Teleprompter Training Tip #15: Maintain Eye Contac
Easier said than done, this needs practice and will probably need a few takes to master.
Until the Director tell you something different, before the take starts, during the take and after it ends, just keep looking straight into the camera. That is of course unless you’ve mastered the process.
Eye movements are more significant, the tighter the shot is. Eye movements away from your audience make you look either ill at ease or slightly dishonest. The only time you can really look away from the monitor is when the Director says ‘cut’.
Many people are not even aware they are looking away from the camera, and if the look away is done at an edit point in the script, you’ll have to do another take.
Blinking is ok though in moderation!
When you are ready to bring your presentations in-house, use professional teleprompter software . . . it will make a huge difference to the success of your production.