A Simplified Talking Head Video Definition that All Marketers Can Relate To
Every talking head video has several core components that are as diverse as they are effective. However, a simplified talking head video definition may not be as clear as one would like. Is a talking head video any video that shows a subject speaking on camera? Is it any video where the subject speaks into the camera and the subject is filmed from the shoulders up? Does a talking head video include those in which the subject is viewable from the waist up?
What exactly is a talking head video and how much can we simplify the talking head video definition so that all marketers can relate to the definition that we provide? That’s the question and the purpose of this post. At Beverly Boy Productions, we set out to come up with a talking head video definition that everyone can understand.
What is a Talking Head Video?
A talking head video is generally explained to be an interview-style video in which the subject speaks into the camera such that the audience feels as thought the speaker is addressing them directly. However, this leaves some questions at bay, such as:
- If the subject speaks off camera, but their head is still visible, is it a talking head video?
- If the subject is on camera, and the interviewer is heard, is it still a talking head video?
- How much of the subject can be on camera before it’s no longer a “talking head video?”
- How much of the background should be visible for a talking head video?
If you’ve had questions come up like this in your own marketing, or on the creation of talking head videos, you’re certainly not alone. To help our audience better understand what we believe is a simplified talking head video definition, we set out to review a few definitions from trusted sources as well as to come up with a definition of our own.
Talking Head Video Definitions
As we researched, we came across several details surrounding talking head videos and the definitions expressed for this unique, yet very popular, style of video content. Here’s what we found:
- Merriam Webster Talking Head Video definition – “the televised head and shoulders shot of a person talking.”
- Cambridge Dictionary Talking Head Video definition – “a camera shot of a person’s head and shoulders when they are talking on video or on television, or the video itself.”
- Oxford Dictionary Talking Head Video definition – “a commentator or reporter on television who addresses the camera and is viewed in close-up”
It would appear that most of the common dictionaries that offered a talking head video definition mentioned something about television or news in at least one version of their definition, but they generally also offered up details that were specific to the “type of video,” as well. According to dictionaries, the simplest talking head video definition essentially states that these videos are inclusive of head and shoulders views of the subject that does the talking.
Are All Talking Head Videos Shot Close-Up?
You might be wondering if what Oxford Dictionary stated was correct, “are all talking head videos shot close-up?” Definitions vary on this, some state that talking head videos are mid-shot, or medium closeup while others specify close-up shots for a talking head video. One thing that definitions did not mention was that the most effective talking head videos in today’s internet environment are those that provide more than just a passive engagement the way television based talking head videos once did.
In other words, many talking head videos now include more than just a subject, talking, on camera. So, while the talking head video definition that is most widely published online doesn’t include b-roll, we believe it is very important to include details about the use of b-roll and supporting footage in the production of a successful talking head video if it’s being produced for the internet where engagement is more dynamic and less passive.
At Beverly Boy Productions, we define a talking head video as any video that features a subject, speaking on camera, in a way that appears as if the subject is interacting with the audience. The talking head video may also include b-roll footage, for maximum engagement, but the primary focus is on the subject him or herself that is sharing their details on camera. To simplify the talking head video definition, we believe that a talking head video can include a mix of shots, close-up, medium closeup, and otherwise, in order to maximize audience engagement.
Want to learn more about our talking head video definition and what it means for projects created by Beverly Boy Productions? Give us a call!