Read it like you mean it.
Your camera behind the words, scrolling at your real speaking speed. Film one part at a time, the way most short videos are made, and watch a practice take back before you film the real one.
Your script
Text size
Keep lines short and close to the lens.
Countdown
Your practice takes
They’re only in this browser tab. Download the ones you want to keep.
Before you film
- Phone at eye height, the text right under the lens, and short lines, so your eyes barely move.
- Hook and ending word for word, the middle as bullet points if you sound stiff reading it.
- Do a throwaway take. The first one is almost always the stiffest.
- Film in pieces. Stumble? Pause, breathe, start that sentence again. You’ll cut the mistake later.
- Leave a second at the start and end of each clip for clean cuts.
Remote and keyboard
- Tap the text, Space or Enter
- Pause and play
- → or Page Down
- Next part (or skip ahead a line)
- ← or Page Up
- Back a part (or back a line)
- ↑ and ↓
- Faster and slower
- + and −
- Bigger and smaller text
- R
- Start this part again
- Esc
- Stop
Reading without looking like you’re reading
A teleprompter helps, but people notice when your eyes sweep across a screen. Put the text as close to the lens as you can, keep the lines short, and practise enough that you’re not reading every word. Many creators learn the hook and the ending by heart and keep the middle as bullet points.
You don’t need one perfect take, either. Most creators film sentence by sentence or point by point and cut it together, which also means every line gets full energy.
Common questions
How do I stop my eyes moving while I read?
Keep the text close to the lens and the lines short. This prompter reads from a line near the top of the screen, right under a phone’s front camera, and keeps lines narrow. Practise a couple of times so you’re not reading every word.
Can I use a Bluetooth remote?
Yes. Most presentation clickers and Bluetooth keyboards send the keys this page listens for: arrows and Page Up and Down to move between parts, Space or Enter to pause. Some selfie-stick remotes only send volume buttons, which web pages can’t read.
Is the practice recording uploaded?
No. It’s recorded and played back inside your browser and disappears when you close the page, unless you tap Download to save it.
Does it work offline?
Yes. Open it once with a connection and your browser keeps a copy, so it opens on set without signal. Your script and settings are saved on your device.
Chapter 30 of Worth Watching covers being on camera: energy, speaking clearly, body language, filming in pieces, and going faceless if you’d rather not show your face.
Read the free sample →