Most people believe an actor's job is
simple.
You go to hair, make up and wardrobe,
and then you sit in a trailer and wait
until someone ushers you on set. You work
for a few minutes to deliver your lines,
and hit the mark.
This is a common perception, that is,
until you or someone on your executive
team has to be on camera for a
corporate video shoot.
The reality is on-camera work is
challenging. You're put under a
microscope, and expected to perform, be
natural and articulate, and speak with
passion while staying on message.
Oh, and remember to blink, smile and not
talk with your hands.
Being on camera is distinctly unnatural-
the lights, the crew, the pressure. So,
how can you rise to the challenge when
it doesn't come easily to you?
Over many years working with non-
professional talent, my team and I have
developed tips and tricks to make the
most of our on-camera personalities,
ensuring they portray themselves in the
best possible light. I like to say we get
paid to make people look good.
You may be on camera for a live
television interview, be one of many
people being interviewed for a larger
piece, or have to deliver a pre-scripted
message using a teleprompter. Whatever
it is, these tips will ensure you make the
best of the occasion.
1. Remember that it's not what you say,
but how you say it.
More often than not, people fixate on
the words they use to deliver a message
and give little thought to the delivery
itself.
Video is a visual medium, which makes
the delivery far more important than
the content. Yes, what you say must be
correct, but consider the viewer taking
in your message. As you speak, the words
fly by. The viewer's brain processes the
words, but the feeling and experience
will leave the stronger impression.
Consider your experience watching your
favorite band perform live. The
environment, delivery and feeling stay
with you for hours, if not days. If you
were able to record the concert and
play it back, you'd plainly hear the
technical gaffes; the live content would
fall flat compared to a studio recording.
But the feeling is far more potent than
the content itself. The same holds true
for video.
2. Be authentic, but not yourself.
Before you sit down and clip on a
microphone, you should have a clear idea
of how you want people to perceive you.
How you're perceived is different from
just being yourself. Understanding the
target audience and objectives will help
you tailor your perceived self for the
camera.
When I was working with a senior
executive to prepare for an employee-
facing campaign launch, I asked him how
he wanted employees to perceive him. He
considered my question, and admitted
he'd never given it any thought; no
other video producer had ever asked.
We decided he should come across as
approachable and authentic, yet firm-
much like a college football coach. In
that situation, focusing on a specific
delivery style ensured the executive was
not only authentic, but well received.
[RELATED: Learn to write a great
speech, no matter what time
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]
3. Understand how much editing will take
place.
This is something people rarely consider.
At my firm, it's quite common to edit
three to four hours of interview
footage down to two to three minutes.
In that situation, interviewees can say
almost anything because we will
painstakingly edit. However, if you're
delivering content that producers don't
plan to edit very much, each part of
your delivery must be clear, concise and
well-delivered.
4. Don't over-prepare, and do stay
within your wheelhouse.
These two tips go hand in hand. If
you're speaking on a topic you know well,
there's no need to over-prepare, and
your delivery will be natural. Over-
preparation kills delivery. You'll appear
insincere, even canned. Stay with what
you know, and the content will appear
fresh. If you're forced to deliver
content that is not in your wheelhouse,
plan your message carefully, but don't
lay out the delivery in advance. Save
that for the camera.
5. Don't try to hide anything.
There is no faux pas worse than trying
to hide a technical element from your
audience. If you have notes, put them on
the table. It's OK to look down at notes
if you admit they're there. If you have
a teleprompter, don't try to make it
look as if you don't. People use
teleprompters all the time. If you want
to add in a pre-taped segment, just
mention and introduce it. There's
nothing wrong with pre-taping an
element for technical reasons.
These are just three examples we deal
with often. The point is to embrace
things as they are. An audience will be
forgiving if you're honest. If you
aren't honest, all your efforts to look
your best will make you look worse.
Other important tips to consider:
Don't dart your eyes.
Don't swivel in your chair.
Hold a pen to give you something to
do with your hands (but don't click
it!).
Speak with confidence.
Don't move into delivery mode
(shifting your voice up an octave and
beginning to act).
Don't beat yourself up for small slip
ups. Almost everyone feels awkward
on camera. That's what editing is
for.
Remember that it's OK to be nervous.
Have fun!
What are your tips for being on
camera? Tell us by leaving a comment
below.
Mark Drager is the founder of the
Toronto-area video production firm
Phanta Media . A version of this article
originally appeared on the Broad Reach
Communications blog.
posted from Bloggeroid
