Reggie Watts in “Transition,” a film that will kick off The Next Thing Festival on Friday.

No, not “A Liar’s Autobiography: The Untrue Story of Monty Python’s Graham Chapman.” ArtsEmerson’s idea of different is assembling a program of monologists, theater artists, musical improvisations, and modern dance, all in live performances captured on video and screened as part of The Next Thing Festival (TNT), a celebration of (mostly) undiscovered work, opening Friday.