Making them smile! Need help from drama Moms

[Danestress]

My boys (10 year old twins) have been asked to perform in a Christian music videa. The company is owned by good friends of ours. They write a good bit of music, but in this case, they are developing DVDs that have children dancing moves to go with the songs. These might be used in a preschool or VBS setting.

Teaching them the dancing moves has been the easy part. I'm having trouble getting them to smile. She really wants a joy to be shining throug on these. I have one son who is very funny but not super smiley. Are there any special trick for just increasing the energy level and the joy level as reflected in the face?

[lynn]

It may come out naturally while they are doing the filming and are having fun.

[Danestress]

It may come out naturally while they are doing the filming and are having fun.

Well, it's really not that fun, lol. I think it's fun for the first shoot or two, and then it's partly just work. We did a shoot in the fall and definitely, despite her encouragement, there wasn't that smiling energy coming through.

So I thought maybe someone had a trick of the trade. My boys want to do a good job and are trying hard - I think smiling while you sing and dance just seems very unnatural.

[jacqui in mo]

Do you have a video camera at home where you could make short videos of them dancing, one w/o smiles & one with to show them the different effect? In speech class in college we had to give speeches in front of a video & then critique ourselves.