One of the most challenging things about producing a video to support your business or organization can be making sure that you choose the right talent–or people–to put in front of the camera. Both selecting professional and amateur talent has its challenges and you want to make sure that whomever makes it on screen is sharing your story and vision in the way you want.
With amateur talent you may pick people from within your business or organization to speak out about you, or even choose a few people who you know who have benefited from what you do. The important thing is to make sure their thoughts are genuine, as this will translate into a great, believable clip. It is usually a bad idea to script what an amateur is saying as it takes away from their personal voice, and you want to make sure the content you take from them is as natural as possible.
Making amateur talent comfortable is critical, and having a great interviewer or director on hand can make the process of getting great quotes nearly effortless. Whether you are asking someone to speak out about how your not-for-profit is working for them, or blending customer comments into a promotional piece, amateur talent can be a powerful element in making your video connect with your audience in an authentic way.
Professional talent is best if you want to ensure that your video has someone putting out a polished delivery. Typically to secure a professional you can expect to have to perform a casting call, hold auditions and choose someone you think fits best with your company or organization. Be aware, that hiring professional actors can be costly, but having the someone with experience in front of the lens just might be what you need to fit your project. Additionally, professionals can sometimes lack the passion that someone from within your organization would have.
No matter whether you choose to use an amateur or go with a professional you need to work with your producer to pinpoint any areas of concern about the talent’s performance on camera. Feedback can only make a production better. It important that those you feature in your video can look right in a camera lens comfortably and speak with all the passion and emotion they feel. Not everyone can do this and if needed, a little coaching can do wonders.
Professional Talent
This example features Anna Olson, who has years of experience as a television host and media personality.
Amateur Talent
The following video used students from Wilfrid Laurier University. Their passion for the cause is very clear in the video.
Laurier – Donor Thank You from Atomic Spark on Vimeo.
