Selfie video, selfidio?

July 17, 2018 9:45 AM

I have about a week to make a 30-second video of myself for an application. What are some good practices, tips, etc?

I need to make a 30-second video for an application. I'd like to make something dynamic and fun, but I have no experience in film editing or of filming myself in general and I have less than a week to do this.

Any tips for creating a fun, engaging video of myself? Camera angles, lighting, how to present myself? Any editing tips?

(A straightforward "me talking to the camera" is fine, too, but I'd like to make this stand out in a crowded field.)

posted by mrfuga0 to Technology (5 answers total)

I refer you to Brian David Gilbert's Polygon video cover letter. Now you're not a pro video producer/editor like he is, but it should work to give some ideas.
posted by brownpau at 10:09 AM on July 17, 2018 [1 favorite]

If you'ree using a mobile phone, shoot it landscape, not portrait. Portrait is the choice most people make because that's how we hold our mobile phones by default, but in playback that produces annoying vertical stripes left and right, either black or with echoes of the central video.
posted by aqsakal at 11:28 AM on July 17, 2018 [1 favorite]

Not a pro, but having done amateur video work: good lighting and good sound. Choose your location based on lighting, which might mean you need to be outside. And make sure that your voice can be clearly heard without too much ambient sound, which might mean buying a cheap mike. Test test test to get these two things working as well as possible.
posted by gideonfrog at 11:29 AM on July 17, 2018 [1 favorite]

Before shooting, consciously relax your shoulders; most people hunch their sholders because they're nervous and it looks uncomfortable and not confident. Everybody hates their voice - in part because you hear your voice as audio, and also from bone conduction inside your head. Your recorded voice will never sound 'right'. Everybody hates their pictures - in part because you see yourself in a mirror and the camera sees you accurately and it looks subtly 'wrong'. Do several takes in a row, keep the camera running, it will help you adjust to being filmed.
posted by theora55 at 12:59 PM on July 17, 2018

Use a stand or (less good) a selfie stick so the camera is more than an arm's length from your face. Having the camera too close to your face can make your nose look up to 30% bigger.
posted by Lexica at 6:35 PM on July 17, 2018