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 Using Video Effectively
Nothing works more effectively to convey that you are a good speaker than video of you being a good speaker. Seeing is believing. Video can be used in several ways. Whole speeches, excerpts, or compilations of excerpts (and related material) can be useful. Video becomes valuable if the technical quality of the video is good, if the articulation is dynamic, funny, lucid, creative, or otherwise shows your most attractive attributes as a speaker. It also helps more if positive audience reaction is shown. In addition to video of you speaking at a conference or meeting, other potentially useful video includes TV interviews, TV guest appearances, news clips, documentary interviews, TV news stories in which you are included, PBS, C-SPAN, or public access programming, video shot for educational purposes, etc. Having New Video Taken at Events If you or event organizers have arranged for a professional shoot at an upcoming event, you will likely get good quality video. If the video is to be shot by event organizers, rights to the use (by both parties) of that video should be part of your speaking negotiation. If they intend to use or sell it, they should seek your permission. On the other hand, if you want to be able to use the video, you should secure agreement in advance that it will be available to you without usage limitations and at no cost. Many conference or event videos, however, are shot by non-professionals using a single camera. Some aren’t very good and as a result aren’t very useful. Others are just fine. There are several things you can do that can improve your odds of getting useful video. If videotaping is arranged by you, you can ensure that the elements described below are covered. If it is arranged by the conference or event organizers, you can ask nicely (and try to set up a discussion with the person who will be operating the camera as far in advance of the event as possible). If you can give directions or requests to the camera operator, ask him or her to: 1. Set up to use a podium or lavaliere microphone jacked directly into the camera, or connect the camera to the auditorium sound system. Don’t try to use the camera microphone. The sound will be hollow and tinny if the camera microphone is used. 2. Pay attention to lighting. Mostly overhead and rear lighting creates shadows that make it difficult to see your face clearly. Try to make sure lighting in the room stays all the way up while you speak, and if possible that adequate lighting is provided from the front. If windows are behind you, try to close drapes or blinds. 3. Zoom in fairly close on your face and upper body before you start, and lock the camera down on a good tripod sitting on a solid surface. Ask the camera operator not to try to zoom or pan, or in any other way alter the shot, once the initial composition is set up. Then, you have to remember not to move around behind the podium so that you stay centered in the shot. 4. If you use PowerPoint or slides, try to keep the lights all the way up anyway and tell the camera operator to ignore your PowerPoint or slides completely. (No change from the third point just above.) Then you have to remember not to turn around and look at the screen or otherwise make visual or verbal references to your PowerPoint or slides. 5. Get audience shots (including silent thoughtful attention, applause and laughter) before you start and after you are finished speaking. Grab these cutaways from preceding or following speakers, during the introduction, and after you have completely finished speaking. During Q & A, keep the camera locked down on you and don’t try to shoot the questioners at all. Arranging Your Own Videographer Don’t go to the expense and or trouble unless conditions and cooperation will permit quality results. New Video From Other Sources All other types of video are potentially useful – TV hard news, TV feature news interviews, TV talk shows, video documentary interviews, C-SPAN Book Notes, public access programs, video of library, bookstore, or educational appearances, training or educational videos, etc. It is always a good idea to request videos from the source. Likewise, it is a good idea to get contact information that you can employ later to seek permission to use the video in various ways. The level and nature of the permission needed depends on the use (e.g. you don’t need permission to loan a personal copy of a program to someone for them to view, or to allow them to view a video posted for viewing only with an access code). On the other hand, using the video publicly online or extracting clips for purposes of promoting you as a speaker will sometimes require permission. The best policy is to get all the video you can and deal with permissions after you decide if and how you’ll want to use it.
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