Podcast Length: 9:02

You have to study the medium you intend to work in. As an actor, a commercial voiceover, and on-camera talent that means you must feed your imagination with common references—which will ultimately reflect in your performance. Lucky for us, today we’re able to view and study television, voiceover, film, and commercial work with greater ease than ever before and from almost anywhere.

If you’re somewhat ‘old school’ you could rent a DVR (digital video recorder) through your local cable provider for a monthly fee. However, like the legions of cable-cutters across the globe, there’s always streaming apps with cloud-based DVRs to rely upon with services such as YouTube, Netflix, HULU, Apple TV+, and Amazon Prime for example that you can rely on.

There are typically far less commercials on streaming services (at least for the moment), but don’t let that stop you. Simply check out iSpot.TV. This site allows you to view many current (and a few recently retired) commercials that define formulaic styles you’ll likely find yourself auditioning for. iSpot allows you to repeatedly view scores of commercials without having to sign up to the site as professional marketing and advertising agencies would utilize the service. Simply locate a commercial for a product or service you may have liked, referenced or you’ve been compared to, in order to study the spot apart from the distraction of getting sucked into the show it’s playing during. It may have even played during a show you watch most of the time.

In fact, to best study commercials and TV begin with shows you’re already invested in and that you watch religiously. You’re more likely to land work within your wheelhouse; styles you’re familiar with, and that you find entertaining. It stands to reason because if we entertain ourselves we often find our audience, which generally translates into work for you as an actor and a voice talent.

Second, make a point to watch popular shows that you may have only heard about but haven’t seen yet in order to stay on top of popular styles and references. Need help? Do a quick Google search of the top 25 shows according to Nielsen, let’s say. Or make a shortlist of this year’s Emmy nominees. There’s so much great TV right now you’ll likely discover at least 10 amazing shows you’ve been meaning to watch. That’s manageable. You’re not going to eat the elephant whole, mind you, but bite by bite. But by all means get started. This is your homework as a professional talent. Make yourself familiar with new things. Challenge yourself to venture outside the same old, same old.

It’s your job as a professional to stay on top of what’s current. Considering you’ll likely receive precious little direction on your auditions and sessions alike, much of the direction you will get will most likely be based on pop culture references that directly mirror concepts, characters, topics, tempos, and styles lifted directly from the most popular shows from television, film, social media, and various forms of recorded media.

Frankly, there’s never been as much remarkable content as we currently have today. This is simultaneously a blessing and a curse—it can be overwhelming. So, I suggest you commit to watching just six to eight consecutive episodes to get the feel for the show whether there are commercials playing during the traditionally dedicated breaks or not. The show itself will inevitably impact your imagination, and will offer tangible references for you to view, study and apply to your performances.

So, rather than attempting to watch a series you missed “from the very beginning” (which you would have done already, but haven’t), I’m suggesting something slightly unorthodox: instead begin watching the series with the last 3 or 4 episodes of the second or third season and commit to only watching a total of six to eight consecutive episodes. That’s ALL. Most successful TV series hit their zenith right about then: the cast are often well established at that point, the writers take the storylines usually come into their own, and generally the show finds a comfortable creative pace among cast and crew that engages most with their audience, encouraging them to continue.

As for you, if you like what you’ve seen thus far, go back to the very beginning and watch the whole series from the start for your own enjoyment! In the meantime, by simply dedicating yourself to watching just those six-eight episodes will give you a better understanding of the chemistry between the characters, the themes and concepts conveyed, the various plot twists and devices that will inevitably resurface in other forms of media such as commercials, industrials and the like. This is literally how creative elements become iconic in mass media, our collective storytelling, and offer a common vocabulary that you’ll undoubtedly find useful, even if where these references take you is miles from shore. You’ll likely be inspired.

Besides, I don’t know about you, but I rarely become hooked on a show because I only watched it from the very beginning. By committing to viewing just six-eight episodes, you’ll get the gist of what you need from the reference to feed your read, and maybe even find a new fave series in the process. Could go either way. Regardless, the objective here is to improve your frame of reference. You can’t play what you don’t know. Aim to broaden your creative palette.

Beyond that, take note of the following list of items intended to build your observational skills, broaden your frame of reference and make you familiar with a broader variety of recorded media to inspire your imagination.

1. Is this a commercial or a TV series? If it’s a commercial, is it a product or service you’d find nationwide? Avoid concentrating on bad commercials for local products and services. Not that the job isn’t worth doing, but even small, non-union clients want their commercials to appear national caliber. So, if you concentrate solely on the lowest common denominator, that’s most likely all you’ll become. Aim higher.

2. Do you identify with one or more of the principal on-camera or narrative voiceover roles featured? Or do you identify with secondary, but stand-out roles?

3. What’s the probable age range of the roles featured: 18-25 years? 25-35 years? 35-45 years? 50 plus?

4. Do you use the product or service? Are you personally opposed to the product or service, subject or series? If so, what’s the deal killer for you here? Or is it a product or service you can’t live without?

5. Does the reality of the production seem plausible? Or is it something of a heightened reality? In other words, would the action of this commercial or TV show only exist on television, or is it more realistic?

6. Is there a great deal of narration? If so, is there a character affectation in one or more of the voices/characters featured, or do the performances seem natural and conversational?

7. What is the overall emotional tone of the spot? Hopeful? Dreamy? Sarcastic? Warm? Stoic? Confident? Authoritative? Edgy? What’s the attitude? Is it witty?

8. Do you recall seeing this spot for a year or more? If so, could you carry this campaign as the Principal (role)?

9. Are you seeing a trend for yourself? Do you identify more as the protagonist or antagonist? Are you mostly likely to play the good guy or the bad guy? The problem or the solution? Are you the voice of reason or the devil’s advocate? Or maybe you can play either one with equal ease?

10. Do the visuals explain the narration? Does the music or overall production values elevate the topic or subject? Or do they undermine it? Does the production read as dramatic? Comedic? Does it conflict with the voiceover? Does it improve it?

Apply this brief list to the shows, film, games and various content you already watch most. Concentrate first on the projects you find most entertaining. Determine whether this brief review doesn’t offer quite a bit more insight into how you’re perceived as a talent and the sort of work you might, at least initially, be hired to do most.

Dedicate at least five hours a week to this form of study for a solid month to commercials and shows you’ve been meaning to watch, and you’ll become familiar with what’s current and have a better idea of what’s needed of you on auditions and during sessions.

Copyright © 2024 by Kate McClanaghan. All Rights Reserved.

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