How to act correctly in front of the camera: advice from Elena Frolyak. How to behave while filming a TV show

For many people, looking natural and relaxed on camera is easy, but for some it is really difficult. Let's look at what to do if you are being filmed by a camera.

All of the material below applies more to the case of reportage filming or low-budget staged filming with a large number of people in the frame.

Where to look. If the script assumes a dialogue, then, accordingly, you need to look at the imaginary opponent to where he should presumably stand. This is difficult, but it will be easier if this opponent stands in his place, or if any other person stands in his place.

If you speak to the public into a microphone, then your opponent will be the public. You need to focus your gaze on her, periodically looking first to the left, then to the right side of the hall, then in the middle.

If you are addressing the viewer, you need to look into the lens. A common mistake occurs when, turning to the viewer, the subject looks at the operator, as if asking: “Am I doing everything right?” You are doing everything right, just look into the lens, please.

During an interview, you can alternately look at the interviewer and then at the camera lens.

If you are filming any action of an actor, you need to behave as in a natural situation. In this case, there is no need to look into the lens. The most difficult thing is if the person being filmed goes towards the cameraman. Then you need to look through it, as it were.

The most fun situation is when the person being filmed looks at the videographer, at the light source installed on the camera, or examines the on-camera microphone, and in general he wonders what the cameraman is doing there so fascinating.

There is no need to look behind the camera if the intended object of interaction is behind it. Imagine the operator is made of glass and look through it. On video it will look more natural than a character peeking out for no apparent reason or reason.

If you accidentally looked into the lens when it was not required, you do not need to immediately look away and look for where to “stick” it. In this case, stop your gaze on the lens, hold it for a couple of seconds, then come up with a new point of view and slowly move your gaze to it.

Behave as naturally as possible. Don't be constrained. Make movements as smoothly and confidently as possible, with a little more than natural ease of movement.

If there is a serious shoot ahead, do not hesitate to rehearse in front of the mirror in advance. There is no need to be ashamed of this, but you will look better on camera.

Always take a comfortable position for yourself, a comfortable position, do not crumple or stand crooked just because you were placed that way. Say: “I’m not comfortable!” Don’t wait for the cameraman or director to ask you if you’re comfortable - they may not ask. In a position that is comfortable for you, it will be easier to concentrate on your role.

After you learn to behave naturally on camera, you can begin to express emotions in a controlled manner, but this is a separate topic - acting.

Good day, friends

Let's say in a couple of days you have a television interview, where you have the opportunity to talk about your company, its products and services. On the one hand, you are proud of the opportunity to “be shown on the box.” On the other hand, you are worried that everything will go well.

Indeed, in our time, both bad and good interviews, in addition to being shown on air, can then lie on the Internet for years, and create both negative and positive PR for both you and your company.

If you have or will perform in this genre, here are seven tips that may be useful to you. And if you don’t have such plans, then you may need these tips at the moment when a beautiful girl with a microphone and a man with a video camera suddenly jumps up to you.

(1) Answer the journalist's questions briefly. Ideally, answering a question should take up to a minute, or even better, less than half a minute. Modern people are accustomed to receiving information in a condensed form. A long and detailed answer to a question with many details and reasons for certain actions will quickly become boring for both the journalist and the television audience. Speak in the style of television diving, moving from one idea to another.
(2) Start withBeginning, such as an unusual fact, figure, example, review about your company. Draw attention to you and your interview from the very beginning. Keep “weather talk” and long introductions to a minimum. Ideally, prepare several openings and use the one that your intuition tells you.
(3) Improvise on the prepared key points. In no case should you sound as if you are reading a pre-written speech. When preparing for an interview, practice your verbal improvisation skills based on prepared talking points. This will add liveliness, dynamism and naturalness to your speech.
(4) Prepare the key point of the speech, and use it several times in your interview. Beginning speakers are often afraid of repetition. Watch powerful speakers speak. For example, the presentation of Steve Jobs' iPhone. Count how many times in his speech he says that Apple made a revolution by reinventing the telephone, and pay attention to phrases that are close to the key thesis and have almost the same meaning.
(5) The genre of your speech is presentation, despite the fact that from the outside it may look like a dialogue or even a conversation between two friends. When preparing for an interview, prepare for it as if "Presentations in the Elevator". This is what should determine what information is given and what is best left out.
(6) Practice answering difficult questions. Remember that your main weapon is your calmness, confidence, friendliness and openness. If possible, prepare several answers to possible difficult questions in advance. If you don’t know what to say, thank you for the question, start talking, and then smoothly change the subject. Surprisingly, when done professionally, it works great. Don't resort to "chattering" too often, otherwise it will become obvious.
(7) Despite all possible difficulties, remember that such an interview is a great opportunity for thousands or millions of people to learn about you, your company, products and services! Use this opportunity! And good luck with your next interview!

