Appearing on Television
by
Michael Landrum
" Time has convinced me of one thing. Television is for appearing
on, not looking at."
- Noel Coward (attrib)
Television offers a tremendous opportunity to a speaker, but it
is often surrounded by difficulties. Yes, television can make you
- but it can also break you. In 1960, Jack Kennedy understood the
medium, Richard Nixon did not. Kennedy accepted the make-up when
it was offered, Nixon declined it for macho reasons and his five-o’clock
shadow beard cost him the debate and the election. You might say
he lost by a whisker. Television amplifies some aspects of your
presentation and nullifies others. Here are some thoughts on using
this dynamic and powerful communication tool.
- Posture sends a message. Slump and you look weak, go stiffly
to attention and you seem rigidly inhuman. The position of the
shoulders, neck and head are crucial. Anxiety will often create
tension in the neck and shoulders, rounding and sinking forward
and down. This posture gives a “hang-dog” impression and provokes
at best pity, at worst contempt in your viewers. If you drop
your eyes, letting the head fall forward as happens when you
read from a page on the lectern, you will have withdrawn from
your listeners. The same result happens if you drop your head
back slightly, so that you seem to be looking down your nose
at the audience. Video cameras amplify all of these problems.
- A relaxed alertness is the best posture, a comfortable athletic
stance with the feet shoulder-width apart, weight evenly balanced,
knees flexed, arms and hands at the sides ready to gesture when
called upon. Let your chest ride high and your head rest level,
eyes aligned to the horizon. Let your shoulders fall away to
the sides and your neck extend to its full length. Put your
attention on the nape of your neck rather than your adam’s apple.
Let your head float easily in front of and above your neck.
- Television exaggerates your gestures so take care to make
your moves moderate. Remember that a cameraman is not a mind
reader, so give a little warning by telegraphing a move with
a hand gesture or appropriate comment if you rise from a chair
or walk across the set for instance. Suddenly jumping up or
leaving the frame can make you appear out of control.
- When sitting, it’s best to lean forward slightly. Leaning
back creates all sorts of unhappy impressions - you might seem
careless, indolent, dull, uninterested or tired. Also, it does
unattractive things to the body - revealing a caved-in chest,
paunchy belly, and wattles beneath the chin. Think of the posture
adopted by hosts and guests on Larry King’s show or the Jim
Leherer Newshour - they are given a counter on which to lean
forward which has them thrusting their heads forward energetically.
If there is nothing but soft upholstery, ask for a board beneath
the cushion and sit as erectly as possible. You want to maintain
a posture of alert and forceful energy, positive and firm.
- Teleprompters: These devices are a godsend to speakers and
newscasters, and they are used in two different situations.
One type is used in delivering a speech to a live audience as
the President’s annual State of the Union speech to Congress.
It is simply an angled pane of glass which reflects the words
on a computer monitor over which it is suspended. There are
usually two of them, to the right and left of the speaker’s
lectern. They provide the speaker with the text and the illusion
of eye contact through the glass.
- The second type of Teleprompter is one that is attached to
the front of a television camera, again with a pane of glass
reflecting a computer screen with the text, but this time the
video camera shoots right through the glass all the time. The
effect of this prompter is to allow the television audience
the impression that the speaker is talking to them directly,
with full eye contact. This is the setup in every major newsroom
where the anchorperson is reporting directly to the audience.
(See the White Paper: Seven Tips for the Teleprompter)
- An ability to read interpretively is the skill this technology
requires - that is, to read without sounding as though you are
reading. Some people have a natural ability to read a text easily,
comfortably and conversationally - others need a little coaching.
One danger, especially with the on-camera setup, is over-focusing
on the words of the text with the eyes. If you narrow your vision
to one word at a time, the audience will see your eyes moving
from side to side as you read. This destroys the illusion that
you are reaching through the screen and speaking directly to
the listener. To avoid this, widen your field of vision to include
the entire prompter screen - look with “soft eyes.”
- Facial Expression: Finally, it’s wise, if not essential, to
maintain a positive, benevolent demeanor when facing a television
camera. Fear, doubt, uncertainty, self-consciousness, and anger
all become amplified on camera; and what may feel like a thoughtfully
neutral expression can read as a hostile scowl. Still, an insincere,
pasted on grin is hardly any better. To adopt a winning facial
expression requires a bit of “method acting.” Imagine your viewers
to be a group of friendly supporters whom you are pleased to
address. Reassure them with your pleasant attitude and warm
smile. Wear the pressure lightly and gracefully and make it
look easy.
©2005 Michael F. Landrum
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