arts n entertainment

When it comes to commercial acting, many students find generic acting programs to be insufficient due to the specific skill-set that is required of commercial actors. Commercials require that the actor be thoroughly schooled in numerous different commercial acting techniques such as improvisation, use of cue cards, prop use, and cold reading. The purpose of a commercial acting class is to combine traditional acting skills with those designed to further an actors career in this challenging field.

One of the most important and challenging commercial acting techniques is that of "on camera" acting. Due to the limited time frame of the commercial, actors have the added challenge of grasping their character and personifying that character within the allotted time. The technique of "on camera" acting poses a challenge to many actors so taking part in a commercial acting workshop that teaches this technique is essential for success. Unlike other acting roles, commercials do not provide the actors with a live audience to interact with. Instead, the actor needs to have this same interaction with the camera itself.

Vocal resonance as well as enunciation are two skills required of every actor, regardless of role. Commercial acting is no exception but requires additional efforts as well particularly in regards to the regulation of vocal volume when interacting with the camera. Another skill that cannot be ignored is actor imagination. When doing commercials, the actor is typically given very little time to learn the script. Because of this, it is essential that he or she quickly adopt the role's persona and bring it to life. The purpose of the commercial acting workshop is to form these skills and teach students how to use these skills during commercial auditions.

Another technique of interest is slating. It is a simpler skill, as it teaches you how to be successful at an audition. Actors are taught how to give good presentations while staying true to their own style. The goal is to set themselves apart from others in the business.

If an actor succeeds at an audition, they may have to rely on an "archetype" to act through the commercial. Archetypes are a collection of personas that represent the main characters in a production. Learning how to draw on these archetypes is an essential skill for commercial actors. However, it isn't everything. If actors rely solely on archetypes, their commercial won't be as successful. What matters is moving past the stereotypes and creating a performance based on the "human" element.

Another essential skill that can be learned through commercial acting class is how to give the character an "unstudied" air. Although the actor needs to approach the role with a knowledge as to how to portray the character, it is integral that the resultant personality appear as an everyday person would. Steering clear of stereotypical and overly "rehearsed" emotions is a must.

In summary, if an individual wants to make a living presenting products or services, they should take a commercial acting class. By doing so, they will learn skills that are unique to the industry. The techniques mentioned above offer a small sample of the knowledge students will acquire. When a person takes these classes for real, they will be inundated with even more commercial acting techniques not taught anywhere else.