How to Record Your Video Message
Production Guide
How to Record Your
Video Message
Follow these steps to ensure your video looks its best and can be screened correctly at the awards ceremony.
Image Quality
Minimum Resolution
1080p (Full HD) or higher. 4K is preferred if your phone supports it.
Frame Rate
Always record at 30 fps. Avoid slow-motion modes.
Orientation
Record in landscape (horizontal). The video will be projected in 16:9 format.
Stability
Use a tripod, prop your phone up, or ask someone to hold it steady. No shaking or sudden movements.
Framing & Shot Size
Use a medium shot or medium close-up: from the chest up, leaving a small margin above the head. Centre yourself in the frame — not too far, not too close.
Camera at eye level, figure centred, with roughly a finger’s width of headroom above.
Face clearly visible with a comfortable amount of space on both sides.
Camera too low (shooting up) or too high. Keep it at eye level at all times.
Figure too small (wide shot), too close (extreme close-up), or awkwardly cropped.
Background & Environment
Neutral background: a plain wall in white, grey, beige, or a dark tone with no patterns.
A clean, tidy indoor space: a cleared bookshelf, meeting room, or minimal office setting.
An outdoor location also works, as long as it is quiet, well-lit, and there are no distracting elements in the background.
Busy or cluttered backgrounds, windows directly behind you (backlight), or anything that draws the eye away from your face.
Virtual backgrounds (blur or fake image). They produce artefacts and look poor on a large screen.
Lighting
Natural Light
Position yourself facing a window. The light should fall on your face, not behind you.
Artificial Light
A desk lamp or ring light placed in front of you works great. Avoid harsh overhead lighting that creates strong shadows.
Avoid
Dark rooms, backlight, coloured LED strips, or neon lights in the background.
Appearance & Clothing
Wear whatever feels comfortable — there’s no dress code. Plain, solid colours work best on camera.
Stripes, busy patterns, or clothing with large logos and visible brand marks — these are distracting on screen.
Sunglasses, caps, or hats that cover your face or reduce visibility.
Audio
Quiet Environment
Record somewhere calm. Close doors, turn off the TV, and silence notifications.
Distance
Keep a natural speaking distance from your phone: 50 cm to 1 metre. Speak clearly — don’t shout or whisper.
No Earphones
Use the phone’s built-in microphone directly. Wireless earbuds can cause sync issues or lower audio quality.
Camera Settings
Before recording, make sure your camera is set to 1080p or 4K at 30 fps. Here are the official guides:
💡 On iPhone: Settings → Camera → Record Video → select “1080p at 30 fps” or “4K at 30 fps”.
On Android: open the Camera app → Video → settings (⚙️) → Resolution → 1080p or 4K.
