A few weeks ago I was running a filming day for swimming guru Steven Shaw, founder of Art of Swimming. We used a wonderful device called an Eye Direct. It helped Steven to speak directly to camera with all the charisma and good humour he has in real life.

“Just Be Yourself”: Easier Said Than Done

Speaking naturally to camera is a huge challenge, even for trained presenters and broadcasters. It is difficult to engage with a black glass circle, especially in the high-pressure environment of a film set. But that is what’s required for the viewer to feel that you are talking directly and authentically to them.

Our Plan

Steven and I decided some months ago that we would film the content as an interview and then cut my questions out. As long as Steven restated the terms of my questions in his answers, they could stand alone:

Q: “Why is it important to rotate the body in front crawl?”
A: “It is important to rotate the body in front crawl because…”

Being in conversation with me would give an impulse to Steven’s words and help to keep him relaxed and fresh.

The problem was, we were filming instructional segments for a masterclass. In a different format – fly-on-the-wall or interview, for example – the subject can look off camera or at an on-screen interviewer. But for the masterclass, Steven had to address the camera directly. How could he have a natural conversation with me while not looking at me?

The Eye Direct

This was exactly the problem the Eye Direct – a kind of horizontal periscope – was designed to solve. We clipped it across the front of the camera and positioned it so that my face appeared directly in front of the camera lens, even though I was sitting off to the side. Steven and I had the experience of looking at each other even though we were not.

We have now seen the rough footage and achieved exactly the performance we were hoping for. Steven really was as charismatic on camera as he is in person.

Filming with MSB

At MSB Executive, we support several of our clients with film recordings (promo films, quarterly client updates, etc.). Next time we bring in our crew, we are going to add an Eye Direct to the kit list.

P.S. In the summer we spent a couple of days filming at a pool. Next week I’ll talk about the unique challenges of a watery shoot!