{"id":21430,"date":"2022-05-29T15:35:19","date_gmt":"2022-05-29T11:35:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ispringsolutions.com\/blog\/?p=21430"},"modified":"2026-07-21T13:28:45","modified_gmt":"2026-07-21T09:28:45","slug":"talking-head-videos-a-comprehensive-guide-on-video-production","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ispringsolutions.com\/blog\/talking-head-videos","title":{"rendered":"Talking Head Videos: A Comprehensive Guide on Video Production"},"content":{"rendered":"

Whether you plan to deliver employee training or simply share your expertise online as a YouTube vlogger, consider making talking head videos. You\u2019ve
\nprobably noticed how prevalent they are as an eLearning medium and appeal naturally to the widest possible learning audience.<\/p>\n

As such, in this digital age, talking head videos are a great way to engage the head and heart while boosting learner retention<\/a>. In this article, we\u2019re going to explain why. We\u2019ll also share the easiest way to create compelling videos
\non your own.<\/p>\n

What Is a Talking Head Video?<\/h2>\n

A talking head video is an interview-style video that features an instructor or subject matter expert who talks directly into the camera as though they are addressing the learner directly.<\/p>\n

The instructor is usually off center and accompanied by a blank background or green screen. But sometimes, the instructor\u2019s image is contained in a picture-in-picture (PIP) frame in the corner of the screen, perhaps with a screencast<\/a>,
\nsoftware simulation, or visuals in the background to highlight or support the points that the speaker is making. To visualize this concept, take a look at this talking head video with the presenter framed at the bottom-left corner of the music production screencast.<\/p>\n

Benefits of Talking Head Videos<\/h2>\n

Alright, a talking head video is a really great format, but how does it work in eLearning<\/a>? Let\u2019s look at the benefits of a talking head video as an eLearning medium.<\/p>\n

Cheap and easy to create<\/h3>\n

Surely you\u2019ve encountered countless talking head videos on social platforms like YouTube or Vimeo. Many vloggers are making a killing on these platforms with minimal operational costs. All you need is a camera, the video script, an editing tool, and you\u2019re good to go. As such, the sky\u2019s the limit with these videos! Anyone can create them \u2013 which has been great for cultivating a learning culture<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Accommodate different learning styles<\/h3>\n

The larger your audience is, the more diverse their respective learning styles will be. For example, while some people learn best with words, others respond better to visuals or audio. Because talking head videos incorporate all of the above, you cover all your bases. You ensure that every learner is receiving information in a format that\u2019s easy to digest.<\/p>\n

Add a human element to eLearning<\/h3>\n

Though learning styles will differ, one thing we all have in common is that we are more motivated when there\u2019s a human figurehead providing guidance. After all, the earliest forms of education\/instruction came from social interactions.<\/p>\n

Talking heads provide ample nonverbal cues, including facial expressions, hand gestures, and intonation. So don\u2019t take for granted how these micro-expressions can engage learners, direct their attention, or emphasize key points. Moreover, because instructors often speak directly into the camera, talking head videos create a personal, one-on-one learning experience that naturally keeps viewers hooked.<\/p>\n

Highly conducive to microlearning<\/h3>\n

Because adult lifestyles are busier than ever, microlearning <\/a>has become a dominant form of course delivery. This practice involves breaking up a topic or course into small, bite-sized pieces that are easy to digest and apply in the real world.<\/p>\n

One of the microlearning course types is an interview with an expert made in the format of a talking head video. You ask burning questions to an expert and record a series of microvideos that, together, comprise an entire course, or record a long talking head interview and then divide it into several shorter clips. That way, when a learner looks at the list of video lessons, they can easily budget their time for maximal focus, while still feeling accomplished from completing the video or \u201cmilestone,\u201d of sorts.<\/p>\n

Scriptwriting for Talking Head Videos<\/h2>\n

As you may have noticed in the example videos above, some of the speakers were clearly going off script. As a result, there were awkward pauses, \u201cums\u201d and \u201cahhs,\u201d and other such interjections that disrupt the speaker\u2019s (and thus the learner\u2019s) flow. In other examples, it was clear that they were reading off a teleprompter of sorts, which reduces eye contact with the camera\/viewer and detracts from the human element. This speaks to the importance of preparation \u2013 at the core of which is writing video scripts.<\/p>\n

Whether you\u2019re new to talking head interviews or you\u2019re a seasoned veteran, you\u2019ll need a script in order to appear polished and professional. Scripts not only guide your practice and preparation, but they also ensure that presenters speak smoothly with minimal interruptions \u2013 not to mention maintaining a smooth, coherent, and logical flow.<\/p>\n

