video business portraits | St Louis Video Editing

Video has become a commodity of sorts. It seems like everybody’s in on the act … some of it is good, and some not so good. What is it that makes a video succeed? It usually boils down to one thing: Planning.

If you are considering hiring professionals to craft a video, the first thing should ask yourself is: what is the purpose? Which is another way of asking, what is the message? Once you have defined your message, you can decide the best way to deliver it. So there: you have started your planning. Your chances of producing a successful project have taken a giant leap forward!

Too many people make the mistake of grabbing a camera, shooting footage, and then try piecing it all together and hoping for the best. It’s not a good approach. You wouldn’t build a house without a blueprint, would you? Crafting a video is the same thing. And your unique blueprint is your script.

We can’t overstate the importance of script preparation. Scriptwriting is not easy, and sometimes not fun, but it’s the single most important element for the work we do. And it’s important to do it early in the production process. Give it the attention it deserves.

A script will take the guesswork out what footage needs to be captured by your video crew. This helps reduce wasted time, and allows your crew to spend more time getting the shots you really need.

With video, as with many things in life, the devil is in the details. Spending time at the beginning to plan will save enormous headaches later on. We are talking about things like locations, budgets, graphics, and the rest of the nuts and bolts. There is too much to get into in this short video. But if you’d like to learn more, feel free to contact us. We would love to help.

314-913-5626
Mike Haller
St Louis Video Producer
mikeh@hallerconcepts.com
Saint Louis, Missouri, USA | St Louis Video Editing

Video and the internet have changed the way we communicate. But one thing has not changed: the impact of a human face in communication. Humans naturally connect with the image of a human face…whether in a video or in person. And many times, that face on video is talking straight into the camera…. And a teleprompter.

A teleprompter is a tool that displays scripted material in front of a lens, allowing a spokesman to deliver messages while looking directly into the camera lens. It’s an extremely useful tool. With recent improvements in screen technology, teleprompters have become smaller and more accessible.

As useful as it is, it is not a magic bullet. There are a few techniques to make it work well.

It’s important to remember that a teleprompter is only as good as its script

Write your script to be spoken, not read. Use conversational language that works for the audience you are trying to reach. Shorter words are better, and so are short sentences..

Along with trying to speak to the audience in a language they understand, it’s also important for the spokesperson to be comfortable with the language. It the presenter is struggling with long sentences or unfamiliar language, the audience can feel lost.

There’s no substitute for practice. The more you practice and personalize the text, the more you’ll put meaning to the words.

Practice reading your script aloud. Take it into the bathroom, and practice reading it into a mirror. Change the language to match your speaking style. Make it yours.

A teleprompter can also be used as guide for an interview or testimonial, when the person being recorded is not looking directly into the lens.