Commercial (Not) Star

A couple of months ago I ran across a post in a local alternamomma group that had the words:  moms and earn free groceries.  Now, I am always trying to save a dime here and there to keep my family living within our means and enjoying activities in life.  I thought I should check out the post more thoroughly, but like most everything lately, I set it aside and forgot about it.  '

A month ago, I came across the post again and responded.  It turned out it was an opportunity for a commercial.  Now, I had zero desire to be in a commercial, but I thought it would be a blast to do something with Isla.  We would make some good memories.

I mean, who wouldn't want this cutie in their shopping basket? 

I got selected for a skype interview for casting.  I must have done well, because I was selected for the commercial with another local mom.  As I started going through the paperwork, I realized they were no longer using kids in the commercials.  I thought, should I bail?  The whole reason I signed up was for Isla.  I got cold feet.

But, I decided to be brave and just get out there and do it.  Come to find out, it was a commercial for Wal-Mart.  Say what?  So, I actually got some highlights put back into my hair, bought a cute casual outfit, and showed up for the shooting this past Tuesday.

Now, here is how things were to play out.  The other local mom and I both shopped at a local retailer with our normal grocery lists.  Yes, I had a hand written grocery list that I brought to the store with my normal items for the week.  Much like a game show, the producers compared my receipts to Wal-Mart to show how much money I could have saved.   So, the commercial is real- real moms with real products. 

I had my very own auditor with me from Atlanta while I was shopping. This was a blast!  Of course I was taking pictures...not sure if that was okay or not.  But you know me!

And then they picked one of us to film the commercial (me).  This was purely based on the shopping items that we each selected that would be a better fit for the commercial.

Me and the other mom, Amanda.  We were waiting to see who would actually be filming the commercial.  

And this is where the day turns from "game show" to "stress out."  For one, my cute outfit had to go.  The Wal-Mart workers were in blue.  Wal- Mart also didn't have anything that fit me.  So, I had to dig out a shirt from my car....nice and wrinkly with a stain on it.  I couldn't believe I was going to appear on TV looking so unkempt.  The producers assured me that it would look fine on camera, but the make-up artist and I were not convinced.  oh well.  I seriously stressed about it the ENTIRE day.  I mean, I WORRIED the whole time that everyone would see me on TV in wrinkles. 

Things were starting to get real when they had a make-up artist work on my hair and face.  There were 8 people doing the production work, and it started to hit me that I was getting ready to be on TV.

And then my phone died.  So, no more pictures of my day.  (what a bummer for me since I love pictures)

So then we started filming. "Take 1...take 37.... cut... big smile...smile more...stop acting...head back...give me more....give me less...cut....faster...try saying this instead....less pause...change your hands...look here....take 99....hold your hand here...different words...take 148....say it this way....say it like you mean it....try this....I think we have what we need, next scene...etc, etc."  We filmed for 4+ hours for a 30 second commercial.  It was HARD WORK.   Sometimes I would say my lines what seemed like the same way, and they loved the second time but not the first.  Or I would change it as requested and they couldn't hear the change.  It was a really intense and different type of work to help the producer with his "piece of art."  That is really what it was...a vision he had that only he could hear when it was right. 

I am NOT an actress.  I am not even a wanna be actress.  The guy in the commercial with me?  PAID ACTOR in movies and TV.  The real deal.  He was so good and fun to work with, but I definitely felt like a special project.

So some of it was easy and fun.  It was fun to try to give them what they wanted, even if I had to say the same thing in a different way 100+ times per product.  But then there were some question/answer type monologue pieces that were filmed at the end.  I was tired, and I knew I sounded horrible, uneducated, and nervous.  After 50 takes or so of this one part of the commercial, I was rattled.  Did I really just say that, and is it going to be on TV?  Wanna know how I know it was bad?  The producers cut it out...thank goodness!!!!!  

So, here it is, if you are so inclined to watch.  Yes, I know I say "that's amazing" twice.  Believe me, I said a million more things in production, but I guess those were the only cuts they could use.  It is amazing what can ruin a cut, from the noise, to people video bombing the production, to the lighting/focus, etc.

I am not quitting my day job anytime soon, I can assure you.  But that was a really fun experience for this new mom!