Fred Thompson tried too hard; Mark Warner didn’t try hard enough.  The problem with those canned little announcements on You Tube seems to be that the wanna-be candidates feel self-conscious and so their performances are stiff and awkward. 

Where Fred looked like a bobble-headed doll, Mark Warner looks like he was coached "just to be himself."  The result is a low-key, deeply non-energetic performance with a half-smile or two and not much passion. 

It’s not a natural thing, to have bright lights shone upon you, and cue cards held up, and to say the same words over and over again until someone decides your performance is OK.  It’s not easy to do; but these guys make it look harder than it has to be.

So, if you find yourself taping for You Tube, keep a couple of things in mind.  First of all, you want to look like you’re having a real conversation.  So put someone just behind the camera and talk to them.  If you do that, you lose that vague, not-quite-present feeling that Mark Warner had, because he was presumably talking to a glowing red dot. 

Second, don’t try to get haiku up on the screen.  Of course you need to think about what you should say, and even script it, but when the time comes, throw the script away, talk to the real person for, say, 25 minutes, with the camera rolling, and then take your best 3.5 minutes from that.  Think about how much more lively and interesting the movie out-takes usually are compared to the performances — that’s the feeling you want to achieve.  Nearly human. 

Third, put your butt against the back of the chair and sit up straight.  Then have that conversation like you’re excited about what you’re doing!  Mark Warner’s shoulders were slumped, his affect was flat, and his facial expressions were muted.  He’s trying to run for Senate, for heaven’s sake.  It’s going to take a whole lotta time, people, and enthusiasm.  Give us a little more at the get-go. 

Most people aren’t good actors — most actors aren’t good actors — and this stuff is hard to make sound real.  But keeping a few rules in mind will make it a little easier.