The Corporate Video Spokesperson
In corporate video, sometimes it’s beneficial to have a person talk directly to the audience. They look right at the lens to tell the story. This is called being a corporate video spokesperson. In today’s article, we talk about the skills necessary for a spokesperson on camera for your corporate video. In decades past, most people were unaccustomed to performing in front of the camera, looking directly at the camera. But thanks to today’s selfie culture, there’s quite a few budding “spokespeople” at every company.
The Non-Professional and the Professional Actor
However, this article is not limited to just non-professional actors (company employees). The professional actor can benefit from a review of proper tips and techniques of being a spokesperson. The non-professional actor is one defined as working for the company, has not had acting lessons, and does not work as an actor. The professional actor is someone who has had training and routinely works as an actor in the industry.
Here’s a sample of a non-professional spokesperson. And here’s a professional spokesperson. Done right, you can’t really tell the difference.
Top 5 Tips for Being a Spokesperson on Camera
- Relax. Standing in front of the camera and talking to a lens instead of a person’s face is unnatural. It’s important to not get tense or self-conscious, but to just exhale and be natural.
- Know Your Material. Maybe you are reading off a teleprompter, or you have to wing it, make sure you have a great grasp of the content. Being in a unnatural environment, you don’t want to have to think too hard about your material. So be prepared.
- Be Technically Aware. Where’s the camera frame? Did you move to close to the key light? Are you under the boom mic? These are questions you need to be aware of. Large arm movements, pacing or swaying, and other blocking can ruin a take. Most spokes roles involve standing on a mark. But occasionally, the director might have you walk and talk.
- Slow Down. For the non-professional company employee who’s being asked to be the person in front of the camera, being nervous usually leads to talking too fast. Waaay to fast. Slow your speed down and make sure you enunciate clearly.
- Energy Up and Have Fun! Don’t forget that being in front of the camera can be fun. If you’re having fun, you’re also relaxed (see point #1). And having fun shows in your delivery. This keeps your energy up for the performance. If you aren’t having a good time, it’s easy to drag in your delivery. People are used to fast-paced, high energy videos, so keep your energy up, even if the content might be on the dry side.
Last Words
Here are some other good things to know about being the corporate video spokesperson. The crew will need to light and get the camera ready, so you might have to stand on your mark while adjustments are made. When they start rolling, they might slate right in front of your face– this is normal. You will either have a lavalier mic placed on you, or a boom above you. Sometimes both. Make sure when you finish that last word, you keep looking right into that lens. Don’t quickly turn away when you finish presenting.
Okay, you’re all set to step in front of the camera. Remember to be prepared, relax and have fun.
