From case studies to corporate communication and celebrity interviews.
A Personal Message
Sometimes a message is best delivered in person. A face tells an audience things that words cannot. A talking head best replicates the most basic form of human interaction – the face-to-face encounter. We use them a lot, because they work and our teams are expert in getting natural feeling performances from speakers.
Getting A Natural Delivery
Talking heads are often delivered not by actors, but by our clients themselves, or their employees. The risks involved in this approach can be mitigated by an experienced producer. Some people are naturally comfortable speaking to camera, but a greater many are not. Nerves and awkwardness can easily come across on video in ways that undermine the intention and message aimed for. Creating a relaxed atmosphere on set is a skill in itself, one that we pride ourselves on. All our producers have techniques at their disposal to guide interviewees towards a relaxed and natural delivery. If an autocue is preferred, we can provide that too.
Choosing An Approach
A talking head is usually approached in one of two ways. The person talking to camera either delivers a pre-written monologue or responds to questions from an interviewer. A pre-written script ensures that the talking head delivers exactly the message you want them to, hitting all the key points in the language you want them to use. An interview approach allows the interviewee to respond in their own words – often to more natural effect. Leading questions still give you a high level of control over the content of the answers. We can work with both approaches and will discuss each in depth with you to ensure you get the footage you want.
Deciding On A Location
Location can add visual interest to a talking head and it’s worth giving serious thought to where you’re going to shoot your video. Sometimes, the client’s own premises are the location where it is most appropriate to film, on other occasions we may need to be more creative or travel further afield. In either case we can help you determine the best location to achieve the effect you need.
Our crews are remarkably mobile, we can set up an impromptu studio almost anywhere that includes a quality camera, professional lighting and sound.