| For most people, 'acting naturally' does not come | | | | Second, overcome your anxiety about the camera. |
| naturally when in front of a camera. | | | | Remember that a camcorder is just a hunk of metal |
| Action is required. | | | | and other materials. It can't mock you. You are in |
| The very best on-camera performances make the | | | | complete control of your film project. If you make a |
| whole rendition look like there wasn't anyone acting | | | | mistake, you get a chance to redo it, and your errors |
| at all, like it was just a natural occurrence that | | | | will never be seen by anyone. It would astound you |
| happened to be caught on film. Do not be deceived | | | | how many takes are required even for acting pros. |
| any longer. There wasn't anything natural about it at | | | | Third, before you start shooting, warm up. Take a |
| all. | | | | few deep breaths and flex your muscles to relieve |
| LOOKING natural is the trick you want to achieve. | | | | tension. Get your body moving as if you were an |
| To do that, you have to be comfortable in front of | | | | athlete preparing for a competition. You want to get |
| the camera. If you are uptight and nervous the | | | | adrenalin pumping and convey excitement, not stress. |
| viewer can tell and that will make THEM uptight and | | | | The fourth thing to do is open your mouth and stick |
| nervous. That's not a recipe for a successful web | | | | your tongue out. Then try to say your name or |
| video. | | | | some other phrase that opens your throat. By |
| But how can you get to the point of seeming at | | | | moving your tongue, cheeks and jaws you will relax |
| ease when you're so desperately uncomfortable? | | | | everything and help your mouth function better. It's |
| Follow these five excellent tricks for accomplishing | | | | similar to putting oil on a rusty joint. |
| that. | | | | Finally, and maybe most crucial of all, stop being so |
| Initially you should take a cue from the Boy Scout | | | | hard on yourself. We each scold ourselves too much |
| motto and be prepared. Have your script ready in | | | | and feel too inhibited. "You're going to look awful," |
| advance and then rehearse repeatedly. With | | | | we think, or "you're going to look old and heavy in a |
| repeated practice, reciting your lines will become | | | | video." We're afraid folks will make fun of us for how |
| second nature to you. | | | | we look and act and direct. |