On a cold Saturday in New York City, the world’s largest train station came to a sudden halt. Over 200 Improv Everywhere Agents froze in place at the exact same second for five minutes in the Main Concourse of Grand Central Station. Over 500,000 people rush through Grand Central every day, but today, things slowed down just a bit as commuters and tourists alike stopped to notice what was happening around them. Enjoy the video first and then go behind the scenes with our mission report and photos.
Hidden Audio Actors: Agents Osteri, Rodgers, Sommer, Todd
Digital Video: Agent Carbone
Digital Photography: Agent Nicholson
The Main Concourse before we arrive
Back in 2006 we had around 200 people shop in slow motion at a Manhattan Home Depot. For part two of that mission everyone froze in place. As it turned out the slow motion was subtle, but the freezing in place was absolutely striking. I wanted to recreate the frozen idea, but this time in a larger, more open space. Home Depot had many aisles and multiple floors so you could never see more than a handful of frozen people at a time. At Grand Central’s enormous Main Concourse, we would be able to see everyone simultaneously.
We met in nearby Bryant Park and synchronized our watches. We would freeze at exactly 2:30 PM. A nice mix of people of all ages and races showed up, so we would look like any random sample of New Yorkers before we froze.
The room starts to fill up moments before go time
The clock strikes 2:30
Another thing we learned at the Home Depot mission is that it’s really tough to convey this idea through photographs. Everyone is frozen in place in a photo. Our chief photographer Chad Nicholson toyed with his exposure a bit to help compensate. Those not frozen are blurry.
Where’s Rob?
Where’s Chekov?
We filmed this mission discreetly from the upper balcony and with a roaming agent on the floor with a camera sticking out of a cart of luggage.
Agent Hurn films
At one point a guy driving some type of maintenance cart entered the concourse and was stopped in his tracks by our frozen agents. Fortunately there were just a few seconds left in the mission. We unfroze before he got too frustrated.
We got great reactions from the folks who encountered us. Strangers started talking to each other, trying to figure out what was going on. With wireless microphones hidden in our shirts, a few agents and I struck up conversations with folks. I convinced one guy to grab a cell phone from a frozen woman’s hand. He did it, laughing uncontrollably as he gently put it back in her hand. My favorite reaction was from a female cop who witnessed the whole thing from behind her NYPD recruitment booth:
Me: Do you know what that was?
Cop: I have no idea! That is the craziest shit I’ve ever seen in my life, AND I’M A COP!
Me: Ha. Yeah, it was weird.
Cop: You wanna sign up to be in the NYPD?
Me: No thanks.
Folks gawk and smile
It was fun to see all the different choices people made for their frozen moment. I didn’t give any instructions in advance. I just told everyone to be doing something realistic and not jokey. One guy dropped an entire briefcase full of papers the second before he froze, leaving his papers scattered before him for five minutes. Many froze midway through eating or drinking. A few froze while taking off a jacket. One couple froze kissing.
I’ve put together some animations of a few of my favorite moments. It’s fun to watch each one through multiple times, focusing on different parts of the image. You can try to figure out how many people in each image are actually frozen. Agent Nicholson was not shooting from a tripod, so on some of these the image shifts slightly from frame to frame. I’ve spaced them out so you can focus on one at a time.
Notice the agent spilling the papers left center, and the agent taking his jacket off right center (this animation may not work in all browsers, get Firefox.)
Several agents froze looking at maps and train schedules
I love this woman’s expression
These agents froze taking a photo, complete with “bunny ears”
A five-minute kiss
I can only spot four agents in this photo: two black males just above the truck, the woman with the red scarf towards the left, and the white male at the bottom with glasses. Everyone else moves.
Mission Accomplished
OTHER RESOURCES:
See these photos in their full resolution at Agent Nicholson’s Flickr Set.
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This mission has been replicated by others in 42 cities around the world in 25 different countries. See the videos.
Your so insightful and creative. Thank you
That was great! Probably the best made video of an event as well. Really well done everybody!
Note to self: Move to New York to be a part of awesome IE stunts.
There was one rather exasperated luggage-buggy driver who must have honked at me 30 times as I stood frozen, examining my ticket to Yonkers.
