Guide: How to film a good enough video

“A film is - or should be - more like music than like fiction. It should be a progression of moods and feelings. The theme, what's behind the emotion, the meaning, all that comes later?"

Stanley Kubrick

During this online all the time conferences I notice some things that add to my previous experience in marketing. So today I will write down a small guide for people who want to record some sort movies to promote events, themselves or some info:

1. Camera - how to hold it - where to look
   Hold the camera on landscape (this will allow people to see the movie from desktop, as well) and if you decide to upload it on youtube you will have the full screen.
   Use a stander or ask somebody to help you with the filming part. Place the camera to be a little from above your eye line. In order to create the illusion that you are looking into viewers eyes you should find a place near the camera of the device.

2. Written speech - where to place the paper
   Maybe you are an exceptional speaker and you don’t need to have a written speech when you record yourself. My recommendation is have at least 3 main ideas in front of you. If you have your speech written, place it in parallel with the camera, or above it. Why? Because if you have it in front of you your eyes will leave the audience - and if one of the recommendation of a speech is to always keep your eyes on the public, things don’t change in the video world.

3. Intro and outro
   Start the camera and let 7-15 seconds to pass, also let them flow after you stoped talking before stoping the camera. If you are doing the cuts it will allow you to create effects fading in or out the intro and outro of the movie. Also, it will allow the viewers the time to change the mind set after starting your video giving them time and space to focus on your talk.

4. Pauses
   Make sure you take 5 seconds breaks between ideas in order to offer places to cut at editing. Also, if you loose your focus, stop the talking give some space and take it from the beginning of the idea.

5. Camera auto focus on
   Make sure you set that, it will allow the camera to „move” with you, and keep you in focus at all time. That will mean that your video will be clean and without froggy parts :)

6. Don’t stand to close to the camera

   Make sure that the audience can see your upper part, at least from the elbow and above. Ideally is to be seen from the middle and above. Also make sure you have some space between your head the upper part of the film. If you move your hands (a lot, like me) make sure that the part with the fingers can be seen on the camera. All without covering your face when you gesture around. The picture below will allow you to see what am I talking about.

7. Lighting
   If you don’t have a special light to use that will allow your face and body to be lighted (ring light), make sure you have natural light comes from the front. Also if you are outside make sure you are facing the sun. The star will not be placed behind you or from side - casting shadows on your face.

If you have any other tips and tricks I haven’t covered please leave me a comment and I will edit the article. And in case you discover that you have found a new passion, here is a course on filmography from ACMI. In this article you can find out a lot about this if you are interested in this amazing short course about filmography.