Best setups for interviews?

[shawn.w]

Hey Everyone,

Im starting to shoot a project where i need to interview some professors at a local college, and also some students. There will be some interviews where they are sitting down inside in their office, and others where they are outside with a nice background. In either case, does anyone have any recommendations on framing techniques or how to get the eye line matched up right? I often find that my footage doesnt look as engaging as other footage i have seen such as in documentaries where their angle on the subject lends itself to better interaction with what they are saying. Do i want to line the subject up on the right side of the tripod and have the interviewer on the left? Tripod slightly higher than the subject? Let me know what you guys would recommend. Thanks!


- Shawn

 

[Calomile]

Depending on where your interviewer is sat, you'll wanna frame it so the interviewee is looking across the frame at the camera. So if your interviewer is to the right of the camera, you'd frame the shot with the subject in the left of the shot.

In terms of camera height, setting it below the subjects eye-line is one way to go, as various cinematic conventions will tell you that shooting from below the subject will make them seem more important in the scene, which may help to substantiate claims from the interviewer. It's also a nice way of shooting the subject as it doesn't intimidate them quite as much as having the camera dead on eye line. Also, if it's slightly out of the way, the subject will be less tempted to look into the lens because it's not directly in their eye-line.

Obviously though, you could choose to throw all those ideas out and create a style which is unique to your film making. Perhaps go handheld and have lots of tight close ups, or shoot from further away on a longer lense to create a really soft focus behind the interviewee. If you have much of the gear already then test some shot ideas out beforehand, that way when it comes to shooting proper you'll have an idea in your mind of what you want to accomplish.

 

[Calomile]

Also, part of the problem with shooting interviews is, if it's a boring interview (the subject doesn't have a lot to talk about, doesn't engage with the interviewer properly, is reserved - etc.) then no amount of framing, zooms or camera moves will make it interesting.

Another idea to keep in mind is, if it's just the single camera you're working with, and you've deliberately chosen to shoot very close in to the subject is to keep the tripod loose. You don't want the subject to quickly move out of shot. Give yourself enough room to compensate for any shifts in the interviewee's position, and try to get into a rhythm with them and predict their movements - or at least be aware of how much they move, what sort of patterns they move in.

 

[pmark23]

-Have someone else (not the camera operator!) give the interview, and they should sit close to the side of the camera (the camera can be behind them, and zoomed over their should so they're not in the shot). The subject should be framed on one side of the frame, and looking to the other side of the frame, so position the interviewer accordingly. Camera should be eye-level, and the interviewer should be on the same plane.

-Ask open-ended questions so they subject talks naturally, and they should answer so that the question is rephrased. The interviewers should very actively nod his/her head, KEEP EYE CONTACT, and make "go on" signals to keep the subject talking. Silence is great -- both in making the subject add more to their conversation, and of course to keep them quiet. Make sure they don't verbalize "Uh huh", "Yes", "Right" -- head and eye movements only.

-Mic with a lav (hidden) AND with a shotgun ON A STAND. Audio is the most important part of the interview so make sure you get it right. No need to mic the interviewer as their questions will be picked up well enough for the editors (unless you want their audio). Some people sound better on a lav, and some sound better on a shotgun. Personally I use a hypercardioid instead of a shotgun, as it sounds fuller -- but it picks up more of the background.

-Find a quiet place that nobody will disturb. Make sure the subject is comfortable and knows what they'll be asked (unless you want to surprise them.)

-Do the interview questions twice, first only wide and static, and second alternating between medium and close. It's a pain, but you will get better answers the second time (when the camera is on their eyes), and have much more shot variety. Your editor will love you! The first question is usually a waste anyway as the subject is nervous and too conscious of the camera.

-You only need a few questions if they're well-written. Making subjects cry is the pinnacle of interviewing! Maybe that's not what you want for your interview, but an emotional response (laughing, displeasure, etc) is always good.

-Cutaways of hands are tacky these days, but still "handy" in editing. If they're talking about something then you better get a shot of it. Talking heads are boring, so plan on only using a bit of the interview footage (but most of the audio), and shooting lots of shots of them doing something around their office, going about their day, interacting with people, etc. Save the interview footage for the really important bits.