Yes, a teleprompter. You know what one of those is, right? The thing that scrolls the script magically in front of the camera lens so you can read it while looking straight at your audience. It makes making videos, especially instructional videos, so much easier. Some people know it as an autocue.
Anyway, here it is, in all its heath-robinson, over-engineered glory.
Click on it to see the bigger picture.
I’ve got a bunch of videos that I’ve been meaning to make but one of the reasons I’ve not done them is that I’ve yet to come up with a satisfactory solution to either remembering what I want to say or reading a script without looking at notes. I’ve just got to practice using it so it doesn’t sound like I’m reading from a script – probably the hardest part of the whole project.
If you want to know how it works, I’ve mocked up a diagram that explains it. It’s rather clever, mainly because it’s so simple. In the case of a teleprompter it’s true to say, it’s all done with mirrors.
Once again, click to enlarge.
So, what d’ya think?
Peter
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Oooooo ….. just what I need. The “real” ones cost a fortune. But, one question, doesn’t the text come out upside down?
With regard to my last comment, I have now looked at the bigger photo. You have used a sheet of paper and turned it around. I believe there is some way of turning the text on a computer screen upside down too. Also, how do you get it to scroll?
So many questions. You have done a great job with the construction!
Hi Mark,
I use a bit of software called eteleprompt which does all the re-orientation and scrolling of text for you. It’s dead easy to use and… free!
http://www.eteleprompt.com/
It helps if your laptop can fold down 180 degrees.