On a similar note, a script ensures you stay on topic, avoid tangents, and adhere to time constraints. Additionally, the more relevant you keep things, the more your lessons will be practical and applicable to real-life contexts.<\/p>\n

Scriptwriting tips and template<\/h3>\n
    \n
  1. Analyze your audience and pick a topic<\/strong> that\u2019s both relevant and relatable to them. This will ensure that they\u2019re hooked from the beginning. But of course, the rest of the execution depends on the presenter and production process.<\/li>\n
  2. Mold your language to fit the audience.<\/strong> Based on your analysis in tip #1, you should have a solid idea of whether you\u2019re dealing with techies or creatives, formal folk or informal individuals, etc. Again, by molding your language to the audience profile, you become more relatable and thus inspirational to learners.<\/li>\n
  3. Explain the practical use of the video.<\/strong> Decide what you\u2019d like your viewers to walk away with by the end of the video (i.e., learning objectives<\/a>). Once you\u2019ve determined what these main takeaways are, use them to define what points are most relevant to those objectives. Keeping things relevant and on topic will ensure that learners listen up. They\u2019ll be afraid to miss a single second of what you\u2019re saying.<\/li>\n
  4. Follow a script structure or template.<\/strong> Not only does this streamline the scriptwriting process, but if you\u2019re creating a series of talking head videos, then a template will keep them uniform. Your learners will be able to predict what\u2019s coming next and in what format \u2013 which leads to a loyal viewership.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Feel free to use the following template and tweak it, as needed. But in general, a talking head script follows the typical narrative arc often seen in literary contexts.<\/p>\n

    \"Diagram<\/p>\n
    \n

    Diagram of the basic plot of a talking head video<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

    Introduction<\/strong> \u2013 Introduce yourself and provide some information about your expertise\/level of experience.<\/p>\n

    Ex.: Hi, my name is Sydney and I\u2019ve been an ID consultant for 8 years\u2026<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    Hook<\/strong> \u2013 Incite learners\u2019 minds with a relevant, thought-provoking question, analogy, statistic, etc. that introduces the topic. Outline what learners will gain by the end of the video.<\/p>\n

    Ex.: Do you loathe school but love learning? You\u2019re not alone. By the end of this course, you\u2019ll be able to\u2026<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    Rising Action<\/strong> \u2013 Here is where the learning begins. This section of your video script should be split into several short paragraphs, each pertaining to a point that all tie back to the main topic\/learning objectives.<\/p>\n

    If this is a course about creating engaging learning experiences, then paragraph one could be about analyzing your audience, paragraph two could be learning styles, paragraph three can be about scenarios and role-play, etc.<\/p>\n

    Climax<\/strong> \u2013 This is where all the points you made to address your topic and learning objectives converge into one coherent solution. At this point in the script, learners should be able to walk away and apply their new knowledge.<\/p>\n

    Ex.: Now that we\u2019ve covered audience analysis, learning styles, and role-play scenarios<\/a>, you\u2019re
    \nready to\u2026<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    Falling action<\/strong> \u2013 At this point, summarize everything you\u2019ve covered and explicitly list the main takeaways\/learning objectives your audience should\u2019ve gained.<\/p>\n

    Ex.: Congratulations. You now have all the ammo needed to create engaging courses.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    Conclusion<\/strong> \u2013 Finally, you can thank viewers for watching your video and perhaps add a call to action (e.g., ask viewers to leave a comment or continue to the next lesson).<\/p>\n

    Ex.: Thanks for watching my video. Click on my next video to discover how to\u2026<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    How to Film Talking Head Videos<\/h2>\n

    Talking head video production might seem like a complicated process at first glance, but it doesn\u2019t have to be. You can create such videos even in PowerPoint without professional equipment but, of course, if you have access to a professional camera, lighting equipment, and\/or a video editing team, then you might want to leverage those resources.<\/p>\n

    We\u2019ll now show you how to create a talking head video fast and hassle-free with the iSpring Suite<\/a> authoring toolkit \u2013 all you need is a webcam and computer. And because it\u2019s integrated within PowerPoint, most users will find the interface familiar and extremely intuitive. But the best part is that iSpring doesn\u2019t limit you to talking head videos. You can create almost any type of training content<\/a> imaginable, including slides-based courses, screencasts, interactive exercises, and assessments.<\/p>\n

    \"iSpring<\/div>\n

    Now, let\u2019s walk through the process of creating talking head videos using iSpring\u2019s video studio.<\/p>\n

    Step 1. Prepare your content<\/h3>\n

    To create a video, you need to:<\/p>\n