The other week I was approached directly by a producer of a TV ad to be one of two cops. Set in an investigation room, we pore over a board overflowing with clues, maps, notes, clippings and polaroid photo's.
Nothing makes sense - what is killing all these weeds?
It was a different kind of performance experience. Taped in a small studio, it was keenly observed by not only the producer and director of the ad plus usual crew, but also 3 to 4 representatives of the company behind the product.
Watched via a monitor on the other side of a small studio, my onscreen partner was having a good deal of trouble emoting his lines to the satisfaction of the copywriter from the ad agency.
"Good, but can you put an emphasis on 'Something'", "Can you be more angry and defeated?", "Say 'Them' Not 'em", "More space between the names of the weeds", "Take a sip of coffee, then say your line, then rip the paper off the board".
He had to do a lot of takes and most of them really weren't very different. They weren't being overly pedantic either. The guyhad some genuine co-ordination issues.
"Something must connect them," he snarled looking more defeated than David Caruso who had just realised he was on the wrong CSI set. I nearly jumped up and shouted "Yes! And these pretzels are making me thirsty!!".
Anyway - come time for my turn in front of the viewfinder I only needed two takes to nail it.
Good fun -- They even took some stills.
The ad will air in country regions of Victoria, NSW and South Australia next March.
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