Talent Articles

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• Commercial Production
  March, 2012
  by Mike Wilhelm
  Producing a television commercial is as much about client relations as it is about creativity and the ability to sell a product or service to the viewer.
• Blocking People
  December, 2011
  by Kyle Cassidy
  How do successful movie directors get their actors to move and interact so naturally? By blocking the scene and giving the actors good direction concerning…
• Essentials for New Directors
  September, 2011
  by Earl Chessher
  The term "director" can conjure images of someone with a megaphone, barking orders, looking harried and perhaps sweating profusely - even swearing.
• Six Tips to Directing Talent
  July, 2011
  by Earl Chessher
  Most people aren't pros trained to appear on camera, so you need to learn successful tricks to getting your "talent" to say and do what you want - even without…
• Green Screen Directing
  March, 2011
  by Marshal M. Rosenthal
  Anyone who desires to direct a Hollywood-like movie on an independent budget can do so, now that green screen technology has become easier to produce.
• Protecting Kids' Identities
  January, 2010
  by Jennifer O'Rourke
  There's no problem videotaping your own children or those that you personally know, but what if you have a need to shoot children on a playground or in a…
• Directing Children
  December, 2008
  by Robert G. Nulph, Ph.D.
  Directing children for your video can try your patience, as they are easily distracted, need plenty of visual instruction and communicate differently from…
• 10 Voiceover Tips
  March, 2008
  by Hal Robertson
  Voiceovers are the mainstays of advertising, instruction and promotional videos, television programs and feature films.
• Directing a Fall
  April, 2007
  by Dr. Robert G. Nulph
  Physical comedy has been a hallmark of the film industry since the early days of the silent film.
• Recruiting Talent
  August, 2006
  by Dr. Robert G. Nulph
  One of the most difficult, important and rewarding things a director has to do is find, recruit and work with talent.
• 7 Ways to Involve the Kids
  July, 2006
  by Kyle Cassidy
  Children love to make videos, all they need is the impetus and opportunity. So take the camera out of the closet on a lazy Sunday and say
• Dual-Role Directing
  June, 2006
  by Dr. Robert G. Nulph
  Multitasking when you are directing is not easy but sometimes necessary. Here are a few suggestions.
• Pause: Video is Other People
  July, 1995
  by Stephen Muratore
  Video is Other People
• The Right Reading: Finding Your Video's Voice
  December, 1994
  by Stuart Sweetow
  Learn how an engaging voice over can add professionalism and impact to your videos. Whether you hire help or do it your self, it pays to find your video's…
• Picking Your Approach
  July, 1995
  by William Ronat
  Documentary? News magazine? Talk show? Sitcom? Here's how to choose an approach that will help your video get its message across clearly and effectively.
• Camera Work: People
  September, 1995
  by Jim Stinson
  People
• Prompting Your Talent: A Look at Cue Cards, Paper Scrolls and Computer Screens
  January, 1995
  by Jim Stinson
  A prompter is a sure-fire way to add professionalism to your videos. Jim Stinson surveys the prompter field, from low-buck to high-tech.
• Talent Quest: Finding Real Talent for Serious Productions
  November, 1995
  by Janis Lonnquist
  Finding real talent for serious productions requires homework, planning and a little bit of patience. Here's how it's done.
• The Unblinking Eye: Seven Keys to Good On-camera Delivery
  December, 1997
  by Loren Alldrin
  Find out what separates a bad on-camera presentation from a masterful one. With a little practice, you'll be on your way to shooting viewer-pleasing videos.
• Make 'Em Look Good: How To Coach On-camera Subjects
  January, 1998
  by Randal K. West
  Few people are comfortable when they face camcorders. This article explains how you can put Nervous Nellies and Difficult Dans at ease and encourage their best…
• Edit Suite: Shaping Performance through Editing
  November, 1998
  by Jim Stinson
  Simple tricks for editing complicated dialogue.
• Lighting Human Faces Requires Special Attention
  June, 1999
  by Dr. Robert G. Nulph
  Faces present a special kind of lighting challenge to the videographer.
• Writing Effective Narration
  December, 1999
  by Bill Harrington
  When the images alone don’t tell the whole story: 10 tips for writing crisp and clear narration.
• Instructional Video: It's All About Approach
  February, 2000
  by Alice Patterson
  Instructional videos are popular with videographers and viewers, but without a clear approach you can feel lost
• 20 Tips for Directing Talent
  March, 2000
  by Joe Lamachia
  Get the best performance from amateur talent using these 20 helpful hints for better directing.
• Lights, Camera, Action!
  October, 2000
  by Randal K. West
  Directing isn't as easy as it looks. Here are some practical tips.
• Light Source: Advanced Techniques for Lighting Faces
  August, 2000
  by Jim Stinson
  Light placement can have a dramatic impact on the faces you light.
• Light Source: News-style Lighting
  October, 2000
  by Dr. Robert G. Nulph
  Tips to help you create great lighting for your news set. Strategies for anchors, sports and the weather.
• Six Kid-friendly Home Video Ideas
  December, 2000
  by Andrew McIntosh
  Six good home video ideas for family fun.
• The Kindness of Strangers: Working with Amateur Cast & Crew
  May, 2001
  by Jim Stinson
  Practical strategies for keeping your paid and unpaid volunteers happy under a rigorous schedule.