As we wrap up our second month of quarantine and videoconferencing becomes the communication method of choice for many — including the pro AV world — we’re starting to see some users of Zoom and other platforms get a little creative with their virtual backgrounds.
For many people, these virtual backgrounds are their dream home offices with bountiful bookshelves and décor. But we’re all getting a little creative with our backgrounds in quarantine.
Media companies and streaming services are being awfully generous and posting images for you to use as your background, so do some looking around and you’ll find some good ones. Here are some of the best that I’ve seen.
Office scenes from … The Office
Everyone’s favorite workplace sitcom is letting anyone use some images as free Zoom backgrounds, including this one of Michael Scott’s desk, which is the scene of so many good one liners.
You can also use the conference room – where many one-on-one interviews are filmed — as your background.
Pssst. First one to use our video conference backgrounds gets to be Assistant to the Regional Manager. 😉 pic.twitter.com/dk6RbL5HGX
— 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚘𝚏𝚏𝚒𝚌𝚎 (@theofficenbc) April 1, 2020
Tiger King
Oh my word, what a trainwreck this Netflix show was. If you haven’t seen it, go ahead and waste a few hours of your life that you’ll never have back and watch Tiger King. For whatever reason, this show was the talk of the town in early quarantine when people had nothing better to do.
Now, it’s one of the more popular Zoom backgrounds I’ve seen.
It only took me a month of zoom conference calls to figure out how to get a jazzy background. I think my co-workers will enjoy this today. AND there’s a special reason I have Tiger King on the brain – you’ll see it on GMTS at 5:45! @WCPO pic.twitter.com/N4npgoQOh3
— Ally Kraemer (@AllyKraemer) April 22, 2020
Speaking of Netflix
The streaming giant last month tweeted some photos for Zoom users to use, including this setting from popular stalker series You. I won’t spoil anything for those who haven’t seen the show, but let’s just say this background is for the more morbid of videoconferencing users.
if you’re in need of a new @zoom_us background… pic.twitter.com/M6HPUwFEua
— Netflix (@netflix) March 24, 2020
A sports stadium
Sports are gone for the foreseeable future and the only thing playing on sports channels are reruns of decades-old games. While it might be fun to reminisce, you’ll get bored of this after a few days.
Find a photo of your favorite sports stadium and make it your background and it might feel like you’re really there. Baseball would have already been underway, so here’s a shot of the iconic Fenway Park, which is about a half hour away from our offices.
You can almost hear the crack of the bat, taste a Fenway Frank and smell spilled beer.
We’ve got you covered for all your WFH Zoom meetings this week with these #RedSox backgrounds. 👇 pic.twitter.com/hBspjLJmx9
— Red Sox (@RedSox) March 30, 2020
The beach
It’s starting to get nice out so you’ll want to head to the beach. Well, most of them are closed. Grab a Corona or summer drink of choice, put on a sun hat and you’ll at least look like you’re soaking up the sun.
As we wait for your return to Coco Collection, our team wanted to share a new way to escape to our destinations. Transport yourself from your bedroom to our beach and your living room to our lagoons with 10 free Zoom backgrounds. Visit https://t.co/3yBGRAW0mR to download! pic.twitter.com/0vDLo4DPzF
— Coco Collection (@CocoCollection) April 16, 2020
The Star Wars Universe
The space epic franchise’s official website is making several photos available to use as meeting backgrounds, including your favorite planets and ships.
Long have we waited… 💫 Video backgrounds from a galaxy far, far away have arrived! Use these backgrounds on your next video call to show off your love for the light or dark side!
View more backgrounds on https://t.co/mVXi17qoJk: https://t.co/itIF4qBsIl (1/2) pic.twitter.com/vxtsFKk3NO
— Star Wars (@starwars) April 16, 2020
You can scavenge the harsh desert word of Jakku, jettison into lightspeed travel or hang out with Han Solo and Chewie on the Millennium Falcon.
Dunkin’
Like Star Wars and other franchises, the popular coffee and pastry giant is making several images available to use as Zoom backgrounds. I haven’t had a coffee and donut from Dunkin’ in months, so this is really causing me problems right now.
Why you should download our Dunkin-ized video chat backgrounds:
1️⃣Get an award for most fun person ✨
2️⃣Hide your pile of laundry 🧦
3️⃣Coffee & donuts make people happy 🍩☕️
Psst… there’s more available on our blog: https://t.co/u7JHA0g4q7 pic.twitter.com/fVPcDCJCEl— Dunkin’ (@dunkindonuts) April 9, 2020
Getting ripped
If you’re like everyone else and were too late to buy some fitness equipment before everything was sold out or priced too high, you’re in luck, courtesy of The Late Late Show.
Make the others jealous with your strength. pic.twitter.com/BYdZg84FY7
— The Late Late Show with James Corden (@latelateshow) April 14, 2020
Do some dumbbell shoulder presses or hangout with some cats while you meet with your coworkers.
Your favorite memes
If you’re handy with image editing programs like Photoshop and have a penchant for memes, get creative with your favorite memes, like the classic distracted boyfriend meme here.
So today I showed up to my 4yo’s class Zoom with this as my background good thing we’re switching schools and I’ll never see these people again this is fine pic.twitter.com/ZrCrpwLN4O
— Jennifer Duann Fultz is writing her first draft (@jennduannfultz) April 23, 2020
Instead of another girl, it will be your beautiful mug that is turning his head.
Speaking of memes
Given the state of the world, this one deserves its own spot. Ignore the global pandemic, your cabin fever and crumbling mental health while you put on a happy face for your boss, coworkers and clients.
Someone at work Slack shared a background of the “this is fine” meme for Zoom and I think it perfectly makes sense to use it now. pic.twitter.com/K1JDnoNTOp
— Fatih Arslan (@fatih) March 12, 2020
Repeat after me: this is fine.
