Improv & Web Comedy
Nichole Yannetty www.nicholeyannetty.com
October 24th, 2014
Nichole Yannetty www.nicholeyannetty.com
October 24th, 2014
Few of us clearly remember those lofty inspirations from
youth lush with imagination and endless horizons. Our entrance into adulthood is often a
sobering experience, forcing us to choose between two innate natures: the
spirit to soar and the mind to stick close to the ground. Through
time, it becomes easy to forget the simple sparks that started us on our
journey forward.
Nichole Yannetty has tapped into those sparks along with high energy and the ability to laugh at herself as part of a new wave of emerging short-form video artists. With the help of improv roots and an imagination that has yet to yield with age, she is making a name for herself starring in a web series and creating a prolific volume of comedic short videos.
Nichole Yannetty has tapped into those sparks along with high energy and the ability to laugh at herself as part of a new wave of emerging short-form video artists. With the help of improv roots and an imagination that has yet to yield with age, she is making a name for herself starring in a web series and creating a prolific volume of comedic short videos.
Nichole:
When I was in the first grade, I was introduced to one of my all-time favorite movies, Hook, and couldn’t stop watching it. It stuck with me and through the years solidified by love for imagination. It wasn’t just the whole flying thing that I loved about Peter Pan's story; it was also the idea of never wanting to grow up. In particular, the turning point of Peter’s perspective during the food fight scene inspired me the most. If you believe, you can play, and then become part of the game. Talk about challenging perceptions!
I could also relate to Peter Pan in that I was something of a ringleader in my youth. I was more extroverted and enjoyed inventing games for my cousin Darcie and sister Alicia. My parents were supportive of my fantastic quirks, except for that one time I thought pixie dust and happy thoughts would allow me to fly off of our second story balcony. So, instead of risking broken legs or worse, they helped direct my appetite for make-believe into performance arts. My parents first put me in music classes at The New England Conservatory in Boston where I attended their preparatory school program on the weekends from 7th through 12th grade.
After high school, I attended the University of Miami to study music and theater and joined a short-form improv team: Canes of Comedy. Even though I had no experience, I was able to talk my way into attending a rehearsal, got to know some of the players, began to learn the craft, and became a player myself. Our improv shows were telecast on the University TV station, UMTV, allowing me to gain experience in front of the camera. Although, at that time, it was a part of my life I tended to keep private and not share with my friends.
After I had graduated, I moved to NYC and took classes with The Upright Citizens Brigade studying improv and sketch comedy writing. Thanks to an NBC Diversity Scholarship, I was able to continue studying at The People’s Improv Theatre (The PIT). These classes helped cultivate my creative skills and hone in on what I love to do while meeting other comedians. I continue to perform with my indie improv team: Marriage Bed.
When I was in the first grade, I was introduced to one of my all-time favorite movies, Hook, and couldn’t stop watching it. It stuck with me and through the years solidified by love for imagination. It wasn’t just the whole flying thing that I loved about Peter Pan's story; it was also the idea of never wanting to grow up. In particular, the turning point of Peter’s perspective during the food fight scene inspired me the most. If you believe, you can play, and then become part of the game. Talk about challenging perceptions!
I could also relate to Peter Pan in that I was something of a ringleader in my youth. I was more extroverted and enjoyed inventing games for my cousin Darcie and sister Alicia. My parents were supportive of my fantastic quirks, except for that one time I thought pixie dust and happy thoughts would allow me to fly off of our second story balcony. So, instead of risking broken legs or worse, they helped direct my appetite for make-believe into performance arts. My parents first put me in music classes at The New England Conservatory in Boston where I attended their preparatory school program on the weekends from 7th through 12th grade.
After high school, I attended the University of Miami to study music and theater and joined a short-form improv team: Canes of Comedy. Even though I had no experience, I was able to talk my way into attending a rehearsal, got to know some of the players, began to learn the craft, and became a player myself. Our improv shows were telecast on the University TV station, UMTV, allowing me to gain experience in front of the camera. Although, at that time, it was a part of my life I tended to keep private and not share with my friends.