Thoughts? Comments? Questions? Do you know any examples of TV interviews where people spoke wonderfully about their company, products or services? Write - .

Nikita Kovalev
Public Speaking Trainings
www.site

My articles can be taken for publication on your websites, with a mandatory active link to the website www.orator.biz.ua. The link should appear twice: at the top and bottom of the article, as is done in the design of the article on this site.

Bright colors and too much white trick the camera and darken faces.
Voice-activated microphones also respond to finger tapping, foot stomping and coughing.
The range of lenses varies, so always make sure you have the right fit on the camera.
Cosmetics should not be aggressive.
Look into the camera, not the monitor.
Avoid filming at the bar and funny situations.
Watch your gestures.
Avoid wearing large or bright jewelry.

Excitement

If you feel your knees shaking, don't think it's just you—it's completely normal and natural. If the situation allows, you can resort to a very moderate portion of alcohol. Some, by the way, don’t give interviews without their 25 grams. And yet you can try to do without it.

To calm down and get rid of your inferiority complex, remember that professional presenters in most cases speak the text using a so-called “prompter”, actually reading it. But you will feel good even without a prompter, because you will not be talking to the creepy eye of a camera, but to a completely real and understandable person.

Unless you intend to make a formal statement, the shooting situation is usually a casual conversation. So focus on the topic, on the journalist who will be interviewing you, look him straight in the eyes and look for support in them. Remember that those who film you are no less interested in the positive result of the shooting than you are and you can trust them (if, of course, we are talking about professional photography).

If something bothers you, don’t be shy and say so right away. If you know the features of your face, its preferred angle, you are worried about how an unruly strand will fall, do not remain silent and do not suffer - shift the responsibility for this to others, to those who are filming you. This is completely normal, and you have the right to express your wishes. Another thing is that you should be prepared to hear the opinion of experts. Perhaps the camera “does not see” your problem.

In any case, first of all, sit down comfortably. If they forgot to offer you to take the most comfortable position, remember this yourself. If you sit awkwardly, during the conversation you will still begin to strive for a natural position for yourself and may “come out of the light” or “crouch” in the frame. In the best case, there will be a double shooting, in the worst case, everyone will see you on the screen as it happened.

Cloth

When getting ready for a shoot, look at your wardrobe for more than just the weather. The camera “does not like” small stripes, small specks, small checkered patterns - in short, any small pattern. He can “play”, charge. And then the flickering or ripples on your jacket or jacket will distract the viewer from your words. In principle, you can correctly show any of your clothes, but if your participation in the program is not a photo shoot, it is better to be prepared in advance and not count on three hours of preparation for the shoot. They may simply not be there.

The most preferred color is blue. It combines some guarantee of good reproduction in the camera, and a good psychological perception of your person. However, other plain suits also look good. White color is good, but treacherous. It requires special work from a lighting designer, a cameraman, and also a make-up artist (if one is present at the shoot). It can add a highlight to your face, making your makeup look different, or “give a glow.” If you can give up a white shirt in favor of a blue one, it’s better to do so (don’t forget that it’s also better to wear a plain shirt - without stripes).

Before shooting, check whether you will be filmed in full body. Then you need to make sure that when you sit down, you don't run out of socks before you start wearing trousers, or that your boots or shoes match the rest of your outfit. Unless you are wearing a suit made from a more or less traditional heavy fabric, keep in mind that a knit or colored dress may look very different in camera than it does in real life.

A simple dress can take on the image of an expensive and elegant one, and vice versa. So don't be surprised. Remember that television does not convey proportions well and, sadly, in most cases distorts them upward. Therefore, if you want to hide something, then a hoodie is not the best way; it will seem (together with you) even larger. If you are not ready to expose all the details of your face to the viewer, ask for a medium shot. He is the most neutral. Although a skillfully shot close-up can tell a lot more about you.

