UCB Sketch 101 Class Notes

Instructor: Dominic Dierkes
Date Taken: August 2008 

At about the same time I decided to jump back into improv, I also decided to take a sketch class. I never really had much interest in writing sketch for the stage, but figured the class could give me some good insights on overall comedic writing.

Below are the notes I took from the sketch class. Find out more about UCB’s training program here.

Class #1 

• Assignments every week- will then read them through as a class
• Everything in your sketch should serve your premise
• There should only be 1 game in your sketch, otherwise trim the fat
• Sketches are 3-5 pages
• Everything should heighten (reactions, the stakes, etc)
• Have a beat, explore those ramifications, then heighten to next beat

Class #2

• Always get to the game quick
• As soon as the epiphany (or a complete reversal) occurs, the sketch is over
• Premise should be specific and can be expressed in 1 sentence.
• If you heighten too quickly you lose the value of what you do after
• Characters should be defined, even it it’s not told to the audience.  The writer (and ultimately actors) should know their motivations
• Have only 1 game (take/angle/etc)
• Be in the active, don’t just talk about it

Class #3

• Character Sketches:
• Even though it’s a character sketch, you should know “his deal.”
• Characters should still respond to people (rather than ignore them).  They should still be a “person” i.e. there is something believable about them.
• Be as succinct as you can (especially in stage directions)
• Commercial Parodies:
• Good skill to have, it is a part of your writer’s packet
• Parody something as specifically as possible
• Game always comes from where you deviate from the actual commercial
• Find that one thing you can change and then execute it the same way as commercial
• Generally fall into 2 categories: (1) The product is weird. (2) The way you’re advertising is weird.
• If you try to both of the above, you are probably trying too much in the sketch
• Make them visually similar – think about the types of shots
• Should be less than 2 1/2 pages

Class #4

• Ridiculousness isn’t enough for a sketch, you still need to know and play your game
• Common questions/comments when reviewing a sketch:
• What beats do you like?
• What’s your game?
• Get to your game quicker.
• Which beats match your game?  Which don’t?
• How can you blow this out more?  What else is true?
• Genre Parodies
• Similar to commercial parodies: pick 1 thing to change and keep everything else the same
• Make it as specific as possible without requiring people to have seen the original
• 3-5 pages, don’t worry about capturing an “entire episode” if parodying a show, just show one scene of it
• Play the conventions of that drama
• For genres, the visual style and feel of it is incredibly important (must match the genre)

Class #5

• Sketch 201 – more focused on building your packet (as extension of 101)
• Sketch 301 – More specialized (putting up a sketch revue, working with actors, etc)
• Best advice: put your stuff up (at UCB, other places, Liquid Courage, on the Internet)
• Try to put on a spank show, do sketch “open mics”
• Tips for Video:
• Robert Rodriguez’s book about making a really cheap film
• Equipment is important
• Check out Improv Resource Center for thread about shooting your own sketches
• If you have a camera but little experience you can easily find people to work with
• 3 Things for Video:
• Sound (shotgun or lavalier mics)
• Tripod (Not shaking)
• Lighting – 3 point lighting setup

Class #6

• Political/Topical Sketches
• Sketches inspired by the news
• Characters are pop culture icons
• Take a news story and take it to the extreme
• Have to have a specific angle

Class #7

Sketch Rewrites. No notes.

Class #8

Sketch Rewrites. No notes.