Respond and react
Sympathy can lead to no but
Empathy leads to yes and
Not talking about the definition of each word, but when we sympathize in real life, we often deny someone’s truth to make them feel better. We are good people, and nobody wants to see the people around them hurt. But I feel that this is an urge we need to fight in scenes.
Sympathetic response
A. I put on some weight, and I feel gross!
You look great to me! When we go to the club tonight, I guarantee you are going to slay.
Sympathy can lead to a soft denial, which can lead to a back and forth about player a’s weight which will not serve the scene.
Empathetic response
I put on some weight, and I feel gross!
Been there! I hate that feeling. I never want to go outside and then I just sit at home and binge watch Dawson’s Creek.
Are you team Pacy or team Dawson?
I think it’s hard to say yes to a character (person) who is being self-deprecating. Our gut instinct is to cheer them up, but I believe that doesn’t help improvisers get on the same page. I think we need to retrain our instincts to be more comfortable with darker subject matter and dive into the muck with someone, instead of trying to pull them out.
Sympathetic responses feel like polite improv, but I believe empathetic responses help flush out a deeper truth to how our characters are feeling which will make them more supported and believable.
Love this.