Makeup

A few words about special makeup. If you are invited to a studio, then ideally you should be treated by a professional make-up artist, because the light that is exposed in the studio “reveals” your face in a completely different way. So if you walk into the studio without makeup, don't be alarmed. The first thing you should do before such a shoot is to apply foundation, this is inevitable. Even for men.

Gentlemen, don’t worry, this is the case when the presence of makeup does not in any way infringe on your masculinity, but on the contrary, it will emphasize it. Because the correct tone is not noticeable to the viewer, but it is precisely this tone that will help you convey to the viewer the face with which others see you in everyday life. Then - powder. They will definitely powder you, perhaps more than once, so get ready for it. Powder removes the shine that appears under lighting fixtures, not only in the studio, but also during any other shooting - even in the interior of your favorite office. Therefore, if you are going on a shoot, it is better to take powder with you, and even better, loose powder. And before you start, you can authoritatively ask: “Am I not shining?” This will make you treated like a person who understands.

If we talk about doing your own makeup, then you need to proceed from the place and time of the interview. If you are being photographed during the day and outdoors, your makeup should be very close to everyday makeup, in the evening and indoors it should be brighter. But it’s better not to use extreme colors and dark, clear lines (unless this is a masterpiece of special body painting, for which you are actually being filmed), they can look vulgar. In addition, see if your powder (as well as your shadows) contains the now fashionable reflective particles. You won't achieve the desired result with them, even by applying a thick layer of powder or eye shadow.

Bottom line

When you are already positioned in front of the camera, see how it stands relative to your view. If we are not talking about artistic photography, that is, when the main thing is not reality and believability, but the peculiarity of the image, it is always more advantageous to have the camera “look” at you a little from above.

And most importantly, smile, be confident and sincere. The camera's gaze can penetrate much deeper than you think, and will highlight not only the features of your face, but also the honesty of your statements.

Young and already successful aspiring entrepreneurs share advice with those who are about to tell the world about themselves and their project for the first time.

So, you received some really good news: the press was interested in you, and the journalist asked if you would give a short interview on camera. It sounds tempting, but if you're like 99.9% of people, it's also scary. After all, everyone will look at you, listen to you. So we asked several young company founders:

— What is the most useful advice you can give to those who are giving interviews on camera for the first time?

Here's what they said.

1. More energy

“Try to be very energetic, use more intonation in your speech than in normal conversation. You may even feel like you are being overly emotional, but it will look different on TV than in real life. If in doubt, try an experiment: film yourself with your phone, and make sure that a lot of energy and emotion in the video looks great.” — Diana Goodwin, AquaMobile Swim School

2. Join Toastmasters or a similar community

3. Keep your thoughts natural

“Imagine you're writing a blog post—outline your main points, rank them in order of importance, and speak clearly. Use pauses to persuade, speak in a way that inspires confidence, smile when you can, and use natural gestures. To make it easier, talk to the interviewer, not the camera. If possible, rehearse and record the rehearsal on video.” — Heather McGaw, Lean Startup Co.

4. Smile and come prepared

“I have found that putting a smile on your face is the key to making the camera “love” you. But also, it's important to know what to say. Think about possible questions in advance and prepare answers to them. During preparation, record these answers on video (they should be 10-30 seconds long). When asked a question, you will always have something to say.” — Nathalie Lassier, founder of a media agency

5. Forget about the audience

“The idea of talking on camera scares most people, but to relax, you just need to forget about the camera and the audience. It's not that easy, I know. Imagine you're talking to your best friend who is interested in all the wonderful things your company does. Your answers will become freer and you will more easily reach the hearts of your viewers.”— Sauni West, CHiC Capital

6. Comfort comes first

“Wear clothes that you feel comfortable in and that are familiar to you. Also, thinking of the interview as a conversation, without focusing on the camera and the recording, will help avoid awkward pauses and grunts." — Bailey Spalding, Jackalope Brewing

7. Priorities and practice

“Identify three to five key points that you need to cover in an interview, and practice talking about them to friends (ideally, if a friend is video recording on his phone). Then review your performance, note what you did well and what you still need to work on.”— Lindsey Mullen, Prosper Strategies

8. Sit up straight

“Thank countless hours of computer work for your hunched shoulders and poor posture. Before the camera starts, stand up straight as if someone is pulling your hair. Not only will this make you look taller, but it will also open up your diaphragm, helping you speak. What you say is very important, but your image is also of great importance for the trust of the audience.”— Kim Kaup, ZinePack

9. Clear pronunciation

“Speak loudly and clearly, but don't shout. Practice your tongue twisters before the interview and be confident in what you say – both will add beauty and clarity to your speech.” — Brooke Bergman, Allied Business Network Inc.

