interviews..straight on, or looking to the right?

V

Vinnie03

Active member
Ok,
This coming week I'm going to shoot a video(not sure if I'd call it a documentary or not) out in New York and New Jersey, of a group of prolife college students walking from Maine to Washington DC this summer. Basically I'm trying to have them tell their story with as little VO work as possible and there is no interviewer. The way I've planned it so far is to have them answer some questions, without making them sound like they're answering questions.. You know what I mean? Basically have them tell the story. My footage covering the walk will be the bulk of the video with their interviews explaining things here and there... Now first off do you think this is the best way to go about it? And also, with no interviewer, should I have them looking at the camera, or off to the side?
Any and all ideas are greatly appreciated!

Thanks!,
Vince
 
Re: interviews..straight on, or looking to the rig

Re: interviews..straight on, or looking to the rig

Usually looking off to the side is a more traditional aproach; as if the subject is being interviewed.

If the subjects are talking directly to the camera, it's more "intimate," as if they are engaging the viewer directly.

It really depends on the story... But for this, it seems more like interview-style shooting.
 
Re: interviews..straight on, or looking to the rig

Re: interviews..straight on, or looking to the rig

Yeah, basicaly I'd say this:

If you want the audience to feel like they're watching an interview, have the subject facing the side, but;

If you want the audience to feel like they're being talked to, shoot from the front.
 
Re: interviews..straight on, or looking to the rig

Re: interviews..straight on, or looking to the rig

I would prefer an off center approach. It can also add some depth to the shot in terms of perspective.
 
Re: interviews..straight on, or looking to the rig

Re: interviews..straight on, or looking to the rig

You'll also find that most people are much more intimidated and uncomfortable looking directly into a camera than "talking" to someone just off the camera axis.  Also, if you have a lot of people to be interviewed, mix it up with them looking off different sides of the camera. Depending on the length of your piece, it can start to look a little stale with everyone facing the same direction.
 
Re: interviews..straight on, or looking to the rig

Re: interviews..straight on, or looking to the rig

Thanks so much everyone!.. I really appreciate the comments and tips... I think I'll go with the of to the side then. I'll tell ya, I've done video work at a tv station for the last 9 years, but this, my first documentary, I'm actually stressing a bit! It's set to air on EWTN (The national Catholic tv network) in the fall... So I really want it to be perfect!

Thanks again!.. and any tips anyone might have on this project, I really appreciate them!..

Vince
 
Re: interviews..straight on, or looking to the rig

Re: interviews..straight on, or looking to the rig

the bulk of your question was about solving the interview questions / answers without voice over.

1st, when will the interviews take place? Prior to or after the walk, or during the walk?

If you are shooting the walk and the interviews seperately, you can mix footage of the interview and the walk together with the audio fom the interview. It seems like the answers to the interview questions will tell the story and you can arrange it that way in post, along with the footage from the walk.

Know what I mean ???
 
Re: interviews..straight on, or looking to the rig

Re: interviews..straight on, or looking to the rig



Tuffgong,
Well, I talked to my contact with the walk (the girl I'm dating) last night, and she told me that there is going to be a big pro life parade in NYC on saturday and possibly sunday, so that will probably be the bulk of my footage, then I will be getting more footage of them sunday evening and Monday of the actual walking/praying/and giving talks. So I will most likely be getting the interviews on Monday and Tuesday. So, you're right, the stories and answers to my questions will tell the story along with the footage intermixed... So then, would you suggest the looking off to the side or looking at the camera then?

Thanks again!
Vince
 
Re: interviews..straight on, or looking to the rig

Re: interviews..straight on, or looking to the rig

I concur with the other opinions; off to the side.
Maybe you can post a clip of some finished footage (at you conveinience).

Good Luck. Sounds like a fun project.
 
Re: interviews..straight on, or looking to the rig

Re: interviews..straight on, or looking to the rig

Well if you or the producer, or the reporter is seated to the left of the camera then you want to frame the talent up on the right side of your viewfinder. Just reverse that if your seated to the right of the camera. Make sure you place the camera in position to where you see their whole face. Profile interview shots are ugly!

Now if you were setting up a remote shot where the talent would be talking to a anchor back at the studio, then that is when you would have them look right into the camera. Otherwise they will be looking off to the right or the left depending on how you have them framed up.
 
