It’s not as easy as it looks, folks.
We admit our production team is pretty amazing, but talented as they are, they can’t perform miracles. A good majority of our clients produce video at some point, be it commercials for television or demonstration videos for their websites, etc, and a lot of our clients like to make special appearances in their videos. This is great because it puts a face to their company, but not everyone is born with outstanding on-camera talent. Here are some helpful tips to consider when it comes to speaking on camera for your next 30 seconds of fame:
Get a good night’s sleep. We know your mother always told you beauty is only skin-deep, but unfortunately the video camera is unforgiving when it comes to those puffy dark circles under your eyes due to a poor night’s sleep. Your whole face will reflect that you’re overtired and this might convey the wrong message to your customers – when people see a business owner who looks tired or frazzled, they might take that to imply that your business isn’t doing well. Do what you can to relax the night before.
Don’t brush off the make-up artist. While you might think you’re looking fabulous, many people don’t realize the imperfections that are magnified by studio lights and HD video. A little concealer, powder and lip shine can go along way – and that’s just for the guys. You men might cringe at the idea of putting on lip shine, but it helps to reflect the shine of the studio lights onto your teeth and make them look whiter. Ladies can opt to have a little bit more done if they so desire. Regardless, once you get under those hot studio lights and in front of the camera, you’re bound to sweat a little and having a make-up artist on hand to touch you up goes a long way.
Speak clearly and slowly. When you get in front of the camera, your nerves may get the best of you and you may find that you’re rushing through your lines. Natural human speech is around 165 to 200 words per minute so if you’re doing a 30-second ad, that will get cut in half – at the least. Also, you make the call whether you think you can memorize your script or if you need flashcards or a teleprompter, depending on your budget. You may have it all memorized until you step in front of that red light and suddenly your mind goes blank; it’s hard to know how you’ll react until you’re there(source) .
Ask the producer about wardrobe choices. What you wear says a lot about you as a person, but it can also have a negative effect on the filming process. Asking the producer for feedback on what to wear can be extremely helpful. Here are some suggestions on wardrobe selection(source) .
- If you’re filming in front of a green screen, don’t wear green – you’ll disappear! Black, white and red can also be tricky colors on video.
- Avoid clothing with large patterns or shapes – these can take the viewers’ attention away from your face.
- Stay away from wearing flashy or jingly jewelry; it can reflect the light and create unwanted noise.
- Make sure your wardrobe reflects your message! You want your customers to take you seriously.
All these tips might seem a little overwhelming, but doing a little extra to prepare for your video shoot can go a long way in making the whole process not only easier, but enjoyable! Mistakes are bound to happen and that’s what video editing is for. Like we said, our production team has plenty of experience in the business. If you think that making a commercial or a video could be beneficial for your company, feel free to give us a call anytime – we’d love to help!
