Do you feel uncomfortable when you see yourself in a video?

@vesuvius (1677)
Philippines
May 6, 2011 7:51am CST
I've recently read something about Johnny Depp not watching his own movies because he's uncomfortable with it. Upon reading that article, I've realized that I'm not alone after all! LOLs Not that I look like Johnny Depp, but because I do find it awkward seeing myself in a video recording too. I've had this problem since I was in high school when we have certain tasks requiring video recording such as dramas and mock news reporting - seeing myself on TV gives me the goosebumps!!! So how about you? Do you feel uncomfortable when you see yourself in a video?
6 people like this
22 responses
@beamer88 (4259)
• Philippines
6 May 11
I guess it depends on how I look in the video. If I feel I look great in the video, then I wouldn't be uncomfortable watching it. I'll even proud to show it to my friends. On the other hand, if I look terrible in it, then seeing myself would not only be uncomfortable but embarrassing as well :)
1 person likes this
@kquiming (2997)
• Philippines
6 May 11
I think "uncomfortable" is not the appropriate word to describe how I feel ... lol... I think it's more like, weird, but not that unpleasant.. anyway I've seen myself in videos and I try not to look too hard at me, because if I magnify every physical flaw that I see, I tend to overlook the good. So I just try to see myself as a whole..you know what i mean... and not focus on myself too much hehe I mean it would be narcissistic of me if I didn't pay attention to the other people or things on the video. lol.
1 person likes this
@34momma (13882)
• United States
8 May 11
i can say that i do feel a bit uncomfortable when i see myself on video. i think because i gain a few pounds and i can really see it on camera...
@bjcyrix (6901)
• Philippines
13 May 11
I do. It's not just on moving video either. Im not comfortable looking at pictures of myself and even in the mirror. Aside from the fact that I really hate mirrors, I just dont like to see myself in places outside of my being. I mean sure, it's just my reflection but imagine if the person on the mirror moved differently from you. I think it would be okay if I was a twin, but not getting to see my own face apart from where it should be gives me the creeps. I would like to admit that I do look in the mirror whenever I need to and it has been common place when I wash my face, put powder on, etc. But getting to see myself again in videos is just weird. For me, it's the past and it is in my memory. I dont have to see it again from another perspective. That's just the weird way me, anyway.
@cheravs (619)
• Philippines
6 May 11
Wow I'm not alone too!hahahaha. Awkward does not describe when I look my self on the video but "dumb". I look at my self so dumb and stupid acting on the video and wish I did not make those actions or moves.hahaha. dang! Silly but true. By the way I look at my self ugly also watching my self on the video.hahaha
@vesuvius (1677)
• Philippines
6 May 11
Sort of same here, pal. I do feel like I look uglier than the usual on screen! LOLs
• Philippines
12 May 11
I don't like to watch myself in videos though ironically, I belong to the media industry. Cameras are part of my training but it is something that I really never mastered nor learned to manipulate. It is true that the camera adds ten pounds to an individual's frame when being shot, another good reason why I don't like in front of a camera (I have a difficulty with my body, you see). I am more comfortable and more effective when I'm behind the lens and being in the production area of any well, production. In the case of Mr. Depp, I guess he is just more conscious in his image in the camera unlike other people. There is a saying that a camera can love a perosn in front of it or it can be a merciless tool to hunt for imperfections. I don't like being in front of a camera because of one reason - I'm simply not suited for it. I don't love the camera and the camera doesn't love me back. So there is quite a lost love in between. But I think both the camera and I can survive without each other. Thank God for that.
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
7 May 11
Personally I do not feel uncomfortable seeing myself in a video. I might think something like " gee, I look fat", or " maybe I should have used some make up" LOL, but it doesn't bother me at all. Funny thing is that even though I have no problem watching the end result - video - I am sometimes uncomfortable being filmed, at least at the beginning. I used to be a bit shy when I was a kid. My mom noticed and encouraged me to participate in activities and groups that slowly helped ( drama club, volunteer in celebrations in youth groups, debating club etc ). It was actually a great idea, because now I am still a bit shy at times, but I have no problem speaking in public or being filmed etc.
@epicure35 (2814)
• United States
7 May 11
I do feel uncomfortable when I see "me" in a video or even photograph. That's because my immage of "me" from the inside is way different that the physical image I see at my current age and unfortunate weight. I imagine myself tall, thin and sylphlike, but that's not what I see. Imagine that! Nonetheless, I don't think I'd be uncomfortable with a picture or video of what's "inside" "me" re character and spirit.
@cerebellum (3863)
• United States
7 May 11
I have only been in my wedding video. I thought everyone else looked good but I didn't. I am the same way with pictures. I hat to have my picture taken because it always turns out awful. Probably a lot of people feel the same way. If I were a movie star, I wouldn't want to see my own movies either!
@Andyvil (793)
• Philippines
7 May 11
I am totally comfortable with seeing myself in tv as long as I don't hear myself speak. I am not comfortable with seeing myself talking in those videos. When I saw myself making a speech at the wedding of my brother it felt kind of weird hearing myself.
• Canada
6 May 11
No, I completely understand and relate. I also hate to see myself in videos and occasionally pictures. I just think it's a weird experience to see yourself in a second person or third person view from a different time, it kind of weirds me out. I know that in itself is weird, but oh well. I also know I dont look good on video or most of my picture photos so that contributes to my uncomfort of it all. I never felt alone in this since I know so many others that have felt this way too. Maybe this is because I've taken many film courses so I've been up close to that sort of thing and that the ppl who took those classes were more "behind the camera" people. Voice recordings are also really strange snce you dont hear your voice the same way. Its eerie really... I also started feeling this way in High School when the social pressure was higher and mandated video was required to pass courses. Yuck, worst classes ever! It does make me feel better though that Johnny Depp's the same way though because I absolutly love him and his movies. I think he's great.
