Trust and the Sacred Space I’ve spoken before about the importance of “the sacred space:” a safe environment where you and your video director can sort out your message together and work closely to impart your humanity and authenticity on camera. That preparation time spent together is how I gauge my approach as a director. […]

To be a real leader, you need to let your guard down to let your true self get out. That’s not easy for most people. Many at the top are used to being in control of every fact and figure. They equate making mistakes with weakness, especially when being scrutinized on camera. In reality, showing […]

Teleprompters can be great when newscasters need to nail facts during a live broadcast. But they are trained media professionals who learn how to sound natural while reading a script. The executives at your company, on the other hand, might not benefit from a teleprompter in the same way. They might come across as stiff […]

Every week, I work out with my trainer Joe Farese. Joe is an exercise coach, who also happens to be an award-winning amateur body builder. While I’m not looking to bulk up myself, his experience as a body builder has taught him many important lessons about the human body that he passes on to me. […]

I’ve met hundreds of CEOs and leaders in my career, and most of them are dynamic type-A people. They have no problem standing in front of a crowd and delivering a captivating speech. But that inspiring persona somehow evaporates the minute you put a camera lens near them. Why? You’re relying on the wrong strategy […]

Charisma is not some mysterious force that you’re either born with or not. Charisma is a skill you can learn without becoming an extrovert or changing your personality. After reading The Charisma Myth by Olivia Fox Cabane, I’ve come to realize that the three behaviors that display charisma are the same three principals of making […]

The most effective leaders have the special skill of turning their mistakes into opportunities to improve. But for many leaders, appearing on camera is a new and daunting challenge. In the process, things are bound to go wrong, and you will grow through trial and error. But if you are too hard on yourself, you […]

Your company is facing a crisis. It may be difficult, but the best thing to do is to address the situation. Sincere and heartfelt apologies go a long way toward laying a crisis to rest. And what’s key is to keep being you during the process. Under extreme situations, video can calm nerves and answer […]

The tangible elements of creating a great corporate video are straightforward: a talented crew, high quality equipment, a carefully selected location. The intangible elements are the emotional or tonal aspects that make your video effective (or ineffective when overlooked). They take much more skill, time, and practice. Without enough attention to the intangibles, your video […]

Your non-verbal signals paint a broader picture of who you are as a person. Directors pay close attention to the natural gestures of their video subjects. When they sit normally, do they learn forward or sit back, cross their legs? What are they like when they are talking normally, animated, laughing? Actions Too Little or […]