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Foreign Film Dub

expert3-15 players5 minutes
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Summary

Foreign Film Dub is a sideline game built around naive players who are in the dark. Two naive performers get silent, mimed clues from their assigned "clue-givers," while other players may mime the scene being dubbed. The naive players keep talking, inventing dialogue while reading those clues and weaving them in. They trade off speaking in timed turns, and the clue-givers use set signals — often pointing — to pass information without a word.

How to Play

  • Pick naive players who won't know the premise or the clues.
  • Assign clue-givers to the naive players.
  • Other players may mime a scene or story to be "dubbed".
  • Clue-givers feed silent, mimed clues to their naive player.
  • The naive players invent dialogue for the scene, reading the clues and working them in.
  • Speaking usually alternates between naive players in timed turns.
  • Clue-givers use set signals to pass information (for example, pointing for pronouns).

Required Materials

  • Nothing required, beyond space to perform and mime.

Purpose

This one trains you to turn what you see (mime) into what you say (dialogue). You'll practice quick interpretation, justification, spontaneity, and sharp observation.

Variations

  • A type of Sideline Game.
  • Naive players can sometimes be audience members.
  • Clues can involve miming parts of words.

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