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This month we interview Marty Johnson, cast member of the Friday Night Showcase show for November/December, Psychic Improv. Marty is a filmmaker as well as an alumna of Improv Asylum's Main Stage cast (She's also guest-performed with ImprovBoston's Mainstage cast.) So let's find out about this talented lady's varied background as well as the inspiration behind Psychic Improv!
1A. Marty you've performed with Improv Asylum and ImprovBoston as well as make films. How do you let improv influence your filmmaking and vice versa?
I have made a few short films and pilots, but I actually do more writing - sketch, theater and short film/pilot type stuff. Some of those things I also direct/produce. Improv comes in twice in the process. While writing, I think in terms of beats, building on "the game" as I'm developing a joke, similar to improvising onstage. With a short film that Psychic Improv recently made, we improvised through some ideas, and taped it. I used that to help while writing the script. When filming, I'll usually improvise somewhat if I'm acting, and I often encourage other actors to do the same if I'm directing. Actors who are good improvisors are so valuable because they bring a lot to the scene even when sticking with specific beats of a written script. I also find that when I've filmed commercials as the actress, they always ask for a few improvised takes, and that tends to be what they use in the end product, for better or worse.
1B. Also tell us about Psychic Improv and where the concept came from!
Psychic Improv started when Mark Odlum, Will Luera and I got together to improvise one night at IB. We were brainstorming ideas for a structure, and really wanted to be able to "muck around" as Mark loves to say. He's always, always saying that now that he lives in New York. Idiot. Anyway, we came up with a concept where we'd ask the audience for a suggestion, but never look at it. Our scenes would be inspired by what we thought they wrote. Totally ridiculous - like Psychic Improv. And Mark Odlum. Our showcase show is more structured, building off the characters that we've developed in doing the show - completely inept but wildly confident.
2. Where are you originally from and what brought you to Boston? What made
you stay?
I grew up in Enfield, Connecticut, a town brimming with fast food eateries. I was in New York for several years, performing improv & sketch with a group there and taking classes at UCB before moving to Boston. I came to Boston because I wanted to live somewhere new, I was sort of anticipating that a jerk named Mark Odlum might show up in NY, and I was dating a suave young gentleman who lived in Providence. I stayed for a lot of reasons - to cite a few - I found a great community of comedians and performers, and I married that suave young gent.
3. What are your favorite hobbies?
Making fun of things. And people. At the beach.
4. Do you have any important advice, anecdotes, heck even recipes to share?
My two cents - Boston is great because there are so many good women performing comedy here. It's sometimes shocking to go to other cities - even the big ones - where you don't see that represented. Ladies, keep that sh*t up.
5. What's one goal that you have to achieve before you die?
If I'm not elected president of the United States, I will not die happy. So I'm feeling the pressure in that area.
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