a woman using her mobile phone

Health and Care Research Wales Awards - Nine top tips for creating a great video

The Health and Care Research Wales Awards are now open for submissions to celebrate Welsh research excellence in health and social care research.

To enter, simply complete an entry form and record a short video and submit them by 15 July 2024.

Here are nine top tips to help you create your own video:

  1. Film in landscape: Use your phone to record in landscape orientation for a professional look – this will ensure that as much of what you want to film is in shot.
  2. Stabilise your phone: Use a stand to hold your phone steady, rest it against another object like some books, or ask someone to hold it for you.
  3. Frame yourself properly: Ensure that your head and shoulders (from the mid-chest up) is visible, with your head positioned in the middle of the screen.
  4. Check the microphone: Make sure that nothing is covering your phone’s microphone, such as a phone case or your hand.
  5. Engage with the camera: Look directly into your camera’s lens. Remember to breathe, blink and speak naturally.
  6. Avoid gazing at your notes: Ensure you have practiced what you want to say beforehand so that you aren’t staring at your notes when filming.
  7. Check your background: Before recording, ensure your background is tidy and free from distractions. Also, minimise background noise.
  8. Start and end with a pause: Leave a few seconds of silence once you’ve hit the record button before you begin speaking. It is also useful to leave a few seconds of silence once you have finished. This makes your video easier to edit.
  9. Use simple language: Avoid acronyms and jargon that the general public might not understand.

Your video must be a maximum of 60 seconds and can be filmed on a mobile phone or via Teams.

You are encouraged to communicate how your research has or will make an impact and on who or what by answering one or more of the following questions:

  • Why is your research important
  • How has your research changed the way you work
  • How has your research made a difference to those you care for
  • What makes you excited about delivering your research

We encourage all health and social care researchers in Wales, including health professionals, social care practitioners, allied health professionals and wider affiliated research teams to submit an entry to showcase your research excellence.

For more information on how to submit an entry, please read the Awards guidance document.

The Health and Care Research Wales Conference is taking place 10 October 2024 at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff. The theme this year is Research matters.

Register now to join the conference in person or via live streaming. 

You can also submit your abstracts for a TED-style talk at the conference.