You Look You Seem
You Look You Seem is a character observation exercise in which players study their partners and offer observations beginning with "you look like someone who..." or "you seem like the kind of person who..." The exercise builds the skill of reading physical details as character clues and generates instant character material from observation.
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Related Exercises
You
You is a circle exercise in which players point at another person and say "you," passing focus around the group with clear eye contact and decisive gestures. The exercise trains the habit of making specific, committed choices about who receives an offer. It builds directness and the ability to give and receive attention cleanly.
As You Will
As You Will is a character immersion exercise in which actors spend an extended period inhabiting their characters in an unstructured social environment. As documented by Gavin Levy in 112 Acting Games, players arrive already in character and interact freely with each other for twenty to sixty minutes without any scripted dialogue, predetermined blocking, or audience. The exercise strips away the technical demands of performance (projection, line learning, blocking) and replaces them with pure character exploration and responsive interaction. By removing the pressure of performance, As You Will allows actors to discover new dimensions of their characters through spontaneous encounter. The exercise is primarily used in conjunction with a scripted production, where it serves as a rehearsal tool for deepening character work and ensemble connection.
Character Walk
Character Walk is an exercise in which players move through the space while gradually adjusting their physicality to build a character from the feet up. Changes in gait, posture, tempo, and weight distribution produce distinct personas. The exercise demonstrates how physical choices generate character without any need for backstory or dialogue.
Character Mirror Circle
Character Mirror Circle is an exercise in which players stand in a circle and one player steps to the center, adopting a character through physicality and voice. The rest of the circle mirrors the character as precisely as possible. The exercise sharpens observational skills and teaches performers to read and reproduce physical character details.
Look I Have A
Look, I Have A is an applied improv object work and presentation exercise in which participants introduce an imaginary or real object to the group and build a brief scene, narrative, or explanation around it. The exercise trains the ability to commit to an invented premise, communicate enthusiasm for a specific thing, and draw a group's attention and investment through the act of genuine discovery rather than performed excitement.
Making Faces
Making Faces is a warm-up exercise in which players practice exaggerated facial expressions, cycling through emotions, mirroring a partner, or responding to facilitator prompts. The exercise loosens inhibition around physical expressiveness and helps performers discover how facial choices communicate character and emotion instantly. Many performers rely primarily on voice and words; Making Faces redirects attention to the face as a primary communication instrument. The exercise serves as an accessible entry point for physical comedy work and character creation.
How to Reference This Page
The Improv Archive. (2026). You Look You Seem. Retrieved September 28, 2026, from https://improvarchive.org/exercises/you-look-you-seem
The Improv Archive. "You Look You Seem." The Improv Archive, 2026. https://improvarchive.org/exercises/you-look-you-seem.
The Improv Archive. "You Look You Seem." The Improv Archive, 2026, https://improvarchive.org/exercises/you-look-you-seem. Accessed September 28, 2026.
The Improv Archive is a systemically maintained repository. The archive itself acts as the corporate author.