@mohdromly (165)
• Malaysia
7 May 11
Yes ,i also feel really uncomfortable when i see my self in a video .
@warriorx (99)
• Philippines
7 May 11
Many years ago I didn't like seeing myself on video and in photographs. I thought, I didn't look good. I was normal-looking and I didn't dress up that much and I didn't care much about my hairdo or whether I shaved or whether I brushed my teeth after eating. People didn't call me handsome. I was a nice guy, but girls didn't like me. Well they liked me as a friend, a best friend, but I wasn't boyfriend-material. Then I stumbled upon one of those old books I borrowed from a friend years ago. It stated that if you want to look good, just keep on repeating to yourself "I look good I look good" even if you don't believe it. You can brainwash yourself for the better. Then slowly I felt something good happened. My perception of myself changed. I first noticed it when I saw myself in the neighbor's home video when I visited him for his son's birthday. I was surprised and said to myself "Wait a minute! Why do I look good in this video? Is it the T shirt or the jeans? But these are the same clothes I wore years ago. No that's not me! It can't be. I don't like myself so how can that be me? It must be my counterpart from a parallel universe!" But it was indeed me. I looked at myself in the mirror at home later. This same guy who used to call himself ugly suddenly honestly felt good looking at himself in the mirror. Now that's strange. Did the repeated words hypnotize me and change the wrong programming in my brain? Apparently it did. This was many years ago. Then came the automatic change in habits. Since I began to like myself, I did what I had to do to keep it that way. I took a bath more. I changed to new clothes regularly. I used perfume more. I began shaving and having haircuts more. Since I don't shave at home because I hurt myself often, having a shave at the barber shop was better. I felt I lost 10 lbs on my face every time I get shaved. Ah it feels good, though I'm not young anymore. I also brush my teeth often today. Now I realized why I couldn't get any girlfriend in high school! I had bad breath then! I always smelled like a pizza or cheeseburger whenever I opened my mouth. Now no more! I learned my lesson in life, even if it is a bit too late. hahaha. Today, I still honestly believe I look good on video, even with my wrinkles and advanced age. I still don't go to the gym and I'm still too lazy to exercise. But I'm still surprised how many of my wife's friends comment that I'm really goodlooking. I don't look like Brad Pitt so this really is weird. But anyway, I like it. That's all that matters. And it seems the pretty young girls at the office notice me a lot in a positive way too. Some even give me subtle hints that they want me as a boyfriend. It's too late though, now that I'm married. I mean, where were they when I was searching years ago? If I was a bad guy, I could have an affair anytime with anyone of them. The temptation is there. But I'm not like that. I love my wife and my baby son, who looks more handsome than me! And honestly I looked my best during my wedding day and so I watch that video over and over. And if I was a movie star like Johnny Depp, I'd enjoy watching my movies over and over too. Maybe I should hypnotize myself next time "I will win $30 million in the lottery I will win $30 million in the lottery ..." Maybe it will work again!
7 May 11
if i look good then no probs,and if not it feels uncomfortable
@zhpshql (693)
• China
6 May 11
Hi, well it's hard to say,,,I never put myself in a video... if i do ,I think I will feel uncomfortable...^^
@Porcospino (31367)
• Denmark
6 May 11
When I was a teenager my grandmother's friend had a video camera and he recorded me while I was singing. I enjoyed singing, but I didn't like to see myself afterwards. When I was a nursing student we had to do a group project and we created a kind of play. I played the patient and my friend played the nurse. We had a lot of fun while we recorded it, but it was a pretty strange feeling to see the result. I didn't enjoy watching myself on video and I was very critical when I looked at my own performance.
@megamatt (14292)
• United States
6 May 11
I don't think that there is much of myself out there on video. At least to the best of my knowledge. Unless there are people who managed to film me in a secret and rather subtle manner. And I only have one question if said people out there. Why? Just why? Don't you really have anything better to do with your time then film me of all people? Actually the only film of myself is from my childhood which is slightly mortifying but amusing enough where I don't want to burn it with fire and then shoot the ashes into the sun. I think that I am like that with pictures. I never want to look at pictures of myself. I never, well I don't want to say never, because there are times where the planets align just right, and really allow me to across as much better. I rarely, perhaps about ten percent of the time, come across well in visual images. The ninety percent of the time, is rather nightmare inducing. Still I can only imagine how badly I'd come across on film. Excuse me why I go and shudder.
• United States
6 May 11
It can be a bit awkward depending on what and how it is taped. I can't say any of the ones of me I have seen of me that I felt uncomfortable because what I was looking at was more if I made any mistakes. Being in the run way business I have seen a lot of them with me in them and I was more concentrating how I did as opposed to how I looked. When I see some from family with me in them I find them silly but fun.
@castano (30)
• Philippines
6 May 11
yes! because i can see my ugly face in the video if I'm gorgeous i will not felt uncomfortable.
• United States
6 May 11
I heard Depp say that on Jay Leno. Im uncomfortable with that too. just yesterday my dad played tape of a trip to mexico that we took....i couldn't watch! i hate seeing myself on recordings. i dont know why?