Wow. Just… wow. Seriously. I wish I could’ve been there for that one… hopefully by this time next year, though, I’ll be back in the game. :) Bravo! This one was fantastic. I love how everyone applauded when you started going again. :D
To the couple who froze mid-kiss - BRAVO. I love my girl to bits and pieces, but I don’t know if we would’ve been able to hold a kiss (without moving, of course) for five minutes.
Fantastic job, guys. I wish I had been part of this one.
Awesome! i wish i was in New York at the time, i would’ve loved to contribute.
beautiful, and strangely moving
Ha! You guys are awesome!
This is really cool! I hope you plan to do something like this again–I’d love to be involved.
Brilliant as always. Wish I could have participated!
“Some kind of protest probably” … “Either that or an acting class.”
Classic!
harriet just showed this to me,can’t believe I really did it!!!!!!!
Such a great stunt. I like how Agent Todd went around engaging the audience. Looks like it was a lot of fun.
BOOOOO to IE not getting picked up from the pilot. w00t for getting this online :-)
Awesome work!
that was so awesome thats the best thing I have seen you guys do so far
Please come to Los Angeles!
I was wondering when you’d finally put this one up! The video ends with my girlfriend and I unfreezing.
Easily my most exciting and best mission yet!
Thanks as always, IE!
This I think equals the quality of the mission, “The Moebius”. Everyone did their jobs so well, I couldn’t believe some of them were able to hold their positions for 5 minutes. None of their positions were unnatural, which made the mission even better. Oh, I wish I lived in New York.
When I entered the terminal, I immediately noticed two sets of escalators, one that was working, and one that sat motionless and closed off. I walked up the broken stairs out of sight and waited for a few minutes. Then I walked down and, at the specified time, I froze in the middle of the steps. From the terminal, I wagered it would look like even two of the escalators had frozen in place, while the two next to them dutifully continued taking people to and from the street. I thought it was pretty clever. I also thought there was a good chance no one would notice. Still, I thought, what are the odds that the side with the escalators won’t appear in the background of at least one or two shots?
Answer: Better than you’d think!
This was really fun, I had a great time when me and my friend did this- I had her pose for a photo, and I was a few feet away taking it when the freezing started- so it seemed to passers by that we were only still for taking a picture- until it lasted longer than a few seconds. Most went around us after waiting anyway, which was cute.
Another Hit. LOL.. that’s just awesome.
Oh damn, I remember this. My lower back got so sore afterwards because during the first freeze. I was bending down, but it was so awesome. Can’t wait to see what’s next.
This was a lot of fun. My last mission before college.
And I actually got paid for it.
This was my first Mission so I figured I had to make a good impression… I was the guy who dropped the papers all over the place!!! It was hilarious hearing all the comments going around, and the few agents who got down to “try and help me” pick them up made it even better. I think the 2nd freeze was even better after we freaked people out by moving for 30 secs! Had a great time, and wish I could take part in more, but I now live in L.A. Good Luck…
I LOVE how every mission you get the, “This must be some kind of protest” reaction from people.
Did this stunt go out on the NYC agents mailing list? When was it performed?
On the second to last picture, I found five agents. There is one in the bottom left corner wearing a black and yellow coat.
My last mission before moving to DC. And we got paid to freak out the tourists! My newfound partner and I had one dude come up and stick his camera right in our faces and snap a photo and he was like “They didn’t even BLINK!” and then at the end, a woman asked us what we were doing and we both said “Trying to get to Connecticut. What are YOU doing?” So much fun!
“This is so weird” “I just wish I knew what they were doing” were a few comments from passersby. It was really nice when everyone applauded after we broke from our first freeze. It was like everyone in Grand Central was saying to us, “Job well done”.
wow that was great, hope u guys have more videos and another missions coming up shortly
This was such a fun one to take part in. I was on the stairway coming down onto the main floor and the view of the event was spectacular!! I wish there had been more video taken from above. Even more interesting was the abrupt decrease and later increase in the volume in the terminal. Amazing. I heard all kinds of great comments like “uh oh, somethings going on”, and in reference to another agent who had “tripped” and fallen just before the freeze: “somethings wrong with her”. I also had to remain frozen while a homeless person worked the crowd and came over to me staring right into my face repeatedly asking for money. Whew!
that was awesome!
Oh, how badly I wish I lived in New York! I’ve read through all the missions, and I think this is one of my favorites. You all are awesome!
