Film a Pitch Video or Video Resume

A pitch video is an opportunity to sell something to your audience, whether it be yourself, an idea, or a product. Meanwhile, a video resume is a supplemental video to your resume that can highlight your personality and certain skills.

Pitch videos and video resumes are a unique way to get a potential employer or investor’s attention and stand out amongst the competition. This guide will provide you with some best practices on scripting and filming your own pitch video or video resume.

1. Be prepared. You will need the following to film a pitch video or video resume:

• Equipment.
  • ​Professional camera or a smartphone with recording capabilities
  • Tripod
  • External microphone (lavalier microphone) to pick up the best sound quality
  • Extra lighting, if you are filming in a dark space
  • You can book an appointment in the library media studio for access to equipment and software.
• A script.
  • ​While you should not be reading from a page, come with a detailed outline or script of what you want to say.We recommend having your script memorized for the best results. 
  • It is best to be as natural as possible in your video, and being prepared by practicing what you want to say will help you to do this.
  • Practicing beforehand will also help you to be aware of any nervous tics that you may have, like bouncing your knee or over using your hands.

2. Write a script.

• Remember to keep it short – approximately 100 words.
• Decide what you want to accomplish in your video and keep that in mind while deciding what to say. This could be:  
  • a skill you want to highlight
  • an idea you want to promote
  • a potential employer to contact you 
• You should also include:
  • A brief intro into who you are.
  • A bit of background info on your experience or expertise in the relevant area.
  • What you will add to an organization.
  • Professional goals in relation to the relevant field.
  • A call to action at the end – invite them to contact you, or visit your LinkedIn Profile for more info, etc.

3. Run a few practice shots before filming your final take.

• Doing a few test runs will help you to feel more comfortable in front of the camera.
• Testing will also help you to ensure you're getting the quality you want, allowing you to adjust the framing, lighting, audio, etc. if needed before filming the "real" take.

4. Film your pitch video/video resume.

• Frame your shot as either a headshot or a waist up shot. This will put the focus entirely on you and allow you to carry the video.
• Take a deep breath before filming, and remember to breathe while the camera is rolling as well.
• Pause between sentences.
• Be excited and engaged about your topic. This will hopefully get your viewers excited and engaged as well.
• Going off script a little is okay, and even makes you appear more natural. Just remember to not get sidetracked.

5. Edit your pitch

• Depending on what you want the final look of your video to be, you may need to edit your video before sending it. 
• You can do this using a variety of programs including WeVideo, iMovie, or another program that you are familiar with.

• If you are mentioning an acronym in your video, be sure to say the entire name out loud first.
• Think about keywords you could say rather than sentences to get your point across.
• If you are making a video resume, make sure you study the job ad to determine whether or not it is a position that would welcome a video resume. If it is not, sending one anyways could hurt rather than help you.
• Be friendly when speaking but not unprofessional. You want to give the impression that you are trustworthy.
• Don’t talk too fast or too quietly. Clearly enunciate your words so your point is as clear as possible.
• Don’t overuse hand gestures when speaking. Once or twice could add emphasis to a point, but any more than that will distract the viewer.