Shooting and Submitting Your Nest TV Video We’d love to feature your video on The Nest TV! Before you begin, read through our shooting tips for the best possible results.
The Nest TV accepts videos in the following categories:
-In the Kitchen (Cooking, cleaning tips, culinary skills, etc.)
-Decor Tips and Tricks
-DIY Projects
-Real Home Tours
-Pet Tricks
General Shooting Tips
We (and all of the other Nesties!) want to see you in the best light. Your video should be steady, focused, and well-lit. The following are basic tips for shooting, no matter what segment you choose to do.
- Enlist a helper to shoot the video. One should hold the camera steady while the other is talking.
- Be specific. When you’re talking about something (like your favorite room), zoom in (with the camera or your body) at a steady pace and focus in on your subject.
- Edit yourself. In other words, think about what you’re going to say in advance and prepare the shots accordingly. This is called “shooting to edit.”
- Get a close-up. Be sure to get a close-up of everything you or your subject refers to in a room. If you’re waxing poetic over an antique dresser or your new stainless steel fridge, go back and get shots of those specific things. Hold the shots for a count of five whenever possible.
- Focus, people! As in, be in focus. Your camera will probably have an auto focus -- use it. It ensures the shot will be clear and sharp no matter where you’re shooting.
- Light it up. Lighting is tricky in natural spaces because you may be surrounded by windows and overhead lighting. Make sure that the room is as well-lit as possible and the subject’s face is clear of large shadows. Shoot so the natural light helps brighten the shot. The rule of thumb is, light on the subject’s face, not on the cameraperson’s.
- Cut the background noise. The microphone on the camera will be picking up audio (make sure you see those audio levels moving!). However, the audio won’t be clear if there’s a lot of extraneous noise going on -- try to make your surroundings as quiet as possible. Speak clearly and loudly -- project your voice!
- Get amped. Use more energy then you think you should! A common phrase for TV hosts is, “Energy up, warm smile!” Talk in exclamation points.
Quick Tips for Different Segments
Cooking Segments
- Who’s hosting? Is it just you or you and someone else? Assign your roles upfront.
- Set all of your ingredients out and get a close-up shot of each -- explain what you’re making, what the ingredients are, and how long it takes to make.
- If the cameraperson stands on a step stool, it will help to get an aerial view of all of the cooking action.
- Tell us what you’re doing, what you did, and what you’re going to do. It doesn’t hurt to repeat.
- Tell why you like this recipe -- and when you’ve served it.
Home Tours
- Decide if you’ll be guiding us through your home as the host or behind the camera.
- Start by shooting an exterior shot of your home if possible, as well as an introduction coming in through the doorway (think MTV’s Cribs).
- Start by getting a wide shot of every room you plan to feature -- with no one in it.
- Be specific with what you tell your audience. Talk about the fabrics, wall colors, styles of furniture, and more. Give us the details about where and when you acquired things.
- Make sure you get close-ups of everything you refer to. Show us the details that make your home different and truly unique!
- Show us photographs! If you just renovated or redecorated, show us the before and during pics too! What did the room look like before? What made you decide to change it? How long did the renovations take and what was it like to go through that process?
Pet Tricks
- Try to start with an on-camera introduction while you’re holding your pet. Explain their history and role in your family.
- Showcase what’s unique about your pet. Does it do tricks? Sleep in a particular place? Bark along to music?
- Show us pictures! Do you have pictures of when it fit in the palm of your hand? How has your pet changed? And how has it changed you?
How to Submit Your Video
Mail your edited high-resolution QuickTime movie on a data disk or a mini DV tape, along with your name, contact number and e-mail, to:
The Nest TV
462 Broadway, Floor 6
New York, NY 10013
For questions, please e-mail us at videos@thenest.com.
Thanks and good luck!
The Nest TV