How does everyone know when it’s been exactly five minutes, if you’re frozen and can’t look at your watch?
Kisser # 1 (I’m # 2) and I just found this and are alternately laughing and blushing, I think. Only real problem was seeing a clock/watch in the process.
Yay!
To those who asked how we knew when the five minutes were up: it worked much like the Home Depot mission. You tried to freeze in a way where you could glance at your watch, but if not you would keep an eye those around you who were frozen and move when they move.
Clever Clever! A fav!
Next time, after the five minutes up, move for two minutes and freeze again for 1-2 minutes to do the double freak on the public.
This video was really great with the music and everything. I think you are on to something! haha
Fantastic.
It was incredible how they could all stand frozen for 5 minutes.
Too bad I wasn’t there to see.
The last animation is my favorite.
Awsome! How creative!
Did this mission go out to the NYC e-mail list? If so I didn’t get an e-mail!
P.S.: When will the women only mission take place?!
Whoa crazy! That’s me in the last picture with the glasses and altoids! It was so much fun
Beautiful and inspirational.
I’m impressed that people held still for so long.
Some of those positions must have been tough.
So glad for the applause at the end.
that… was… simply amazing
=)
That was awesome. I wish I could’ve done that.
That’s awesome, Charlie — your ability to observe the weirdness of that situation apparently qualifies you to become a cop.
Excellent. The world needs more of this.
Brilliant! Just f-ing brilliant! Wish I could have been there to see it. Job well done.
That was a well produced video.
I can completely see how you could market this as a recurring show for TV (or for the web…if you’d rather maintain full control of it).
You’ve got a perfect story arc setup.
Conception, Planning, Meet-up, Execution, Reaction
Hey, you can’t fool me, you overdubbed footage from the No Pants Subway ride for the bullhorn scene at the opening. Then you overdubbed the voice of the maintanance guy on the radio . . . a few other tricks . . .
Altogether though, it made a nice video! Well done. Thanks for making life in NYC the adventure that it is.
Brilliant!!! Is the weirdest thing ever! I would have loved to be there to see it!
CONGRATS GUYS
I am loving the recent rash of “people as entertainment” stunts in the past handful of years, from the ZombieWalks to the Thriller dance troupes. And now this - like a fairy tale moment. Kudos to whomever came up with the idea, and the participants who did a fabulous job. Wish I’d been there to see it live.
Oh, this was for the pilot.
Really neat.
the idea, the execution, and the video (coming from a cameraman and editor) just outstanding!
wish I knew about it, would have been there
very well done!! so amusing, long enough to be noticed yet short enough not to inconvenience anyone (much - that maintenance guy was a good sport after all)
Well executed.
Totally awesome, I was completely blown away by this.
DEL PUTAS!!!
Performed against Grand Central’s stunning backdrop, this looks to an outsider like Christo without his orange gates (or his budget)–a New York experience that nearly defies description. Good job and great video! It looks like it was memorable and fun for both agents and spectators.
I was cracking up when I saw this. The freeze poses were creative and realistic; good job for taking the mission seriously. I love the guy who dropped his papers!
What a lovely thing, I wish I’d been there to enjoy it.
Without irony, I believe this IE mission was true art.
Absolutely delightful.
You guys are f**king brilliant!
WOW!
THAT WAS AMAZING! thank you for bringing this into the world. i can’t wait to do this in kolkata india!!!!
this is brilliant!
damn that funny, i’m coming next time! there better be a next time.
How cool!!
In the 70s, these were Happenings, and later, Performance Art. Now, apparently, they’re Improvs!
I think they’re great; it can’t be anything but a good thing to amaze people and invoke wonder … as proven by the spontaneous applause from onlookers. Glad to see the form isn’t dead. Carry on!
That was one of the coolest things I have ever seen. I just watched the video and I wasn’t there, but that was super clever. Well done!
That is FANTASTIC. The concept by itself is great enough, but the fact that the whole lot of you were able to pull it off so well is just amazing. And I love the responses from passers-by.
Brilliant bit of social vandalism. Friends and I used to attempt this kind of thing at Disneyland, where we would show up in striped shirts and straw hats, stand on a street corner in Main Street, where several of us played kazoos and harmonicas, while others danced in a spastic fashion in the street. After ten minutes we were asked to leave.
Grand Central Station. Bravo!
completely wonderful.
