| TIPS FOR ON-CAMERA TALENT
Making Your Videotape a
Huge Success!
The following tips are designed to help on-camera
talent (spokespersons, machine operators, CEO’s, etc.) look good for their on-camera
presentations.
- Please wear clothing with a neutral or soft color, or
with a soft pattern.
- Please do not wear bright colors which can
"ghost" so as to give the appearance that your shirt is following you when you
move around. The color red typically "bleeds" which can give a fuzzy look around
the edges. A solid white shirt makes it difficult for the camera operator to get good
color contrast. It's the same type of problem you would experience trying to take
photographs in snow or on the beach.
- A shirt or a tie with thin vertical stripes will give
off a distracting wavy pattern with even the slightest movement.
- For on-camera testimonials, any time you are asked a
question, please preface your answer with the question. For example, if you are asked:
"How long have you been farming with draft horses." Your answer would be:
"I have been farming with draft horses for 55 years." The reason is that the
interviewer's question will not be included on the videotape, so an answer of "55
years" would have no meaning.
- Each time you find it necessary to repeat something
you've already said, say it as if it were the first time. For example, do not preface your
repetition with words like: "As I said before..." or "Like I showed you
yesterday..." The reason is that the videotape may not be put together in the same
order in which it was taped, so what you describe as "yesterday" may not yet
have appeared on the final tape.
- Also, time references generally have no meaning in a
video. Saying something like, "This coming Tuesday, we are going to unveil our new
line of widgets" would be confusing to a viewer. An alternative might be "With
the unveiling of our new widgets ..." Speak in the present tense as much as possible.
- During the interview, you should talk to the person
who is asking the questions, not to the camera (unless asked) or any one else who might be
watching. The reason is if you look at people who will not appear in the final videotape,
those who watch the video will wonder who you are looking at.
- During the interview, plant your feet (or bottom, if
you're sitting down) in one place as if you were nailed down. Try not to move, shift your
weight, or shuffle your feet. The reason is that since the camera remains stationary, you
will look like you are ducking on and off the screen or bobbing around, as if in a boat.
- Make a list of all the points you want to cover in
the videotape. The more you prepare for what you want to say and how you want to say it,
the smoother the taping will go and the better the final videotape will be. No matter how
much time is scheduled for the taping, you will find that the time goes by fast.
- By making a list in advance, you can be sure to cover
all the important points. Before the interview is over, double check your list to make
sure you covered all your points. Remember, when the taping is over and the videographer
has gone home, you won't have a chance to fill in the things you forgot. If you are
addressing the camera "one on one" for more than 30 seconds or so, consider
using a Teleprompter. A Teleprompter projects the text onto a mirror which you read by
looking right into the camera lens. The results are very professional and natural as it
keeps your eyes looking directly at the viewer.
- Don’t worry about making a mistake. If you say
something that didn’t come out right, you can stop right there and start over again
as if it never happened. Your mistakes will be edited out of the final videotape, and no
one will be the wiser.
- Relax and have fun! This will help keep the viewer
focused on your presentation.
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