Having a camera in front of your face can be nerve-wracking. I’ve been there. Suddenly we are extremely aware of our arms, the sounds of our voices, our facial expressions, we become tongue-tied – you name it! There are a few simple & effective things we can do to help bring us into the present moment and really engage with our audiences.

Breathe

When we get nervous, our body goes into ‘fight or flight’ mode! The breath becomes shallow, we sweat, maybe our hands get shaky, and it becomes difficult to focus. The best way to combat this? BREATHE. By taking a few, deep ‘belly breaths’ down into our diaphragms, we are engaging the parasympathetic nervous system, bringing ourselves into ‘rest and digest’ mode. You are literally biohacking your body into becoming more calm, present, and focused. While the crew is getting set up, take 4-5 purposeful, deep breaths. It works – I promise. 

Slow down

Filming video content can feel full of pressure – pressure to get it right, pressure to be natural, pressure to not waste anyone’s time – the list goes on! As a result of this, we often speak very fast and blur our thoughts and ideas together. 

Connect to the interviewer and really listen to the question they are asking you (even if you know what they are going to say!). Take time to think about your response and don’t be afraid to take pauses. Speak slower than you think you need to – remember the audience is hearing all of this for the first time.

Remember your body

Interviews feel like an activity that happens from the shoulders up, but our bodies are KEY PLAYERS in how we come across on camera! Nerves make us tense, and tension shows. Take a few minutes in between takes (or before you begin) and go for a little walk around the room. Shake out your hands, roll your shoulders, stretch out the neck – anything to help relieve some of the nervous energy being held in the body.

It’s not about you!

Take some pressure off yourself! You’re here to share something you’re passionate about – a brand, an idea, an organization, etc. In your preparation, consider who is your audience? How do you want them to feel? Be specific when you think about your audience & your intention, choose words that feel truthful and resonate with you and your product/company/mission. By taking your focus off yourself and onto your message, you will be more engaging and at ease! 

Engage with your interviewer

I mentioned this briefly once, but I’m giving it it’s own section because it is SO important and often not addressed… As an actor, we are always told “the most important person in the room is your scene partner”. It’s the person you’re talking TO. Why is that? Because the camera loves us when we are connected to someone (or something) – that is what makes people ‘watchable’. 

Our default is to be in our own heads, thinking about the next answer, thinking about how our hair looks, how we sound – and you can see it on camera. We get the ‘glassy-eyed’ look. 

Be PRESENT with your interviewer – really look at them, really listen to them, and really speak to them. Really share your story with them. It makes a world of difference.