"Actors need bricks to play with, and in fact we rejected all the improvised fragments we had made without a plan. Improvisation without a plan is like tennis without tennis balls"
- Lars von Trier
About this Quote
This quote by Lars von Trier is a metaphor for the value of having a strategy when producing art. He is comparing the need for a plan to the requirement for bricks when constructing something. Without the bricks, the actor has absolutely nothing to deal with and the same is true for improvisation without a strategy. Without a strategy, the improvisation is like playing tennis without tennis balls. The tennis balls are the strategy, and without them, the video game is pointless. Von Trier is stressing the importance of having a plan when creating art, as it offers the structure and guidance needed to produce something significant. Without a plan, the improvisation is just an assortment of random concepts that lack any real purpose or instructions. A strategy is necessary for producing something that is meaningful and impactful.