Don’t Waste Time Memorizing: Use a Teleprompter
So you are DIY-ing your own video, and you have something to say to the audience. Hold that thought -- or rather, don't. Memorization is not only painful, it's unnecessary and a waste of time. But before you try to hold up cue cards beside your cell phone, let me introduce you to a wonderful technology that is free (or very nearly free). You might be somewhat familiar with the teleprompters universally used by news anchors: typically a two-way mirror that reflects the script in front of the camera lens so that the anchor appears to be looking at the audience and improvising, when they're actually reading. But did you know that you can have a teleprompter right on your phone?
#ProTip: Don't memorize. Use a teleprompter app.
Yes, there are a number of incredibly-helpful apps that will scroll through your script while you record yourself on your smartphone or tablet. The result is that you maintain eye-contact with the camera - which helps you connect with your audience - but are able to read through exactly what you want to say. No more memorizing! This is just one of the tools that makes quality cell phone videography possible. I'll be sharing more of these tools, as well as smartphone video tips and tricks, in a tutorial webinar this month for the Ellettsville Chamber of Commerce.
The webinar is scheduled for Friday May 14th at 11:45am. You can register here.
And here are the teleprompter apps that we recommend:
For iOS:
Teleprompter for Video - free for short scripts, $12 one-time purchase for long scripts
Video Teleprompter - $17 one-time purchase
For Android:
Elegant Teleprompter Pro - $3 one-time purchase
Teleprompter Premium - $10 one-time purchase
Katie Rutter is the executive producer of Thing in a Pot Productions. She has received multiple awards for her videos and the overall quality of her work, including being honored as Video Producer of the Year in 2018 by the Catholic Press Association. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our video ProTips in your inbox every month!