History Main / FourthWallGreeting

Often, the setup of the scene has the camera pan over to an actor caught unaware (often in their dressing room, or on a soundstage), either out of costume or in any other way that indicates that the production cameras aren't currently rolling and what you're seeing is part of the production's self-documentary instead of the end result; you're about to get a candid, exclusive look into its making of. The character often expresses this surprise directly to the camera, for example by greeting it with an impromptu "Oh ... hi! I didn't see you there. As you can see, I'm on the set..." before they begin describing what is happening over on the set.

** Creator/ChuckNorris talking to an off-screen "friend" in mock surprise at the end of a Total Gym ad. Because a multi-title holding karate champion with tons of sponsors and access to thousand-dollar equipment would give a shit about a hundred dollar weight bench, let alone interrupt a shoot to tell his friends about it.

** Actually, almost every RunningGag Website/ThatGuyWithTheGlasses reviewer!

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Howdy, fellow tropesters!

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Howdy, fellow tropesters!]]]]

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* The ''WesternAnimation/{{Encanto}}'' WebAnimation/YouTubePoop "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbp7fFxFcJI Enchanto]]" begins with Mirabel saying "Welcome to the Encanto YTP!" to the viewer.

[[folder: Commercials]]

[[folder: Film]]

''[Camera zooms in exaggeratedly untill it hits the merchant's nose with an audible "bang"]''\\

* The original ''Tales of the Okefenokee'' ride opens with a short song by the ever present Crow Brothers:

* The original Journey into Imagination at Epcot opened up with the Dreamfinder singing to himself before noticing the audience.

* ''Disney/{{Aladdin}}'': Opens with [[https://youtu.be/inzkJ34VMfk?t=8 a merchant addressing the viewer]] and even interacting with the camera:

''*turns to face the camera* [[SelfDemonstratingArticle Greetings, fellow troper!]] My name is Report Siht, and I'm the lead writer of the TV Tropes article "Fourth Wall Greeting". Allow me to explain what it's all about, if you will.''

This setup was sometimes used for commercials for unrelated products, here to give the impression that, while you know that the celebrity endorsing the product is most certainly a paid actor in the profession of telling you things convincingly (even when their character is clearly fictional), right ''now'', you're hearing him when he's off-duty and he's therefore telling you the 'real' truth. While it is still used in advertising, even straight, it is often with at least a bit of a [[DeadHorseTrope wink and a nod]] if not outright {{parody}} or LampshadeHanging (such as the actor delivering the line in a way that implies he is reading it from a cue card).

It's also still occasionally used in kids' {{Edutainment Show}}s, where it's perhaps a bit more understandable.

Often, the setup of the scene has the camera pan over to an actor caught unaware (often in their dressing room, or on a soundstage), either out of costume or in any other way that indicates that the production cameras aren't currently rolling and what you're seeing is part of the production's self-documentary instead of the end result; you're about to get a candid, exclusive look into its making of. The character often expresses this surprise directly to the camera, for example by greeting it with an impromptu "Oh ... hi there. As you can see, I'm on the set..." before they begin describing what is happening over on the set.

[[folder: Commercials ]]

[[folder: Film ]]

[[folder: Live-Action TV ]]

[[folder: Music ]]

[[folder: Theatre ]]

[[folder: Theme Parks ]]

[[folder: Webcomic ]]

[[folder: Web Original ]]

[[folder: Western Animation ]]

* Every episode of ''YachtRock'' (to some degree) was introduced by Steve Huey this way. Ranging from the innocuous "You've caught me lounging in my music nook" (while doing just that) to beating a gimp while wearing bloody underwear: "You've caught me making love."

* WebVideo/EatYourKimchi:This trope is often used when the show switches from Simon and Martina as commentators to Simon and/or Martina as performer in a sketch.