Advanced On-Camera Commercial Audition class 3

Steps:

1. (Start) Show the pain and do something to relieve the pain.
2. (Middle) Say the 1-line copy.
3. (End) Stay in the pain, stay present.

For example, what I did I learned from a acting technique class taught by Jim Boerlin at HB Studios in NYC (we were working our way through Uta Hagen's famous 10 acting exercises, and her "re-creating physical sensations" exercise is highly practical). For example, if you've pulled a muscle, if you stay perfectly still, you're fine, but if you move that muscle or that part of your body the tiniest bit -- pain, Pain, PAIN. This is a great way to sort of fake it (i.e. you can't realistic create a real headache or sore arm). Specifically, I choose to have a sharp pain in my neck, but I only "felt" it if started to turn my head. So after I slated my name, I let something attract my attention off to the side, I started to turn my head, and then -- wham! Sharp pain in my neck: I just acted/physicalized what I need about how I and others behave when I had such a pain, and . . . it looked real.

What I didn't do well, however, is I didn't show enough pain in my face and I didn't continue showing the pain after saying the copy.

NOTE: when saying the copy, e.g., "I needs some tylenol," believe that tylenol is exactly what I need.
NOTE2: how to physicalize pain or any other basic sensation or emotion. It's well known that people can make themselves feel (temporally at least) happy if they just choose to smile. Therefore, it's possible to feel other sensations or emotions by simply physicalizing them, e.g, to "feel" pain, crunch your face, grit your teeth, DO/behave all the things you do or that you know others do when they're in pain, and DO/behave those actions that you would do to try to relieve or reduce the pain.

Showing a physical Sensation (no words -- show me):

E.g., taste something (good or bad) and react. Hint: really do this at home before an audition, and observer how you 1) really taste something and 2) how you react.
NOTE: Want to dramatized a quick short physical story.

Steps:

1. (Beginning) Notice and then look at the food
2. (Middle) taste it and react, BIG, all the way, but keep it real.
3. (End) look back at the product as if to say "wow! what IS that?"

What I did is pretend I was at a party, in the kitchen, and as I was casually looking around, I spotted a tray of candy. I look at it, picked one up, put it in my mouth, and had a reaction. And then I looked around again, and stole the tray of candy. So I had a good beginning and middle, but a week end. What I should have done is licked my fingers, looked back at the food ("wow! what IS that?"), and then walked off with the tray.

Another problem: make sure the food I'm picky up is of a reasonable size, and keep track of any imaginary objects I may be using/seeing (this is Impro 101 lesson one).

NOTE2: be silly -- silly counts!

Final NOTES:

• Beginning and ending physical actions solve problems, e.g., if I'm cold, try to warm up.
• Keep the actions simple and clear -- go for the known recognizable everyday gestures
• Remember Improv lesson 101: keep track of all imaginary objects that I may be holding.
• Breathe deep and MEAN IT -- don't push.