Technical items that can make your life easier (framing, position, mark)
“Learn your lines, find your mark, look ‘em in the eye, and tell the truth.” ~ James Cagney (actor)
Quick Summary:
- With the rule of thirds in mind, figure out effective places to position yourself—and more importantly, your eyes!
- Ensure that you have enough vocal energy to send your message out; adjust your distance to the camera if necessary.
- Find a simple background for your videos, so that it is not distracting or taking us out of the moment.
To illustrate the points:
Here’s a very simple video shot by entrepreneur Chris Brogan: excellent framing, headroom, and succinctness!
In this video, Corbett Barr’s framing might not be perfect, but I think this is a good example of vocal energy, as I don’t see a wireless mic on him. Because he’s a few feet away from the camera (and thus further form us), he needs to ensure that we still *hear* him!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVcW2_YjvRo
Time to practice!
- Choose a compatible background for your next video: establish your “mark”; be sure to give yourself enough head room, incorporate the rule of thirds, and position the camera accordingly.
- On camera: shoot another video on your topic from about 10 feet back from camera; then, 1 foot from the camera. How does your vocal energy need to change to be consistent with what we see? Pick your favorite video (or edit the two together) and post!