Actors & Artists in Training Video
Actors allow you to include dramatic scenes and really liven up your training video.
They can:
> Act out parts instead of staff
> Act as presenters to host the programme, and guide the audience through.
> Get better performances out of your ordinary non-acting staff who also participate in the production of your training video.
> Play vox pop parts instead of staff, using scripts based on audio recordings with real staff who are unavailable to appear in camera, due to shifts or unwillingness.
Getting value from your production budget matters, so sourcing actors and getting the best out of them for the best price is an important part of the job.
> Local amateur dramatic society members will often work for free. If they charge they’re reasonable at maybe £150 pd all in, and maybe £50 for extras
> A professional local actor can often organise the cast you need from friends they have in the profession. This makes it easy for you. They may charge 15% over and above all fees. Or they may not!
> Professional acting agency can charge £350 actor, £650 pro presenter, per day plus travel. These are guide prices. It varies. If your production budget is small, tell the casting agent. They’ll still help.
> Allow actors a week to learn their lines. Don’t make script changes in the final week, or the cast are likely to make mistakes. They might say they can learn lines at the last minute, but it’s wise to avoid this scenario.
> Take your actors’ careers seriously. They do, so get in step with their view on their career.
> In future, drop anyone who can’t a) learn their lines properly b) instantly turn on their talent when on camera c) avoid delaying the shoot for any reason.
> Explain their motivation to them. Give them background to the character, no matter how small. Actors may appear blase and overly competent, but they will appreciate your efforts to build their character’s personality for them, even if they don’t admit to this.
> When praising, praise extravagantly – but always be sincere. Find what they did that was good, then say it loud.
> Use professional extras where possible. You can mix a pro extra in with amateur staff for £50 per day, and get a settled, more motivated cast.
> Use an acting agency if you have no contacts. You’ll pay £300-£500 per day for television experienced actors who are relatively unknown.
> TV presenters can charge in excess of £1,000 pd, even the not very famous ones. The semi-famous ones will charge maybe £2,000 or more. Consider carefully if you need a “name”, when a good actor doubling as a presenter will do the job fine. It’s a training video, not a Hollywood blockbuster.
> Look for unknown talent. It’ll pay, as good quality “unknowns” often work very conscientiously for less money while they’re still building their careers. And their expenses cost less than big names with taxis, hotels, and wines!
> When selecting a presenter for a training video, look for wholesomeness as the main quality. It’s hard to say exactly what wholesomeness is, but it’s a quality that will reach all corners of the audience. The dangers of a presenter with “too much personality” or too much slickness, are that they can alienate segments of your audience, even though other segments love them. A good presenter will never seem like they’re trying, yet everyone will like them!
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