Herb Rubinstein is an author and Graphic Designer living
and working in Santa Barbara, California. He is a consultant
to the Legal Profession in the field of Courtroom Technology.
Currently putting together a Video Resource Kit for PowerPoint
Presenters, which will include a manual and CD full of
video resources.
If you are giving PowerPoint presentations and not utilizing video
elements, then you are truly missing out on a powerful tool.
As you build your PowerPoint presentations, think of how a video
clip would enhance different sections. Insert an on the job report
from a manager, show a clip of a work in progress, while you explain
the numbers. Break up your presentation with a funny video clip…to
make an easy light transition from one subject to another (and
get a good laugh).
Here are a couple scenarios where the use of video would be highly
effective:
Personalize a Report
When the manager of a division gives a report….why
not just tape him at his desk or on the jobsite? Have him explain,
in his own words, how his project or assignment is progressing.
Keep it short and to the point. This is so much more digestible
than a dry bullet pointed page with the presenter talking up the
points of the report.
Change the Subject
When you need a break in a presentation or are going from one
subject to another, a nice touch is to insert a short (15-30 seconds)
funny clip….say one of those foreign commercials, or a sports
blooper. Just use your imagination and keep it appropriate to the
group you are presenting to. This will really refresh your audience
and get them ready for the next subject. It’s also good as
a transition to a break. Either way, it’s a real
easy way to get a laugh.
Video in PowerPoint
Using video in PowerPoint has always been
extremely easy….as
long as you have the right media i.e. .avi or .wmv files. You just
drag them in and when that slide appears they just play (that is
the default…you can set other parameters). So why don’t
more presentations include video? I think that people are a little
intimidated by the process of editing the video. If you try using
a program like Adobe Premiere or Final Cut Pro you will enjoy a
steep and painful learning curve, not to mention the hours required
to learn it.
A Better Way
I have found a much easier way and I am now producing professional
looking clips to use in presentations using a program called Visual
Communicator. It differs from the above mentioned editing programs
in two ways, first it allows you to record directly into the computer
thus skipping the most time consuming and tedious task of video
editing, the dreaded capture. And secondly it is script based as
opposed to timeline based. This means you paste your script into
the program and line up your graphics and other elements based
on where you are in the script. Much easier to visualize what is
going on than in a timeline.
This software also includes many virtual animated backgrounds.
Effects just like the big guys use on network news shows. It is
amazing what you can do with the library of effects and graphics.
The best part is that it produces a .wmv or .avi file that plays
perfectly in PowerPoint. If you already have dv footage, this same
program allows you to capture it and use it in the clip. For most
corporate and business uses, Visual Communicator is pretty much
all you would need, and it is cheaper than Adobe Premiere and does
more. I would suggest
you check it out and take it for a test drive at http://www.seriousmagic.com
However you do your production or editing, by including interesting
and relevant video clips, you will add another entire dimension
to your presentations.
I hope these ideas and suggestions have been helpful. Best of
luck and good presenting.
About
Herb Rubinstein
