Monday, October 28, 2019
Monday, September 16, 2019
Newies
President Donald Trump's infamous phone call with Ukranian President Voldymyr Zelensky
- listen from 3:12:30
Tuesday, July 30, 2019
Tuesday, July 23, 2019
Theater Class Redux
Warmer: It's important for actors and, you know, like, people in general, and, and all life on the planet, for that matter, to relax. Just TRY AND RELAX! Tough now, isn't it?
Well, here are some tricks to get us into the right frame of mind...
Breathe from your diaphragm - breathing clears your mind and send oxygen flowing to your brain. (you're really making me explain breathing to you 😆)
Perform a series of stretches. This will loosen your muscles, causing you to feel a little more calm. (So go on and stretch then, ya lazy bones. 😂)
Massage yourself to prevent nausea. Gently pressing the underside of your wrist is supposed to be particularly useful for soothing an upset stomach. (Stop short of giving yourself a happy finish 😅)
Hold a power pose. It may sound silly, but multiple studies report an increase in confidence after a big, powerful pose. For example, place legs apart, hands on waist, and hold your head up. If you really want to drive it home, say 'I got this' to yourself. (This might have something to do with the lobster 😎 as explained by Jordan Peterson)
Tongue Twisters - Get your mouth limber and voice practiced.
Snap your fingers in front of your face - for 30 seconds in circles before you go on.
Singing - releases dopamine and oxytocin, 2 chemicals that enhance our mental ability.
Laughing - Letting out a big laugh when you wake up sets the tone for the rest of your day. In India they even have Laugh Therapy sessions in the morning before people go to work.
FINAL EXERCISE:
Make a Promotional Video for University of the Potomac - feel free to be silly
Well, here are some tricks to get us into the right frame of mind...
Breathe from your diaphragm - breathing clears your mind and send oxygen flowing to your brain. (you're really making me explain breathing to you 😆)
Perform a series of stretches. This will loosen your muscles, causing you to feel a little more calm. (So go on and stretch then, ya lazy bones. 😂)
Massage yourself to prevent nausea. Gently pressing the underside of your wrist is supposed to be particularly useful for soothing an upset stomach. (Stop short of giving yourself a happy finish 😅)
Hold a power pose. It may sound silly, but multiple studies report an increase in confidence after a big, powerful pose. For example, place legs apart, hands on waist, and hold your head up. If you really want to drive it home, say 'I got this' to yourself. (This might have something to do with the lobster 😎 as explained by Jordan Peterson)
Snap your fingers in front of your face - for 30 seconds in circles before you go on.
Singing - releases dopamine and oxytocin, 2 chemicals that enhance our mental ability.
Laughing - Letting out a big laugh when you wake up sets the tone for the rest of your day. In India they even have Laugh Therapy sessions in the morning before people go to work.
Another good way to relax is to paint
ACTING FOR INDUSTRIAL FILMS/COMMERCIALS
Consider your look. People are often cast in commercials based on the way they look. Since commercials are so short, they will often require a person to be immediately identifiable as being a certain character or role. When you are applying to auditions, consider what roles you think your look would best fit in to increase your chances of being selected.[2]
- Think about what the commercial is selling. Could you play a part that fits with that product?
- For example, you'll likely want to look like a “mom” if you are going to be in a diaper commercial.
- There are roles for everyone. Don't worry too much if you don't feel you have the right look.
Learn the technical skills of commercial acting. Beyond being a good actor, you'll want to learn some of the technical skills that can help when shooting a commercial. These skills can help you do your best when acting for the commercial format. Check out some of these skills to get an idea of what you should know:[4]
- Know where to stand and how to move during a shoot.
- You should learn how to look and speak at a camera during a commercial.
- Be ready to take direction and adapt to instructions.
- Knowing how to stay relaxed and natural can be valuable skills to have when filming.
EXERCISE:
Here are a few 30 second commercial scripts for actors to practice. Some commercial copy is serious in tone and others completely comedic.
- COMMERCIAL COPY – Serious Toned
EXCEDRIN
Headaches. We all get them. We all wish they would go away. There is a solution. Excedrin. I just take two and there’s no more tension, no more throbbing, no more pain. My headache completely gone.
