FOR SOME OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES OF COMMERCIAL WORK
CLICK ON THE LINK ABOVE RIGHT MARKED
"COMMERCIALS , DIRECTOR JAMES GARTNER">>>>>>>>>>>>>>
" Advertising is the very essence of Democracy"
Anton Chekhov
Sage Parker
With only one week left students turned their attention to the art of the "short form" also known as Commercials. Of all mediums none more than the commercial has been more misunderstood and belittled by the "classically trained" actor. For years many thought the idea of working in commercials had signaled that as an actor, they were not only "selling something" but that they had themselves somehow "sold out." Not long ago Commercials were something that an actor had to explain or apologize for . Never a bigger example of this was when established actors once did commercials for foreign distribution only. In this day and age if you don't see the actors in network commercials in this country , you certainly hear them. Gene Hackman, Helen Mirren, Anthony Hopkins, Susan Sarrandon, Malcolm McDowell, Michael Douglas, the list is long. A good actor is a good actor. No matter what the medium. Whether its a Broadway production, a Major motion picture, a commercial, a voice-over you are using your skills as an actor to play a character and tell a story.When you get paid for doing something you love that you are good at than a paycheck is a bonus. When you get paid "over and over again" as you often do in commercials its not just a bonus its a windfall. So before dismissing the idea of commercials as beneath your training, consider that windfall. It might just mean your able to take that part in a play that you've always wanted to do. The one that's out of town that pays little to no money. But working in Commercials can also help you to understand what it is to be on a set for long hours, as the many hours required shooting a commercial are every bit as long as days on any other film set. You will learn to conserve your talent and your energy until it is required. Something you cannot learn in a classroom. You'll quickly learn camera placement , lighting and many if not all the mechanics used in film and television. Even the process of auditioning for commercials will help you hone your skills as an actor. Some of the biggest and most successful directors in film also are attracted to working in this medium:Sidney Pollock, Scott Hicks, Bronwen Hughes, Tony Goldwyn, Ridley Scott, James Gartner and Kathryn Bigelow. Money for sure , but the discipline of telling a story with a little bit of film, not too many locations, a few words , few to no changes of clothes, limited props, and a couple of characters . They must cut everything to the bone and still come out on the side of artistic integrity. Their names are on the projects and they better look good. This week students found out that those 3 acts in 29 seconds are harder than they look.
