Boom mic placement: Static or Dynamic movement? Close or Distant placement?

[omar_]

1. When you boom mic a scene involving 2 or 3 actors do you find a spot and keep it static no matter or do you move it around and/or point it toward the actor who is speaking?

I've read different opinions. What is your take?

2. Do you create the sound you want on the set in terms of getting the distance you want from the mic to the actor's voice according to camera setup or do you just get in as close as possible for every shot (medium, closeup) and assimilate audio levels from various shots in post.

I also heard different opinions on this?

 

[Barry_Green]

1. When you boom mic a scene involving 2 or 3 actors do you find a spot and keep it static no matter or do you move it around and/or point it toward the actor who is speaking?

Always position it closest to the speaking actor whenever you can. Always.

2. Do you create the sound you want on the set in terms of getting the distance you want from the mic to the actor's voice according to camera setup or do you just get in as close as possible for every shot (medium, closeup) and assimilate audio levels from various shots in post.

ALWAYS get it as close as you possibly can. If you need to add some reverb in post to get a little spatial perspective, that's easy. But you can never take out echo. Getting the mic as close as possible will minimize echo.