On-Camera Coach

Wiley & SAS Business Series ii Preface xvii Acknowledgments xix Section One The Inescapable Reality--We All Have to Communicate through a Camera 1 Chapter 1 Why You Need to Read This Book 3 The Power and Pervasiveness of Video 5 The Decline of the Professional Spokesperson 6 The Global Communication Tool of Choice 7 Hiring by Skype 8 The Perils of Video 9 How Reading This Book Can Improve Your On-Camera Performance 9 What You Will Need 10 Topics to Be Discussed 10 Chapter Takeaways 11 Notes 11 Chapter 2 Why the Camera Changes Everything 13 My "Aha!" Moment 16 A Camera Changes Everything 17 No Immediate Feedback 17 Your Own Worst Critic 18 Recorded for Posterity 19 Unfamiliar Territory 20 The Archenemy of Performance Success: You 21 The Key to On-Camera Success: Authenticity 22 Chapter Takeaways 24 Section Two The MVPs of Performance Success 25 Chapter 3 M--Mental Mind-set: The Prep before the Performance 27 Reaching the Real Audience 28 Visualize the Viewer 30 Video Chat: Now You See Me, Now You Don't 30 Embrace Your Nervousness 32 Passion Play 33 Beware of Brain Cramps 33 The Bottom Line: It's Not about You 35 Chapter Takeaways 38 Note 39 Chapter 4 V--Vocal Variety: Pacing and Pausing with Purpose 41 The Musicality of Your Delivery--What's Your Range? 42 What Is Vocal Variety? 42 Natural versus On-Camera Inflection 43 Setting Your Pace with the Viewer in Mind 44 Finishing Your Thoughts 45 Using the Power of the Pause 45 Pause for You 45 Filler Words as Placeholders 47 Pause for Them 47 The Lowdown on Uptalk 49 The Most Common Uptalk Trouble Spot 50 Chapter Takeaways 54 Note 54 Chapter 5 P--Physical Factors: On-Camera Movement with Meaning 55 On-Camera Gesturing: An Out-of-Body Experience 56 Getting Familiar with Frame Size 58 Gestures for a Tight Shot 58 Gestures for a Medium Shot 58 Gestures for a Wide Shot 59 Gestures as a Retention Tool 60 The Role of Off-Camera Movement 61 Posture Pointers 61 Standing While on Camera 62 The Metronome Effect 62 Going for a Walk 62 Sitting While on Camera 63 Crossed Legs 64 Leaning In or Out 64 Step In to Start 65 Making Eye Contact When You Can't See Your Audience 66 Look Away 66 Performance Pitfalls: Eye Contact Errors 67 Vary Your Angle 68 Look Up 68 Chapter Takeaways 72 Notes 72 Section Three Ready to Wear . . . or Not 73 Chapter 6 Looking the Part--Wardrobe 101 75 Match Audience Expectations 77 Boring Is Best 78 Spin the Color Wheel 78 Special Consideration: Green-Screen Shoots 79 Solids: A Solid Choice 80 Putting on the Pounds 82 Dress Right for the Mic 82 Pack Placement 83 Microphone Placement 83 Jewelry Jukebox and Light Show 84 Your Fifth Appendage: A Smartphone 85 Additional Considerations for Men 85 Sock Style 86 The Uniform Look 87 To Button or Not to Button? 87 Chapter Takeaways 88 Notes 88 Chapter 7 Hair and Makeup 89 Hair Hassles 91 On-Camera Makeup Musts for Women 92 What You Need in Your Kit 93 Moisturizer 93 Foundation 93 Powder 94 Eye Makeup 94 Cheeks 94 Lip Color 95 Makeup for Men 95 Glasses or No Glasses 96 Chapter Takeaways 97 Section Four Best Practices for Creating Your On-Camera Message 99 Chapter 8 Organizing for the Ear 101 The Rule of Three 102 Applying the Rule of Three On Camera 103 Rule of Three via Skype 104 Your Core Message 105 The Rule of Three Expanded 106 Repetition, Repetition, Repetition 107 Chapter Takeaways 108 Note 108 Chapter 9 Writing for the Spoken Word 109 The Challenges of Reading Written Prose Aloud 110 Why the Whisper Test Won't Work 111 Writing Tip 1: Keep It Short 111 Writing Tip 2: Don't Fear the Grammar Police 112 Writing Tip 3: See Spot . . . Be Bored 113 Exercises for Writing the Way You Speak 113 Chapter Takeaways 116 Note 117 Section Five How to Read without Sounding Like You Are 119 Chapter 10 Marking Your Script 121 Step One: Smooth Out the Script 123 Step Two: Add Phonetics Where Appropriate 123 Step Three: Mark with Meaning 125 New vs. Old 126 The Name Stress Principle 128 How to Mark Your Copy for Emphasis 129 Emphasis Obstacles 130 