More please!
This is the most brilliant idea I’ve ever seen.
I’ve been wanting to do things like this for years.
I wish I lived in NY so I could join in.
Improv Everywhere, you make life wonderful. Shine on, you crazy diamonds!
That was really fantastic.
Makes me proud to be a human.
That’s the kind of nonsensical images one would never see in a Muslim country
I think this is totally stupid and pointless but thats just my opinion.
I didn’t get an email! Damn! I would have loved to be a part of this! Great mission
It’s sort of coincidental that the number on the guy’s cart is 207, the same as the number of agents.
great job guys, maybe I’ll do something like that here..don’t think I could stop from laughing though
awesome
Genius! I love it - very creative!
Was that Josh Frick at the end saying, “that was the weirdest thing I’ve ever seen” - cuz it sure as fuck looked like him, even though he lives in Germantown, MD
Best yet! Wish I could have been there!
Things like this are the reason that you guys have been on my bookmarks toolbar for 3 years - keep up the amazing and inspiring work.
Awesome guys, but you weren’t at a postal facility, you were at a train terminal. Grand Central Station is a postal sorting facility, Grand Central Terminal is where all the trains are.
Thats just awesome. More power to you guys!
Nice job. Super cool. Keep up the amazing work.
I love these things! Makes me wish I could move across the country. Well, maybe just get the wherewithal to fly out to New York for a stunt sometime…
I think I’ll subscribe to your RSS feed now, rather than relying on other blogs to post about this stuff. :)
Wow! That is so awesome! People must have totally spun out. I would love to see this sort of thing here in australia.
2 kudos!
I like this kind of stuff a lot. Hopefully the next one will be in an airport - better have a bail fund set up first though.
This is brilliant. I always forget about you guys then come across a stunt you’ve done every six months or so. Whatever you do, keep it up!
Fabulous! Absolutely Fabulous! It is this kind of thing (and thinking!) which makes New York-> NEW YORK!! - Jesse Califano
My kind of humor!
I love the worker with the car in the video. He is trying to explain what’s happening and then, just as he asks for help, BAM! it’s over.
Great event, very nice presentation.
LEGEN… wait for it, I hope your not lactose intolerant coz the next part is … DARY!!!
that was awesome! many thX
Improv Everywhere is awesome.
great work,
amazing video. you should do more like act out an impro. i.e where the actors have there brief but the public have no idea. happened in a restaurant once, a group of actors sat downa nd ate there meal during this they were really nice to all the surrounding tables. they came to pay and then made a big scene about how they didn’t have enough money. the customers they were nice to all chepped in and they got there meal paid for. would have been a joy to watch.
love it
I know I’ve already posted, but congrats on the YouTube feature!!!
that’s awesome! how did i not hear about this?! when’s the next mission!?
Epic win. Good job. Nice FEATURED status on YouTube!
Hey, if you ever do this kind of thing in Los Angeles, I’d like to know! I want to join in!
Awesome. One suggestion: If you do another freezing mission at any point in time, set up a hidden camera somewhere in full view with a long exposure time - then you’ll have an awesome photo with all of the frozen people surrounded by blurs of onlookers.
(Though I suppose some of the onlookers froze long enough in shock to be captured in said photo.)
you guys rule!
GREAT!
This is awesome!!!!!!!
hopefully vancouver will have one soon :)
two questions though, for all of the agents
1.how do you guys know when to start, and it has been 5 minutes?
you guys obviously didnt stare at your watch all the time.
2. how did you KEEP STILL???????
This is great, keep it up :)
My first Improv Everywhere mission and I was so glad to be a part of it!
Great idea!
A similar thing was done in Giuseppe Tornatore’s “Stanno Tutti Bene” (1990) movie. The old grandfather calls his son from the train station, and when the automatic machine answers, everyone in the station, except for himself, freeze in place.
I love the bit, but I really don’t care for the video on this one. The fast editing gives it a very “sound bite” quality and I’d have preferred to see longer sections of raw footage.
But that’s just one opinion and as I said, the bit was awesome.
Awesome - would love to try it in Tokyo!
cool. would like to see the full 5 min.
Ir’a been said before but “brilliant”! I know I could be a good participant — but in the summer, please.
this is one of the most ingenious things i have ever seen. would loved to have been a pert of the freeze… fantastic..