In LA, catching a movie being filmed is nothing to bat an eye at, let alone pay for as a form of entertainment.  But how many Angelenos can say that they’ve seen a film shot, scored and edited before their eyes in the span of a Saturday night out?

LA comedy landmark the iOWest’s the Live Improv Movie Project (LIMP), offers just that, with a completely improvised film that goes from concept to completion in front of a live audience.

This novelty improv concoction starts with –what else?– an audience suggestion, paired with props provided by the audience.  Then, three improv teams armed with cameras and sound equipment head out into the streets of Hollywood to shoot.  The film is streamed live back to the theater, where the crowd witnesses “the magic happen” firsthand, as editors transform raw footage into a coherent narrative, complete with a soundtrack.  Surprisingly, the spontaneity of improv is enhanced rather than lost in the process; the audience provides creative input throughout, and is even responsible for choosing a title. Finally, the finished product is screened: a one-of-a-kind work of film that is unique to that night’s place, time and creativity.

LIMP is part classic improv show, part voyeuristic filmmaking experiment, and just the type of innovative improv invention you’d expect from the West Coast branch of the legendary Chicago iO.