Speaking to the Camera but It Feels Fake?

By Evelina Brėdikytė
Lecturer in Acting for Film | Actress | Screenwriter | TV Director

Practical insights from my mentorship work – what actually helps when speaking on camera

Have you ever tried recording a video and felt stuck right from the start? The words sound flat, the emotion feels forced, and by the third take you’re already frustrated? You’re not alone – this happens to almost everyone who’s not used to speaking on camera.

So, how do you make your speech sound alive instead of robotic?

1. Skip the “perfect beginning”

When you hit record, don’t think of it as the start of your talk. Imagine you’ve already been speaking for a minute and you’re simply continuing the thought. This helps you avoid stiffness and gets you into a natural flow right away.

2. Breathe before you speak

If your diaphragm is empty, your voice will sound shaky and weak. Add a bit of nervousness, and your pitch goes up, your delivery loses power, and your body starts doing distracting little movements that give away your tension. Instead – pause, drop your shoulders, breathe. A relaxed body already looks alive, and that’s enough.

3. Talk to a person, not a lens

The camera isn’t an object – it’s a stand-in for your listener. Imagine you’re talking to a close friend, your mom, your crush, or anyone who feels easy to talk to. This shifts your facial expressions, softens your voice, and creates genuine connection. Suddenly, you sound like you – not a robot.

4. Keep the pace moving

Especially in short videos, avoid long pauses. Speak a little faster than usual and highlight verbs in your sentences. Verbs carry action, and action keeps people listening. Without those accents, attention drifts – and your message gets lost.

5. Use a short script (at first)

Until you’re confident improvising, jot down a short text. Mark the key word in each sentence and try delivering it a few times. You’ll quickly find your natural “speaker persona.”

Video is one of the strongest tools to deliver a message. But if you only focus on visuals and aesthetics while leaving delivery as an afterthought – you lose part of your audience. And let’s be honest – you’re creating video for them.

So next time, ask yourself:

– Is my idea clear?
– Is my body free from extra movements?
– Is my language simple and audience-friendly?
– Is my talk structured and concise?

If you’d like personal guidance, I invite you to explore my mentorship program. I help people become confident, natural, and convincing speakers on camera.