EATING ON-CAMERA - Part I

ARTISTS - ON-CAMERA FOOD CONSUMPTION    Your ability (as an actor) to 'properly' EAT on camera should be looked at in similar light as you would any other one of your (performance) selling features, e.g., accents, smoking, expressions etc.  There are people who have a natural talent to eat well while talking. Then there are people who need to practice it in order to look, at the least...presentable. And then there are those who should really just stay away from it. Now, just as with many things, you may feel real natural with eating and talking, however, it's not how you feel (darling), it's how you LOOK! And, when you eat on camera, you MUST look appealing, enticing, compelling... (and a whole bunch of other exciting adjectives - preferably not disgusting). Food and you must look so desirable together that when we (the viewers) experience you (the character) eating, we just can't wait to run out and grab something to eat ourselves. It's a whole thing. Sort of like walking, chewing gum, singing, dancing all while getting dressed. It's a bit of a balancing act. And, you don't want to get caught stumbling. Now, while there are those of you who are seemingly natural at this...until you actually 'see' what you look like, you may just be fooling yourself. If you take a look around any restaurant the next time you eat out. Or, even if you pay close attention to your friends or family members at home, you'll begin to notice those who eat well...and those who...well, just don't! You'll also begin to notice what looks: presentable - sensational - disgusting.   Timing, utensil handling, facial expressions, mouth opening, these are just a few of the areas that need to be considered while chomping and speaking. Or, drinking and speaking for that matter. It's a bit of a dance of sorts. And, just like any good dance, it all needs to be choreographed.   Now you may become overly conscientious about it all at first run, however, just like anything else that takes getting used to...you have to get used to it. After a little practice, you'll begin to become more natural. Then you'll not have to think about it and you'll just be doing it --  eating and talking like a pro! Speaking of professional eating -- CHECK THIS OUT!  And, THIS! And, yet THIS! Eat Pretty. See You In The Studio! Coach Banks

BONUS VIEW WORKS      DOESN'T WORK   "THE ACTORS FREE-WAY" Free Weekly Acting Exercises (a free way to train) Eat several meals while positioned in front of a mirror. Observe what you (it) looks like. Try and change around a few things with the objective of not looking distasteful. Once you've checked it all out, work on making eating and TALKING (saying your lines) as natural as possible. (do this with any scene or monologue that you may already be working on.)   The next time you're in your acting class, bring simple food items into the studio with you to eat while doing your scene.  *[Be sure to ask your Coach if he/she will make an acception and let you eat in the studio.]