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112 P a r t I I Producing Your YouTube Videos

Although you could purchase an expensive professional teleprompter device, a bet-
ter semi-pro solution is to turn a notebook computer or iPad into an impromptu
teleprompter. There are a number of ways to do this, but all involve inputting the
speech into a software program that displays the text in very large type on the note-
book screen. Position the notebook or tablet next to or directly below the camera
lens, and you’re good to go.

If you’re looking for a dedicated teleprompter program, consider Prompt!
(www.movieclip.biz/prompt.html), which imports text from other programs and
converts it into a format ideal for teleprompting. You can also simulate a
teleprompter by using speaker notes and Presenter mode in Microsoft PowerPoint,
or just scrolling through your script in Microsoft Word.

For a speaker, working with a teleprompter takes a bit of practice; using one for the
first time can be tricky. The presenter sees only a few lines of the speech at a time,
and there’s no way to back up when he passes a particular point. And he’s wedded
to the speech as written; going off-topic can really confuse the teleprompter opera-
tor, who must follow along and manually scroll through the speech, line by line. The
operator follows the pace of the speech so that the scrolling text follows the speaker
as he delivers it. If the speaker slows down, the operator slows down the scroll so
that the words scroll slower on screen. If the speaker speeds up, the scrolling speeds
up. And if the speaker goes off-topic, the operator doesn’t know what to do, which
means it’s time for another take.

Therefore, it helps to rehearse with the teleprompter ahead of time so that the
speaker can get used to reading and speaking at the same time. Fortunately, that’s
not as hard as it sounds. The key is for the speaker to always speak at his own pace,
and trust the teleprompter to follow him. The speaker should never let the scrolling
words dictate how fast he talks.

Dress Appropriately

We finish these tips with a word about how the subject of your video should be
dressed. The key word is appropriately because there’s no single right or wrong for
every possible type of video.

If your company appeals to young people with a hip and trendy image, don’t dress
the speaker in a Brooks Brothers suit and tie; khakis and a polo shirt (or jeans and a
t-shirt, depending) might be more appropriate. Likewise, you probably don’t want
to shoot a video for an investment bank using a spokesmodel in a bikini. That
wouldn’t be appropriate.

You should also consider how the chosen clothing looks onscreen. Avoid clothing
with tight or busy patterns; plain shirts are better than striped ones. Don’t let the
color or brightness of the presenter’s clothing conflict with or blend in too much