Film Programme - Handy Tips

Tel: 0845 222 0183

W: www.takingyourmessage.com E: [email protected]

If you are reading this document the chances are you are about to appear on film for your company!

Whether you are being filmed for the first time or, you already consider yourself to be an Oscar winner, (In fact you probably could show Tom Cruise and Meryl Streep a thing or two) here are some industry insider tips to help you come across like a natural in front of the lens.

Handy Tips - Filming Brief


Keeping your audience engaged is a passion of ours. It is important to us that we create momentum and your audience think, feel and do something different as a result of watching your film. We want to help you be memorable for the right reasons!

Index

1 - Deciding what to say to your audience 2 - What should you wear? 3 - Eye contact 4 - Your voice 5 - Getting into the right frame of mind

Sound-bites:

1. Deciding what to say to your audience

Only 7% of a first impression is based on the words you say!! So, for your message to leave a lasting mark on your audience it is even more important that what you say is clear, succinct and relevant.


The last thing you want is for your audience to look like this, so, ‘Sound-bites’ are a familiar term in the film industry and are a way of communicating messages on screen to keep your subject matter interesting. As a best practice, it is helpful if you prepare some 10 & 20 second segments (sound-bites) of key information you believe is important for the viewer to hear. Keeping your sentences short will stop the ‘waffle’ and help you to be succinct, allowing the viewer time to digest what you are saying. Prior to filming, consider what you want to say and practice at home or, with a colleague. This way you will have an idea of how long you are talking for. Think about some opening statements that will help guide you into creating powerful statements. Your point of contact will provide you with some opening statements relevant to the film you are producing, here are some examples to give you an idea; My name is ……. and I work within ………. The types of clients I typically work with are………. What I love about my job is……………….. My experience of working with these clients is ………. The lessons I have learned are……

What would you like to have happen as a result of someone watching your film? It might seem an obvious question, but we find that individuals can get so caught up with the filming, they forget about putting themselves in the shoes of the audience. So, ask yourself, what would you like the audience to know, do or be as a result of watching you?

Shirts and Suits:

2. What should you wear?

55% of a first impression is based on what you look like. So, even if you stumble over a few words, if you look the part your audience could still be impressed!

Hair: In the time between leaving the house and arriving at the film shoot, your hair-style may have been affected. Remember to take with you any styling products, combs etc that you may feel you need.


Thin stripes, herring-bone and small patterns can ‘strobe’ on camera. So, it is best to wear plain shirts or solid colours. Try to avoid black or white shirts. White particularly can bleach you out on screen. If you have a serious message to deliver and want to appear formal, wearing a jacket will help. If you only have striped suits wear a wide-striped jacket on camera. Be aware that even a small mark on clothing or wrinkles can be exaggerated when in ‘close-up’ on camera.

Make up: Regardless of whether you are male or female, the pressure of speaking on camera can cause some of us to ‘glow’ a little. Please feel free to bring along your own makeup, although our crew will have a small amount of makeup powder so the only thing shining on the day will be your dazzling personality!

Talking to the camera lens:

3. Eye contact

"The face is the portrait of the mind; the eyes, its informers." - Latin Proverb

"The eyes have one language everywhere." - Romanian Proverb


There are times when you may want to share meaningful information directly to your audience and therefore you will have to talk directly to the camera lens. Talking to the lens can seem awkward as you are not getting a response from your audience in the same way as when in direct conversation with someone. It helps when talking to the camera to imagine that there is a close friend or colleague behind the lens willing you to do well. Try opening your eyes a little to engage your audience more, lift your eyebrows occasionally. It is a universally accepted sign of recognition and acceptance and it works on camera and face to face.

38% of how you say something forms part of your first impression.

So, your pitch, pace and tone form a vital part of what you are communicating to your audience.

4. Your voice

Pitch: The camera lens can take away some of the energy of your voice, so, if the pitch of your voice doesn’t naturally vary, it will appear more monotone on film! Adding energy and intonation will help. Whilst it may seem unnatural you will be surprised how great the end result will be.

Pace: If you get nervous, it can be tempting to rush to the end of your sentence just to get it over and done with. However, your audience needs a little more time to digest what you are saying particularly, if there is a cultural difference. Equally, talking at snail pace can be dull and boring. As a guide, imagine talking at a rate of 3 words per second. The golden rule here is, take your time and pace yourself!


Tone: It has been said that good communication is as stimulating as black coffee, and just as hard to sleep after! Have you ever watched someone on the television and wanted to switch over? It isn’t just what we say but how we say it. It’s the language we use, the way we construct sentences, the sound of our words and the personality we communicate. Presenters who are passionate, believable and emphasise key words are the ones that keep our attention.

Breathing: Remember to breathe exactly as you would when you are in conversation with a friend or a colleague. When nerves get the better of us we tend to hold our breath and as a result, we speak in a high pitch tone. If you have just come straight from another meeting before filming you might be out of breath. We will encourage you to take a few moments to collect yourself, take some deep breaths and get you to practice speaking as you breathe out.

Changing your physiology:

5. Getting into the right frame of mind

Managing your emotional and physical state can help you to deliver powerful presentations regardless of how nervous you are. Feed your mind with positive thoughts.


When we are not looking forward to doing something, our body language can demonstrate what we are thinking and feeling. Have you ever seen someone’s face leak in a meeting and you know what they are thinking? Smiling will instantly help you to feel better. You will come across as approachable on camera too! Believe you are going to do well. Tell yourself you are going to be great. Practice in the mirror at home. Get some fresh air before you start! If all else fails… drink black coffee!

We are really looking forward to working with you. You may not win an Oscar for your performance, but we will certainly help you to be the best you can be! If you have any questions, please do feel free to speak with your point of contact at your organisation, or email one of the team at [email protected] emotional and

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Indigo Blue Produc3ons Ltd 2 Heron Court Yorktown Road

Sandhurst Berkshire GU47 9ED

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Film Programme - Handy Tips