BRILLIANCE IN PERFORMANCE
or... how to come across more like a real human!
Can we talk delivery? Most broadcasters really do want to
come across in the most dynamic, impactful and compelling way possible. Who
wouldn’t?
In order to make that Herculean leap through the camera
into our living rooms, you have to get your own little symphony going on. The
one where all-that-is-you is playing simultaneously; physically, mentally,
energetically and emotionally - who knew??
So, keeping it simple for starters, there are a few
physical elements that you may already know, but seem to be news to a surprising
number of people. These little gems usually tidy up a performance right off the
bat.
When you stand in front of a camera for a full-body shot, try to do it at a
three-quarter angle... as opposed to facing into the camera squarely. The square
approach can make you look blocky - and sometimes rather stiff, offering nowhere
to go but right where you are. Standing at three-quarters, done properly, frees
you up to move just enough fore and aft to keep your stance flexible and
natural-looking. It should be subtle, too. One way to gauge it is with your
feet. Start by pointing your right toe towards camera (it can be done either
way, but for sake of discussion I’m going with the right). Position the left
foot about 12” or so behind the right, with your toe pointed at 10 o’clock. The
left heel or instep should be behind the right heel. KEEP YOUR KNEES SOFT!
Standing this way not only accomplishes a slight three-quarter stance, but is
actually more stable than square one. It also allows you to keep more weight on
your front foot. This gets you into the camera more, which automatically makes
you appear more interested, engaged and dynamic in your communication. One
little shift of your weight can pop you right through the camera – and into our
living rooms!
This brings up the next point; when you look at the
camera, look into it. Past the outer lens and right into the guts of the thing.
If you can see the iris of the camera opening and closing, so much the better.
Then experiment with a little tip down of the chin to open the eyes up more.
Don’t go so far that you look all scary and Dracula… just find the sweet spot
where those eyes really register. We (the audience) want to see your eyes - it
makes us feel like you’re focused and really talking to us - not at us (remember
the “eyes are the windows to the soul” saying? Turns out it’s true!). Without
realizing it, many people rock their weight back and hold their head up and back
too much. That particular body language gives an impression of uncertainty,
aloofness, distance - to name but a few of the qualities we would like to avoid.
The chin-tipped-down trick tends to help create a physical stance conveying
sincerity, confidence, certainty, connectionl. That would be nice.
Watch that you don't either stare with your eyes or blink
too much. I'll talk more about the starey thing at a later date, but for now
remember to relax your eyes. Think of having soft eyes. When you have relaxed,
soft eyes it's easier to let genuine feeling come through. You'll seem more
relaxed and comfortable overall (when you are, the audience is) and you'll seem
more warm and compassionate. With some luck, you'll even seem like you're
talking rather than reading or searching for words. When you read or search,
your eyes will get harder looking (you'll look starey) and blinkers will blink
more. We, here in our happy homes, will feel like you just left us and will go
in search of a snack.
Finishing with a final peeve; rampant head-nodding. One word about this - DON'T!
This generally goes along with rampant word-punching, which is another future
topic. When we see the head nod and bob with every single emphasis, it is not
only distracting, but it comes across as not real. This is something I want to
get more into next time, but for now suffice it to say that when head movement
is minimized, it actually creates a more powerful, focused and impactful
impression.
Next time; the internal agenda that needs to be going on
in order to create the external impact you're looking for. Stay tuned!
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