Planning the shoot

Unlike some other forms of recording that tend to be to be quite spontaneous (e.g., podcast conversations) it is important that you know in advance exactly what you will talk about in the videos. It is therefore important that the dialogue is scripted carefully to make sure that the content is communicated in the time frame intended.

Writing a script does not necessarily mean writing what you intend to say word for word. Soft scripting is also an option if you would prefer to be prompted rather than read text word for word. The script should still contain enough information to ensure you cover all the intended content, and be rehearsed multiple times to get the flow of ideas and the timing right.

Even though a script is written, make sure that you write it in a the same voice as you would if you were speaking, i.e., err on the casual/informal side.

Moreover, ensure you break down the video into different segments so that you can pause and continue the filming without too much disruption to the flow of the video if you need a break. If the final video will also contain images or other videos (so you won't appear continually from start to end), consider filming the video as separate files, so that if you need to reshoot, you don't need to do it from the start.

After you finish writing your script, read through the text at roughly the same pace you would for the video and time yourself. Remember not to make the videos too long, as even videos with high-impact graphics can become overwhelming. If the dialogue is over 20 minutes long, consider splitting the video.

Learning Environments have put together a collection of resources to assist academics with producing their own media content.

For instructions about booking the microstudio, please follow the link here:

How can I book the ABP Microstudio?

When booking the microstudio, be sure to allocate time not only for filming but also for setup, wrap-up, reviewing instructions, and multiple takes. For instance, if you expect your final footage to be around 20 minutes, you may need up to 2 hours of studio time. It’s always better to overestimate the time required. While you can return for additional sessions if needed, keep in mind that your appearance and tone of voice can vary noticeably from day to day, beyond just changes in clothing.

If your booking begins immediately after another, please wait for the previous person to leave the studio before entering to avoid interrupting their recording. Likewise, if there is a booking scheduled right after yours, finish all your recording at least 10 minutes before your session ends to allow a buffer in case the next person is unaware the studio is still in use and arrives early.

Use the sign outside the Microstudio to let others know there is an active recording session in progress.

The teleprompter uses an iPad and an app called Teleprompter Premium. The app can generate a rolling text from a Word file. If you want to use the teleprompter, the only preparation you need is to write your script on a Word document. Make sure you to break down the sections into manageable parts, but don't worry about formatting (e.g., text size) as this can be done in the app itself.

When you finish writing your script, email it to yourself so you can access to it on the iPad.

Sometimes, formatting in MS Word may not carry over perfectly to the iPad. This isn’t usually a problem, as you can make additional formatting adjustments directly within the teleprompting app.

The ABP Microstudio is designed primarily for recording one person, or at most two people standing. The camera’s field of view captures the head and torso of the talent, with some space above the head for proper framing. A single boom microphone records audio from one or two speakers onto a single audio channel.

If your video has specific requirements, such as a filmed conversation between two people where the dialogue needs to be recorded on separate channels for precise post-production editing, please contact the BEL+T team. We can make minor adjustments to the equipment setup on a case-by-case basis.