Commercial Producers’ Short Guide to Rehearsal Success for New Talent

At Vistamax® Productions, our commercial producers work with new and seasoned talent. Seasoned actors and actresses generally know how to handle a television or commercial script. New ones may not. So for all of those acting hopefuls out there, today’s blog is for you. We’ve got a brief rundown of key, rehearsal terms and tips on how to quickly memorize dialog. Let’s talk about rehearsal terms first:

Don’t Forget to Learn Rehearsal Lingo

When you arrive for rehearsal, you may be asked to block or cheat. They are two terms which describe very specific movements that must be completed. The first set of movements involves walking around the studio and stepping on key spots. The second set has to do with standing and turning your body in a certain direction. If you are unfamiliar with these moves, ask your acting coach about them before the first rehearsal.

In addition, be sure to understand the differences between cue-to-cue, dry tech, tech and dress rehearsals. We’d hate to have you show up to the wrong event or the right one but ill prepared. And always ask if early rehearsals will be on or off book. If they’re off book, you’ll want to try the memorization tips we’ve listed in the next section:

Let’s Commit Character Dialog to Memory

As commercial producers, we’ve seen our share of script memorization tips. However, every seasoned actor or actress has a favorite. So try ours but don’t give up if they prove ineffective. It may just be that your learning style requires a different approach.

Tip #1: Using tricks like imagery, rhymes and acronyms helps many commercial stars get through a script. They’re the same tricks many of us used in school to study before a big test. Thus, approach the script as if it contained all of the information needed to pass an important final.

Tip #2: Record yourself reading the script and put it on to various devices. Then make it a point to play the recording whenever you have time.  Oftentimes, repetition of hearing the words helps with memorization. Plus, it may help you deliver the lines with the right amount of emphasis.

Tip #3: Practice working on and off book as many times as possible. If you don’t have someone to help you run lines, consider investing in an app or other program that may help serve as a stand-in partner. A few to consider are Scene Partner, Remote Prompter, Rehearsal 2 and My Lines.

To learn more about preparing for a rehearsal or how to effectively work with commercial producers, please contact us today 813-907-1010. Let us know your goals and we’ll do our best to help.