Six insider tips from a TV cameraman

Six insider tips from a TV cameraman

Nigel Blackman is RTC’s professional cameraman for media training. Here he gives his six top tips for spokespeople appearing on TV or video:

  1. Watch your clothing. Avoid bright colours and sharp stripes. A pinstripe suit is okay, if the stripe is faint. Pastel and neutral colours are best.

  2. Be nice to the camera crew. If they don’t like you, it’s in their power to make you look cold, aloof or otherwise unfavourable.

  3. Ask for the camera to be level with or below your eye line. If the camera is looking up at you, you look powerful; if the camera is looking down at you, you look submissive and unimportant; if the camera is level with you, the shot will be neutral.

  4. For a sit-down interview, sit up straight. BBC stands for Bum Back in Chai r – slouchers look sloppy and arrogant.

  5. Take no notice of the microphones. Don’t move closer every time you speak. It’s up to the sound guys to balance the sound levels – leave it to them.

  6. Check what’s behind you in the shot.  No empty bottles of wine, for instance, and no stupid poster logos – that’s as much your responsibility as the film crew’s.

Article date

July 1st, 2015

Nigel Blackman

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