Interview Test Grab
- Thread starter krw0731
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Jay Rodriguez
Coffee Member
Looks good to me. How about a soft light over his right shoulder?
taubkin
Veteran
I think the column camera left of the guy is not good. It's almost the same color/and brightness of your subject's skin, and there is a weird shadow in it. I'd try to flag the sheet out of it, and still frame it a little bit to the right, so he is. Still I am not too found of the rest of the background wood color (especially under the candles), your color scheme is a little boring and flat, so I would suggest you trying it darker. I am not sure if changing the colors are asy with light or if those colors are what's there.
Is this the guy you'll be shooting? (At least the same skin tone, etc?)
I also don't like the kicker leaking to his nose, it makes a weird hotspot, so maybe move your kicker to camera left or turn the guys head more away from it. It is also too hot for my taste (Id' tone it down 1/2 or one full stop, or maybe try some white diffusion in it).
I think the framing, especially with the background could use some work - I'd have to see the rest of the location to see if it's possible, though.
I don't think it is bad, but if you are testing this beforehand, I am sure you want to make this near perfect... It is better than most stuff I see on TV, at least... And sometimes is as good as it can get. It's hard to say looking at the frames. I'd try to get out of that dull color scheme, it would be bothering me, at least.
Good luck!
(This is something i've done - very much like yours - and could not test beforehand, so I am stuck with it. You can see it's not much better, so you can rest assured I'm not trying to be an asshole, I think you got very acceptable results...)
Is this the guy you'll be shooting? (At least the same skin tone, etc?)
I also don't like the kicker leaking to his nose, it makes a weird hotspot, so maybe move your kicker to camera left or turn the guys head more away from it. It is also too hot for my taste (Id' tone it down 1/2 or one full stop, or maybe try some white diffusion in it).
I think the framing, especially with the background could use some work - I'd have to see the rest of the location to see if it's possible, though.
I don't think it is bad, but if you are testing this beforehand, I am sure you want to make this near perfect... It is better than most stuff I see on TV, at least... And sometimes is as good as it can get. It's hard to say looking at the frames. I'd try to get out of that dull color scheme, it would be bothering me, at least.
Good luck!
(This is something i've done - very much like yours - and could not test beforehand, so I am stuck with it. You can see it's not much better, so you can rest assured I'm not trying to be an asshole, I think you got very acceptable results...)
Hey, thanks for the suggestions.
Yeah, im not too happy with how the tests came out. A good thing is that I will be interviewing someone with white skin, so that should help seperate the colors a bit.
The location is inside a Catholic Church. It is a large space but entirely full of pews which makes it hard get a good spot. I picked the background because of the candles in the right side of the frame.
I might try making the background darker while highlighting the candles. And I definitely agree on your comments amount the hotspot from the kicker. I will definitely fix that.
I understand you aren't being an asshole. I wanted criticism to try and make it better, so thanks for your comments.
Yeah, im not too happy with how the tests came out. A good thing is that I will be interviewing someone with white skin, so that should help seperate the colors a bit.
The location is inside a Catholic Church. It is a large space but entirely full of pews which makes it hard get a good spot. I picked the background because of the candles in the right side of the frame.
I might try making the background darker while highlighting the candles. And I definitely agree on your comments amount the hotspot from the kicker. I will definitely fix that.
I understand you aren't being an asshole. I wanted criticism to try and make it better, so thanks for your comments.
MattC
Veteran
I agree with what's been said above, I think you need more separation. Here are some things I would try:
1) use a hairlight on a dimmer. Even thought the dimmer will warm up the temp of the light, the effect on his dark hair will look real nice assuming the light isn't too bright. This will also seperate him a bit from the background which you will darken a bit with...
2) A cookie. Make a cookie out of foamcore and hit the background with it to darken it up and create some depth.
3) Are you using a reflector to stage right? You may want to.
4) DOF, can you back the camera up and zoom in to the same framing in order to create a shallower depth of field? If so I would.
5) Don't let your subjects wear white if you can help it. It makes balancing exposure a *****. If you want a light color, go for light blue. But try to find a complementing color (have each person bring a couple of tops to choose from).
BTW, all of this knowledge comes to you only through me. I learned it all from Walter Graff at his excellent seminar.
Matt
1) use a hairlight on a dimmer. Even thought the dimmer will warm up the temp of the light, the effect on his dark hair will look real nice assuming the light isn't too bright. This will also seperate him a bit from the background which you will darken a bit with...
2) A cookie. Make a cookie out of foamcore and hit the background with it to darken it up and create some depth.
3) Are you using a reflector to stage right? You may want to.
4) DOF, can you back the camera up and zoom in to the same framing in order to create a shallower depth of field? If so I would.
5) Don't let your subjects wear white if you can help it. It makes balancing exposure a *****. If you want a light color, go for light blue. But try to find a complementing color (have each person bring a couple of tops to choose from).
BTW, all of this knowledge comes to you only through me. I learned it all from Walter Graff at his excellent seminar.
Matt
MattC
Veteran
BTW, regarding your exposure, I would use a ND and leave the iris opened all the way as it will help with DOF. I agree with Taubkin on the hot spot though. I think once you balance your lighting better and then re-expose, this problem will go away.
I don't think you need/want a kicker. Work with a reflector instead. If you need to use a kick for some reason I can't understand, try dimming it. Or use/make one of Walter's little Graff lights, they work amazingly well.
Matt
I don't think you need/want a kicker. Work with a reflector instead. If you need to use a kick for some reason I can't understand, try dimming it. Or use/make one of Walter's little Graff lights, they work amazingly well.
Matt
I echo most of what Taubkin said -- good eye with the column and skin tone and all.
To put together what he and Matt C are saying if you have control over location - try to pick a background that is in contrast to your actor, and then place the focus on your actor with SDOF.
I tried that with these. I think the lighting could be better in terms of softness and shape -- maybe not. But I tried to find an intersting background that contrasted my talent (cool vs. warm in this instance) and then used the SDOF to put focus back on them, hopin the "cool" (as in Fonzy, not temp - although it is) background and the SDOF would add production value.
Ofcoutse this was doable because I was using wireless mics, and shooting in a very long room so I got way back for the SDOF.
These look more washed out here than in my timeline BTW, and are straight from the DVX with no CC.
Also remember in an interview situation the subjec should speak across the negative space in the frame, so if they are in the left of frame they speak to someone just to the right of the camera.
These grabs were testimonials though so they spoke right into the lens / to the viewer.
To put together what he and Matt C are saying if you have control over location - try to pick a background that is in contrast to your actor, and then place the focus on your actor with SDOF.
I tried that with these. I think the lighting could be better in terms of softness and shape -- maybe not. But I tried to find an intersting background that contrasted my talent (cool vs. warm in this instance) and then used the SDOF to put focus back on them, hopin the "cool" (as in Fonzy, not temp - although it is) background and the SDOF would add production value.
Ofcoutse this was doable because I was using wireless mics, and shooting in a very long room so I got way back for the SDOF.
These look more washed out here than in my timeline BTW, and are straight from the DVX with no CC.
Also remember in an interview situation the subjec should speak across the negative space in the frame, so if they are in the left of frame they speak to someone just to the right of the camera.
These grabs were testimonials though so they spoke right into the lens / to the viewer.
SergejIvanovits
Well-known member
Your second picture could be right if you just lower the light in the background and use a soft spot to light up the background. It could give a litle dramatic to the picture. Watch 60 min. They can lightsettings.