Why are british sportspeople such bad actors?
Here’s a dreadful ad I saw on the weekend:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01JkaMPUR4A
I can’t remember anything about it but I’m sure as hell not going to sit through it again.
The only impression it left me with was that of the utter lack of personality displayed by Jenson, Jessica and the other one.
OK, it’s not their day job, but nor is it the primary skill of American athletes, yet they do it so much better:
I wonder why that is.
Media training? Better directors? The prevalence of public speaking opportunities from an early age, such as ‘show and tell’? All of the above?
UPDATE: I’ve watched it again (it was on before Se7en on Living) and it makes literally NO fucking sense. Why are the three ‘stars’ following people around and telling them boring things about Santander? It says something about the 123 account at the end, but I still have no idea why that means sportspeople will stalk you while you’re taking a piss or painting a picture.
Any ideas? Anyone? Bueller?
Yes it would appear that Sports persons are genetically incapable of acting, as can be seen in those terrible crisp ads, why are sports people promoting heart attack food? Anyhow, not many actors can claim to have achieved more than 2nd place in an egg and spoon race. They need stand-ins and stunt doubles for anything more dangerous than holding a pretend weapon, aside from Daniel Craig .. probably. Many Stunts Persons on the other hand are ex sportsmen.
Off topic.
But any chance of a post from Ben Kay the novelist at some point? I’d be interested to know how you go about writing your books. Do you have a rigid process that you follow?
Sorry, back to the ad.
Rory McIllory can’t even act that he’s eating an apple when actually eating an apple. That takes some doing.
To me it seems they’ve actually directed them to do it as straight as possible…?
This has to be the worst (best) example ever: http://youtu.be/Q6MkmonoaSw
Giggsy actually does okay.
@Anonymouse. Sure thing.
I’m going to pack a suitcase containing clothes that are one size too big then board a plane to the land of the better adverts.
Bueller’s on tonight!
That’s what I thought, @twat. But then I thought, why? It’s not as if it’s a funny ad made funnier by the intentionally straight acting.
Carlton Palmer wasn’t bad in that Paddy Power ad a while ago (I suppose). Grobbelaar nails it, though: http://youtu.be/-CPIRYTxB44
It feels like they’re trying to do that “awkward acting” thing they do so well in the States.
But it just fails.
Jenson is actually pretty good on camera usually.
Its the most annoying ad on at the moment Ben.
Santander have spunked a load of money ‘sponsoring’ these three stars/sports.
The client demands they be in the ad so they can feel they are getting ROI.
I’ve also got a feeling the agency wanted a deadpan delivery, thinking it would make it funnier and less cheesy.
If i ever produce a advert like this, I would deem it as a low point in my career.
If the santander ad product info was a memory test on The Cube it would be a 5 lifer, minimum
Too much emphasis on utterly uncompelling product shit and not on entertainment in this country.
Terry tate office linebacker is the standard.
It’s not just the acting performances, it’s the creative idea.
It’s not just ads.
When American sports people are interviewed pre or post game they are always far more engaging and informed.
Carry that further, the best sports presenter we have are John McEnroe and Michael Johnson. They piss all over our lot. As does Boris Becker.
Actually I am wrong Escape To Victory 1981 features great sportsmen and great actors and nobody is good in it.
Tight hamstrings?
It keeps appearing on my PC before I play Staries, but luckily it’s out of sync, so the picture always disappears before the sound. I’m grateful. It is, indeed, meaningless rubbish. Unlike the slightly meaningful rubbish ad about some car called an Adam. Why would you call a car ‘Adam’?
The standard of performances from our sports stars here in Britain might not be as good as those in America, but they are certainly less mind-blowingly shit than those in Europe:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9K2Hl262to
Bit like the advertising in general too.
Americans see the media as a crucial part of their career success. It’s theatre on and off the field. If you play it right, you don’t even have to be that good at your sport. They realise that without sponsorship they wouldn’t be where they are.
In the UK, they just can’t be bothered. They do it because they have to. And even then, it’s completely fucking lackluster.
@Alexander: that ad is brilliant/awful.
@Alexander.
You must have this in mind, surely?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rreLf5eqrHc
The BEckham/Wilkinson Adidas ad was good. Guess they weren’t acting per sey, but still…
Yeah, like my extraordinary twelve year campaign of conquest/genocide across Asia, it is either glorious/terrible to behold, depending on your morals and mood.
Whilst we’re on the subject of dross.
Have you seen the new Spotify ads from Droga 5?
Bit whiffy.
Is it because we ask our sports people to do terrible things (stalking) and say terrible things (you can get 1% cashback on your water bills)? US sports stars get to be themselves and say funny stuff that’s relevant to them. Like this from WK. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kFH4gV8rGY
Those sports centre ads are hilarious. Especially the double negative.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dl0aIVc27iA Norway are out there on their own. Superb.