There are a few ground rules we need you to follow. Firstly, with the camera recording, look into the lens and:

  Tell us who you are (pause)

  Where you are (pause)

  Who the message is for i.e. their name, rank and      unit if a serving member of HM Forces (pause)

  Where they are (pause)

  Then, looking direct to the camera lens, give      your brief message.

YOU MUST FOLLOW THE ABOVE RULES

  The simpler it is, the better it is for all      concerned. So try to avoid a long, rambling,      camera-wobbling piece! You want to look your      best for your loved one.

  Put the camera on a tripod or get a friend to      hold it as steady as possible

  Start with a ‘hello’ and end with a ‘goodbye’      and/or hand wave. If the message fizzles out, it      doesn’t come across too well on TV.

  Your camera is unlikely to record an image in      'widescreen'; it will probably film a standard-size      TV image that you will see in the viewfinder.      However, we broadcast in 'widescreen' and that      means we have to magnify the recorded image      to fit a widescreen TV. If you've zoomed in or      stood too close to your nan as you filmed her,      the top of her head or the bottom her mouth will      be cut off when the final image is eventually      transmitted on TV. So don't fill the entire screen      with a close up of a face(s). Stand back a foot or      two to leave some space above and below them      which will be cut off later.

  We’re not expecting you to time yourselves with      a stopwatch but try and keep the message to      about 20 to 30 seconds. You’ll know yourself      when you feel you’re naturally coming to an end.      It’s a brief hello, message and goodbye.

  It might help to think of what you’re going to      say beforehand. Even write a brief script if it      helps.

  Record it somewhere quiet. The microphones on      small digital cameras tend to pick up every noise      around so find a quiet room or outside area. And      place the camera reasonably close to you.

  If you’re filming yourself with the camera on the      tripod, you can flip the screen (certainly on most      cameras) around to you so you can frame      yourself in the picture as well as film.

  If you’re recording a message with more than      one person, make sure everyone is in the frame.      We don’t want to see the tops of kid’s heads      and Nan’s chin!

  Also, if there is a group of people recording the      message, after you’ve filmed it, try and shoot a      couple of individual head shots of people just      smiling, saying nothing and looking to camera.      These could be useful to us if we need to edit      (these are known as ‘cutaways’ to us TV types,      darling!).

  That said, BFBS doesn’t really want to edit these      messages. The idea is for you to send us      something that is ready to broadcast. So the      simpler it is, the easier it will be for you. Please      don’t send us loads of different shots, bits of      messages, things that don’t really make sense.      Try to be as professional as you can.

  In your message, don’t be time specific. For      example, try not to say: ‘I’ll phone you next      Tuesday’. We don’t know when the message will      be broadcast and a time reference could prove      confusing.

  You can always take several takes. Either rewind      the tape and start again or carry on recording      until you record a take you’re happy with. We’ll      know it when we see it!

  Finally, just enjoy yourselves. We’re not asking      you to be Steven Spielberg. It’s just a message      for your loved one.

If you don't have access to military post, our full address is:

Now, what are you waiting for? GET FILMING!!

(We regret that we cannot return any of your tapes).