Football & Science of Acting
The average costs for a Super Bowl spot that advertisers pay, is from $5 million or more to compete for 30-seconds. This could spell success for all involved because of the size of the audience, and if the commercial has mass appeal, an advertiser’s $5 million or more investment could quadruple in profits, this science of the business can also be an exceptional opportunity for all actors involved in these commercial spots.
Super Bowl LI was held at the NRG Stadium in Houston, TX on February 5, 2017. The football game went off without a hitch, with the Atlanta Falcons almost clinching a victory, but to their surprise fell short, losing to the New England Patriots in the first ever Super Bowl overtime 34-28. But to most NFL enthusiasts, and fans the Commercials are just as anticipated as the Super Bowl itself, next to the halftime show, which of course was performed this time by Pop star Lady Gaga. But let’s find out how and why an actor would be able to land a national commercial on such a big stage like the Super Bowl. Well, commercials are traditionally very lucrative, and are clearly part of they entertainment business, but they are also meant to sell a product, and or service.
There are many types of commercials, national, local, industrial, and the declining infomercial that can be broken down even further into distinct types of common advertising techniques. The commercial actor needs to realize what these different styles of commercials are, to better prepare for the overall advertising campaign at which they are at the center.
Take this Super Bowl ad from Wix.com for example, it stars celebrity actors Jason Statham and Gal Gadot. This national commercial’s theme is action, but it’s through association of the action that viewers relate to in this movie type spot, part one, and part 2 sequence. There are many coaches and workshops that are available for the commercial actor, and to book a commercial for a famous director of super bowl ads is an added bonus, though you must secure a very reputable commercial agent. These commercial agents, or managers usually respond to referrals. If you simply send them a headshot and résumé, you will defiantly get a letter in response stating “We do not accept unsolicited material”. So make sure you have a good referral, with an established relationship that’s already in place with the agent you are attempting to get hold of. Acting coaches and workshops are the best referrals, especially if they’re taught by a working, or a previous working actor, or an acting coach with a clean reputation. Take Coach Mike Pointer for example. Coach Mike’s Hey, I Saw Your Commercial! is located at 5511 West Pico Blvd., in Los Angeles, California and he has been in a variety of commercials himself. He teaches classes on various tier levels, as well as varying investments and or tuition amounts. Coach Mike briefly shares his own experiences of the past 16 years in commercial acting, showing many clips. With Coach Mike’s countless agency and casting director partners, attending a workshop such as his could not only hone your craft as a commercial actor, but if you do an exceptional job within the workshop, it can also gain the confidence of the instructors, and compel them to submit you as a referral, to their extensive lists of agents and casting directors. There are also others that have commercial acting workshops and classes, such as Hal Masonberg’s Commercial Acting Workshops at 13425 Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks, California and Acting Workshops with Jan and Jon at 5918 Van Nuys Blvd, Van Nuys, California to name a few, Alexia Robinson Studio at 13425 Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks, California and The Imagined Life at 5615 San Vicente Blvd, Los Angeles, California is also great for theatrical scene study, just make sure whatever acting coach or workshop you utilize, make sure they are honest, humble and full of integrity such as the ones mentioned to avoid being ripped off. Just as previous Socialbilitty articles have suggested, the entry-level positions of the entertainment business is always available to those who seek opportunity, and with commercial acting there is plenty of opportunity, if you are willing to just do, merely trying will not suffice. There are also some key factors to be aware of, as with Super Bowl commercials, national commercials or local commercials are oftentimes controversial, or convey some type of political undertones. An actor who is in conflict with an advertiser’s message should evaluate the subject matter when going to audition, and or after being booked. This is to adhere to moral values and to not sell your soul just for financial gains. The work is important, but it is also important to be yourself, and if there is a subject within the commercial that strongly disagrees with anything you believe in, it could come back to haunt you and your career if you take the job. Moreover, there’s still an opportunity for your career to blossom if you decide to pass on any given project because of your own set of moral values. More commercial spots will come your way that are in sync with your values system, as well as you will gain the respect within your field and among your peers. Celebrities oftentimes have the advantage on selling and advertisers product or service because they have a recognizable name, or face that the viewer can relate to. As in this spot with Justin Timberlake and Christopher Walken. However, an advertiser selecting a major celebrity for a commercial spot is not set in stone. Due to the high-level of competition during the Super Bowl, is possibly why advertisers would go this route, but that’s not to say this goal is out of reach, there are many who find themselves in a commercial spot with a famous celebrity. With all this being said, the commercial and or theatrical actor for that matter, has to develop life skills, and thick skin. The thick skin is for the rejection, many if not all actors were rejected at one point or the other, but they kept on going, perseverance was the first thing on their mind. One could not become a celebrity such as Lady Gaga in a Tiffany & Co. Super Bowl spot, or a regular working commercial actor without it. The life skills is for maintaining the balance of life and career, with an abundance of financial gains within the commercial and entertainment industry, you need to have a level head in order to attain your goals. Deciding to stay in-between the lines, or to step off sides is totally up to you. Socialbilitty Entertainment Equals Diversity Period.