Shooting Argument Scenes With 1 Shotgun

[JChang]

Hey Guys,

I'm filming an argument scene outside soon and wanted to know what the best setup would be (Mic wise) for the argument.

The scene calls for the two main characters to argue over each other but not necessarily show both of them at the same time.

They do however talk back and answer each other in the mist of talking over each other.

When I did a scene like this before we used two lavs so we could have two separate audio tracks and mix them in, the problem with this though, was that the lavs still picked up the other person significantly, rendering mixing in two different tracks useless since you could hear a different quieter version.

My question ultimately is this, what would be the best method to record a scene like this?

Should we have one actor go full force while the other actor just quietly say his line? Mic level issues? etc etc.

Thank you!

 

[Alex H.]

You can do it with both mics running in every take (or, int this case booming for both) and have the challenge of separating them in post, which you have discovered is largely impossibly if they talk over each other. Also, depending on blocking your boom op may have a hell of a time keeping up. One boom can only cover so much space in even the most skilled boom op's hands.

You can ask the actors not to step on each other's lines, and create the argument in post, but going 100% in this direction can inhibit performance.

Or, you can try a blend of the two. Get some wides and medium 2-shots and go all-in. Then, shoot your closeups and cutaways for each actor, with the other reading lines as prompts from off-camera (no mic, pause before the response), and then you should have all you need. Don't forget room tone to make the editing process easier.

Side note: your boom up should be quite read up on the script, and present for blocking and rehearsal. S/he should be well-versed in movement of both dialog and actors before the first take.

 

[Jema]

Alex is right on the money. You cannot have overlapping dialogue and expect not to hear it, so you either have to avoid cutting at the overlaps, or create them in post.

If you go with overlaps, a single mic (boom) is to prefer instead of two simultaneous lavs, but depending on distance etc might not be possible. Two lavs could still work, so I would use both approaches.

 

[Noiz2]

Depending o your sound post chops it's also possible to mostly use one take for audio. If we don't see actor X's lips clearly the visual may not need to be the same as the audio. This will certainly work when you are CU on one actor but it also may work on the master shot. If you can get away with this then you have a lot fewer overlaps to worry about.

I did a film that had that problem and so the director did some ADR. However someone missed the concept so the ADR was still both actors talking over each other!, just in the studio.