Fools on Film

Always remember: There’s no business like show business but ALL business is show!

One of my most successful programs is Communicating The Message: How To Be Camera Ready Anytime Anywhere. In it, I teach that corporations can learn a lot from creatives when it comes to being filmed. We can take a page out of the entertainment industry playbook to really learn how to present ourselves on video. For instance, I know a Tony Award-winning actor who never goes to an audition without being dressed and in make up for video. She doesn’t know if they will be recording her, but she’s always ready. The same should be true for you.

You need to be ready at all times because you can’t assume the person filming you is going to be doing any editing. You need to be “on” before you know the camera is on. You need to be aware of your face, your body, your actions. See yourself outside yourself.

Getting Set Up

Making a good video is not as simple as whipping out your iPhone and recording. Even with a good script and a focused message, there’s much preparation you need to do before you even think about turning on that camera. 

First - Make sure your appearance is the best it can be. Get your hair done. Get your roots touched up. Make sure your teeth are clean. Go get a free “makeover” at the makeup counter of a department store, or pay to have one professionally done. 

Next - Do you wear eyeglasses? Make sure they’re not outdated. Along with a bad hairstyle and bad makeup, nothing makes you look older than wearing outdated eyewear. 

Now - What are you wearing? Answer: Not black. Black absorbs the light. Not patterns. Small patterns are terrible. They distract viewers from focusing on you. Women, wear jewel tones. Big patterns are better. Men, whatever your profession, you can’t go wrong in a light-blue or off-white collared shirt. You don't need to wear a tie, but be neat. 

Lastly - Test different angles and distances in the camera. This is a case of don’t “lean in” on the camera on the computer. I once attended a video conference call given by the CEO of a large corporation. His face was so close to the screen it was like watching a giant tuna in an aquarium, eyes bulging out and everything. No one could keep focused on what he was saying because he was so, well, “in your face.” Don’t let that happen to you! You want to make sure that only your warmth and intelligence comes through. 

Get more exciting communication tips in Your Self-Sabotage Survival Guide by Karen Berg. Read more here: tinyurl.com/y786t4ax