Ad libAd lib

AFTRA – AFTRA – www.aftra.orgwww.aftra.org

AgentAgent

AuditionAudition

Beat, Beat, as in, “Take a beat.”as in, “Take a beat.”

BlockingBlocking

BookBook

BoomBoom

““Break-a-leg!”Break-a-leg!”

CallbackCallback

Casting DirectorCasting Director

ClientClient

CueCue

DirectorDirector

Hand PropsHand Props

HeadshotHeadshot

Open Call/Cattle CallOpen Call/Cattle Call

ResidualResidual

SAG – SAG – www.sag.orgwww.sag.org

SidesSides

SlateSlate

StoryboardStoryboard

TalentTalent

Top, Top, as in, “Take it from the top!”as in, “Take it from the top!”

Focus: Commercials are about selling Focus: Commercials are about selling

the product.the product.

Memorize your lines; be prepared.Memorize your lines; be prepared.

Be comfortable in front of the camera.Be comfortable in front of the camera.

Treat the product with respect.Treat the product with respect.

Product = #1Product = #1

The client is paying for you to The client is paying for you to sell the sell the

product.product.

It’s not about what YOU think; it’s all It’s not about what YOU think; it’s all

about pleasing the director and the client.about pleasing the director and the client.

Leave your opinions and your ego at the Leave your opinions and your ego at the

door.door.

You must be prepared to practice You must be prepared to practice memorizing your lines from Day 1.memorizing your lines from Day 1.

Showing up without preparation = Showing up without preparation = YOU’RE FIRED!YOU’RE FIRED!

Test yourself.Test yourself. 2 things at once=SUCCESSFUL 2 things at once=SUCCESSFUL

MEMORIZATIONMEMORIZATION

If you are not comfortable, you have If you are not comfortable, you have probably not prepared, or have not probably not prepared, or have not warmed up.warmed up.

Discomfort is very, very hard to hide Discomfort is very, very hard to hide from a camera close up on your face. from a camera close up on your face.

Practice in front of a point on the Practice in front of a point on the wall, or your video camera, rather wall, or your video camera, rather than in front of the mirror.than in front of the mirror.WHY?WHY?

Treat the client’s “baby” with respect.Treat the client’s “baby” with respect.

SMILE when you say the product name.SMILE when you say the product name.

Don’t cover the label/name.Don’t cover the label/name.

Hold it high & in the shot.Hold it high & in the shot.

Don’t toss it or plop it down, even when Don’t toss it or plop it down, even when

the shoot is over. the shoot is over.

Yep, it’s important!Yep, it’s important!

Body Warm-upsBody Warm-ups

Vocal Warm-ups Vocal Warm-ups Enunciation & Articulation:Enunciation & Articulation:Tempo:Tempo:Inflection:Inflection:Pronunciation, esp. unfamiliar words…LOOK Pronunciation, esp. unfamiliar words…LOOK

THEM UP!! ASK SOMEONE!!THEM UP!! ASK SOMEONE!!

ReferralsReferrals

Agents Agents More to come on this…More to come on this…

ScoutsScouts

Parent submissionsParent submissions

Open calls, aka “cattle calls”Open calls, aka “cattle calls”

Their take: 10% Their take: 10% of the work they book of the work they book for you.for you.

SCAM ALERTSCAM ALERT: : NeverNever Never Never NeverNever pay up front !!!pay up front !!!

What about headshots, resumes, & What about headshots, resumes, & work permits??work permits??

The LetterThe LetterThe InterviewThe Interview

Any agent who tells you to buy their Any agent who tells you to buy their products, take their classes, give products, take their classes, give them “up front” money, etc. and them “up front” money, etc. and they will “guarantee you work” is a they will “guarantee you work” is a dirty, rotten scoundrel. dirty, rotten scoundrel.

TURN AND RUN! Run like the wind. TURN AND RUN! Run like the wind. Do not look back.Do not look back.

