Donna in Hollywoodland

Commercial Acting Class #1

It must be the season for Casting Directors ... because tonight I started a 3 week Commercial Acting Class with another Top-Notch Casting Director, Chris Game of Chris and Jed Casting .

About a week ago, I was wandering around the internet on my lunch break at the office, lunch in front of me - just trying to see what was "out there". I usually always click around and submit to casting notices on LA Casting. But even tho I have a free listing on both Now Casting and Actors Access,I very rarely click thru their pages. But for some reason, a few days ago, I did ..... And I happened upon an ad for a 3 week commercial acting class at the Elizabeth Mestnick Studios .

I have wanted to take an acting class with a casting director for a while now. Especially a Commercial Class. But the time and the money and whatever else have never seemed to fall into place. I quickly pulled out my checkbook and balanced out my pennies - and it seemed to all work out somehow. I either called her, or sent an email - I don't remember .... but I enrolled in the class.

Starting a new class always makes me nervous. But the Elizabeth Mestnick Studios are right across the street from The Blank Theatre where I volunteer sometimes. So at least I knew the area, and knew where to park.

After checking in I had plenty of time to wait until the class the got started. And it filled up quickly. There were hardly any seats left.
The fun thing about the class was that Chris Game made a point to remember each students name. And there were alot of students. I always amazes me when some one has a really good memory. Even memorizing my lines when I am acting in something, doesn't really come easy and I have to work at it. But I have heard that your Memory is like a muscle, and to make it stronger you have to use it. And this is becoming more important the older I get.

After introducing himself to us, Chris handed us all a commercial copy. He picked one for each of us according to our character type. Then each student got up to perform in front of the class, and in front of the camera. Each student was given direction on the scene. And after doing it once, was given corrections and did then did the scene over. We all got to watch other students and learn from them.

Another thing I noticed about myself... My turn to go up wasn't after the classroom break. If I am preparing to go up in front, with a memorized line - and it was only one line and some action - it is really difficult for me to concentrate on what else is going on in class. I keep going over my lines in my head. I kept thinking of what action I was going to do once I was up there.
The teacher is talking, instructing each student when it is their turn, and I am trying to pay attention to what he is saying. But I keep repeating my lines to myself, looking at my script, and going over how I will act once its my turn. "concentrate on the class... concentrate on the class", I kept saying to myself. Finally I forced myself to put the script down and listen to what was going on.

My commercial to read was a Tuna commercial. And I was happy to see it had comical elements. I feel I am much better at comedy than drama.
I was very happy that the class laughed after my first run through. The major instruction I got for my second run-through was to picture the other character in the scene more, to do more when eating the tune, and to say the last line somewhat differently. Which I did the second time around.

Then we did group auditions. Mine was with two other people watching a guy pass by saying "Hey, I lowered my cholesterol." My first run through it was difficult to concentrate. I think I was just getting tired after the long day. But I managed to perk up more for the second and third run throughs.

At the end of the class, we watched our commercial scenes on the TV. I have seen myself on film many times, even in the large theatre format - But it is always weird to see yourself on film. My first reaction is "Wow, do I really look like that?"
I was pleased that the Tuna commercial came across as so funny. And Chris noted that I had good reactions when listening to the other character say their lines.

All in all, it was a long class, and a long day for me. I was very tired and hungry by the time I got home.
Cinnamon, the Cat, was very unhappy that I had been out so late on a work night, and proceeded to tell me off for missing her dinner time.
Such is life with a Cat. Or from the Cats point of view... such is life with an Actress.