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4 Things to Help You Be Your Best on Camera

March 20, 2018

If you are like most people, the thought of being on camera is at least to some degree frightening. Most likely, you are not an actor or actress by profession and being asked to get in front of the lens probably is something you’ve done very little of. To aid in this daunting challenge our NH Video Production company Waves Media has found 4 things that help us and those we work with do their best when it’s time to record.

#1 Take Care of Yourself Before and During Filming

You may be like me: rushing around trying to make things happen at work, at home, and elsewhere and so we don’t always show up to present in person or on camera at our best. We don’t look, feel, or even think at our optimal level. Maybe we stayed up too late the night before, just had a disappointing phone call with a prospect, didn’t get our coffee yet, who knows. But taking the time before presenting to do whatever ‘ritual’ it is that helps you is super important. I recently read a book by an author who ‘put to rest’ his work when the time came to get ready for the next thing. It could be as simple as closing your computer 15 minutes beforehand. And then allowing your mind to rest by listening to some peaceful music while drinking tea. Figure out what enables you to get in the right mindset.

And then during the shoot take care that you STAY at your best throughout. Have room temperature water on hand, every once in a while take a deep breath, or take 5 minutes if you are feeling you need a break: keep your energies high.

#2 Perfect Practice Makes Perfect

I had a basketball coach who used to say the adage, ‘Practice doesn’t make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect.’ Oh how true! And when prepping for your part in a video, whether talking to your audience or role-playing a character in a scene: practicing correctly is crucial.

A good actor will take a script and find the things within it that need emphasis, perhaps underlining the crucial parts that need extra volume, energy, or even an accent. Knowing when and how to change expression or emotion is actually practicing your part. Not just saying the lines but expressing the lines or the talk you are about to give. You can say the same words in so many ways. Have fun with it and practice your part well with pre-thoughtfulness.

#3 Don’t Overthink It

Having now stated #2 we should insert here that it is almost never good to over-practice. It’s like running a race. You will perform your best the day of the race if you haven’t overexerted yourself the day prior. Instead perhaps practicing well for a couple days on your part then taking the day off before the shoot is best for you. Find your rhythm.

And remember: no one is expecting you to be who you are not. In fact, if you seem to be trying to perform like someone you are not, everyone will probably pick up on that and it won’t feel right. Don’t overthink it.

#4 Play off Others

It’s true in so many spheres really, whether on a sports team, in a musical group, or on a film set. We almost always perform better around people who are excellent at their craft. It tends to take the whole group up a notch.

At your video shoot (should others be involved) play off their good energies and roles. This would be true with someone playing an opposite role, an interviewer asking you questions, even a crew or team member who is guiding you through the process of filming. Remember to make a good video (usually) requires more than just 1 person: it takes a team.

Waves Media’s BTS for Amwell Behavioral Health | New Hampshire Video Production from Waves Media on Vimeo.