Now, since I started filming people speaking, I’ve always had this rule – the closer to the first take we can get, the better. This has been contested by a few perfectionists that I’ve worked with, however – we aren’t actors.
I’m not aiming for perfection. We’re human. I’m aiming for authenticity. Generally, the more you answer a question into the camera, the less and less authentic you sound. Because this isn’t how we speak!
When you’re asked a question in real life, you answer it and then you move on with the conversation.
Now, there is a time and a place for this rule. If someone stumbles over their words a bit too much, or they don’t quite answer your question properly – or they even seem to feel a bit uncomfortable, then I’ll have the interviewee take the answer again.
But, if they answered everything well, and the vibe is great? That’s the take. I refuse to beat a dead horse.
Now, what about when you’re filming by yourself, and you’re using a teleprompter – or even if I’m using a teleprompter for a client?
Well, this is how to use a teleprompter – it’s just a guide, don’t read word for word. If you don’t believe me on this, go to my Instagram and watch the first few videos I filmed of myself – and then watch the latest videos.
You see, initially I was literally reading the teleprompter word for word. It was almost as though I was afraid to miss an important point.
However.
On the second shoot something strange happened. On one of the videos I went a little bit off the cuff, and it felt good. It was in this moment, I realized “oh, shit. I really do know what I’m talking about!”
Here’s the thing. You’re good at what you do, and you know a lot about what you do. So don’t feel the need to read a teleprompter word for word. Start loose, read specific details as you need to, and then go off on tangents.
When I started doing a talking head in this way, I felt a load of stress come off my shoulders. Because I knew the truth was, that no matter how you present it – a word for word read teleprompter vid is going to be just a little bit inauthentic.
The beauty in using the teleprompter as a guide is that you’re hopefully the one who wrote the words. What I’ve been finding is that I’ll go off on an off the cuff naturally spoken tangent, and because the words on screen are flowing with the pace that I’m speaking at – I’m able to jump back in on some of the written words here or there.
It’s been a really awesome realization, and I know that the more I do this – the better I’ll get at it.
To practice in the meantime – up until my next shoot – I’ll be speed reading and writing as much as I can. I’ve already been doing this, and it helped the process tenfold – but I know that now that I’m actually focusing on it with intention, it’ll prove to become a pretty powerful asset in my toolbox.
Try this out for yourself – and if you decide you want to work with four32 on your next film – know that I’ll force you to be yourself – because that’s the best us that we can share.
In my content strategy, I’ve chosen to write blogs every morning, and then I’m repurposing these pieces of written word into video content. It’s been an awesome journey, and I’m getting better and better at it.
As of late, I’ve been under the impression that I need to do the things for myself that I’m wanting my clients to be doing. This way, I can speak from experience rather than from a place of theoretical technicalities.
Let’s have a chat – I’m open to collaboration, and I think distilling what I’ve learnt about content creation and business philosophy into your marketing plan could be a really good move for you and your company.
To Your Success,
Jay Ashcroft
four32 MEDIA
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