Lights, cameras, RELAX

At Beeston Media we work with lots of experts; highly intelligent people who are leaders in their field. But stick them in front of a camera and they can unexpectedly freeze.

Relaxing on camera can be anxiety inducing for even the most seasoned expert. There’s no guarantee that they’ll take to the camera more naturally than a junior researcher. If we’re filming you it’s likely to be because you’re a great thinker, but overthink your performance on the day and you’ll trip yourself up. Instead, focus on how to de-risk your performance before the day. Here’s how:

Get the right media team

Confidence starts by picking the right crew. The best way to do this is by personal recommendation. Ask colleagues who have recently appeared on camera how they felt about the experience. Did they feel in control and able to get their message across? Did it feel well organised and sympathetic to their field? How professional did the editing make them look in the final film? Asking these questions is far better than judging a video agency by its showreel.

Don’t skip pre-production

Take the time to discuss what you want to achieve in your video. What problem are you looking to solve? What audience are you trying to reach? What would a successful video achieve? It’s important to agree on the key points to include. Ideally, if budget allows, your production team should use these points to create an outline script or a fully fleshed out script, depending on the requirements.

Interview, Teleprompter, or Voice-over?

Interview-based videos can work well for a natural, conversational result, as opposed to following an overly prescribed script. The classic set-up is for the interviewee’s eyeline to look slightly to the side of the camera. However we sometimes use a mirror rig so, to the viewer’s eye, the interviewee talks directly to the screen. In reality they’re talking to the director through an angled piece of reflective glass. We use this ‘cheat’ because chatting naturally straight to camera is really hard for most people.

Teleprompters are really helpful when you have a set script or are not comfortable with interview-style. However you do need to be careful to avoid too much side-to-side eye movement which gives away that you are reading. Another danger is appearing too stiff because you’re reading the words without feeling them. A good director will give you tips on how to avoid these issues.

Voice-over is a third option if speaking to camera just isn’t for you. Instead we can film you and your work observationally. We then overlay these ‘B-roll’ shots with narration. This could be your own voice recorded as audio only, or the voice of a professional narrator.

Be kind to yourself

It’s common for even the most media experienced experts to need multiple takes to get their on screen performance right. The production crew isn’t expecting you to be a professional screen talent. Our job is to make you look as good as possible, and we’ve got lots of tricks up our sleeve to make that happen. Editing down to your best soundbites and adding B-roll shots to cover any fluffs will transform the final result.

Enjoy the ride

If you're feeling nervous or under pressure, stop. Tell the crew you’d like to pause a while. Chat through what you are and aren’t comfortable with. The crew is there to work with you as a team. We’re not journalists trying to trip you up. We can suggest different approaches if you get stuck. The more you're open to enjoying the process, the more persuasive you’ll be to your audience.

If you’re thinking of commissioning a video and would like to discuss a targeted approach for your team, do get in touch to book a discovery call.