At Least There's A Window

English Indie rock-poppers The Wombats can deliver the odd melody. From frontman with distinctive smooth voice.

Although the lyrics of their latest single may well reveal the foreign musician's holy grail of cracking the American market is all too often a place where dreams go to die.

The first few seconds of its I Love America But... video serve up a grim version of an office worker.

I do enjoy these glimpses of pop culture renders of our worklife. So couldn't help but think on how even the most unpromising hamster-wheel cage setting can allow for productive video calling.

The still up-top shows the view from the room's entrance.

Enough to give you the blues.

Love the detail of those red and pink sticky notes on the screen edge. A strangely vertical in-tray. And teacher-esque classroom positioning of the desk, near neither corner nor window.

Wonder what was once on that wall behind?

We get treated to a close-up. Frustrated worker on the phone.

Daybook ready. Pencil caddy. With what might be a bottle of pills.

And if you fancy a view, here's a flash.

A fairly grim non-descript nothingness.

Yet you could fashion an engaging video spot from even these seemingly desolate trappings.

You've got natural daylighting on hand.

You can move the desk. Angling into the corner towards windows perhaps.

Bring in a flipchart easel for behind you. Or whiteboard-type laminated white plastic leant up.

As I often reassure wannabe better video-ers, there's nothing wrong with the 'hostage video' styling. It's how you then make merry more than others would to stand out.

Tack up sheets of paper behind. Blank to write on. Or with agenda items pre-drawn up. In coded terms too is even better; numbers, icons, acronyms.

Remember to either elevate that screen, should the webcam be at its top, for optimum placement.

And maybe most important of all, keep ensuring that any meeting you have over video, has a proper reason for being so. As opposed to being a mail, message chat or phone call.