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The elusive world of hand modelling is many things: Unassuming, unusual and complex. It seems that the need for a competent steady hand to demonstrate holding a product, showcasing it’s features and selling it to the public with that portrayal is a highly marketable skill for actors. The thinking is usually “hey how hard can’t be, you just hold the can, phone or whatever and let them take a few photos. Then take the money and run right? WRONG.

My introduction into the hand modelling world comes after 10 years as an actor in national commercials and 20 years as a voice over talent. So I know my way around a film set. After being hired to be the exclusive hand model for Trey Songz in the popular “So Kodak” campaign. I wondered if doing “celebrity hand modelling” would be any different from ordinary “regular person hand modelling”. I didn’t have much to compare experiences either way.

The job required me to meet Trey Songz and watch him hold the  Kodak camera, then imitate the hand movements on camera. The set was laid back with a definite Hollywood vibe. Shooting the print ad was much easier than shooting the TV spots which required several angles to be shot with precise hand movements. This is difficult to do as the shots take 90 minutes to set up and 2 hours to shoot. During this entire time, the hand must remain in the same unusual position to set the lighting. I’m glad I didn’t have that cup of coffee otherwise the shaking hands would have gotten me fired. Here’s where my acting skills had to come to the table. During the experience, I kept thinking,”Now I know why this pays a lot of money” The cramping started about a half hour in. Then they had to prop up my elbow. They finally got the shot after the circulation in my arm stopped completely. The check from this job should cover the cost of the amputation of the hand used. Fun!

Many areas of the professional acting profession have the appearance of being much easier to do than they actually are. Hand modelling is one of those areas. Voiceover is another.

Well click here to see me give Trey Songz a hand:

Xavier Paul hand model featuring Trey Songz person

http://youtu.be/uftzOrzAdDM

I’ve also done voice characters on the video game, “Grand Theft Auto” (San Andreas), new character on the animated series, “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” National Network T.V. spots for Zocor(Heart Medication) featuring American football coach Dan Reeves, Gatorade(Featuring Michael Jordan), Burger King(featuring the Harlem Globetrotters),Reese’s Peanut Butter Puffs Cereal, Colt 45 Malt Liquor, Foot Locker and Pepsi.

 About the Author: Xavier Paul is an accomplished voiceover talent and TV /Film producer. His most recent credits include: new on air promo announcer for the NBA,Narrator for History Channel’s UFO Files.

 For my voiceover demo library, click here:http://www.coolvoiceradio.com/voice-talent   

Here’ my video:watch?v=ik0eCZ-IFNQ

Since doing standup comedy in the mid-90′s many people have wondered, “Where have you been?”  Well for the past 15 years I’ve been the voice of hundreds of tv commercials, movie trailers, cartoons  and various other voiceovers. Here’s a blast from the past::watch?v=EdYS_InpvkE

and here’s a blast from the present:qecEJRwx73c

 Many people in the New York City area and nationally ask me,”Hey how do I break into doing voiceovers?” To answer this question in depth, I’m teaching a series of classes to answer questions like:

Do you need a voiceover demo?

Have you produced a voiceover demo and still find it hard to get work?

Do you have a voiceover agent and have hit a “dry spell” and haven’t worked in a while?

At  my company, http://www.coolvoiceradio.com  we have the solution to all these problems. We offer coaching, training for individuals who want to be in the voiceover field.

Click here to sign up for the next class: http://www.learningannex.com/live_classes 

 About the Author: Xavier Paul is an accomplished voiceover talent and TV /Film producer. His most recent credits include: new on air promo announcer for the NBA,Narrator for History Channel’s UFO Files.