0436 – Gestures For TV and Video Presentations

2022.03.12 – 0436 – Gestures For TV and Video PresentationsExpressions on Televisions - Gestures on TV and VideoTV video work can be a bit different. With audio production (either radio or voice over work) you can make many and large gestures to help your vocal presentation, partly to give life to your words.  TV is more intimate. Gestures are small and your delivery is more conversational. On TV viewers can see your natural reactions, and see them quite close-up too! And even though you the presenter might know that the camera is the other side of the studio, if the shot has been zoomed in, that’s not where the audience is. If the shot is tight on your head and shoulders (a mid-shot) the viewer may be, in effect, just a few feet away and your voice and overall style should reflect that. Those recording YouTube videos or webinars, on either a small mobile camera or webcam should be careful with expressive arms. These may either go out of the frame of the camera, or if adjusting the camera, viewers will see your hand lunging at them out of the screen. A ‘poker face’ might be good playing cards but not in effective communication. And as your face gives away your thoughts and feelings, attitude and personality, people will be watching as well as listening for clues as to what they think you may be thinking. For example, your expression and gestures may be perceived as editorialising the content of your presentation. This may not matter if you are a YouTuber giving your thoughts about the pros and cons of a gadget during an unboxing, but may be more concerning if you are reading about the Presidential race on an impartial news channel. An unconscious expression may suggest an attitude that you don’t have. For several years British politician Priti Patel was criticised for having what appeared to be a ‘sneer’ or ‘smirk’ on her face (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anb7A6Em9B0), although that is her regular expression.Beware of lip-licking, lip biting, nervous twitches or tightening of the jaw which may give away that you are nervous, inexperienced or ill prepared. What will the audience feel if they sense you are nervous?  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.