Another chapter of my journey is about to close. This will be my last class with Barry, and I genuinely feel like a completely different actor from when I began with the studio. My respect for commercial actors and everyone involved in the process is immeasurable. While these ads may only be on screen for 20 or 30 seconds, they feature actors that possess immense control over the craft. The story and information they must convey to the audience in such a short amount of time is underappreciated.
To me, the art of commercial acting can feel invisible. When a commercial works, it often won't feel like a commercial. You won't think the people on screen are actors trying to sell you something. After the commercial ends, you will only consider the new car, food item, or convenience tool shown. The actors may not remain in your mind, but rest assured they did the heavy lifting for the product's commercial success.
I've learned more in these four classes than I ever thought possible. Acting is not a linear journey, and what may appear to be a lateral move can wind up being the most impactful. I am by no means an expert in this performing style, but I can confidently say I am a better actor because of it.
If you are getting more comfortable performing traditional scripts or have been taking the same class here at GRAS, switch it up with a commercial acting class (or just a new instructor/environment). It will challenge you in a brand-new way, which is the best thing for burgeoning new actors.
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In my final class, Barry hit us with some more improv activities. It was remarkable to see how the students who were present for the first round were able to get going much faster this time. There was less awkward silence as we could jump right into our scene and keep moving forward. It was amazing to see.
The scripted material this week was familiar yet complex. We used more of our bodies in each performance, adding a new layer to explore. Not only was it crucial to emphasize certain words, but you could not let your body betray you. For example, the position of your shoulders could completely betray the defeated emotion you are attempting to express.
The remainder of the class proceeded smoothly, and once it concluded and my laptop screen went blank, I had time to reflect. While sticking with one instructor would provide a more linear