teleprompter

How does the teleprompter work?

For Prime Minister Modi’s speech, a StagePro Presidential Teleprompter Series was likely to have been used, a popular device on the lecture circuit as well and which displays smooth scrolling text on glass reflection monitors. While the text is clearly seen from behind the lectern, it is completely invisible to the audience in front since the screen is transparent from the other side. Behind the scenes is a teleprompter operator, controlling the speed of the scrolling text, carefully following the pace of the speaker.

During the speech, the speaker simply looks from one teleprompter to the other. This gives an impression that he is looking at the audience while giving his speech.

A teleprompter operator feathers the speed of the script to match the pace of the speaker. If the speaker slows down or stops, like during a standing ovation of which Modi received quite a few, then the operator will follow suit. Some modern, lower grade systems can operate without an operator by using a preset speed on loop, but it can be unnerving to the speaker to follow a machine.

The prompter operator also interacts with the camera crew and sets up the teleprompter equipment so everything is connected to the tripod and balanced correctly. Plus, an operator edits the script and often wordsmiths the lines. Phrases that look good on paper don’t always sound great when spoken aloud.