Lights, camera, action! Yesterday, I shot a commercial for the first time in about a decade. As a kid, I was a part of a talent agency who would cast me for commercials, photoshoots, and other video projects.
My grandparents were live performers who traveled doing comedy, singing, and entertaining across the US and world. My uncle ran the Chicago public radio station that created and produced This American Life and other well-known radio classics.
Meanwhile, my mom acted most of her life from live theater to commercials even living in Los Angeles for many years. Growing up both my parents filmed commercials and radio ads.
As you can see being in front of a camera is something that comes naturally to my family.
The Commercial Shoot
Yesterday, Brighteous Media asked me to help shoot a pimento cheese commercial for their client. The job was a rush job for a TV spot they purchased a couple of weeks out. Being able to work with a friend and see him in his creative element was wonderful to see.
It’s a lighthearted story about a husband trying to please a wife who has a craving for high-quality cheese. It involved a cheese heist, unsuspecting stock boy, and angry mob. But not to worry the faithful husband comes out triumphant in the end. It ends with a happily ever after.
Additionally, playing a role or character allows you to be a different version of yourself. It’s a little like when you were a child and you play make-believe. You get to be creative and play a character. Having the freedom to act gives you a license to be a kid again.
Unfortunately, as you get older it is easy to lose that license to play. Serious matters of being an adult take precedence over light-hearted fun.
Ultimately, the commercial shoot yesterday awakened that fun creative play side of me. It reminded me of how important it is to be a kid every once in a while.