Firstly, thank you for agreeing to be filmed.

For some it can be a daunting prospect, while for others it can be a real opportunity to bring out their passion for the subject. At Faculty Podcasts, we have been filming academics for some time, and, as academics or former academics, we have a level of empathy which will help to bring out the best in your presentation. Below you will find a list of procedural guidelines that experience has shown make the process as smooth and as easy as possible. Additionally, we have all had experience in front of the camera so if in doubt ask.

• Please fill out the online form before filming: http://www.thefaculties.org/contact-for-presenters;

• You and/or your Department will need to have booked a minimum of six presentations for a day unless there has been prior agreement otherwise;

• Any cancellations with less than a week’s notice will be charged at £50 per 20-30 minute filmed presentation cancelled;

• Each podcast should come with a reading list, ideally of around 5 key works (books or articles). Recommendations of relevant (to the individual topic) web-based resources (links) are very welcome. Podcasts with associated resources (reading lists and web links) have proved to be more popular and enable students to develop their learning beyond the presentation in their own time;

• Please indicate either during the presentation or via associated text or notes appropriate section breaks, section titles, keywords, key concepts, and/or where pictures and slides should be inserted. Podcasts broken into segments of no more than 5 minutes will be more popular, and popular podcasts serve your interests and ours best;

• Please let us know if you have any specific requirements relating to access, disability, audio-visual equipment etc.;

• Please advise us if you plan to use any props, images, webpages, books etc. Images can be uploaded with the online form (see above). Please only incorporate images or footage that is not copyright protected. You may not know but you can conduct an image search on Google that retrieves only copyright-free images;

• Come prepared. We have a teleprompter and recommend its use because it will enable you to address the camera, and hence your audience, directly. You may, of course, talk from written notes but they tend to disengage the presenter from the audience because of the need to look away, often down, from the camera. Additionally, they create unwanted and distracting noise;

• If you feel confident enough to talk without notes, all well and good. However, in the past, this has often led to lengthier filming, and we don’t want to keep you any longer than necessary; and there is normally a presenter waiting to follow you;

• If you are going to use the teleprompter, we would be grateful if you provide a written text or, at least, notes beforehand in electronic format. Ideally, this would be done at least two days before the presentation, and can be emailed to rachel@thefaculties.org;

• Please turn off all mobile phones and/or electronic equipment, as they interfere with the audio signal from the microphones even when in ‘silent’ or ‘aircraft’ mode;

• Water will be provided on the day;

• Please avoid wearing large necklaces or chains and/or other forms of jewelry that can create extraneous noise;

• How to dress: avoid clothing with large patterns, wild patterned ties, checks/ pinstripes/ herringbone patterns, shiny clothing – these can cause pictures to shimmer. Avoid distracting jewellery like dangly earrings; Avoid all-white outfits (can glow) and all black (harsh); solid saturated red can bleed on TV/video; Solid pastel colours are best. Plain coloured shirts are good – shades of blue can enhance skin tone;

• Try to keep your head still when being filmed, head shots don’t leave much room so if you move your head around a lot, it can be off-putting. Big hand gestures can also be off-putting, keep your body language open, pay attention, don’t slouch

• Be tidy – pay attention to your teeth/hair. If you’re an expert, dress conservative/smart.  You don’t have to wear a tie but don’t be too casual.

• During your presentation, try to maintain eye contact with the main camera particularly when emphasizing a  point;

• Should you find it difficult to talk without an audience, try addressing the cameraman and/or director. We often interact silently with the presenters;

• If you should slip up over a word or decide you are unhappy with what you have said, please feel free to stop for a couple of seconds before continuing, preferably returning to the start of the sentence (again, much easier if using the teleprompter). Try to avoid an instant correction/apologizing etc. Avoid saying ‘as I said earlier’. Try to restate the point – together with the question you are addressing. It makes editing much easier later on;

• If you are planning on making more than two presentations on one day, we try to avoid recording them back-to-back. Additionally, we would suggest a maximum of four presentations per person per day (these are, of course, only guidelines);

• Above all, stay calm and positive, concentrate on your key points, and enjoy the experience;

• You may find it helpful to hear other presenters’ experiences and to share your own on our Facebook page;

• Finally, it should go without saying, but if you have any questions on or before the day of filming please do ask. You can get hold of us via the contact details here:

Rachel Gabbitas: rachel@thefaculties.org