 w/Student ID
Online: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/124924

View Larger Map

Watch the teaser video and visit the Competitors' Site for more information on the teams, their unique styles and their other show dates.

Ladies and Gentlemen... Your 2010 ENDGAMES teams!

2010-08-20T12:17:00.000-07:00

Remember: Your vote helps your favorite team move on to the quarterfinals so come support your improv troupes!

Preliminary Rounds:

Week 1 (9/2)
Clean Sanchez
Awkward Face
Spontaneous Combustion

Week 2 (9/9)
5-Play
50 Centaurs
Chicken Scratch

Week 3 (9/16)
Reply All
Hobofish
Stone Soup

Week 4 (9/23)
Dragon Viper Cobra
Room Temperature
Shades of Grey

Get your tickets now to help your team win!

http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/124924

Sponsors and Web Series

2010-08-05T14:24:00.000-07:00

Hey fellow Improv Geeks!

Only ONE Month away from the launch of The 2010 ENDGAMES! We are very excited about the teams that entered the competition this year and we are looking forward to a heated 11 weeks this fall! We are tirelessly working to produce an amazing competition this year and that includes a Web Video series! So keep checking back for update on the video channel as well as team bios and videos.

We also want to take some time out to acknowledge our official sponors. If you are looking for improv classes, these two are the best ones in SF and Oakland, hands down!

Download and Apply

2010-07-14T14:30:00.000-07:00

Bay Area Troupes!

Download the application for the tournament and apply to be a part of the most exciting improv competition the Bay Area has ever witnessed. APPLY NOW or check out the Application Form Page to your right - - - > Submission Deadline is Friday August 13th.

Endgames 2010 Tournament Design

2010-07-14T00:10:00.000-07:00

As promised, below is the design of the Endgames 2010 tournament. There are a lot of troupes interested in performing so if you are looking to represent a team - email endgamesimprov@gmail.com

Introducing The Endgames 2010

2010-07-12T19:52:00.000-07:00

The Endgames 2010 is the premier Bay Area Improv competition starting on Thursday night 9/2/2010. The winner (by audience ballot & judges) will be named "2010 Endgames Champion" and be awarded a 4-week run on the beautiful The Clubhouse stage @ the Ninth Street Indie Film Center

Here's the early teaser photo, please share and help generate buzz for this amazing event. We are still accepting applicants so if your troupe is interested in entering the competition, please send email and a link to a sample clip to engamesimprov@gmail.com

Stay tuned for the next post: Tournament Design