{"id":2164,"date":"2023-05-24T10:46:36","date_gmt":"2023-05-24T10:46:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.spotlight.com\/?p=2164"},"modified":"2023-11-03T12:44:16","modified_gmt":"2023-11-03T12:44:16","slug":"defending-commercial-acting-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.spotlight.com\/news-and-advice\/the-essentials\/defending-commercial-acting-work\/","title":{"rendered":"6 Reasons Why Actors Should Give Commercial Work a Chance"},"content":{"rendered":"

How commercial work can be beneficial for your acting career, and why you should give it a go<\/h3>\n

I made my prime-time television debut last month, and my notifications feed has been non-stop ever since. It seems that every\u00a0Facebook<\/em>\u00a0friend, distant relative, and old school pal is burning to ask me the same question: \u201cAre you in a\u00a0Doritos<\/em>\u00a0advert<\/a>?!\u201d<\/p>\n

Most were delighted to spot me on their TV screens, but to my utmost surprise, a handful of my creative friends turned their noses up. One even declared that I had\u00a0\u201csold my soul\u201d\u00a0\u2013 presumably to consumer capitalism.<\/p>\n

Working my way through a share-size bag of\u00a0Doritos<\/em>\u00a0in order to capture the perfect mind-blown-by-the-power-of-triangle-crisp moment wasn\u2019t what I had in mind when I decided to pursue an acting career. Yet, several years and a few commercials later, it\u2019s work that I actively seek out \u2013 and work that I\u2019m proud of. I believe the corporate world of advertising has a lot to offer an actor, and in response to my less than impressed friends, I want to share my positive experience of acting for commercials.<\/p>\n

Here are 6 reasons why I think you should try auditioning for commercial work:<\/p>\n

1. Make extra money<\/h4>\n

Let\u2019s address the elephant in the room: the financial incentive. For just one day of work, you can expect to be paid the equivalent of several months\u2019 earnings in a theatre. The opportunity to take home this kind of money from acting work doesn\u2019t come around often and is nothing to be ashamed of \u2013 especially during a cost-of-living crisis in the UK.<\/p>\n

You might find that your commercial paycheck allows you to reduce your weekly working hours. By easing financial strain, commercial work gives you the gift of time for creative endeavours, doing the things you enjoy, and seeing the people you love \u2013 all of which are bound to have a positive impact on your wellbeing and career.<\/p>\n

If you can afford to do so, invest your commercial earnings back into your acting business.\u00a0\u2018Woman with Indigestion\u2019\u00a0may not be a three-dimensional character, but she can pay for your next set of headshots, six months of singing lessons, and your annual\u00a0Spotlight\u00a0subscription. It\u2019s a brilliant way to give the job meaning and ultimately, it\u2019s a stepping-stone towards the role of your dreams.<\/p>\n

2. Get some on camera experience<\/h4>\n

Even armed with a screen actors\u2019 glossary,\u00a0a film set is an intimidating place to work<\/a>, and no amount of practising in the living room can prepare us for it. A commercial job gives us the rare opportunity to step onto a seriously big budget shoot. With hardly any lines to learn and nothing emotionally taxing, it\u2019s the perfect time to take it all in. Instead of thinking of commercials as a one-way transaction, think about how you can use them to get more comfortable in front of the camera.<\/p>\n

3. Make new contacts<\/h4>\n

Commercial shoots involve a huge team of crew and creatives in a high-pressured, but surprisingly friendly environment. In moments of downtime, you could be chatting to some very experienced people who, just like you, work across the entertainment industry.<\/p>\n

While it\u2019s unlikely your commercial role will showcase your Oscar-worthy acting skills, you can still take direction and be a good company member. Who knows who might be watching, and what they might be working on next?<\/p>\n

4. Get on the telly<\/h4>\n

Dreading Auntie Susan\u2019s career advice over Sunday lunch? Shoot a commercial. The non-acting folk in your life will finally take you seriously, and I guarantee your relatives will be bursting with pride now they have a \u2018successful\u2019 actor in the family.<\/p>\n

It may seem shallow, but this scrap of recognition, and even the strange joy of seeing your face blown up on a 40-inch screen, might be the confidence boost you need to get back on the horse and live to fight another day as a working actor.<\/p>\n

5. Play<\/h4>\n

Whether it\u2019s frustration at not getting \u2018in the room\u2019,\u00a0audition nerves<\/a>, or\u00a0managing rejection<\/a>, the day-to-day realities of\u00a0#actorlife<\/em>\u00a0can get us down. There\u2019s no better tonic than being asked to don an enormous chicken suit and improvise a dance to the Bee Gees, all for the sake of a chewing gum ad (yes, I actually did this in a casting). Commercials invite us to take ourselves less seriously, take the pressure off our performance, and help us go back to playing pretend \u2013 chicken suits and all.<\/p>\n

6. Have a fun day out<\/h4>\n

What do a fire-breathing toilet, the\u00a0Liverpool\u00a0football manager and the best cherry Bakewell tart in the world have in common? I experienced them all while shooting a commercial.<\/p>\n

A commercial is unlikely to be your dream job, but it might be a fun one. Imagine where in the world a commercial might take you, and what interesting new products you might get to sample before they appear on supermarket shelves. Never knowing what\u2019s around the corner is exhausting at times, but what if it could be something joyous, too?<\/p>\n

Just to be clear; I\u2019m not advocating that actors abandon their principles for seven seconds of screen time and a bit of cash.\u00a0 As with any work you do, stay true to yourself, and if advertising for a particular brand makes you feel uncomfortable, don\u2019t take the job.<\/p>\n

Commercials exist for everything from luxury holidays to toilet roll, so there will be no shortage of castings available to you \u2013 whatever your preferences are. If you have an agent, let them know of any products to avoid, and of any allergies that might prevent you from eating, for instance, a giant bag of\u00a0Doritos<\/em>!<\/p>\n

By keeping ourselves open to new experiences and embracing what the industry has to offer \u2013 however bizarre, we maximise our chances of bumping into something wonderful.<\/p>\n

Today, you can find me advertising\u00a0Burger King Whopper<\/em>-flavoured\u00a0Doritos<\/em>\u00a0during ad breaks on ITV. Tomorrow \u2013 who knows? That\u2019s the fun of it.<\/p>\n

Find out more about auditioning for commercial work:<\/strong><\/p>\n