What a What a reputablereputable agent will NOT do: agent will NOT do:Promise you jobsPromise you jobsTake money from you before you workTake money from you before you work

How do I know? INVESTIGATEHow do I know? INVESTIGATEwww.sag.orgwww.sag.orgwww.aftra.org www.aftra.org Hollywood Creative Directory Hollywood Creative Directory

www.hcdonline.comwww.hcdonline.com; ; Hollywood Hollywood Representation DirectoryRepresentation Directory

Assn. of Film Commissioners Assn. of Film Commissioners www.afci.orgwww.afci.org

ShortShortShows personality – YOU write it, not Shows personality – YOU write it, not

your parents.your parents. Include a photoInclude a photoTo the pointTo the point

Your nameYour nameYour bio: age, experience, schooling, etc.Your bio: age, experience, schooling, etc.How you heard about themHow you heard about themRequest an interview/meeting to Request an interview/meeting to

perform a commercial for themperform a commercial for them

Be nice; be courteous.Be nice; be courteous.Be talkative.Be talkative.Answer with a full, complete answer.Answer with a full, complete answer.Turn negatives into positives.Turn negatives into positives.Volunteer a prepared commercial.Volunteer a prepared commercial.

That means you need to have one in your That means you need to have one in your bag of tricks. bag of tricks. Hey, you could use the one Hey, you could use the one from this class!! You owe me $10. Just from this class!! You owe me $10. Just kiddin’…kiddin’…

TELL THE TRUTH!!TELL THE TRUTH!!

DO:DO:Show up 15 minutes earlyShow up 15 minutes earlyWear the same outfit each day you Wear the same outfit each day you

auditionauditionTake directionTake directionBe preparedBe preparedWarm upWarm upBe confident; greet the casting director Be confident; greet the casting director Memorize your lines at once; look at the Memorize your lines at once; look at the

storyboard for blocking/use of propsstoryboard for blocking/use of propsSlate yourselfSlate yourself

DON’TDON’TChange your “look” from day one to the Change your “look” from day one to the

day of the day of the

shoot (hopefully)shoot (hopefully)Argue with the casting director Argue with the casting director Be inflexible or unwilling to try, even if Be inflexible or unwilling to try, even if

you think you look sillyyou think you look sillyIgnore the notes of the casting directorIgnore the notes of the casting directorAct like you are indispensible; Act like you are indispensible; you’re notyou’re not..Be devastated if you don’t get the role. Be devastated if you don’t get the role.

What is a union?What is a union? A union is a group of professionals who form a A union is a group of professionals who form a

collective bargaining group. HUH??collective bargaining group. HUH??

Unions try and negotiate the wages, working Unions try and negotiate the wages, working conditions, and benefits of their members.conditions, and benefits of their members.

There are teachers’ unions, steelworkers’ unions, There are teachers’ unions, steelworkers’ unions, truck drivers’ unions, and unions for many truck drivers’ unions, and unions for many others, including PERFORMERS.others, including PERFORMERS.

SAG, AFTRA, (Actor’s Equity)SAG, AFTRA, (Actor’s Equity)

Admission: Unions can be very controversial. Admission: Unions can be very controversial. They’re expensive to join!They’re expensive to join! Many jobs require union membership; some do Many jobs require union membership; some do

not.not. Union jobs pay more, but you can be tossed out Union jobs pay more, but you can be tossed out

if they find out you’ve worked on a non-union set.if they find out you’ve worked on a non-union set. In order to be a professional actor on stage, TV, In order to be a professional actor on stage, TV,

film or radio, you may need to become a union film or radio, you may need to become a union member, but it depends on where you want to go.member, but it depends on where you want to go.

Masters Degree, University of Messing Masters Degree, University of Messing It Up, Hollywood, CA It Up, Hollywood, CA har har har har

Stevens, Chambers. Stevens, Chambers. Hollywood 101: Hollywood 101: The Ultimate Commercial Book for The Ultimate Commercial Book for Kids and Teens.Kids and Teens. South Pasadena, CA: South Pasadena, CA: Sandcastle Publishing, 2005.Sandcastle Publishing, 2005.

www.sag.orgwww.sag.orgwww.aftra.org www.aftra.org