Saturday, December 31, 2011

Commercial Acting Class - Dead or Alive?

By Maggie Flanigan


The Meisner technique has proven itself to be highly effective in preparing actors for commercials. 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.

Actors who are trained in the Meisner technique acquire necessary commercial acting techniques including the ability to spontaneously "create" their character. 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. The actor's on-camera skills must also be improved. Because they are so short, commercials require that actors create their characters in a short period of time which necessitates expert camera interaction. Commercial actors must also learn how to interact with a third party, the "product".

In order to create a connection between the character and the product, actors must learn correct product placement. These subtle skills can make all the difference between landing a commercial role and being rejected.

Selecting the right actor for a commercial is absolutely essential to all involved including agency executives, casting agents, and producers. 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. Despite the fact that commercials are scripted, the roles typically call for more on-the-spot actor improvisation. Actors should be able to take the character and truly make it their own.

A genuine performance requires that the actor be familiar with and remain faithful to the commercial's objective. Many unprofessional commercial actors are under the false impression that their objective is to convince others. This "understanding" creates a fake performance. Belief in the product is something that that actor must convey himself. Only when the character believes in the product can they attempt to convince others to reap the benefits as well. Depending on the commercial, the actor may need to portray someone who has neglected to use the product and has consequently lost out. Make sure that you are prepared for this as well.

Other required skills include: Learning about the product and stereotypes. Creating storyboards, framing, product placement and highlighting, scooping, triangular technique, and how to play different types of characters. 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. Taking commercial acting seriously and staying dedicated can help actors advance their way up the ladder.




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