Should You Use a Teleprompter for Corporate Videos?
Teleprompters vs Interviews: What is Best for Your Corporate Video Production?
Using a teleprompter can be a game-changer for corporate video production. Much more than just a cue card, the device is essentially a two-way mirror. Your script is uploaded to a screen (we use an iPad software, but different monitor options are available) that is placed horizontally below the camera. Reflective glass is then positioned directly in front of the lens at a 45-degree angle, allowing you to maintain eye contact with the camera while reading the text. Depending on your project, however, using a teleprompter may make the video feel clunky and unnatural. This week, we'll be exploring whether using a teleprompter or sticking to an interview format is best for your corporate video production.
1) Teleprompters are Best for Regulated Industries
When exact wording matters, teleprompters are a lifesaver. We work with many clients in highly-regulated industries, such as financial advisors, banks, and law firms. To ensure that these corporate videos align with the company's goals and legal obligations, they often need to be reviewed by a compliance department before they can go live. Knowing that you need to stick to specific verbiage to best represent your brand can be daunting, let alone having to memorize an entire script. These expectations can put a lot of stress on the person in front of the camera, making for a stiff, tense shoot. To alleviate anxiety and avoid having to scrap any non-compliant or unclear wording, we suggest writing the script, getting it fully approved before filming, and then using a teleprompter to present it. This ensures that every word not only flows without hesitation, but is also usable and accurately reflects your corporate video's goals.
2) Interviews are Best for Case Studies and Connections
While using a teleprompter can be an integral part of high-quality corporate video production, it's not always the best way to go. Some videos, such as testimonials, case studies, and personal stories, rely on forming a genuine connection with the person on camera. When authenticity is the driving force of your video, using a teleprompter may hinder your ultimate goal. This type of corporate content is expected to have pauses, filler words, and a more conversational tone. However, reading from a teleprompter can come across less like an attempt to build an emotional connection and more like delivering a formal statement. While you want a cohesive message, it's crucial for that message not to feel contrived. An interview with the right questions will prevent that forced, unnatural feeling, while still hitting all the important points. For the must-ask questions for corporate testimonial videos, check out our blog post about case study videos that convert.
3) When in Doubt, Go with Your Comfort Level
If your team is still wondering "should we use a teleprompter for corporate videos?" we recommend prioritizing your comfort level. We've worked with executives that can read off a teleprompter in one take and make it look natural. On the other hand, we've also worked with professionals who struggle to get through the first sentence without stumbling. Ultimately, the person on camera needs to feel comfortable and confident. For some, that means having the script on hand to ensure that they share their message without having to memorize anything. Meanwhile, other individuals feel constricted by a teleprompter, becoming anxious that they need to read everything perfectly, and filming an interview-style video may put them at ease. When you adjust the format of the video to account for what makes the person on camera feel the most comfortable, your production team will get the best video.
Angela Wolf Video offers corporate video production services near Philadelphia, PA.
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