Ok…so the big shoot for your corporate video is going to be happening next week, and you are one of the participants that will be on camera. Here’s a few quick guidelines to be aware of.

Cardinal Rule #1 – Don’t Wear White. White shirts worn by men and women aren’t kind to broadcast cameras. In situations where there may be low light this problem is exaggerated even more. When iris controls need to be “opened up” to increase the luminance levels on a person’s flesh tone, that white shirt that is being worn is liable to “bloom’ or be very “hot”. In layman’s terms…it won’t look flattering. White is a good color to stay away from.

Cardinal Rule #2 – No Tight Patterns or Stripes. Intricate designs are hard for a camera to pick up. To the viewer watching, these stripes will appear to dance around, causing an optical illusion called a moiré effect.

Some good things to wear are solid muted colors. Simple clothing is always the best. Women should stay away from large or “noisy” jewelry. The jangling can be very distracting. If you wear eyeglasses, try to avoid shiny frames. The reflection of the lights used in the production can be troublesome with those particuliar glasses.

If you’re being interviewed it’s best not to sit in a swivel chair. People on camera have a tendency to have a lot of nervous energy, so you want to try to keep from swaying and just stay focused on the camera. Use good posture, and be confident. The most important thing to remember is to be yourself.

Happy 2008! We thought this year we’d start right off the bat with a real winner…no, not another recipe for bread pudding, not even a recipe for our beloved Sun-Dried Tomato and Wasabi Dip. That dip kicks bread pudding’s butt! Instead our very favorite format for Audio/Video Scriptwriting. Let’s take a look.

There are 3 columns…one for the scene number, one for video, which is typically on the left side of the format, and one for audio, which is on the right side. The scene number is a crucial element in the script format. It’s the “map” for the client and the production company to refer to when they’re talking about various elements in the script. The scene number ensures that everyone is on the same page. Next is the video column. There we list all the visuals that you see. Those might include any talent or actors that are on camera, or the specific action that is taking place visually on the screen. On the corresponding audio side we list the audio that the viewer will hear when they see the visual. It’s all very simple…really!

So…that in a nutshell is the formula for a professional video script. It’s also the beginnings of a pretty effective HR video for Sexual Harassment…