TV - Movies
Atlanta Has Way
More Improvised
Moments Than You
Probably Realized
By C.M. CROCKFORD
In a recent interview, "Atlanta" co-creator Stephen Glover mused that he likes breaking the rules of television: "My mind was probably more open to, 'What can't you do?'" Yet the show remains extremely funny and playful, even when the writing shifted into more experimental territory.
When asked about if there were any fully unscripted scenes, co-star Zazie Beetz told Elle, "The best pieces have improvisation. It's sprinkled through the whole thing. All the plot points are scripted, but Donald and the writers aren't particularly precious about the words, which I really love."
The natural chemistry of the cast creates a natural environment for the actors, and improvisation also pops up when the lines seem fine on paper but feel awkward when said out loud. As Beetz explained, "We certainly improvise to smooth out text or to make it feel right or drop in punch lines or transitions you can sort of trail off."