Re: interviews..straight on, or looking to the rig

Re: interviews..straight on, or looking to the rig


Definiatly agree profile interview shots are terrable! But here''s my problem.. I dont have an interviewer or anchor... I'm really not going to ask questions as much as try to get them to talk about the issues, their experiences on the walk, etc.. when needed I'll have a VO come in and introduce a new topic...
Now another variable has been put in.. There will be a pro life parade on saturday, where basically I will be getting footage of that.. but along the way they want me to have a person explain what is going on or if anything has happend along the parade... with the parade in the backround... So, would you shoot this like a news reporter style straight on? or any ideas?
I guess the way i plan on doing it now, is shoot the parade like that with my dvrigpro.. but then the main interviews locked down on a tripod of center with them looking slightly to the right or left of the camera. Does this sound right?
Thanks again for your advice,
Vince
 
Re: interviews..straight on, or looking to the rig

Re: interviews..straight on, or looking to the rig

well, now you are gwetting into directing. do you want them to appear like a reporter talking to the audience during a parade "as if" live. or do you want to look back at the parade in your film and talk about the stuff that happened then?

if it is all in the same docu (the walk, passing the parade on the way) then i would not set the interview with the parade in the background and i would not use the frontal IV style. but that´s me and you are the director ;-)
 
Re: interviews..straight on, or looking to the rig

Re: interviews..straight on, or looking to the rig

Yes, I guess you're right...now I am getting into directing, not exactly sure if that's what I wanted, but here I am right? :-/

Your post made me think about it some more though, and I think personally I would rather tell the story as in past tense, not "as if live". It will be aired 2 months after it really happened, so why try to make it seem live right?

Also, if you can't tell, this is a very loosly constructed event! I can't get an exact schedual on each day's events, so I think shooting whatever happens, then having the interviewees explain what happend, etc.. would be the best way of going about it...

I really can't complain though. This began by me volunteering to shoot a little bit of footage for the girl I'm dating (ah the things we do for our women?!) and giving it to them to do with it what they will. She talked to management who loved the idea and told me they'd fly me out to New York for a week to shoot this, it will air on EWTN, it's something I really belive in, and there is some financial gain in it for me too! They have given me complete creative freedom to do what I think is best for the project.

And of course one of the biggest plusses, I get to go to a Yankee game while i'm in town! (Too bad it's not against my Detroit Tigeres though! Missed them by 3 days!)

Thanks again for your comments and help!
Vince
 
Re: interviews..straight on, or looking to the rig

Re: interviews..straight on, or looking to the rig

Errol morris has his subjects talk directly into the lens, but instead of just telling them to look into the lens, he uses a teleprompter with a video feed from a camera pointed directly at his face as he interviews them. So, the subjects look at a video image of him looking right back at them, allowing them to talk to someone instead of starring directly into a camera lens.

pretty cool, i think.
 
Re: interviews..straight on, or looking to the rig

Re: interviews..straight on, or looking to the rig

Google the name Edward Marritz, he is a master at the interview and lighting. Maybe pick up one of the documentaries hes worked on. I know the one on the Blues is really good, i have that one. Not to mention hes my next door neighbor. :)
 
Re: interviews..straight on, or looking to the rig

Re: interviews..straight on, or looking to the rig

Wow... Edward Marritz has quite a list of films to his credit! Im impressed! I'm gonna get the one on 9/11 and a few more.. Thanks for the info!
Vince
 
Re: interviews..straight on, or looking to the rig

Re: interviews..straight on, or looking to the rig

watch a "making of" on DVD. they often make interviews when the actors/director etc tell what happened on set. see if you find inspiration there....
 
Re: interviews..straight on, or looking to the rig

Re: interviews..straight on, or looking to the rig

No problem, hope they serve you well. After watching a few you will begin to recognize his work. I guess sort of like a signature.
 
Re: interviews..straight on, or looking to the rig

Re: interviews..straight on, or looking to the rig

You can still set your interviews up the way I suggested and what you could do is show their face talking for about 10 seconds or so then COVER them with B-roll of the parade or whatever they are talking about. I do this all the time with News stuff I shoot. Some interviews can be very boring but if you cover the person talking with some footage it makes the piece flow better and it just makes it a better looking piece.
 
Re: interviews..straight on, or looking to the rig

Re: interviews..straight on, or looking to the rig

DVX100Shooter,
Yep, that sounds like the best plan... I should be able to get some good b-roll, from what I've heard walking from Brooklyn to the Bronx could take a while! I'm bringing 36 tapes (kind of makes me wish there were longer tapes that were still reliable) The plus is that if I do run out of tape, B & H isnt that far! (I am a loyal EVS customer, but if you're in a jam, ya know) This is my first time ever in NY so I'm really looking forward to it! Thanks again for your help.

How is the DVrigpro going for you? From Danny's comments I've learned that I too had the camera a bit too low, so I raised the belt up a bit, and it does make a little difference. With each new tip, things get even better. The true test will be this week on the big New York shoot!

Vince
 
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