How should I film a bullpen for college recruiters?

[TNsoldier14]

Hi my name is Rob and I am currently in the Army stationed in Hawaii but I am getting out next year and i've been talking to a few colleges back home that are interested in me. They want to see some video footage of me throwing a bullpen since I am too far away for them to come see me in person. So I was just curious if anyone had recommendations on how I should film this so they can actually get a good and accurate view of me. I have a camcorder with a tripod that I am going to use for this but I just didn't know what kind of angles and different views that would be most helpful for them. Thanks for any help I get.
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"To be honest with you, I throw the da** thing as hard as I can" -Josh Beckett-

[CanadianBall51]

When you film it don't make it all flashy. Don't add music, effects, cuts, anything like that. Have yourself throw 4-5 of each pitch and then maybe mix it up a little. Show what raw talent you have, they aren't looking for a flashy cut movie.

[TNsoldier14]

Thanks for the advice, I didn't plan on doin that. I was just wondering if there are better angles that they need to get a better look.
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"To be honest with you, I throw the da** thing as hard as I can" -Josh Beckett-

[Southern Smoke]

I would say try to get as many different angles as possible. Get it so they can see it from a right handed batter view, left handed better view, and I would get views from behind the mound too.
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We'll win games with talent. We'll win championships with character

[TNsoldier14]

Hey good advice I didn't even think about the batter's view, hell i'm interested in seeing what I look like from the batter's eyes. Now i just hope I don't hit my $400 camcorder, lol.
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"To be honest with you, I throw the da** thing as hard as I can" -Josh Beckett-

[Coach Baker]

Mound presence, maturity and no wasted motion. Here's what coaches like to see, basically:
> Get a catcher to pitch to, don't pitch to a mat or fence backstop then reach on the ground to pick up another ball.
> Have a mature mound presence, look like the Major Leaguer you want to be. Upright, sober, serious, no emotions.
> Go through your delivery motions - both of them, the windup and the set. Don’t rush your motion trying to impress the viewer on how strong or athletic you are. Be smooth, in control and very deliberate.
> Don’t rush your delivery motion, but on the other hand don’t delay each delivery of the ball. Work deliberately.
> If you can edit your video, preempt each pitch by telling the viewer what pitch your about to deliver - display. For example:
Four seam fastball on the right-side corner of the plate.
Four seam fastball on the left-side corner of the plate
Slider down and away
Slider - backdoor slider
> Your video is a moving resume - don’t go cheap. If you have to rent a high quality digital camera - do so. Home movies ... “say cheese”, just ain’t the way to go here.
> Don’t let the camera run endlessly. Break your video down into segments that lets a qualified coach pick apart your pluses from your minuses. Don’t try and “sell yourself”. Be natural. First show just your deliver motion - not the ball going to the catcher. Focus your camera on getting your feet to your head, with enough space to follow your motion without moving the camera. But don't position the camera so far away as to make the view squint at a very small you.
(a) First, show your form and posture routines. Preempt that segment as your introduction. Let the camera focus on your pitching styles - how you setup, turn, leg lift, torso management, breaking of the hands, pitching arm and glove arm control, full delivery and finish posture. Again, your entire body should be in the frames. Don't let the camera follow the ball - stay in the frames alone, you're showing your form - not the report of the ball 60' away.
(b) Second, allow a good but not overly lengthy view of (a), start your video - go through your motions and finish - stop the video by fading out, then start the delivery over again doing the same. About four segments of each delivery - windup then set.
> Follow the same format when showing your pitch selection and how the ball travels to the catcher.
> Don’t wear shorts, cutoffs, sneakers, T-shirts. Wear a baseball uniform with hat, good leather belt, cleats, white sanitary socks and stirrups. Use a good clean glove that looks good on camera. Don’t wear a glove that’s been kicking around in your footlocker. A new pair of cleats shows off your leg discipline - pivot leg, stride leg and plant, much better.
> Start off your video with a good still picture of you from the third button of your baseball uniform shirt on up. Like a portrait picture. Introduce yourself by a caption of the printed word (titles), no audio. In fact, it’s better to leave the audio out of something like this. Let the view concentrate on the view not the background noise. And above all have a close clean haircut, neatly trimmed facial hair if you wear a beard. In addition, include your height, weight and a short introduction in the printed word of what the viewer is about to see.
> Use brand new baseballs, nice and white. Buy a dozen of Diamond brand baseballs. Their fairly inexpensive and they show up nicely on video. The cheap Diamond baseballs are the practice balls. Don’t use the plastic covered baseballs. Those kind (plastic) will not show your breaking balls at all. Diamond baseballs have a good reputation and their quality is good with decent laces that can bite the atmosphere for decent action on the breaking pitches.
> At the end of the video, thank the viewer for taking the time to watch your video. Then close your video with all the information necessary to make it easy for the viewer to contact you.
Name, mailing address, and a phone number.
> And finally, don't include slow motion. Let the viewers control that on their machines.

Overall, you should show the viewer a decent snapshot in time of who you are and what you can do. Be crisp, deliberate and don't waste video tape. These people want to see basically what you've got - not endless tape of your profile.

Best wishes on your presentation.

Coach B.
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Sometimes you just have to take the bull by the tail and face the situation.
W. C. Fields

[Roger]