Wannabe Super Villain or My First On Camera Acting Course

By K Whiteford

I've not done a lot of film work. Fifty percent of that work happened around three weeks ago. I'm gearing up, however, for a rather hectic schedule over the next month. I've been cast in three short film projects that all start shooting this month. I'm pretty excited. Baby steps and all.

Tonight I started my first On Camera course. I've taken a seminar before, but nothing as in depth as this class. The first meeting was interesting. It's a mix between the business of acting in Chicago, and working on audition technique for film. This evening we did an interview style audition, something that would happen if the spot (commercial) called for someone to merely be reading a book or sleeping on a couch, for example, rather than having a copy (script) with lines.

My question was what super power I would have if I could have anything, except flight "because everyone picks that." Well, I was going to say flight, obviously. I chose invisibility instead and launched into an explanation of how I would use this power to become a super villain cat burglar.

"So you would use your power for evil?" The instructor asked.

"Right, evil," I replied.

Evidently I also require henchmen to carry out the "fine" art I steal and a driver who drives an invisible BUT cream colored Bentley for me. I'm not really sure what this says about me, other than my adoration of Catwoman (Michelle Pfeiffer 4eva) has carried on into my adulthood.

Anyway, we watched the playback of our interviews with one question to answer, "Were you genuine?" 

Yep, I think, that's me, making weird faces and plotting world domination. 

Playback was invaluable. I now know: I need to keep my chin down, that was not a great angle for me; I will never, ever, wear that outfit again on camera; though hair my looked fine in the mirror, it did absolutely nothing for me on screen.

So, how am I going to use the next seven weeks? Learning to audition and auditioning different hair styles and outfits. I hadn't thought to do this, but what a great way to determine what translates well to the monitor and what doesn't. Live, learn, and fix it.

P.S. 

On my way from class I got lost on my way back to the bus, which runs along Michigan Ave. How? Well, let me tell you. Where I was at, you had to go up some HIDDEN stairs to get back to the street. Absolutely baffling. I figured I just needed to head in the direction of the lake. False, silly country mouse. City engineers, how do you do it?