Respect [ riˈspekt ] – noun
1) Ali G’s favorite word
2) due regard for the feelings, wishes, rights, or traditions of others

I was watching a popular TV show a few months ago. This particular episode was set on the Caribbean island of Haiti with American actors playing Haitians. I hadn’t worked with them and was interested to hear their accents, so I tuned in.

I sat, I watched, I was saddened. Not one of the actors had a Haitian accent. Instead, they’d opted for a West African sound which is obviously nothing like Haitian. French is the official language of this island nation but no one would know it from these portrayals. No beautiful lilt, no French Rs, no nasal vowels, rien de tout (nothing at all).

We are all impressed when we hear foreign actors do flawless American accents; Nicole Kidman (To Die For), Cate Blanchett (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button), Hugh Laurie (House) and Idris Elba (Obsessed). And conversely, we know how we feel when they fail at this task. I’ll not mention anyone out of respect.

An actor’s job is to play full and honest characters to the best of their ability. This includes doing proper research. Actors should be as committed as Leonardo DiCaprio in Blood Diamond, Don Cheadle in Hotel Rwanda, Gwyneth Paltrow in Shakespeare In Love and Renée Zellwegger in Bridget Jones’s Diary.

If you’re an actor, look at yourself. Look at your look. What roles could you be called in for? Be ready. Don’t wait and give a “close enough” accent.

Respect your audience. Respect your craft. Respect yourself.

I’m so proud of my student, Clark Koelsch for landing a French role on the hit CBS show, NCIS: Los Angeles, starring LL Cool J and Chris O’Donnell.

Clark was born in Walla Walla, Washington and is one of those committed actors who impresses me to no end. He and I have diligently worked on approximately 12 accents to complete his repertoire. We initially assessed his look and then figured which accents would complement his appearance. French was number 3 on his list, Russian was number 12.

Clark was most fortunate that when this audition for NCIS: Los Angeles came up, he didn’t need any coaching on his French accent. He listened to his CDs that I’d made from his lessons to refresh his memory and then he applied everything to his character’s lines. His French accent was flawless, perfectly comfortable in his mouth and brain. There was no effort as it is now a part of his muscle memory.

He is co-starring in the soon-to-be released features, ROCK AND ROLL: THE MOVIE and DREAM IN AMERICAN.

Clark is also quite busy these days auditioning for Voice Overs in commercial, narration and animation. His accent work has made him more marketable in this very tough market.

This is one actor who represents the term “working actor”.

Clarks Website
http://www.clarkkoelsch.com

NCIS Los Angeles
http://www.cbs.com



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