Lance Krall and Anna Vocino of Free Radio Have Fun Improvising With Celebrities

[...]

Tell us about putting together an episode. How much is on paper? How much is improv?

Lance: I have a great writing partner, Loren Tarquinio. Basically before the season starts we bang out a bunch of outlines. That's about the extent of the writing for the show. They are loosely outlined scripts. We want to create an arc and create story, but we have such great improvisers and due to the show's tone, because the interviews are so loose that the rest of the show needs to feel that way. We decided we wanted the whole show to be improvised. We do about forty takes of everything. There is a lot of great stuff.

Anna: Yes, forty takes from every angle.

Lance: That's the other part. It's one thing when you have a blueprint and say OK these lines have to get out, but when you are editing improv you have to watch every single scene. And watch every single take. It kills me because there is so much funny stuff that just doesn't make it into the show. It's a fun show to edit. I basically start with the interviews. I make sure all of those are in good shape. Then we mold the story around that. So it is a very organic process.

[...]

Which celeb was the most game for improv and surprised you with their comedic ability? You've had comedians on Free Radio, but also actors and authors that maybe you were wondering how well they would be able to play along.

Anna: Dominic Monaghan was great. He came up with the line, "You would be great to be the Hobbit." Then he asked Lance, "Can you act?" He got him to do the Darth Vader, 'Luke, I am your father" scene.'

[...]

By Julie Wolfson on May 19, 2009 10:30 AM