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Hello and congratulations!
I'm Steve Kownacki and I have the privilege of being the production company to support REACH and this year's National Honor Society and National Junior Honor Society Recognition Ceremony. It's much easier to file up on stage and receive your recognition - all the microphones, lights, and cameras are ready to go. In this virtual time, that tech gets put on your plate. I'm here to make this process as easy as possible to make you look and sound your best! So I'm asking for patience in order for me to help us accomplish this. Please review the images below for proper camera orientation and framing.
I'm Steve Kownacki and I have the privilege of being the production company to support REACH and this year's National Honor Society and National Junior Honor Society Recognition Ceremony. It's much easier to file up on stage and receive your recognition - all the microphones, lights, and cameras are ready to go. In this virtual time, that tech gets put on your plate. I'm here to make this process as easy as possible to make you look and sound your best! So I'm asking for patience in order for me to help us accomplish this. Please review the images below for proper camera orientation and framing.
- Be sure to record in HORIZONTAL/LANDSCAPE perspective.
- Avoid white or black, and deep, solid colors like red, green and blue.
- Fine pinstripes, patterns or checks are not pleasing to the camera.
- Staying with neutral or muted colors and designs works best.
- Don't sit on a chair that swivels, rocks, or otherwise moves. Nervous movement reduces your professionalism.
- Noisy jewelry is very distracting. Bangles, charm bracelets or a watch banging on the desk is an issue for men and women.
- Be aware of ambient noise in the room. I’ve heard it all: dishes, kids, pets, construction. Do your best to schedule around that.
- Reflections in eyeglasses from lights.
- The lens is your audience, maintain eye contact.
- Raise your camera or laptop so the camera is at eye level. We see that horrendous up-the-nose shot every day.
- Keep the microphone as close to you as possible. It's probably located in your webcam and definitely on your phone.
- Don't put a window behind you, this will cause difficult silhouetting. A window behind the camera is good.
- You can be next to a window for natural lighting. But avoid a direct sidelight.
- You can light yourself with a lamp placed 3' to the side and 3' in front of you. This will take some experimenting.
- Center yourself in the frame from left to right
- Keep roughly a fist-sized space above your head. Your eyes should not be in the middle of the screen.
- The bottom of the frame should be between your armpits and elbows.
Use the General guidelines above to make you look good in your environment. Please set your video camera/phone/tablet to record a minimum of 720p HD, 1080p is better.
- Your phone or webcam will be approximately 18-24" in front of you.
- Be sure to record in HORIZONTAL/LANDSCAPE perspective.
- Use a tripod or have a friend hold the camera and try not to move around too much.
- Level the tripod. Find a vertical line in your shot such as a doorframe, piece of furniture, etc. so the image and edge of the viewfinder are parallel.
- When recording, hit the record button, stabilize the camera, wait 5 seconds while you are smiling at the camera, give your message staring right at the lens, please continue looking and smiling at the lens for 15 seconds after you finish speaking (this is very important), hit stop.
- Editing will be done by Final Focus Productions.
If you are an administrator recording your segment remotely, please be sure to use a wired internet connection. More information to follow.
Your image should look soemthing like thisThis is a well-framed shot:
A bit of space above the top of your head Bottom of frame is between armpits and elbows Centered left to right Horizontal/landscape format A few seconds of recording before you start speaking |
Your image SHOULD NOT look like this
This is a not-so-well-framed shot:
Too much space above the top of your head Vertical format does not match other students and presenters |
To submit files to Dropbox
Naming convention of your video file. Please help us keep things organized by naming your file in the following manner for your bio:
- Last name_First name_Bio_NHS or Last name_First name_Bio_NJHS
- Last name_First name_PoA for those reciting the Pledge of Allegiance
- Last name_First name_NHSP for those reciting the NHS Pledge
If you update any of your files, please append the word "revised" Last name_First name_(add any suffixes)_revised so I know you have a revised presentation.
Dropbox will ask you for your name, please enter LAST NAME FIRST NAME.
The link works on mobile (smartphone & tablet) or desktop. Click the link and then "choose files", then "files" folder. On mobile, typically this will show what's in your photo library. Click the file you want, then add your info, click "upload". Best to do this on WiFi.
PLEASE UPLOAD YOUR VIDEO(S) NOW!!!
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us directly 717-697-2622 or Art@TrustFFP.com or Steve@TrustFFP.com
