- How To Get Better On Camera -

This is a NEEDED skill to have in the 2020's

I'm around camera's a lot, so I thought I'd give you some tips on how to not be a anxious, bumbling mess on film

Let's begin

//THREAD//

WHY YOU ARE BAD ON CAMERA:

The camera is intimidating. It just is.

It’s an impersonal object unrelentingly capturing every movement and utterance you eek out.

We don’t like the camera because it makes us feel vulnerable.

On camera, all of our quirks, fidgets are be subject to viewing by thousands of eyes, all looking at you through a single lens.

We're immediately preoccupied with how we appear and sound, and thus, cannot relax into ourselves.

This is a vicious cycle

The other factor that breeds intimidation is expectations.

We see people that are extremely comfortable on camera every day, whether on the news or in our feeds.

This builds a false mental narrative:

“It’s something that comes naturally to everyone. I’m the odd one out.”

HOW TO FIX IT:

Like I said in the first tweet, I'm around cameras a LOT for work

I've seen what makes someone pop and what pulls someone out of their self-induced shell

So, here's some strategies to help YOU showcase your true self on camera...

1. "Periscope Mode"

One of my mentors, @ali Alexander, has amassed one of the largest organic followings on the app Periscope after streaming for 5 years.

When you watch his streams, he’s brilliant; a master speaker who can blend analysis with comedic timing and storytelling

However, when I pushed him into a non-live recording setting for his masterclass production, there was struggles.

Words did not flow like they did with a live audience, as he had to condense his speech for a cleaner, finished product for editing.

We needed to change tactics

I had him start each section with a “Periscope mode”.

Basically in your first take, give all the info you need to give, but you do it with no judgement towards:
- umms
- stoppages
- coughing
- laughing

or any other disturbance you naturally get from talking.

This way you get a sense of the info that you're putting out without tripping your mind up over the structure.

KEY POINT: your anxiety over structure is ruining your delivery.

Use these takes to get out of your head as much as possible.

2. Scriptless

DO NOT WRITE A SCRIPT.

There. Sue me.

If you are recording videos for YouTube, a Course or whatever creative project you endure, don’t write a script.

Scripts only serve to add uneeded structure to your production ESPECIALLY if you know the info by heart

Instead of a script, get a notecard or small piece un papel and write out a few bullet points you want to hit on during the course of your shoot.

Things like:
- Key Points
- Data thats hard to memorize
- Quotes
- Lead-ons to longer topics
- Reminders

You don’t want a document that you're forced to read to get the shoot right.

Rather, you just need something to keep you oriented in the right direction, but with space to wander.

3. Baby Steps

Think of a natural progression with anything: start small, move big

Similarly, if you suck on camera DON'T FILM A MASSIVE COURSE OR 10 HOUR VIDEO RIGHT AWAY

Shoot shorter things, frequently, in order to come in your element for the big stuff

Have a goal to shoot 5 short twitter videos a week on a topic you like.

1 topic. 1 minute.

Don't worry about being a m a s t e r s a l e s m a n, just use it as practice until you can start speaking as brilliantly as you think!

4. Rewatch

The last tip is to simply rewatch your content

Use your inner 'vibe detector' to figure out where in the shoot you're not displaying:

- comfort
- authenticity
- good energy

Then, ask yourself how to remedy these issues

Is your chair comfortable?

Are you in good clothes?

Have you eaten before?

Are you saying things to 'be cool' rather then 'be true'?

These are all things you need to diagnose

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God Bless and have a great time on camera fellas!