The article highlights the top 10 jazz albums of 2025, featuring diverse artists and styles including Tom Smith's big band, Artemis' evocative ensemble, Jakob Bro's melodic guitar work, Ahmed's fusion of jazz and Middle Eastern music, and innovative works by Cécile McLorin Salvant, Linda May Han Oh, Joshua Redman, Anthony Braxton, Mary Halvorson, and Michael Wollny Trio, showcasing the year's rich and varied jazz landscape.
Rob Reiner used improvised dialogue and humorous props in the making of 'This Is Spinal Tap,' which helped popularize the iconic phrase 'Go to eleven' and contributed to the film's lasting cultural impact.
Bowen Yang humorously apologized to Ariana Grande for an unplanned, overly enthusiastic kiss during a Saturday Night Live sketch titled "Charades With Mom." The spontaneous moment, which was not rehearsed, occurred during Grande's second hosting of SNL, where she played a mother meeting her son's boyfriend, portrayed by Yang. Both actors reflected on the comedic and unexpected nature of the kiss, with Grande noting it felt like a necessary release for their characters.
Henry Cavill improvised a mad, unhinged scene in the action film "Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare," where his character gleefully kills Nazis while sticking his tongue out. The improvisation was a collaborative effort between Cavill and director Guy Ritchie, adding a unique touch to the character. Writer Arash Amel confirmed that while creative liberties were taken, the essence of Cavill's character was rooted in truth, reflecting the real-life daring and unconventional behavior of the historical figure.
Henry Cavill discusses his improvised tongue-wagging scene in Guy Ritchie's "The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare," based on real-life WWII commandos, revealing that the character's unhinged behavior was rooted in truth. The film's ensemble cast, including Eiza González, also shared insights into their preparation and the collaborative, spontaneous nature of the filmmaking process.
Jimmy Kimmel revealed that he improvised reading a social media post from Donald Trump at the 2024 Oscars after being told he had extra time, but was ultimately asked not to read it on air. Trump's post criticized Kimmel's hosting abilities, prompting Kimmel to respond on stage. Other highlights from the ceremony included Emma Stone's win, Ryan Gosling's performance, and a dog peeing on Matt Damon's Hollywood Walk of Fame star.
Damo Suzuki, the enigmatic frontman of krautrock band Can, has passed away at 74. Known for his spontaneous and magnetic stage presence, Suzuki's fearless pursuit of musical magic and improvisational style made him a unique and influential figure in the music world. His philosophy towards art and life was to make the most of every opportunity, and his legacy lives on through his impactful performances and collaborative approach to music.
Martin Scorsese revealed on "The Late Show" that Robert De Niro's famous "You talkin' to me?" line from "Taxi Driver" was improvised, as they were behind schedule and under pressure to cut the scene. Scorsese recognized the brilliance and insisted on shooting it, leading to one of the most iconic moments in film history.
Robert De Niro, known for his method acting, reflects on his approach to preparing for roles, emphasizing the importance of finding the rhythm of a character and the collaborative rhythm with other actors. Despite his reputation for reticence, those who have worked with him speak of his awe-inspiring improvisational skills and deep connection to his characters. His uncredited screenwriting role in his most important work, including all 10 movies with Martin Scorsese, showcases his ability to find the most precise way of articulating something.
In a recent interview, Anne Hathaway reminisced about Meryl Streep's improvisation skills on the set of "The Devil Wears Prada." Hathaway revealed that Streep would come up with 18 different lines on the spot, along with Stanley Tucci and Emily Blunt. The cast also shared details about the creative improvisation that went into the film, including memorable lines like "Gird your loins!" and "Tits in!" Hathaway was surprised by Streep's delivery, as she expected her to be more authoritative, but instead, Streep spoke her lines in a whisper. The cast reunion for the film's 15th anniversary can be watched or read in Entertainment Weekly.
Director Chris Columbus revealed that 2 million feet of film were shot during the making of the film "Mrs. Doubtfire" due to Robin Williams' extensive improvisation. Williams would give scripted takes and then improvise, often providing completely different takes. The improvisation was so extensive that on several occasions, all the film loaded into the camera was used up. Columbus still has over 900 boxes of footage, including outtakes and behind-the-scenes clips, and hopes to turn them into a documentary showcasing Williams' unique process.
Martin Scorsese revealed that Leonardo DiCaprio's constant ad-libbing during the filming of "Killers of the Flower Moon" began to irritate him and Robert De Niro. While DiCaprio's improvisation was described as "endless," De Niro preferred not to talk. Scorsese and De Niro grew tired of DiCaprio's ad-libbing and would occasionally roll their eyes. Despite this, DiCaprio's improvisation has been a trademark of his career, including in films like "Titanic" and "The Wolf of Wall Street." Scorsese also mentioned that DiCaprio suggested changes to the film's script, leading to a shift in perspective.
Elliot Page discusses his role in the film "Close to You," where the actors improvised all the dialogue on the day of shooting. Page found the experience intimidating but exhilarating, and the film explores themes of family, memory, and living authentically. Page, who came out as transgender in 2020, draws parallels between his own experiences and those of his character. The film's director, Dominic Savage, emphasizes the realism and unexpected moments that arise from improvisation. Page also shares insights on supporting transgender individuals and the ongoing strike in the entertainment industry.
The creators of the movie comedy "Theater Camp" faced skepticism in Hollywood about making a successful comedy about theater. Molly Gordon, one of the co-writers, co-stars, and co-directors, explained that convincing people that kids could improvise was particularly challenging. The quartet of creators, who all met doing theater, made a proof-of-concept short in 2017 that eventually led to the feature. The movie had a tight "scriptment" outlining each scene, but improvisation was at the center of the idea. The film was shot at a defunct summer camp and features a cast including Amy Sedaris and Ayo Edibiri.
Jeremy Strong's improvised final scene in the Emmy-winning HBO series "Succession" left creator Jesse Armstrong terrified for the actor's safety. Strong climbed over a railing at the river as if he may jump in, causing Armstrong to fear for his physical safety. Strong revealed that he tried to go in the water during the scene, and Armstrong admitted that they did not have the necessary safety measures in place for the improvised moment.