10. Trust yourself, don't talk from a piece of paper

“If you can anticipate questions and prepare, that's great, but don't limit yourself to a script. If you speak from a piece of paper, you lose the natural dynamics and emotionality of your voice. Remember, you were asked for an interview because someone believed you had something important to say. Believe in yourself, speak from your heart and remember that others can be inspired by your emotions.”— Sunny Bonnell, Motto

11. Show passion

“First: use passion! Enthusiasm can do a lot, and people admire inspiration and drive. Even if you're nervous, it can captivate both the interviewer and the audience. Second, be sure to say something funny that will help people get to know you better as a person. And third: wear something you love - it will make you feel confident and comfortable.” — Cooper Harris, Clickly

I read the book “Media Man”. Some practical, useful recommendations on how to behave with the one-eyed monster - TV.

The paradoxical property of “the most expressive media”: it makes your speech less expressive. Therefore, let your performance go off scale in terms of energy, rather than reach the border.

Imagine yourself having a conversation in the kitchen - this is one of the best images for your TV appearance.

The peculiarity of the perception of television audiences is superficial thinking. Even an academic with a high IQ will not process television information as deeply as data from print, the Internet or radio. In the press, the material dominates, its quality, depth, and information content are assessed. In radio, vocal expression plays a role and the emphasis shifts towards form. On TV, form overshadows content. HOW becomes more important than WHAT.

80% of your impact on TV viewers depends on: a) how you speak and move in front of the camera, b) how you dress, i.e. from the picture. 20% is the content of what you say. The main requirement for content is SIMPLICITY. If you want your listeners to have more than just memories of your hairstyle and the way you straighten your tie, speak twice as simply as you are used to. If you are a lawyer, doctor or scientist, speak five times simpler :))

The TV presenter has a rule: the shorter the remark, the more dynamic the program (and the higher the rating!). “Don’t delay!” - this is what the presenter most often hears in his earphone.

Most often, television image makers recommend dark blue or light blue. Remember. that the television screen enhances color reproduction: a bright lime blouse can look neon-acid. Large amounts of red are also unsafe. Small stripes or excessive color can cause ripples or a “bouncing picture” effect. Calm, monochromatic colors of sand, brown, blue or beige are preferred.

Say your condition out loud. If you are worried, move away from people for a minute and describe what is happening to you: “I’m in the Channel One studio. It seems that out of fear I’m about to fall through the ground...” and further in the text - everyone has their own. The secret is to name your fears. Talking about acute conditions reduces their severity. For example, when you feel funny, tell yourself that you are falling out of your chair laughing, and you will notice how the laughter subsides.

Give yourself physical activity. Excitement is an excess of adrenaline. There is no need to calm yourself down with coffee or, especially, alcoholic drinks. You should also not meditate like: “I’m not worried, I’m calm.” That won't help. how to. Adrenaline is your friend. Here's something worth remembering. It adds energy to your performance, and you need energy to break through the screen and become relatable, understandable, and influential. Burn off excess adrenaline: flex your hands and neck. do a few squats, climb a couple of flights of stairs. This will tone you up and lower your adrenaline levels.

Visualize success. Imagine in great detail how successfully you speak. Give yourself over to this fantasy. Let it be as exciting as a childhood memory. Freeze the frame. Maybe you read from a piece of paper? Take them away.

Relax. First, tense up. and then relax. Tighten, for example, your right foot, and let your whole body be relaxed. Then tense your left foot. And so gradually tense every part of your body, as if you were turning into stone. When you are completely “petrified”, release the tension at once. You will feel real relaxation. Do the same, but from top to bottom. The exercise takes 2-3 minutes.

Good luck to you! Maybe you would like to undergo training or receive a master class, individual consultation on speaking in the media? Send your request to [email protected]

God help you!

Yours Evgeniy Sarapulov