Saturday, December 31, 2011

The Hidden Gem Of Commercial Acting Class

2:31 PM
By Maggie Flanigan


Through intense Meisner training, many student actors find themselves well equipped for commercial acting. Due to the fact that the commercial industry is incredibly quick paced, actors have to be able to immediately adopt the required persona during an audition in order to land the role.

Meisner classes prepare students for the world of commercials through providing them with a vast array of imagined experiences from which they can draw their character and the required scenario. This allows the commercial actor to create a thoroughly realistic performance.

There are also other skills that must be acquired through a commercial acting class. On-camera skills is one such area of emphasis. Because the commercial requires a character to come to life in a short period of time, learning how to work with the camera correctly is essential. The actor must also learn how to interact with "products".

In order to create a connection between the character and the product, actors must learn correct product placement. Although subtle, these skills are essential when it comes to separating you from the other aspiring commercial actors.

Everyone, from agencies to producers, put a lot on the line when they choose a commercial actor. Producers, agency executives, as well as casting agents have a huge investment in choosing the right actor for their commercials. Being successful in the realm of commercials also requires expert interpersonal skills.

Being 100% ready to be in front of a camera at all times is another integral skill. The ability to improvise can also come in handy. This is even more the case with commercials and the characters they portray. Actors should be able to take the character and truly make it their own.

Commercial actors must also be very much aware of the objective of the commercial. Amateur actors may be under the impression that the goal is to convince a third party to purchase a product or service. This is no way to create a realistic performance. The character that the actor creates must genuinely believe in the product. The character must believe in the product so much that he or she wishes to invite others to enjoy the benefits themselves. Some commercials will call for the actor to portray a character who has lost out due to not using the product. Make sure that you are prepared for this as well.

Other knowledge and skills that a commercial actor should have include: Using stereotypes and being knowledgeable about how to handle products. Framing, the formation of storyboards, how to highlight products, triangular technique, how to create certain characters, and scooping. Commercial actors must also learn to treat the camera as another actor and interact with it accordingly.

In order to succeed, great actors know that they must constantly work to improve their already strong foundation. Dedicated commercial actors are the ones that will ultimately be successful.




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