06 Aug
My First (And Probably Last) Video Blog Post
Well here it is, as rumored: my first video blog post. See below for the video, if you dare. I decided to talk about video blogging itself since I was learning how to do it. Man, it’s hard! My head looks huge and I’m sure I don’t really sound like that. But vanity aside, here’s what I babble on about in case you can’t see the video or are in a hurry:
- Look at the camera. This was hard. I felt like a gimp talking to myself.
- Use intonation. This was also challenging and I didn’t quite manage to raise mine above a kind of bored monotone. Should’ve had coffee first.
- Use titles and keep it brief. I had to learn how to edit the video in my iMovie application but it wasn’t too hard. Keeping it brief was easy because I had little to say! I did have to avoid the temptation to add special effects and a soundtrack…
- Accompany video with text. Like I’m doing here. Saves people watching it if they don’t want to.
Other things I’ve learned about video blogging
- Stage makeup is required, and it’s hard to keep a straight face.
- If video blogging is going to be a regular gig (it’s not), I could chase up some advertisers who want a quick ad embedded into the video itself.
- It would be good to break up the chatter with more visuals and work on my News Anchor style. (”Good evening. The headlines on Rich Minx tonight are…”)
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Posted
on
Monday, August 6th, 2007 at 11:20 pm
under
nice one! I think you should do more
August 6th, 2007 at 11:54 pmI agree with Darren this video blogging is not so bad. Besides we here in America love to hear a New Zealand accent. Please consider doing more.
August 7th, 2007 at 3:41 amA very impressive first video blog. Well done.
August 7th, 2007 at 3:49 amI wish everyone took your advice to offer text of the video even if it is just a brief outline.
Just one critism. Could you try to keep that bit of dangling hair tied up if you do any more? It’s distracting.
Very impressive! Much better than my first attempt at video blogging.
Tip #5. I can’t remember seeing your URL in the video, maybe include it to get some indirect traffic?
Oh, and you have a sexy accent. But that’s because of us Brits, we like that sort of thing!
August 7th, 2007 at 4:58 amYour voice sounds wonderful! You have a beautiful smile, too–you might want to use that to your advantage and not try so hard to straightface–that could be your unique thing.
You are so brave. I would be a nervous wreck. It was bad enough being on the local news.
August 7th, 2007 at 7:49 amAw, you guys are so kind.
Tina, you’re right: I noticed the strand of hair too but I couldn’t be bothered re-recording
Rhys, good point about the url.
Glad everyone could understand my accent! Some NZ films screen in the US with subtitles, I’ve heard…
August 7th, 2007 at 8:25 amNZ films with subtitles? Really? First I have heard of it. Maybe it is only certain areas of the United States but never where I lived. There are so many accents here in America that should not be a worry for anyone overseas. There is always a market.
The Kiwi and Ozzie accents go over very well where I live and that is a pretty large market.
August 7th, 2007 at 9:04 am/strip club voice
“Take it off, baby!!!!!”
No, that was a great vid…you could definitley be successful with it. You truthfully didn’t look all that nervous about it either. Good stuff!
August 7th, 2007 at 2:10 pmCongrats on your first video blog post! You did a great job and i’ll be looking to see more in the future.
LOL @ Ryan!
August 7th, 2007 at 3:23 pmThat was pretty cool Shona… You look wonderful and your voice is wonderful too! I think you should record more of these videos
August 7th, 2007 at 3:38 pmHey there, thanks for the great tips! We are adding a video blog feature next month and it was great to hear your tips!
August 7th, 2007 at 6:27 pmGood job on the 1st vidoe blog. It can be difficult, but I think you are off to a good start.
August 8th, 2007 at 1:52 amWell done. Cool accent.
August 11th, 2007 at 2:57 pmVery sweet idea to do a “tips” video for your first video.
re. The hair…you can solve that one, and improve the overall look by putting the camera at eye level so you aren’t looking down into it. That will seem more natural.