Nervous step in front of the camera? We’ve got some great tips to help you nail an on-camera interview.
TRANSCRIPT:
When I’m prepping people to film an interview that we’re going to edit down, I often tell them we aren’t expecting you to go out there and be Brad Pitt or Meryl Streep and give an Oscar winning performance, we’re just asking you to be YOU. But when the lights come on and the cameras start rolling, even being yourself can feel like a challenge so here are some tips to help you deliver a solid on-camera interview.
First off, relax and remember that the editor has your back. That means we probably won’t use the first take and you’ll have multiple opportunities to get your thoughts across. Don’t worry about mistakes, just keep going, finish your thought, then try again if you need to.
You also want to keep answers simple. Take a nice deep breath and deliver a short and straightforward statement. If you try to say everything all at once, you’ll probably end up losing track of what you wanted to say in the first place.
Perhaps most importantly, don’t memorize your answers. You can jot down some thoughts, maybe some bullet points, but unless you happen to be a trained actor chances are that if you try to recite scripted answers you’re going to end up sounding stiff and if you mess up even one word you could derail the whole thing. Lose the script, forget the camera is there, and just talk like you’re having a conversation.