Beware of Connotations 130 Too Much Stress 131 Step Four: Place Your Pauses 131 The Short Pause 132 The Power Pause 132 Marking Your Pauses 134 Pause Practice Example 134 Pause Pitfalls 135 It All Comes Down to This 136 Chapter Takeaways 137 Script Marking Exercises Answer Key 138 Notes 140 Chapter 11 Tackling the Teleprompter 141 Lessons Learned from Michael Bay's Implosion 143 Lesson 1: Know Your Content 143 Lesson 2: Know Your Script 143 Lesson 3: Stay in the Moment 144 Teleprompter-Friendly Copy: Best Practices 144 Read Your Script in the Prompter before Your Performance 145 Effective Visual Cues in Teleprompter Copy 146 Options for Marking Emphasis 146 Options for Marking Pauses 147 Visual Cues Are Guides, Not Absolutes 149 The Role of the Teleprompter Operator 149 A Second Set of Eyes 150 Adjusting Font Size 150 Following the Leader 150 Editing on the Fly 151 No Mind Reading 151 Adjusting the Read Line 152 Prompter Practice Made Possible 152 The Proliferation of Prompter Software 153 Control the Scroll 153 Watch Yourself 154 Lost in the Teleprompter 154 Chapter Takeaways 155 Note 155 Section Six The Most Common On-Camera Performance Scenarios 157 Chapter 12 Presenting Directly to the Camera in a Studio Setting 159 Considerations for Corporate Video 161 A Lesson from TV News 161 Does Length Matter? 162 How Much Face Time Is Too Much? 163 Preparing for the Shoot 164 Creating Your Content 164 Identifying Your Viewer 164 Writing the Way You Speak 165 Marking for Meaning 165 Practice, Practice, Practice 166 Looking the Part 167 Microphone Matters 167 Hair Issues 168 Getting Rid of Your Fifth Appendage 168 Orienting Yourself to the Studio 169 Meet the Crew 169 The Floor Director 169 The Audio Technician 170 The Camera Operator 171 The Teleprompter Operator 171 The Crew's Mission 171 Give Yourself the Once-Over 172 Getting Familiar with Your Performance Space 172 The Crew's Final Prep 173 Pulling Off a Great Performance 173 Stay Focused Despite Distractions 174 The Most Dangerous Part of Your Performance 176 The Runaway Train Ramble 176 Mentally Moving On 177 Stopping the Performance before the Real End 177 Reviewing Your Performance 178 Chapter Takeaways 178 Chapter 13 Videoconferencing and Interviews via Video Chat 181 Changes in Where and How You Work 182 Hiring by Skype 184 Travel Cost Savings 185 Fewer Scheduling Headaches 185 Why You Want to Turn on Your Webcam 186 Best Practices for VC 187 Technical Considerations 187 Setting Considerations 189 Performance Considerations 191 Recording a Videoconference 193 Chapter Takeaways 197 Notes 198 Chapter 14 Webcasts--Best Practices for Panelists and Moderators 199 Why a Webcast Is Easier to Master 200 Best Practices for Panelists 202 Prepare Your Points 202 Plan Your Wardrobe 203 Take Advantage of Rehearsal Time 203 Focus on the Action 204 Where You Should Look 205 When Someone Asks You a Question 205 When Presenting Uninterrupted to Viewers 205 When Others Are Speaking 206 Opting Out of Using a Teleprompter 207 Handling the Unexpected Question 208 Best Practices for Moderators 208 Directing the Conversation 209 Preparing to Be a Moderator 209 Encouraging the Conversation 210 Being the Ultimate Editor 211 Staying Hydrated 212 Chapter Takeaways 213 Notes 213 Chapter 15 Broadcast Interview Basics 215 Before the TV Interview 216 Find Out the Focus 217 Simplify Your Talking Points 218 Seek to Speak in Sound Bites 219 Practice with a Peer 219 During the TV Interview 220 Establishing a Friendly Rapport 220 Checking Yourself in the Mirror 220 Realizing When the Camera Is On 221 Orally Editing Your Sound Bite 221 Controlling the Controllables 222 Pause to Ponder 222 Press Your Own Reset Button 222 Keep Your Cool 223 Answer Every Question as Best You Can 223 After the TV Interview 224 Interviews by Satellite 225 Introducing the IFB 226 Managing the Monitor 226 Waiting for the All-Clear 227 Chapter Takeaways 229 Notes 230 Conclusion: Embrace Communicating through the Camera 231 About the Author 233 Index 235