Tom Wohlmut

Move your audience by moving the camera!

As the saying goes (loosely transposed from the Old Testament), “For everything there is a time and a season.” At WMS media, we believe there is a time to use a tripod. And a time not to. A time for a static talking head. And a time for a bit of a shaky cam.

When it came time to video the CEO of our client, the Myelin Repair Foundation, we knew an ordinary approach would not work. The foundation’s charter is to research a cure for multiple sclerosis. And CEO Scott Johnson happens to have MS and would be urging the audience to sign the “Where Are the Cures?” manifesto. Our client initially wanted to go the traditional route using a tripod with Scott reading some text to the audience. But WMS had a different vision on how best to connect with the audience. We convinced our client to allow us to move the camera around while Scott gives his pitch, ending with an extreme close-up of his eyes at the call to action. “By having the camera literally in his face, we got Scott a little mad at us which translated to a stronger emotion on camera!” says Tom Wohlmut, director. The result creates a more moving experience for the viewer. Check out the one-minute video on YouTube and see for yourself:

So the next time you need to convey something powerful to your audience, consider using this technique to create a more visceral experience!