If you’ve ever thought working with a diva was time consuming, try working with a sandwich. Or a salad. Or some potato chips. Yesterday was my first professional experience working on a commercial where food was the star and–let me tell you–the crew lavishes masses of attention upon that food. The chief lavisher? The food stylist. There were containers of perfectly-cut lettuce, trays of specially identified meat, dishes with symmetrically-cut cheese slices and pans of hand-selected potato chips. At one point the crew was joking, comparing the care in preparation of the food to surgery, which really isn’t that far off. The stylist did have assistants, there was a metal tray filled with tiny utensils (who knew there were so many?), and it could be argued they took their work no less seriously than that of surgeons.
The best part? Learning about stand-in food and “hero” food. Both are edible, but the stand-in food does just that–stands … Read more »
This past Thursday morning I auditioned for a TV commercial. It was one of those improv-y auditions where I got to eat air with plastic utensils and chat with a “friend”. In cases like these, I know the final output will be primarily visual with voice over talent telling the viewer all s/he needs to know about the product in question. My “friend” was a lovely woman whom I had never seen before, but we got along well and were called to audition first. Auditioning first was not all bad this time: we had two chances to enact our lunchtime scene because the first take was not useable due to a technology glitch. It is also in cases like these where I know acting has very little to to with acquiring the job. Instead, it’s mainly about the look: hair, skin, bone structure, height, build and ability to eat well on camera.
Interestingly, the casting director recalled me from my previously festive audition character … Read more »
In September of this year I had a satellite-feed commercial callback for a spot with wonderful potential. Six of us were called back and, frankly, I would have been pleased if any one of us had gotten the gig. Unfortunately, the ad agency decided to go with Los Angeles-based cast, perhaps for financial reasons. I just saw the finished spot this morning. It’s for Target. This could have been me! (Oh, and originally the gift was a sweater.)
A couple of weeks ago, I auditioned for a big-name client and a commercial that had real promise. Unfortunately I didn’t get the job, which may have been the result of a combination of factors: I had been told to prepare a character I wasn’t auditioning for; I was told the lines were improvisatory when there were lines to memorize; We were made to audition with nine other people in the room, all of whom were auditioning for the same role. You know, factors. Despite these it seems the client may have liked me anyway, as I was invited to audition again, but for a different spot.
So, earlier this week I prepared my best “mom look” as requested and arrived to find multiple small children milling about with parents in tow. Oh, so we’re to be paired with a child, I thought. Given my past experience with children at this particular locale, I had very low expectations. To … Read more »
If you’ve ever thought working with a diva was time consuming, try working with a sandwich. Or a salad. Or some potato chips. Yesterday was my first professional experience working on a commercial where food was the star and–let me tell you–the crew lavishes masses of attention upon that food. The chief lavisher? The food stylist. There were containers of perfectly-cut lettuce, trays of specially identified meat, dishes with symmetrically-cut cheese slices and pans of hand-selected potato chips. At one point the crew was joking, comparing the care in preparation of the food to surgery, which really isn’t that far off. The stylist did have assistants, there was a metal tray filled with tiny utensils (who knew there were so many?), and it could be argued they took their work no less seriously than that of surgeons.
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