The expert in front of the camera

So you want to make a learning video yourself, without hiring a presenter. As an expert, you should be able to tell your story, right? But for many of us, stepping into the spotlight can make you very tense. Let me tell you up front: it’s all about the preparation!
For starters, writing a good script is essential. And if you’ve done your homework, you already know your audience. But there are a lot of other things that are important to get the quality of your video to the next level. Let’s help you with that.

Four tips for a successful script

1. Speak your lines out loud before you write them down. A story should sound the way you're going to tell it, not the way you would write it down. This gives you a direct feeling of what you are going to do in front of the camera.
2. Ensure a clear introductory sentence. What is the 'why' of your story?
3. Identify pillars in the story as a guide for yourself.
4. Stay close to yourself. By using a short, personal experience, the viewer can connect with the speaker.

How do you prepare? The most important tip, even when you use an autocue.

So your story is done, you are happy with the result. Again, rehearse out loud so it also sounds like something you would say. That way it will be easier to get to grips quickly when you’re stumbling. From experience, we know that it is very difficult for people to find time to properly prepare, but preparation is absolutely essential. When you feel confident you can even have fun telling your story. Your audience will notice and appreciate it.

…And: Action!

• Ok! Time to take it to camera. Here are some handy tips to make it look (and sound) better:
• Invest in a good microphone, preferably a lapel mic (also known as a lavelier mic). They’re inexpensive and make it sound so much better. Your video may look pristine, if the audio is bad, it just won’t be a good video.
• Be sure to use lighting, not just rely on daylight. Especially on a partly cloudy day light circumstances can change dramatically which cannot be fixed in post-production. There are many inexpensive (LED) light sets on the market that do a fine job.
• Using a green screen as a background to be able to replace that area for any image? Be sure not to wear anything green as it might conflict with your background.
• Avoid wearing clothes with fine patterns or stripes. It might cause unwanted optical artefacts (called ‘moiré’).
• Avoid clothing with brand names.
• Take 2-3 outfits with you to the set. Better safe than sorry. The most important thing is that it is representative and that you feel comfortable in it.

Enjoy working with these tips. Using them will ensure your video will be better than most!

Yorrick Thoms
yorrick@parcourslearning.com