Zoom is a staple for virtual meetings. This allows companies to meet remotely, but it also lets you skip meetings without your boss even knowing.
Zoom’s Virtual Background feature lets you swap your real backdrop for a photo or video. When people discovered this, they realized you can drop in a looping video of yourself appearing to listen attentively. The trick first caught on with students looking to skip class. It didn’t take long for professionals to notice.
Here’s how to pull it off:
Changing the background on Zoom
It is really simple to change the background on Zoom. Zoom features a tool called Virtual Backgrounds. It works like a green screen, only without the physical green screen. On any reasonably modern computer, you can swap your real background for a photo or video. Most people use it to drop in a scenic backdrop. But with a little more effort, you can use it to disappear from the meeting entirely.
How to change your background in Zoom
- 1: Open Zoom
- 2: Click your profile picture, then the Settings link
- 3: Go to the Virtual Background tab
- 4: In the tab, choose to upload your own photos or videos
- 5: If you don’t see that option, click “I have a green screen.” Go here if you want to learn more about setting up a green screen for video calls.
Preparing your loop
You need to have a picture or a video of yourself to be able to pull this off. The best way to do this is to record a video of yourself right before the meeting. Getting the lighting and positioning right is critical. The loop needs to match exactly what your camera sees at the start of the call. Filming the loop too far in advance is risky. Continuity problems are easy to miss until you’re already in the meeting. Natural light shifts throughout the day, and even a slight difference in tone or brightness can give you away.
Also, be aware of anything in the background that might give it away that you’re playing a video loop. For instance, if your cat walks across the room while you’re filming the loop, your cat’s walk will be caught in the loop. If your boss sees your cat walking across the room even just a couple times, it will be clear that you’re up to something.
Start the meeting as normal, greet everyone, then wait for a long stretch where someone else is talking before swapping in your loop. A video looks far more convincing than a still photo. That said, a photo can work if you rarely move and the meeting has enough participants that no one is watching you closely.
Here are a few examples you can use for reference:
How should you act while filming?
It’s important that you film yourself in a loop with believable movements. You don’t want to film yourself doing anything too drastic, like taking a sip of water. Sure it will look fine a few times, but after your coworkers see you take the same sip 30 times in half an hour, that will look suspicious. It’s best to attract the least amount of attention. Give a few occasional head nods, look like your listening, and keep looking at the camera. All your coworkers will be paying attention to the speaker. They won’t be looking at you unless you give them a reason to.
The getaway
So you have your video placed. Now, you have to make a seamless escape. While you might be tempted to make a sudden exit, it might be best to quickly, yet smoothly bend your way out of the frame. This is riskiest part of the entire process; however, you have to make it as seamless as you can so no one will notice you left.
Warning
While you might think you’ll be able to pull all of this off, just know that if you are caught doing it there could be huge consequences. Also note that it is better try and pull this off if you’re in a big group Zoom call. If your meeting in a small team, you are very likely to be caught because everyone will be able to focus more on each person in the call. Also, if your boss or one of your coworkers asks you a question, you will for sure be caught. This is risky, but it is possible to pull it off. Just don’t make a habit of it.
Image courtesy: Kate Buckley
