Academic Technology Video Recording Guidelines

ATT Event Guidelines

  • Verify Consent
    Speakers must give consent to have their lecture or event published.  Please have the speaker sign and submit a digital or hard copy of the Speaker Release Form to the Director of Academic Technology.  Speaker release forms should be submitted in advance, but initial verbal or written consent is required to schedule our services.
  • Submit Your Request
    To schedule an event, please submit an AV request by sending an email to support@westmont.edu at least TWO WEEKS in advance of your event.  Enter the actual start time of event and relay any details about the event or speaker you feel are pertinent.
  • Verification
    An ATT staff member will contact you to clarify your request and make sure we have all the information we need to help this part of your event be a success.
  • Recording & Publishing
    In general, only the lecture/main part of the event will be recorded.  Recording of standard Q&A periods must be specified in the equipment order form.  Recordings are published within one week to our Westmont College iTunes U and YouTube public pages.
  • Complex Events
    For events that are more complex than a lecturer speaking from a lectern, please contact us early in your planning process (2 months in advance).  In some cases, with enough prior planning, we are able to find creative ways to capture your event.  Varying light cues (theater or concert events) or events that have multiple folks speaking may require us to recommend that a professional video company be contacted to take care of the recording for you.  
  • Recordings For Personal Use
    If your recording request is not meant to be published, we will not send the video team, but rather will check out simple video recording gear to you for you to capture your own high quality video.  Once complete, the video can be uploaded to your computer and used locally for educational or departmental purposes.  Occasionally, these kinds of recordings are used to provide access to a lecture or event for someone who could not attend.  For these types of events, ATT staff will assist with setup of the event to fit your needs.

Important Event Details

Will presenter walk around during lecture or event or speak from a podium?
Please let us know the following no later than ONE week prior to event: 

  • Will presenter walk around during lecture or event or speak from a podium?
  • Does presenter have a PowerPoint or Keynote presentation they plan on using?
    If so, please provide a copy of the slides if you would like us to consider embedding them in the recording
  • Will the presenter bring their own laptop?  Is the laptop a Mac or PC?
  • Does the Powerpoint/Keynote presentation include video or audio?

Considerations For Best Practices In Video Recording

  • Engaging With The Audience
    The video recording of a lecture or event broadens the audience beyond the event room so presenters are encouraged to look at the camera multiple times during the event to include that audience as well as those in the room.
  • Setting the Stage
    We understand that the lecture or event is not a scripted film shoot, but it is suggested that presenters be prepared to take some directions from ATT staff on where to stand and how to move in the room to take advantage of lighting and camera angles.
  • Answering Questions
    When questions or comments are voiced from the audience during a lecture or event, it is helpful for the presenter to repeat or paraphrase the comment before responding. This is important for the local audience as well as those who will watch the video.

Thank You For Your Cooperation
We appreciate the preparation that presenters have put into their presentation to convey significant concepts and ideas to the Westmont College community.  The guidelines stated here reflect our commitment to accurately and effectively capture the lecture or event and to present it in the best possible way.  The extra details required for a "Best Practices Video Recording", while adding to the responsibilities of the presenter, will greatly enhance the communication of the presented narrative.
 

Publishing your video

Westmont College publishes the videos of lectures and events to share the academic and faith narrative of the college and to add valuable resources to our growing library of educational recordings.  Videos are published to the Westmont College Vimeo and YouTube pages.