After I had graduated, I moved to NYC and took classes with The Upright Citizens Brigade studying improv and sketch comedy writing. Thanks to an NBC Diversity Scholarship, I was able to continue studying at The People’s Improv Theatre (The PIT). These classes helped cultivate my creative skills and hone in on what I love to do while meeting other comedians. I continue to perform with my indie improv team: Marriage Bed.
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But, improv isn't just another form of performance theater to me. It's helped me with everything: from confidence in social situations and during conversations (especially while bartending) to character development and more. One of the greatest values is that it teaches you to listen deeply to what's around you, who you're talking to, what they are saying, and how they are saying it. There's also the thrill of spontaneous creation, being in the moment, synching up with other actors, and connecting to the audience as a team.
I also learned from improv how to explore characters internally. Who they really are. What motivates them? How do they see themselves and the world around them? What are their life philosophies and perspectives?
When I'm working on a scene, I try to detach from the script early on. This way I can play iththe scene and explore not only the character's connection with the words, but the unspoken words and meanings in between the lines.
Since moving to NYC, I’ve focused on getting more on-camera work. It doesn’t hurt that I have a close resemblance to a young Maya Rudolph in both appearance and expression- a point highlighted in a Buzzfeed article. I’ve been fortunate to get a wide variety of opportunities from a 7UP Ten national commercial to the critically-acclaimed web series Kelsey, which made IndieWire’s list for “2013’s best web comedy series”.
Kelsey and I share similar traits, so I was able to use a lot of me in the character. I tend to be hyper while talking, often my words and thoughts don't synch up, and some crazy shit just starts flying out everywhere (hey- like Peter Pan!). In fact, I promised my mother I'd not drink coffee before performances to help tone it down a notch. She was right, and it helped! And similar to how Kelsey interacts with other characters, I'm an oddball in my groups of friends and always just slightly out of place. Check out Season 1 of Kelsey here.
Working multiple jobs while actively pursuing an acting career in NYC comes with the territory. Along with acting jobs, I bartend, read for several casting companies and work with The Actor’s Green Room. The Actor's Green Room is a great way for actors to network with agents, managers, and casting directors and learn more about the industry. What keeps me going in between gigs are my personal comedy and video projects. If I'm not booking work, I'd rather take control and create my own, instead of sitting and waiting for the next thing.
You’d think I’d keep a notebook always on hand to harness new inspiration from the city. But instead, I write down notes on random pieces of paper like receipts or email it to myself in bits and pieces. Still, I manage to capture many of the real life experiences- good or bad- which can become new opportunities to create Vine videos, short films, or comedy sketches. I learned through improv how to start off narratives naturally but once it starts going off the rails, embrace it, and turn it into a "game". So, weird, surprising, embarrassing, and uncomfortable, are all elements I know well and often use.
My short film Kissed came from a holiday party where a friend hung mistletoe on my behalf to give fate a little nudge. There was someone I liked, but he was a no-show, and I was disappointed. So, I decided to harness that energy into something creative and wrote a silent short film. Kissed premiered at the Brooklyn Short Film Festival this past spring, with upcoming screenings in LA at the HollyShorts Monthly Screening Series.
Kissed Trailer from Nichole Yannetty on Vimeo.
Creating short films and sketches are ideal, but not always manageable to produce due to budget and time considerations. I recently was introduced to the social media app Vine, where I have been able to showcase my ideas by recording them on my iPhone. It allows me to be impulsive, think quickly, and highlight my quirky traits. You only have six seconds to tell a story on Vine, so being overly dramatic with big punch lines tends to be an effective way to do it.
It can also be therapeutic! As a woman, sometimes the pressures of keeping up appearances and following social norms can be frustrating. I’m short and flat-chested, so after a date, I often go through a Braveheart “freedom” moment as I kick off those uncomfortable heels and strip away my padded bra. It inspired a Vine video about what goes through my mind once I return from a date.
It's been a long journey since I first became hooked on Hook, but the lessons remain: take risks, don't be afraid to fly, and let your imagination soar. Thankfully, I don't have to "grow up" just yet. There are many more experiences to have in NYC; new characters to meet and become and countless stories to tell in new and exciting ways.
