On-Camera Awareness. Something I wish I had when I was younger
In 2000, I moved to Los Angeles to become a film and television actor–without any knowledge of the technical skills required to succeed. I had carved out a good 6 year acting career for myself in Chicago. I had won a Jeff Award. I was confident and thought my acting skill set would translate to television and film.
Boy was I wrong.
When I finally booked my first on-camera job (a national commercial for Nexium), I felt like everyone was speaking another language to me. Although I was the “hero” of the commercial, I had no camera awareness–no actual idea how what I was doing acting-wise was being perceived in “the box”. No one told me and I didn’t know enough to ask anyone.
I somehow continued to book commercials despite my lack of camera awareness. I was winging it, and my young, “Midwest Dad” look was booking me the job. Luckily, I wasn’t fired from any of these jobs. I booked my first feature film, Employee of the Month starring Matt Dillon, and FINALLY the director pulled me and my scene partner aside to give us a lesson in “less is more”.
That director was a friend and the husband of my scene partner, otherwise that teaching moment might not have happened.
No one–not your agent, casting directors–no one tells you what to expect when you get on set. There was no book that taught simple, on-camera techniques to help young actors like me maneuver a film or television set for the first time.
So I wrote one. And I continue to help actors understand this language of on-camera and how their work translates in “the box”. I teach actors this language with a simple, easy to use technique that I wish I would have had when I first started, many years ago in Los Angeles.
Ready to dive deeper?
Take my Self-Tape Intensive group class–where I walk you through my entire MAP technique that's helped hundreds of actors go from audition to booking in record time.
Or check out my online course, Self-Tape to Set: A Masterclass where you can go at your own pace and have a one-on-one with me after you complete it!