Headaches. We all get them. We all wish they would go away. There is a solution. Excedrin. I just take two and there’s no more tension, no more throbbing, no more pain. My headache completely gone.
NIKE
It’s a mindset. A focus. A deep seated spirit. It’s an inner strength to keep your feet planted firmly on the ground, no matter what presses against you. It’s confidence. It’s belief. It’s a way of life. It’s Nike.
It’s a mindset. A focus. A deep seated spirit. It’s an inner strength to keep your feet planted firmly on the ground, no matter what presses against you. It’s confidence. It’s belief. It’s a way of life. It’s Nike.
PINE SOL
Whoever said that a smell can bring back a flood of memories, was certainly right. Whenever I use Pine Sol in my home, I’m brought back to visiting my Grandmother as a little girl. She always kept her house smelling fresh. I have Pine Sol to thank for that.
Whoever said that a smell can bring back a flood of memories, was certainly right. Whenever I use Pine Sol in my home, I’m brought back to visiting my Grandmother as a little girl. She always kept her house smelling fresh. I have Pine Sol to thank for that.
- COMMERCIAL COPY – Comedic Toned
Deodorant
Whenever I feel like a sweaty slob, there is one assurance that gives me peace of mind. Deodorant. Just one wipe under each arm pit and I am good to go for days. Heck, I don’t even need to shower for one whole week. That’s how good this shizz is.
Whenever I feel like a sweaty slob, there is one assurance that gives me peace of mind. Deodorant. Just one wipe under each arm pit and I am good to go for days. Heck, I don’t even need to shower for one whole week. That’s how good this shizz is.
Corn Buster
Ladies, can’t get those corns into that new pair of shoes? Introducing corn buster. You apply the cream over the bunion and within minutes the deep penetrating solution forms a crust. With one simple wipe, you will be able to get your foot into those high heels, giiiirl.
Ladies, can’t get those corns into that new pair of shoes? Introducing corn buster. You apply the cream over the bunion and within minutes the deep penetrating solution forms a crust. With one simple wipe, you will be able to get your foot into those high heels, giiiirl.
One Wipes
Ever sit on a toilet and have the never ending wipe? Well, those days are over. I’ve invented one wipes. A new form of toilet paper that contains a solution where with just one wipe, you are fresh and clean. Done deal.
Ever sit on a toilet and have the never ending wipe? Well, those days are over. I’ve invented one wipes. A new form of toilet paper that contains a solution where with just one wipe, you are fresh and clean. Done deal.
The Competition
Make a Promotional Video for University of the Potomac - feel free to be silly
Tuesday, July 16, 2019
POP CULTURE REFERENCES
The above is a parody of the Twilight Zone episode To Serve Man. More people know the bit from the Simpson family and drooling aliens than do from the original Twilight Zone episode.
Some films like those of Mel Brooks are cultural reference machines. Sitcoms such as Simpsons and Seinfeld are TV institutions and often include history, cultural observations, and paying homage to classic films.
Take this for instance. In the episode below Kramer gets hit by a loogie and Jerry, with Newman's help, tries to determine the spit's origin. The scene draws on President John F. Kennedy's assassination and specifically Oliver Stone's movie JFK, which was based on Jim Garrison's real life trial to get to the bottom of who killed the President.
And here's the Scene from Oliver Stone's JFK
Indeed, it can be said that modern day idioms, expressions, and colloquialisms are now being generated by movies, TV, and social media instead of books and old word wisedom passed down from generation to generation as was the case in the past. Some expressions are used with little knowledge of where they came from.
And just like other idioms they can become cliche and overused. Also there's the phenomenon of expressions disappering and then re-appearing sometimes years later, such as the case with "bye Felicia".
It's important to familiarize yourself with the most popular films and TV shows (IMDB has a list of the top 100 movies). When imitating these scenes it's usual to copy the rythm of speech and intonation of the actor who said the line.
Here is a smattering of some more famous lines:
On the Waterfront
Cool hand luke
sparticus
godfather
jaws
young frankenstein
Apocalypse now
willy wonka
taxi driver
network
annie hall
dog day afternoon
animal house
back to the future
Raiders
temple of doom
last crusade
breakfast club
ferris bueller
blade runner
airplane
scarface
caddyshack
christmas story
karate kid
thunderdome
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